US09163961B2
A disposable ophthalmic or medical apparatus has a portion with a color changeable dye disposed thereon. The dye changes color after being exposed to oxygen for a controlled and predetermined period of time indicating that the apparatus should no longer be used.
US09163944B2
The present invention relates to a system and method for displaying 3 dimensional (3D) view of points of interest (POI) on a moving map, said method comprises storing in a first database, information relating to a flight path of an aircraft and storing in a second database, at least one 3D model of the at least one or more POI, said model associated with one or more 3D views of the related POI. The method further comprises mapping the location of the at least one or more POI stored on second database with the location of the aircraft and retrieving the 3D model, associated 3D views and related information of said 3D model based on the mapped location. Further, integrating the retrieved 3D views and related information of said 3D model with the moving map on the mapped location and displaying the 3D views of POI on the moving map.
US09163938B2
Methods and systems for image acquisition are described. In an example, a computing device may be configured to cause incremental relative rotation of a projector with respect to an image-capture device through multiple discrete angles. At each angle of the multiple discrete angles, the computing device may be configured to cause the image-capture device to capture a first image of an object, cause the projector to project a pattern on the object, and cause the image-capture device, while the pattern is projected on the object, to capture a second image of the object.
US09163929B2
A tomographic image generation apparatus includes a light source unit configured to emit light to be used for scanning an object; an optical control unit configured to control a direction of propagation of light; an optical coupler configured to divide and combine incident light; a plurality of optical systems optically connected to the optical coupler; and a modulation and correction device configured to modulate and correct the light to be used for scanning the object. The modulation and correction device may be disposed between the optical control unit and the optical coupler, or may be included in an optical system that irradiates light onto the object among the plurality of optical systems. The modulation and correction device may only modulate light that is reflected to the object.
US09163927B2
A resolver can have a stator and a housing fixed without requiring a special jig. The resolver includes a housing in an approximately cylindrical shape, a stator core in an approximately annular shape fixed to the inside of the housing, in which an exciting coil and a detecting coil are wound therearound, and a rotor arranged on the inside of the stator core, wherein the stator core is fixed to the housing by a C-shaped ring, a groove extending in a circumferential direction is provided on the inside of the housing, and the stator core is fixed to the housing by engaging the C-shaped ring with the groove.
US09163920B2
Dismountable numerical control machine which comprises a first longitudinal bedplate (1), a base (2), a column (3) attached to the base (2), a secondary carriage or crosspiece (4) and an arm (5), in which the principal carriage or base (2) moves horizontally along the longitudinal bedplate (1), while the secondary carriage or crosspiece (4) can move vertically in relation to the column (3); and in which, also, the arm (5) can be moved horizontally in relation to the crosspiece (4), and which also comprises a transport tool (6) configured as an auxiliary longitudinal bedplate placed adjacent to the principal bedplate (1).
US09163912B1
Disclosed herein is a reactive target for shooting sports and competitions. The reactive target having a plurality of target paddles relative to a pivoting target arm to provide a dueling competition configuration and an arcade configuration. The target paddles being substantially identical and interchangeable.
US09163894B1
Laser transmission systems mountable on firearms are disclosed along with methods of operating and configuring the same. The laser transmissions systems are configured to detect that a sequence of real-time mechanical vibrations on the firearm are in accordance with a predetermined characteristic firing signature of the firearm. In response, the laser transmission system initiates transmission of a laser to simulate a munitions strike. The predetermined characteristic firing signature is based on a sequence of predetermined mechanical vibrations resulting from a first pre-flash firing event and a subsequent second pre-flash firing event. In this manner, the laser transmission system initiates transmission of the laser prior to a flash event and more accurately approximates a bullet trajectory.
US09163893B1
An adjustable rifle support for use on a window sill of a blind or similar structure includes three main parts or assemblies: an elongated member having a forward end and a rearward end; a forward support assembly attached to the forward end and a rearward support assembly on the rearward end of the elongated member. The adjustable rifle support further includes five adjustments, all of which may be adjusted without tools, while the shooter is in position for aiming and shooting the rifle.
US09163891B1
A flash hider that suppresses the visible flash signature during the discharge of a firearm, the flash hider may be connected to an end of a firearm suppressor. The flash hider includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a projection that extends from the second end. The flash hider has a central bore having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being tapered. The flash hider may include a first plurality of apertures through the projection and a plurality of annular grooves on an inner surface of the projection. The flash hider may include a second plurality of apertures located within the second portion of the central bore and a plurality of flow ports connecting the second plurality of apertures to a third plurality of apertures located in the first end of the body.
US09163890B2
A trigger mechanism has a hammer, a hammer spring, a disconnect rest and a sear. The sear translates along a longitudinal axis between a rest position and a break point and also moves in an arc around a rotational axis from the break point to a disconnect position. The sear has a hammer side that presses against and rotates the hammer's cam end of as the sear moves between the rest position and the break point and thereby rotates the hammer's striking end around the hammer's pivot point between its seated and cocked positions. The support side contacts the disconnect rest's face as the sear moves between the rest position and the break point. The support side has an edge that is located at the ledge at the break point position. The hammer spring forces the sear to the disconnect position as the edge moves past the ledge.
US09163888B1
A rear lock-up bolt action assembly is provided. The bolt action assembly can include a receiver body including a front aperture capable of receiving a firearm barrel and a rear aperture. A lug groove can be formed in the vicinity of the rear aperture of the receiver body. The bolt action assembly can also include a bolt assembly including a bolt handle and three rear locking lugs arranged on a rear portion of the bolt assembly. The bolt assembly is configured to be arranged in the receiver body such that the three rear locking lugs are capable of being rotated within the lug groove when the bolt handle is rotated. When a round is fired, the three rear locking lugs are forced to mate with the lug groove thereby evenly distributing a bolt pressure on the receiver body.
US09163886B2
A cooling device for an electronic component, includes: a metal pipe; a metal foil provided on an external surface of the metal pipe; and a thermally-cured resin layer that bonds the external surface of the metal pipe and the metal foil together.
US09163873B2
A method and system for producing liquefied and sub-cooled natural gas by means of a refrigeration assembly using a single phase gaseous refrigerant comprising: at least two expanders (1-3); a compressor assembly (5-7); a heat exchanger assembly (8) for heat absorption from natural gas; and a heat rejection assembly (10-12). The novel features according to the present invention are arranging the expanders (1-3) in expander loops; using only one and the same refrigerant in all loops; passing an expanded refrigerant flow from the respective expander into the heat exchanger assembly (8), each being at a mass flow and temperature level adapted to de-superheating, condensation or cooling of dense phase and/or sub-cooling of natural gas; and serving the refrigerant to the respective expander in a compressed flow by means of the compressor assembly having compressors or compressor stages enabling adapted inlet and outlet pressures for the respective expander.
US09163866B2
A system pressure actuated charge compensator for use with a heat pump having a liquid service valve and a vapor service valve. The charge compensator comprises a holding tank having first and second ports, a first pressure tap coupled to the first port and removeably coupleable to the vapor service valve, and a second pressure tap coupled to the second port and removeably coupleable to the liquid service valve. A heat pump system and a method of manufacturing a charge compensator are also provided.
US09163863B1
A beverage temperature control apparatus for use in holding and maintaining a temperature of a beverage container includes a housing having a bottom wall, upstanding side walls, and a top wall extending across the side walls, the walls together defining an interior area. The top wall defines an aperture in communication with the interior area that is configured to receive the beverage container substantially into the interior area. A thermoelectric assembly is situated in the interior area of the housing proximate the opening, the thermoelectric assembly having a first portion that becomes cold when energized and a second portion that becomes warm when energized. A battery is situated in the interior area of the housing that is selectively actuated to energize the thermoelectric assembly. The thermoelectric assembly includes a primary channel configured to selectively cool the beverage container and a secondary channel configured to selectively heat the beverage container.
US09163860B2
The invention relates to a prestressed solar collector module forming a support structure for solar collectors, of the type formed by a lattice bar structure including a central beam (1) essentially characterized in that: the central beam or torque box (1) takes the form of a multi-face polyhedron or cylinder, that is divided into sections (3) each section (3) being formed by multiple bent or curved plates (4), a surrounding triangular lattice structure (16) is provided to support the parabolic reflector (17) which structure is formed with L-shaped elements, all of the connections being formed with rivets, and all of the structure is prestressed using a series of tension rods (13, 14, 15) which optimize the flexural behavior of the structure and which include end anchoring points and intermediate through-points allowing the necessary curvature to be obtained and the tension to be maintained.
US09163845B1
A garage ventilation system including a housing body with side walls and rear and front mounting plates with louvered vents on the front mounting plates. Support frames vertically disposed on the rear mounting plate have a channel longitudinally disposed therein and a stop body disposed within an outer end thereof. A mount bracket engages each of the channels. Legs disposed on each side of a central pivot member engage the respective channel with termination at the stop body. The mount brackets extend outwardly and away from the rear mounting plate. A fan casing, having a fan disposed therein, is rotatingly mounted to the mount brackets allowing rotation of the fan into an exhaust position and an alternate intake position to direct airflow away from or alternately into a garage. A heater contained within the housing body generates heated airflow directed by the fan.
US09163831B2
A flame device includes a fluid inducing assembly that can induce external air therein. A flow diverting mechanism includes a plurality of vanes. The plurality of vanes is circumferentially disposed, and each pair of adjacent vanes includes a space therebetween defining a passage which is spiral shaped. Each vane has a first section exposed to outside and not concealed by a concealing member defining a flow intake zone. Each vane has a second section encircled by the concealing member defining a flow accelerating zone. A shield is disposed above the fluid inducing assembly. A combustion head is disposed above the flow diverting mechanism and includes a mixing chamber, a flame guiding member, and a plurality of grooves. The flame guiding member is in a spaced relationship and circumferentially conceals a wall delimiting the mixing chamber.
US09163829B2
A moving bed heat exchanger (155) includes a vessel having an upper portion (200), a lower portion (210) with a floor (272) including a discharge opening therein, and an intermediate portion (205). The vessel directs a gravity flow of hot ash particles (140) received thereby from the upper portion (200) through the intermediate portion (205) to the floor (272) of the lower portion (210) of the vessel, where the hot ash particles (140) are collected. Tubes in the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel direct a flow of working fluid in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the gravity flow of the hot ash particles (140) through the intermediate portion (205) of the vessel such that heat from the hot ash particles (140) is transferred to the working fluid thereby cooling the hot ash particles (140).
US09163827B2
A system includes a first steam generator configured to generate a first boiler feedwater, a second steam generator configured to generate a second boiler feedwater, a common boiler feedwater configured to combine the first boiler feedwater and the second boiler feedwater to produce a common boiler feedwater, and a heater configured to receive the common boiler feedwater to heat a gas.
US09163818B2
A linear light-emitting diode (LED)-based solid-state universal lamp using a degenerate voltage sensing and control mechanism operates normally in both single-ended and double-ended linear tube lamp fixtures. The degenerate voltage sensing and control mechanism automatically detects power source configuration in the fixture and makes proper management so that the universal lamp works in any fixtures without operational uncertainty or risk of fire. When used with shock protection switches in the two lamp bases at two opposite ends, the universal lamp fully protects a person from possible electric shock during initial installation and re-lamping.
US09163816B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus that has the specific features of attaching to a light bulb base and creating a light bulb with the additional feature of being able to be dimmed and flexed for directional lighting at the socket of the light bulb itself. An additional feature of this attachment is to allow for the light bulb to be turned off or on at the point of where the light bulb is attached to its socket from which electricity is drawn. A third feature of said device is to have the addition of a USB port also on the socket dimming device as a way to draw energy from the light bulb socket for the additional feature of using a USB port with some type of electronic device that can be charged at the base of the light socket itself.
US09163815B2
A power converter device for converting power from a mains power supply (201) to power a solid state lighting load (280) includes a converter (230) and a control circuit (350). The converter (230) includes a half-bridge inverter (220) that functions as a boost inverter and output stage inverter, the half-bridge inverter having multiple switches (221, 222). The control circuit (350) is configured to control a mains input current and an output current of the device independently by providing a switching signal (S_HB) to the switches in the half-bridge inverter, where the switching signal has a duty cycle, a frequency and a cycle skipping duty cycle.
US09163809B2
A lighting system may include a housing for a lighting module and at least one profiled element which can be coupled to the housing and protrudes from the housing when coupled to the housing. The housing has an external surface with a plurality of channels and comprises a plurality of seats. The profiled element may have a first engagement formation insertable into one of the channels of the housing and a second engagement formation insertable into one of the seats of the housing when the first engagement formation is inserted in the channel. Blocking means movable into a first and into a second operative position, may be.
US09163804B2
A lighting device includes an LED light source that emits light having a first peak wavelength in a range from 200 to 470 nm and a second peak wavelength in a range from 460 to 700 nm. An emission intensity at the second peak wavelength is greater than an emission intensity at the first peak wavelength, and an emission intensity at a wavelength band of 720 nm or greater is one tenth or less than an emission intensity at the second peak wavelength.
US09163799B2
An LED light device with special effects utilizes persistence of vision theory to cause an LED(s) or LED array to change faster than the human eye response time of 1/16 to 1/24 second to display a special message, time, drawing, light patterns, or color changes. In addition, the light device may be provided with a sealed-unit arranged to receive a variety of eye-catching shades.
US09163798B2
According to embodiments of the present invention, a flameless candle is claimed, depicted, and described. The candle has a hollow interior region, an inner surface having an radius, and an outer surface having an outer radius. The candle also has a riser located within the hollow interior region. A lamp (e.g., LED) is also located in the interior region and above the riser. A light shield is located within the hollow interior region. The light shield is below the lamp and has an outer bound with a radius. The light shield also has a sloped portion. The light shield may have a reflector. The radius of the outer bound of the light shield is less than the radius of the inner surface of the candle shell. The sloped portion of the light shield slopes downwardly towards the outer bound.
US09163796B2
An LED light source with an attached heat sink includes larger fins, smaller fins, a mounting platform and light emitting diodes attached to the mounting platform. The larger fins are oriented parallel to the smaller fins. The larger fins are integrally formed with a first base, and the smaller fins are integrally formed with a second base. The bottom surface of the second base contacts the larger fins, which are more than twice as tall as the smaller fins. There are more than twice as many smaller fins than larger fins per distance perpendicular to the fins. Ducts are formed between the larger fins and the bottom surface of the second base. Intake holes pass through the first base into each duct near the end of the duct that is blocked by an end wall. The mounting platform with the LEDs is attached to the bottom of the first base.
US09163795B2
The present invention provides a candle apparatus with light transmissive figures comprising a base having a power supply unit provided thereon to receive a battery therein and electrically connected thereto to generate a power; a lighting unit provided on a top portion of the base and electrically connected to the power supply unit of the base; a light transmissive housing comprising a decorative figure layer on a housing wall thereof; and a light shield provided to cover a top portion of the housing. Therefore, as the light generated by the lighting unit passes through the housing and shone onto the decorative figure layer, the figures on the decorative figure layer are illuminated to show on the housing such that the candle apparatus of the present invention advantageously offers an illumination with unique visual effects as well as decorative and entertaining lighting.
US09163787B2
Disclosed is an LED bar. The LED bar has a plurality of LED units mounted in a cuttable form and each of the LED units has a single LED. The LED bar includes a plurality of LEDs; a bar-shaped base substrate on which the plurality of LEDs are mounted; a plurality of resistors mounted on the base substrate so as to respectively correspond to the plurality of LEDs; and a link formed so that an LED unit formed with one of the plurality of resistors corresponding to the one LED is distinguished from other LED unit that is adjacent to the LED unit.
US09163783B1
An adjustable television ceiling mounting system attaches to an exposed ceiling board surface, and is secured by an adjustable joist support bracket mounting system. The adjustable television ceiling mounting system is capable of securely tilting, swiveling, extending, and retracting up and parallel to an exposed ceiling board surface. The adjustable television ceiling mount utilizes two motors and a hydraulic cylinder to power a retracting arm and a swiveling arm by remote control. The adjustable television ceiling mounting system can be positioned anywhere on the exposed ceiling board surface and is capable of supporting televisions greater than 50 pounds and maneuvering them easily and securely due to the supporting adjustable joist support bracket mounting system.
US09163772B2
A vacuum insulated cryogenic fluid transfer hose provides a fluid conduit and high-pressure fitting with a highly-insulative vacuum jacket which enables convenient access to the fitting. An interface collar is mounted to an end of the transfer hose with the fluid conduit and the fitting extending therethrough, a bellows fastened at a first end to an interior of the interface collar and fastened at a second end to a pass-through collar, a slide cuff mounted to the pass-through collar and extending over the bellows and the interface collar, and a connecting nut mounted to the pass-through collar. The slide cuff is displaceable relative to the interface collar between a retracted position, wherein the connecting nut, the pass-through collar, and the bellows are retracted to expose and provide access to the fitting, and an extended position, wherein the fitting is entirely covered by the enclosure.
US09163770B2
The method for rehabilitating a damaged section of a pipe without a need for a resin absorbent liner is provided. The method includes pumping a low viscosity material towards a damaged section of pipe and changing the viscosity prior to dispensing of the material. For example, the material may be partially cured prior to dispensing. The partially cured or higher viscosity material is compressed between an inflating bladder and interior wall of the pipe, and the material that is allowed to fully cure. The bladder either can then be removed from the pipe or could be allowed to maintain in the pipe providing a new interior surface for the repaired pipe.
US09163764B2
A valve for opening and closing a liquid vessel or pouch, which includes a valve body having a central axis, top and bottom sides arranged transversely with respect to the central axis, and a passage opening that extends through the valve body coaxially from the top side to the bottom side. A closure element can be pressed into the passage opening by a spring element coaxially with respect to the central axis from the underside such that the passage opening can be closed in a liquid-tight manner. The closure element includes a first sealing lip which can be pressed into the passage opening with an interference fit P1 and, axially behind said first sealing lip, a second sealing lip, which can be pressed into the passage opening with an interference fit P2, wherein P2 is a stronger interference fit than P1.
US09163755B2
A flow passage component according to the present invention is a component composed of ceramics, which forms a flow passage through which a liquid flows. The flow passage has a discharge opening at an end of the flow passage, for discharging the liquid in the flow passage to a space outside of the flow passage component. The discharge opening is exposed to the outside space. A flow passage wall surface forming the flow passage is covered by/with a protection film (parylene-film) formed of a paraxylylene-based polymer. Further, the parylene-film is formed so as to have its end at a position upstream of the discharge opening by a predetermined distance along the flow passage wall surface from the discharge opening. This can decrease a possibility that the liquid goes around the “outer wall surface on which the discharge opening is formed.”
US09163749B2
A valve controller includes a housing, and a lever extending from the housing. The lever includes a protrusion rigidly attached to the lever, and the lever is biased to an initial position. A switch has an open and a closed position. A linkage is pivotally connected to the switch, and the linkage includes a centrally disposed slot configured to receive the protrusion such that movement of the switch controls movement of the linkage and the lever such that moving the switch to the closed position closes a valve controlled by the lever regardless of a position of the lever.
US09163742B2
A faucet valve seat includes a main body and a valve body. The main body is made of stainless steel, defines an internal space, and is formed with a water inlet communicating the internal space, a coupling opening adapted to be engaged with a switch handle of a faucet assembly, and a water outlet communicating the internal space and adapted to be engaged with a discharge pipe of the faucet assembly. The valve body is disposed in and adhered to the internal space, corresponds in position to the water outlet, and has several valve holes that are blocked and unblocked via operation of the switch handle for controlling water to flow from the water inlet to the water outlet.
US09163729B2
A sealing system features a primary and secondary bullet seals where the secondary seal is preferably bidirectional and is activated to spread fins with a t-shaped ring that is driven with differential pressure to advance after temperature exposure softens a stop material on the extending portion of the t-shaped ring. Opposed t-shaped rings are disposed at ends of the backup ring that have fins at both ends. Advancement of the t-shaped ring spreads the fins and retains them in the spread condition for enhanced sealing. Optionally the primary seal can also be actuated with a similar t-shaped ring with a temperature sensitive delay feature.
US09163728B2
A strip seal for providing a seal between adjacent components, which include a first groove and a second groove angled with respect to and intersecting the first groove. The grooves of respective components are opposed to one another when the components are assembled. The strip seal includes a first strip section to span between and be received in the opposed first grooves, and a second strip section to span between and be received in the opposed second grooves. One end of the first strip section is arranged to butt against the second strip section at the intersection of the grooves. The other end of the first strip section has at least one deformable projection that can engage the end of the first groove. The projection deforms as it engages the end of the groove and urges the end of the first strip section against the second strip section.
US09163718B2
Automotive vehicles having a manual shift transmission, with driver feedback to indicate when a shift change is recommended or to provide other event notifications.
US09163709B2
A gantry apparatus includes a structure to couple and support an optical system has enhanced rigidity, which minimizes deformation of the structure even if a plurality of optical systems is coupled to the structure. The gantry apparatus includes an optical system, a drive device to drive the optical system, and a structure to couple and support the drive device. The structure includes a plurality of first plates arranged parallel to one another, and a plurality of second plates intersecting the plurality of first plates to define receptive corridors, each of which receives the drive device.
US09163701B2
A gear transmission device includes a first external gear driven by a drive motor attached to a first side of a frame and a first internal gear driven by the first external gear. The first internal gear includes an outer cylinder portion, an end plate, an annular opening, and an inner cylinder portion including a shaft hole. The outer cylinder portion includes internal teeth formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof. The inner cylinder portion is formed concentrically inside the outer cylinder portion. The end plate connects the outer cylinder portion, the inner cylinder portion, and the shaft hole at one end in an axial direction. In a state in which the annular opening faces a second side of the frame opposite the first side thereof, the first external gear is inserted to the annular opening to mesh with the internal teeth of the outer cylinder portion.
US09163692B2
A rotary damper 1 includes a synthetic resin-made accommodating case 4 for accommodating in its interior 2 a viscous fluid 3 which is constituted by silicone oil or the like and whose viscosity declines with a temperature rise, and a synthetic resin-made rotor 9 which is disposed in the interior 2 of the accommodating case 4 rotatably, i.e., so as to be rotatable in R1 and R2 directions about an axis O, and which partitions the interior 2 of the accommodating case 4 into at least two chambers, i.e., in this embodiment, two chambers consisting of chambers 5 and 6 and two chambers consisting of chambers 7 and 8, in cooperation with the accommodating case 4.
US09163688B2
An energy absorbing and transmitting material comprising a framework of interconnected units comprising at least one unit having a base and a protrusion or cone extending from the base along an axis, and at least one connecting member or rod that connects the unit to at least one adjacent unit, the connecting members extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the unit from the base, where the framework is comprised of a single elastic material throughout, or configured so that when the framework is perturbed by tilting the unit towards the adjacent unit, the adjacent unit is tilted towards the unit.
US09163685B2
A road vehicle provided with a cooling duct for the cooling of a brake, the cooling duct including an air intake arranged at the inlet of the cooling duct, a shutter, which is mobile, so as to move between a closing position, in which the shutter closes the air intake, and an opening position, in which the shutter leaves the air intake unobstructed, and an electric actuating device, which controls the movement of the shutter and, therefore, moves the shutter between the closing position and the opening position and is mechanically configured to be normally open and, therefore, in the absence of a power supply, to push the shutter towards the opening position.
US09163682B2
A friction damped brake drum for reducing vibrations in a brake drum.
US09163674B2
The present disclosure provides a disconnect mechanism for removably coupling an input member and an output member to one another. The mechanism includes a drive member configured to be rotationally driven and a driven member rotationally coupled to the drive member. A collar is rotatably coupled to the driven member, where rotation of the drive member induces rotational and longitudinal movement of the collar along the shaft. The mechanism further includes a coupler member coupled to the collar such that the coupler member is adapted to be removably coupled to the input member and output member. As the collar moves along the longitudinal shaft, the coupler member moves longitudinally between a first position in which the input member and output member are coupled and a second position in which the input member and output member are decoupled from one another.
US09163672B2
A fixed type constant velocity universal joint has track grooves of an outer joint member including first and second track groove portions located on depth and opening sides, respectively. The first track groove portions each have a circular-arc part having a curvature center that is not offset in an axial direction with respect to a joint center, are inclined in a circumferential direction with respect to a joint axial line, and are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction with their inclination directions opposite to each other. The second track groove portions have a different shape than the first track groove portions to increase an effective track length with respect to a maximum operating angle. The first and second track groove portions are connected respectively to each other on the opening side with respect to the joint center.
US09163661B2
Rolling bearing assembly device comprising an outer race, an inner race, a row of rolling elements which is arranged between the outer and inner races, a sleeve mounted in the bore of the inner race, and an elastic preload element capable of transmitting an axial preload to the inner race, the elastic preload element being mounted in direct contact with the inner race and being able to be in contact with an annular axial centring portion of the sleeve. A radial bearing flange of the sleeve extends radially from the axial centring portion towards the outside of the device and bears axially over its entire periphery against the elastic preload element.The rolling bearing assembly device comprises an axial retention means bearing axially over its entire periphery against the radial bearing flange of the sleeve.
US09163658B2
A single bell crank for a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine or a compressor includes a single bell crank main journal (5, 28, 39) and a crank pin (21, 31, 46), wherein the crank pin (21, 31, 46) is vertical to the single bell crank main journal (5, 28, 39) and extends out, the axis of the crank pin (21, 31, 46) is offset relative to that of the single bell crank main journal (5, 28, 39), the front end of the crank pin (21, 31, 46) is tapered, at least one first positioning half hole (10-1) is provided on the circumference of the end face of the tapered end (9) and can match with a second positioning half hole (10-02) in a crank to form a positioning pin hole. A crank for a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine or a compressor includes a crank main journal (13, 52) provided with a taper hole (15,59) matching with the tapered end (9) of the crank pin (21, 31, 46), wherein the axis of the taper hole (15, 59) is offset relative to that of the crank main journal (13, 52); the inner diameter surface of the taper hole (15, 59) is provided with the second positioning half hole (10-2) corresponding to the first positioning half hole (10-1) in the single bell crank matching with the taper hole (15, 59), and the second positioning half hole (10-2) and the first positioning half hole (10-1) can form a complete positioning hole after the single bell crank and the crank are assembled together.
US09163651B2
A concrete anchor for securing the lanyard of a workman's harness to a fixed position on a concrete surface includes a cylindrical housing having an outer wall with openings therein and a rod that extends above the housing to which a harness can be attached. Hard metal balls within the housing are associated with each opening and are dimensioned so that a portion of each ball can pass through each opening but the entire ball can not pass therethrough. A pair of cones within the housing move the balls radially outwardly as the cones are moved upwardly by the rod which is spring biased upwardly. A visual marker carried by the rod normally lies within the housing but is visible from outside of the housing if said rod has moved up by a predetermined amount. This gives an indication that the anchor has been used.
US09163650B2
The present system provides a mechanism which provides mechanical locking of an apparatus, with fluid pressure-driven unlocking and an actuating force when an intended level of such pressure has been reached. The present system thus mechanically locks an apparatus against premature actuation caused by, for example, shock or vibration, until it is subjected to a level of pressure intended to actuate it. The present system is suitable for incorporation in any apparatus taking advantage of its ability to utilize fluid pressure to remove a mechanical block at an intended level of pressure and impart an actuating force.
US09163645B2
A vehicle brake system includes a cylinder, a master piston including a pressure applying piston and a projection portion, a servo chamber, a contact/separation determining means determining a separated state and a contact state between the input piston and the master piston, a pilot pressure generating device generating a pilot pressure, a servo pressure generating device, a servo pressure measuring device measuring a servo pressure, and a master pressure estimating means estimating a master pressure from the pilot pressure and a first servo ratio, which is a cross-sectional area ratio between a first pilot chamber and a servo pressure generating chamber, in a case of the separated state, and estimating the master pressure based on the servo pressure, the pilot pressure and a second servo ratio, which is a cross-sectional area ratio between a second pilot chamber and the servo pressure generating chamber, in a case of the contact state.
US09163641B2
A support housing is disclosed for use with a turbocharger. The support housing may have an end wall, a semi-cylindrical protrusion extending from the end wall in a first direction, and a plurality of side walls extending from the end wall in a second direction. The plurality of side walls together with the end wall may form a generally hollow enclosure. The support housing may also include a mounting flange disposed at distal edges of the plurality of side walls, and a center opening disposed in the end wall. The support housing may further include a collection cavity formed at a gravitationally lowest corner of the end wall below the center opening and substantially isolated from the enclosure formed by the plurality of side walls and the end wall, and a gutter passage formed in the end wall and extending from the center opening to the collection cavity.
US09163637B2
A fan assembly and its fan device are provided. The fan device includes a housing, a fan body disposed in the housing, a connector electrically connected with the fan body, and a fixing cover detachably assembled to the housing. The fixing cover includes a connecting structure fitting a type of the connector for positioning the connector on the fixing cover.
US09163629B2
The present invention relates to a resilient material lined stator and method of forming. A method of forming a resilient material lined stator can include disposing a resilient material tube 400 with a profiled helical inner surface 401 into the bore of a body 420. A cast material 410 can be disposed therebetween. The cast material 410 can bond to the body 420 to form a resilient material lined stator or the body 420 can be removed. The cast material 310 can include a conduit 312 or conductor 314 extending therethrough. The cast material 310 can include a pathway 316 formed therethrough. The resilient material can be an elastomer.
US09163627B2
A rotating pump includes an outer rotor and an inner rotor. The inner and outer rotors are rotated by a drive shaft between a first side plate and a second side plate to pump put fluid. The first side plate faces the inner and outer rotors and has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is inclined to an axial direction of the drive shaft to create a wedge-shaped gap between itself and one of the inner and outer rotor. The second surface extends more parallel to a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the drive shaft than the first surface does. The geometric configurations of the first and second surfaces serve to minimize the leakage of the brake fluid without sacrificing a reduction in resistance to sliding motion of the inner rotor and the outer rotor on the second side plate.
US09163618B2
An apparatus, system, and process of converting a standard, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) flow path to a flow path suitable for supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) are described. This reversible technique is applied to a variety of flow configurations including binary, high pressure solvent mixing systems and quaternary, low pressure solvent mixing systems than can be conventionally operated or automated. The technique is generally applied to the fields of supercritical fluid chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography, but users skilled in the art will find utility for any flow system where pressurization components must be periodically applied to and removed from both ends of a flow stream in an automated manner.
US09163614B2
An energy production apparatus that includes a weight bearing member configured to alternate between an upper and lower position, and a drive shaft. A gear system can be connected to the weight bearing member and the drive shaft. The gear system can be positioned to rotate the drive shaft when a load is placed on the weight bearing member and the weight bearing member moves from the upper position to the lower position. A torsion spring can be connected to the drive shaft, the torsion spring positioned to wind as the weight bearing member moves to the lower position. A return member can be configured to return the weight bearing member to the upper position. A locking member can selectively engage the gear system, the locking member preventing the torsion spring from unwinding when engaged. A generator can be driven by the drive shaft as the torsion spring unwinds.
US09163612B2
A wind turbine nacelle (50) which comprises a frame (54) and a drive train which comprises a gearbox (55). The nacelle (50) has a rotor attached thereto and comprises a rotor hub (52), with one or more blades (53), which supported by a rotor bearing(s) (56) located on a tubular part (57) at an end of the frame (54) furthest from the tower (51). The gearbox (55) comprises a gearbox housing (58), not constituting part of the frame (54), which is rigidly and axially connected to the frame (54) by a gearbox flange (66) such that a side of the gearbox flange (66), furthest from the gearbox input side (I), is connected to an end of the frame flange (67) furthest away from the tower (51). An input shaft (76) of the gearbox (55) is connected to the rotor hub (52) via a separate connection part (77).
US09163604B2
Engine starting device, including: a crank signal generation unit (13); and an engine control unit (10) for identifying a predetermined crank position of a crankshaft, and starting the engine, in which the engine control unit estimates, in a course of stopping the engine when a stop condition for the engine is established, based on an engine rpm at the identified predetermined crank position, whether or not the engine rotates backward before reaching the predetermined crank position for a next time, and after estimating that the engine rotates backward, sets an inhibition range which is prescribed from a starter drive inhibition start timing to a starter drive inhibition reset timing, and a permission range which is other than the inhibition range, and when the restart condition is established during rotation of the engine, inhibits restart in the inhibition range and carries out the restart in the permission range.
US09163601B2
An object of the present invention is to be able to execute motor assist only when it is necessary at a time of starting an engine, and drive a motor efficiently. An engine 10 includes a starter motor 34 for aiding in starting, and performs motor assist by the starter motor 34 in accordance with necessity when the engine is to start independently by combustion. An ECU 50 predicts a torque T1 that is generated in an initial explosion cylinder at a time of starting before actual combustion, and performs independent starting without driving the motor 34, when the prediction torque T1 is a starting request torque Ts1 or more. When the prediction torque T1 is less than the starting request torque Ts1, the ECU 50 drives the motor 34 and performs starting by motor assist. Thereby, power consumption of a battery and the like can be suppressed by decreasing wasteful drive of the motor, and the starter motor 34 can be efficiently driven while startability is secured.
US09163598B2
The engine with a variable flow rate oil pump includes a subsidiary relief passage that extends from an oil passage-switching valve to a subsidiary oil pump, a main relief passage that extends from the oil passage-switching valve to the main oil pump separately from the subsidiary relief passage, and a check valve that is provided in the subsidiary discharge passage and cuts off the flow of oil from the main discharge passage side to the oil passage-switching valve side. The oil passage-switching valve has a main pressure-adjusting chamber for the main oil pump, a subsidiary pressure-adjusting chamber of for the subsidiary oil pump, and a spool valve that performs partitioning between the main pressure-adjusting chamber and the subsidiary pressure-adjusting chamber.
US09163591B2
In a method for operating a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, the fuel system has a fuel tank and a ventilation device for ventilating the fuel tank which has at least one ventilation valve. In a first operating mode the ventilation valve is adjusted for ventilating the fuel tank based exclusively on a temperature and/or the ventilation occurs over a defined period of time when the internal combustion engine is deactivated. The invention further relates to a fuel system of an internal combustion engine.
US09163590B2
A first purge passage is connected to an intake-air passage at a downstream side of a throttle valve. A second purge passage is connected to the intake-air passage at an upstream side of a supercharging device. A first and a second check valve are respectively provided in the first and second purge passages. A control unit determines to which operating condition (from a first to a third operating condition) engine operation corresponds, based on downstream-side and upstream-side pressure of the throttle valve. A change of in-tank pressure of a fuel tank is detected in a condition that an air-communication valve is closed but a purge control valve is opened. The control unit diagnoses which of the valves is not normally operated and whether such valve is fixed to a valve opened or a valve closed position, based on the change of in-tank pressure for each of engine operating conditions.
US09163585B2
A portion of a fuel system of a vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes a brake system. The fuel system includes a fuel tank connected to an engine. The portion of the fuel system includes an evaporative emissions system and an evaporative emissions leak check system selectively fluidly-connected to the evaporative emissions system. The evaporative emissions leak check system includes a vacuum source. The vacuum source includes a vacuum pump connected to a brake boost device that provides power braking to the brake system of the vehicle. A method is also disclosed.
US09163582B2
A liner assembly includes a plurality of flaps arranged about a central axis and operable to move relative to the central axis. Each of the plurality of flaps defines a forward end and an aft end, lateral sides, and an inner surface and an outer surface relative to the central axis. Each of the plurality of flaps has a thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface, and thickness varies in a lateral direction between the lateral sides.
US09163581B2
A thermo-acoustic engine and/or cooler is provided and includes an elongated tubular body, multiple regenerators disposed within the body, multiple heat exchangers disposed within the body, where at least one heat exchanger is disposed adjacent to each of the multiple regenerators, multiple transducers axially disposed at each end of the body, and an acoustic wave source generating acoustic waves. At least one of the acoustic waves is amplified by one of the regenerators and at least another acoustic wave is amplified by a second one of regenerators.
US09163565B2
A valve flap device for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle, having at least one tubular valve housing with a flow cross section running perpendicular to a central axis and being formed by the inner geometry and a shaft which can turn about a valve axis with a valve flap mounted on the shaft, being mounted in the valve housing to close the flow cross section. The valve flap device can be made with low material input and at the same time with low fabrication expense at low costs. For this, the valve housing is made from a tubular blank of sheet metal with a tube diameter that is calibrated to the flow cross section at least partially by mechanical, plastic forming.
US09163564B2
The present techniques provide systems and methods for recovering energy from flare gases in chemical plants and refineries. The systems use an engine to burn a portion of gas diverted from the flare system. The engine may be a reciprocating engine, or a burner in a boiler system, among others. The power generated by burning the flare gas is then used to power an energy recovery device. The energy recovery device may be an electrical generator, a compressor, or a steam boiler, among others.
US09163563B2
A method of controlling the operation of a fuel metering unit of the type incorporating a temperature sensor is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: sensing a change in temperature; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a fast temperature correction factor; using the sensed change in temperature to derive a slow temperature correction factor; using the fast and slow temperature correction factors in combination with a fuel demand to determine a metering valve position; and moving the metering valve to the determined metering valve position.
US09163562B2
A gas turbine engine comprises a fan configured to produce propulsive thrust from a fan discharge air stream. A bypass duct is located between a cowl and an engine core, the bypass duct is fluidly coupled to the fan. An impeller pump has an intake manifold fluidly coupled to the bypass duct. The impeller pump has an outlet coupled to an outlet duct fluidly coupled to an environmental control system, wherein the impeller pump is configured to raise pressure of the fan discharge air stream and pump the fan discharge air into the environmental control system for cooling. An integrated drive pump is connected to the impeller pump for driving the impeller pump at a constant speed. The integrated drive pump is positioned on the engine core.
US09163558B1
A product for use with a turbocharger that may include a complex sealing path between a lubricated area of a housing and a compressor wheel.
US09163556B2
An assembly for a turbocharger can include a turbine housing that defines an exhaust inflow chamber that includes a wastegate valve seat and that defines an exhaust outflow chamber; and a wastegate valve plug that includes a seal surface where, in a closed state, the seal surface seats against the wastegate valve seat and where, in an open state, the wastegate valve plug extends into the exhaust inflow chamber. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09163553B2
A vehicular coolant control valve configured so that the opened state thereof can be switched between a state allowing a normal amount of fluid to pass and a state allowing a lesser amount of fluid to pass. The control valve includes a valve body having a magnetic body and controlling fluid flow, a valve seat constituting a fluid flow channel and coming into contact with the valve body to close the flow channel, a solenoid magnetically maintaining a contact state between the valve body and valve seat, and an urging mechanism urging the valve body opposite to a flow direction of the fluid. The valve body includes a first valve body maintaining a contact state with the valve seat when the solenoid is excited and a second valve body allowing passage of a small amount of the fluid when the first valve body is in contact with the valve seat.
US09163547B2
A silencer (1; 1′) for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes a housing (2; 2′), which includes a housing shell (3; 3′) extending in a circumferential direction (U) of the housing (2; 2′). At least one sandwich plate (6; 6′) forms a part of the housing shell (3; 3′). A housing interior space (4) including at least one chamber (8), is enclosed by the housing (2). A self-supporting support structure (5) is provided, which includes a pipe arrangement (7) that is at least partially arranged in the housing interior space (4).
US09163539B2
A reducing agent supply apparatus includes a pump, a reducing agent injection valve, a reducing agent supply passage, a reducing agent return passage, and a pressure sensor. Injection control of the liquid reducing agent by the reducing agent injection valve is performed while the reducing agent pressure is controlled so as to be maintained at a predetermined target pressure. The reducing agent supply apparatus also includes a passage throttle valve on the reducing agent return passage, a pump control device for feedback-controlling the output of the pump based on the difference between the reducing agent pressure and the target pressure, and a passage throttle valve control device for controlling the opening of the passage throttle valve according to a change in the operation amount of the reducing agent injection valve.
US09163538B2
A fine particle collecting filter includes a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of honeycomb segments are integrally joined by a joining material, and has a constitution where an exhaust gas allowed to flow from an inlet end surface into cells passes partition walls, and then flows out from an outlet end surface to the outsides of the cells. The partition walls are made of a material containing SiC as a main component, at least one of an average open diameter of pores of an inlet side of the exhaust gas passing the partition wall and an average open diameter of the pores of an outlet side of the exhaust gas passing is from 0.1 to 5 μm, an average pore diameter of the whole partition wall is from 10 to 30 μm, and a thermal conductivity of the partition walls at room temperature is from 80 to 110 W/mK.
US09163531B2
Self-adaptive hydraulic variable valve timing system for an internal combustion diesel engine, comprising an electronic control unit, an oil pump, a pressure regulating reversing valve, an oil return tube, an oil line, an oil supply main tube, an oil supply branch tube, and a self-adaptive pushrod length changing assembly. When the engine's oil exceeds 70° C., and engine's rotational speed is greater than or equal to 1300 r/m, and engine's load is greater than or equal to 50%, the control unit is configured to send instructions to the pressure regulating reversing valve to switch oil flow direction towards the oil line which leads to the self-adaptive pushrod length changing assembly and thereby put the engine in an operating mode.
US09163515B2
A gas turbine arrangement and a method of operating are provided. The turbine includes an annulus, axially delimited between a rotor unit, and at least one stationary component. Cooling medium outlet openings, lead into the annulus, from the stationary component. The cooling medium flows into cooling medium inlet openings, in the rotor unit in a flow direction, which propagates through the annulus. At least one inner cavity, radially to the annulus, is delimited by the rotor unit and by the stationary component. The inner cavity is pressurized with a purging gas, and is fluidically connected to the annulus. The stationary component and the rotor unit include a constriction by which the inner cavity is separated from the radially outer annulus and via which the inner cavity is fluidically connected to the radially outer annulus. Flow guides, fastened on the stationary component on one side, project into the constriction.
US09163511B2
Tenons can be installed at the ends of turbine blades by applying a solid state bonding procedure such as a friction welding technique to join the tenons to the turbine blades. The tenons can be employed to assemble the turbine blades to one or more covers for the turbine blades. The tenons can be installed in connection with the restoration of tenons for turbine buckets in steam turbines and in connection with the renovation of rotor assemblies that include turbine blades secured to a common disk, tenons located at one end of respective turbine blades and one or more covers secured to the turbine blades by means of the tenons. In instances in which tenon remnants are present at the ends of the turbine blades, tenon enlargement elements can be joined to the tenon remnants by the solid state bonding procedure. The tenon installations can be carried out in situ.
US09163498B2
In one aspect, an apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided that in one embodiment includes a sensor having a plurality of spaced conductive contact elements, a sensing member that moves by gravity and contacts at least two contact elements in the plurality of contact elements to create an electrical short between such at least two contact elements and a circuit coupled to the contact elements configured to generate electrical signals in response to the electrical short between the contact elements.
US09163488B2
A system for use with a well having multiple zones can include multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between a completion string and respective ones of the zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the completion string and at least one of the zones, multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the well screens, and multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the well screens. A completion string for use in a subterranean well can include at least one well screen, at least one flow control device which selectively prevents and permits substantially unrestricted flow through the well screen, and at least one other flow control device which is remotely operable, and which variably restricts flow through the well screen.
US09163486B2
A subsea structure flowline connector assembly for a subsea structure having a flowline connector assembly adapted to be mountable to the subsea structure, the flowline connector assembly having a junction plate having a flowline connector therein; an receiver affixed to or adjacent to said junction plate, said receiver having an interior exposed to said flowline connector of said junction plate; a fly-in connector assembly adapted to be connectable to the flowline connector, said fly-in connector assembly having a connector thereon, said connector of said fly-in connector assembly adapted to engage said flowline connector of said junction plate to establish fluid communication, said fly-in connector assembly having a conduit in communication with said connector of said fly-in connector assembly, said conduit adapted to connect to a flowline; an actuating device coupled to the connector for actuating the connector to engage the flowline connector, a brace extending from the actuating device to the conduit for bracing the conduit to the actuating device.
US09163485B2
A vertical connection apparatus for connecting a pipeline to a subsea structure comprises a guide funnel for controlling the position of the pipeline relative to the subsea structure; a moveable barrier and a attachment region for a drive mechanism; the moveable barrier is operable between an open position in which the pipeline can pass through the guide funnel and a closed position in which the barrier prevent the end of the pipeline passing through the end of the guide funnel. A tool with a drive mechanism can be attached between the pipeline and guide funnel to manipulate the pipeline into a connectable position. A clamp connector secures the connection between the pipeline and subsea structure conduit.
US09163481B2
A method of operating an isolation valve in a wellbore includes: deploying a work string into the wellbore through a tubular string disposed in the wellbore. The work string comprises a deployment string, a shifting tool, and a bottomhole assembly (BHA). The tubular string comprises the isolation valve and an actuator. The method further includes rotating the actuator using the shifting tool, thereby opening or closing the isolation valve. The isolation valve isolates a formation from an upper portion of the wellbore in the closed position.
US09163478B2
A device and method that allows a gravel slurry to placed in a wellbore from the toe towards the heel to reduce the pressure acting upon the heel of the wellbore during the gravel placement operation. By reducing the pressure acting upon the heel gravel slurry may be placed in longer sections of the wellbore in a single operation.
US09163468B2
A system including a housing having an upper end in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid and a lower end releasably coupled to an expandable tubular. A piston is disposed within and sealingly engaged with the housing. An expansion cone is coupled to the piston and is operable to radially expand the expandable tubular as it moves longitudinally therethrough. A pressure chamber is disposed within the housing and defined by the piston and the expansion cone. A first pressure relief port is disposed within the housing and is operable to allow fluid communication between the pressure chamber and an annulus external to the housing. A second pressure relief port is disposed within the expansion cone and is operable to allow fluid communication between the pressure chamber and a portion of the expandable tubular below the expansion cone.
US09163463B2
A bend restrictor device includes at least two bend limiter units coupled together and having at least one stiffness ring disposed therebetween.
US09163451B1
A privacy screen assembly is a set of auxiliary screen panels for covering a garage door opening that provides a view from the inside looking out but appears to be an opaque garage door from the outside, and yet, provides ventilation through the screen panels. The panel is useful for privacy and ventilation while providing an open clear view looking out or for concealing the interior contents in the event that the roll-up garage door is disabled in the open position. The panels may be locked to provide a degree of security.
US09163446B2
A door control apparatus and methods for controlling a door motion device for a hinged door and, optionally, illuminating a designated area on the floor. During the time the designated area is illuminated, a person can expect that the door will not close. The door control apparatus may include control circuitry, and a sensor, and optionally a light emitter and/or a sound emitter. The sensor detects a person proximate to the door and signals the control circuitry upon a detection event. The light emitter is also connected to the control circuitry. Upon a detection event, the control circuitry signals the light emitter to produce light and signals the door motion device to hold the door open. The light emitter directs light to form an image on the floor in the designated area. The light emitter may be, for example, a laser generator or a light emitting diode lamp.
US09163444B1
A method and apparatus is provided for maintaining functionality of at least one sliding panel of a sliding unit when a building structure to which the device is attached is subject to upward or downward movement. The method includes attaching a fixed guiding portion to the building and locating a variable panel track inside the fixed guiding portion, the variable panel track allowing a specified range of vertical movement of the sliding unit inside the fixed guiding portion in order to compensate for vertical movement of the building structure such that the at least one sliding panel is retained within the fixed guiding portion during the specified range of vertical movement, where either the fixed guiding portion is a fixed header and the variable panel track is a variable header track or the fixed guiding portion is a fixed floor channel and the variable panel track is a variable floor track.
US09163440B2
A controlled latch clamp including a base and a handle pivotally connected to the base. The clamp has a link pivotally connected to the handle and to a plunger. The plunger also being pivotally connected to the base. The clamp includes an arm connected to an end of the plunger.
US09163431B2
A lock includes a locking body, a non-locking body, and at least two shackles each independently removable from both the locking and non-locking body.
US09163430B1
A drawer assembly includes a drawer body that is slideably coupled within a cabinet housing using a slide assembly. The slide assembly includes an outer slide portion having a blocking tab disposed thereon. The slide assembly further includes a slide mount having an engagement tab pivotably mounted thereon. The engagement tab engages the blocking tab to lock the drawer assembly. The engagement tab can be released by turning a twist-lock mechanism, which actuates a lever that engages an actuator tab extending inwardly.
US09163424B2
A building structure in an outrigger configuration having a building core, at least one perimeter column, and at least one outrigger beam having a main body portion connected to the building core, an end portion distal from the building core in a direction of the at least one perimeter column and a vane portion extending from the end portion. At least one damper having a high-viscosity fluid container connected is connected to the at least one perimeter column and the vane portion extends into the high-viscosity fluid container to couple the building core to the at least one perimeter column, such that when the building structure is subjected to lateral loads and the building core is displaced with respect to the at least perimeter column, high-viscosity fluid within the high-viscosity fluid container is sheared by the vane to damp vibrations and provide coupling in the building structure.
US09163423B1
A single container wind resistant modular ISO building includes a cargo container and a pitched roof structure. However, the pitched roof structure is optional. The cargo container includes a first lengthwise side wall and a second lengthwise side wall. At least one door entrance and window system is formed in at least one of the lengthwise side walls.
US09163421B2
Devices and methods for inhibiting movement of automatic pool cleaners (APCs) are described. Versions of the devices may cause pool water to bypass flowing through bodies of APCs. Alternatively, they may cause water flowing though bodies of APCs to bypass the associated motive force creators. The devices thus may constitute idler mechanisms, as they effectively prevent movement without requiring operation of the ultimate driver (i.e. the pump) to cease.
US09163418B2
A removable safety barrier for a construction site pit, in which piles support the sides of the pit, and having a plurality of upright barrier posts at spaced intervals, supported on the piles, the barrier posts extending below grade level around the edge of the construction pit and also above grade level; a plurality of retention panels, shaped to fit between adjacent posts; personal barrier supports secured to the barrier posts above grade level; and personal barrier members supported in the supports, extending substantially transversely between the upright barrier posts, and the retention panels being located below grade level extending between the barrier posts.
US09163417B2
This method of assisting the placement of construction elements of a civil engineering work, comprises: the adjustment (108) of the orientation of each construction element as a function of a discrepancy between a measured orientation for this construction element and an orientation setpoint, the supplying of the construction elements each equipped with at least one orientation sensor, fixed without any degree of freedom to the construction element, able to measure the inclination of this construction element with respect to three non-coplanar axes, and in which the adjustment (108) of the orientation of each element is carried out as a function of the discrepancy between the orientation measured by the orientation sensor fixed to this construction element and the orientation setpoint.
US09163416B2
A method of texturing a wall or ceiling with non-acoustical joint compound by providing a collapsible bag having an opening at its top and is adapted to contain non-acoustical joint compound for forming a textured coating on the wall or ceiling and providing a spray nozzle having a low pressure input port, a joint compound suction port attached to the opening at the top of the collapsible bag, and an output port for spraying the non-acoustical joint compound. A low pressure stream of air from an air gun attached to the low pressure input port urges a small quantity of the non-acoustical joint compound to be sprayed out of the spray nozzle when the bottom of the collapsible disposable bag is raised above its top to either allow or force the joint compound to flow into the suction port and into the interior of the spray nozzle.
US09163407B2
A split-flashing composition for covering a protrusion from a roof, having a flange for sealing to a roof surface with an in-plane spiral closed-loop opening with first and second end portions connected together in an off-set manner, and a generally conical collar portion that extends from the flange portion, the collar portion having a curved wall section and a planar wall section that define an internal volume within the collar portion.
US09163406B1
A gutter cover for covering a gutter supported by gutter hangers is disclosed. The gutter cover has a front cover portion comprising a surface tension curve curving downward and rearward from a central cover portion for directing water in a downward and rearward direction, a drain trough extending lengthwise of the gutter cover below the surface tension curve for collecting water directed by the surface tension curve, and a recess forward of the drain trough for receiving the gutter flange when the gutter cover is in said installed position.
US09163403B2
A block for forming a structure, the block having a top, a bottom, a front wall, a back wall and two side walls, the block having disposed proximate the top at least one projection, the block having disposed proximate the bottom thereof at least one recess, wherein when the structure is formed from a plurality of the blocks, the at least one projection of one block engages with the at least one recess of another block.
US09163400B2
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a plug of the type utilized for sealing a junction between a horizontal member and a vertical mullion of a curtain wall. The plug may include a plug body. The plug body may include a front body portion, a rear body portion, a left body portion, a right body portion, a top surface disposed between the left body portion, the right body portion, the front body portion, and the rear body portion. A rabbet is disposed across the front body portion. A spacer flange extends from the front body portion. A plurality of chamfers are disposed between the top surface and the left body portion, the right body portion, and the rear body portions. The plug is sized to occupy a gap formed in the junction between the horizontal member and the vertical mullion of the curtain wall. The rabbet and the plurality of chamfers form a plurality of large crevices between the plug, the horizontal member, and the vertical mullion. The large crevices allow penetration of a sealant therein.
US09163399B1
A retrofit cladding system that allows a home, office, or building to replace its cladding without having to remove the foundational frames utilizing at least one frame clip that can attach to the foundational frame structure of the home, office, building, and a plurality of cladding members that can attach to the foundational frame or the frame clip to cover the foundational frame and provide support for a window.
US09163387B2
The present disclosure relates to fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration schemes, architectures and methods for use in electrohydraulic actuation systems for construction equipment. In one embodiment, a supervisory controller adapted to interface with a main controller of the construction vehicle is provided. A plurality of control nodes that interface with the supervisory controller are also disclosed, each of which includes pressure and position sensors. The nodes also include a first actuator control node for controlling operation of a first hydraulic actuator, a second actuator control node for controlling operation of a second hydraulic actuator, and a pump control node. The control system has an architecture in which faults are detected and isolated at the supervisory controller level and, where possible, within each of the control nodes at a sensor level, a component level, and a subsystem level.
US09163378B2
A locking device that connects to a grooved end of a dragline pin includes a lock block and a lock pin. The lock block has a through opening sized to receive the end of the pin. There is a bore formed in the lock block and transversely intersecting the through opening which is dimensioned to receive the lock pin. The lock pin is configured to pass through a portion of the grooved end of a received dragline pin received in the through opening to lock the dragline pin and any attached dragline component.
US09163377B2
A bucket for a machine, such as a wheel loader or track loader is disclosed. The bucket includes a bottom section connected to a top section by a middle section. The top, bottom and middle sections are connected to a pair of side walls. The bottom section includes a bottom distal edge and the top section includes a top distal edge. A rear side of the bucket includes a lower ear for receiving a lower pin. The lower pin connects the lower ear and the bucket to a lower linkage. A first distance between the lower pin and the bottom distal edge has a first length and a second distance between the lower pin and the top distal edge has a second length. A ratio of the first and second length, referred to as a loading index (LI) ranges from greater than 0.83 to less than 0.95.
US09163365B2
An anti-icing system may maintain a thin layer of solution on top of pedestrian reception areas to prevent frozen precipitation from remaining frozen on the pedestrian reception areas. This greatly reduces the slippery surfaces that pedestrians would otherwise encounter when using the walk-on surface.
US09163357B2
A process for providing and processing natural fibres, wherein the process includes the following steps: 1) providing a biomass including fibres and having a dry substance content of at most 50% by weight; 2) adding water to produce a suspension including the biomass; 3) extracting the natural fibres from the biomass; 4) separating the liquid from the suspension; 5) at least single repetition of at least one of steps 2) to 4), the suspension having at least one agent for finishing of the fibres in the last repetition of at least one of steps 2) to 4); and 6) drying the natural fibres.
US09163356B2
The invention pertains cushioned vinyl floor coverings. For the production of cushioned vinyl floor coverings non-woven carriers made from glass fibers are currently used. However, handling of floor coverings with glass fiber carriers is quite difficult especially when the covering is laid on stairs or sharp edges. According to the present invention a solution to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art is a cushioned vinyl floor covering comprising a nonwoven carrier that is made from different polymers. The different polymers exist either in separate filaments or together in one filament.
US09163353B2
A method and apparatus for cutting and sealing a moving length of a fabric by heating, sealing, and finally cutting the fabric in a linear process to form an even, fused edge. The fabric undergoes a sequence of manipulations efficacious for cutting and sealing the fabric to a desired pattern and edge width. The method and apparatus help to minimize frayed edges on the fabric by bonding and fusing the fibers prior to cutting. The fabric is initially drawn through the apparatus in a predetermined pattern, such as a window blind. A heating portion directs a hot gas onto a section of the fiber desired for creating the edges. The heated section is compressed under a seal, which helps fuse perpendicular and parallel cross sections of fibers. The newly sealed section is then immediately cut with a cutting portion to form at least one fused edge.
US09163351B2
A laundry treatment device is provided. The laundry treatment device includes a dual filter structure which may prevent heat transfer efficiency of a heat pump module from becoming poor due to introduction of lint to an inlet duct. The laundry treatment device may include a cabinet, which may form an exterior of the laundry treatment device, a tub mounted in the cabinet configured to accommodate washing water therein, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub configured to receive laundry therein, a heat pump module mounted under the tub that supplies hot air to the drum and having an inlet duct that receives air from the drum and an outlet duct that discharges the heated air, and a filter module mounted to be accessible through a lower side of a front of the cabinet that filters air received therethrough.
US09163350B2
A clothes treating apparatus and a controlling method thereof are disclosed. The clothes treating apparatus includes a housing defining a accommodating space for receiving clothes, an air supplying device for drying air circulating into the accommodating space, a temperature measuring device for measuring the interior temperature of the accommodating space, a preheating unit for raising the temperature of the accommodating space according to the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device, and a controller for controlling the air supplying device and the preheating unit according to the temperature measured by the temperature measuring device.
US09163341B2
The invention concerns a multifilament yarn construction comprising a core part and a sheath part, the core part comprising a plurality of core filaments, and the sheath part comprising a plurality of sheath filaments. Furthermore, the invention concerns members comprising the multifilament yarn construction and uses of the multifilament yarn construction and the members according to the invention.
US09163339B2
A method of manufacturing a composite article may include providing a plurality of fibers. At least a portion of the plurality of fibers may be substantially optically transparent. The method may further include forming the fibers with at least one base surface and a pair of side surfaces oriented in non-perpendicular relation to the base surface. The method may additionally include positioning the fibers in a layer in side-by-side relation to one another such that the side surfaces overlap one another when viewed along a direction normal to a plane of the layer. The method may also include embedding the fibers at least partially in a substantially optically transparent polymeric matrix.
US09163332B2
A method of forming particles that includes performing a strong force attenuation of a mixture to form pre-particles. The mixture including a base compound and a dielectric additive having an elevated dielectric constant dispersed therein. The pre-particles are then dielectrically spun in an electrostatic field to further attenuate the pre-particles and form the particles.
US09163329B2
A method of sample analysis is provided. In certain embodiments, the method involves: a) obtaining a fragmented RNA sample comprising fragments of long RNA molecules and short RNA molecules; b) ligating an adaptor to an end of the RNA of the fragmented RNA sample to produce an adaptor-ligated sample; c) hybridizing said adaptor-ligated sample to an array of nucleic acid probes; and d) reading said array to obtain an estimate of the abundance of a long RNA in the RNA sample and an estimate of the abundance a small RNA in the RNA sample.
US09163327B2
Provided is a silicon wafer which is stabilized in quality exerting no adverse influence on device characteristics and manufactured by restricting a boron contamination from the environment, and a manufacturing process therefor. Concretely, the silicon wafer is characterized by an attached boron amount thereon being 1×1010 atoms/cm2 or less. In order to manufacture such a wafer as contains a small amount of boron attached on the wafer surface, the wafer is treated in an atmosphere of boron concentration of 15 ng/m3 or less. Boron-less filters and boron adsorbing filters are used as filters in a clean room and the like so as to lower the boron concentration in the atmosphere.
US09163302B2
The present invention relates to a castable heat resistant aluminum alloy for high temperature applications such as components in combustion engines, in particular for the manufacturing of highly loaded cylinder heads, the alloy comprises the following composition: .Si: 6.5-10 wt %.Mg: 0.25-0.35 wt %.Cu: 0.3-0.7 wt %.Hf: 0.025-0.55 wt % Optionally with the addition of: .Ti: 0-0.2 wt %.Zr: 0-0.3 wt %, the balance being made of Al and unavoidable impurities including Fe.
US09163301B2
A method of producing a purified tin, which emits low alpha radiation by using a vacuum refining has developed: the steps are comprising: preparing a crude tin; containing the crude tin in a crucible and placing it in a vacuum furnace; and removing the impurities, which have higher vapor pressures and low boiling points than that of the tin from the vacuum furnace. The impurities, such as a lead and bismuth can be removed as much as possible by utilizing the difference of the vapor pressure of the elements in the tin. It is possible to minimize the emission of alpha radiation, so that it can be prevented the occurrence of the software errors.
US09163296B2
Described herein are coiled tubes with improved and varying properties along the length that are produced by using a continuous and dynamic heat treatment process (CDHT). Coiled tubes can be uncoiled from a spool, subjected to a CDHT process, and coiled onto a spool. A CDHT process can produce a “composite” tube such that properties of the tube along the length of the tube are selectively varied. For example, the properties of the tube can be selectively tailored along the length of the tube for particular application for which the tube will be used.
US09163285B2
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Tristetraproline (TTP), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Tristetraproline (TTP). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of TTP.
US09163283B2
Methods disclosed herein relate to identification of nucleotides in a nucleotide sequence.
US09163282B2
The present disclosure provides methods for determining the ploidy status of a chromosome in a gestating fetus from genotypic data measured from a mixed sample of DNA comprising DNA from both the mother of the fetus and from the fetus, and optionally from genotypic data from the mother and father. The ploidy state is determined by using a joint distribution model to create a plurality of expected allele distributions for different possible fetal ploidy states given the parental genotypic data, and comparing the expected allelic distributions to the pattern of measured allelic distributions measured in the mixed sample, and choosing the ploidy state whose expected allelic distribution pattern most closely matches the observed allelic distribution pattern. The mixed sample of DNA may be preferentially enriched at a plurality of polymorphic loci in a way that minimizes the allelic bias, for example using massively multiplexed targeted PCR.
US09163279B2
A device (1) for carrying out a chemical or biochemical reaction and detecting the results is described. The device may be used in an assay to detect a target nucleic acid in a sample. The device includes (i) a well (8) in which a chemical or biochemical reaction such as a nucleic acid amplification reaction may be effected in a liquid phase or a receiver for such a well; (ii) a channel (16) extending from the well; (iii) a lateral flow assay device (32) arranged to receive liquid contents from channel, on a bibulous membrane thereon. The membrane contains elements that are able to detect the products of the chemical or biochemical reaction such as a target nucleic acid. Methods for using such devices and apparatus for carrying out assays using these are also described and claimed.
US09163273B2
Embodiments of the invention provide analyte sensors having optimized permselective membranes and methods for making and using such sensors. Embodiments of the invention also provide analyte sensors such as those having porous matrices coated with an analyte sensing composition and methods for making and using such sensors. Illustrative embodiments include electrochemical glucose sensors having glucose oxidase coatings.
US09163255B2
Polynucleotides isolated from chickpea are disclosed herein. The disclosed polynucleotides of the present invention provide genotype-dependent spatial information on the presence and relative abundance of each gene. The transcriptomic analysis of the polynucleotides revealed (649) non-cannonical genes besides many unexpected candidates with known biochemical functions, which have never been associated with pathostress-responsive transcriptome. The polynucleotides disclosed in the present invention can be used as a molecular tool for isolation of novel genes from plants that can be used for plant improvement. Further, the polynucleotide responsible for improving immunity against fungal pathogen in plants is disclosed herein. The present invention also provides a method of improving immunity against fungal pathogen in plants. Transgenic plants exhibiting improved immunity against fungal pathogen are also provided in the present invention.
US09163254B2
An object of the present invention is to identify sequence features of the 5′ UTR, which are involved in changes in the translational state of plants under environmental stresses, and to provide a recombinant DNA molecule, an expression vector, a transformant, and the like, having the above sequence features. The present invention provides a recombinant DNA molecule encoding mRNA containing the 5′ UTR (a) or (b) defined below, a vector obtained by ligating the recombinant DNA molecule to a site immediately downstream of the transcription initiation point of a promoter, and a transformant comprising the vector:(a) 5′ UTR in which a sequence of bases 1 to 7 and a sequence of bases 12 to 32 from the 5′ end are, respectively, a sequence of bases 1 to 7 and a sequence of bases 12 to 32 of SEQ ID NO: 4, 6, 20, 36, or 60; and(b) 5′ UTR in which one or more bases in the base sequence of the 5′ UTR of (a) are replaced, and which escapes translational repression induced by at least one environmental stress selected from the group consisting of heat stress and salt stress.
US09163251B2
The present invention provides gene expression regulatory DNA having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner. The following is provided: gene expression regulatory DNA having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner, which comprises any one of the following (a) to (d): (a) DNA consisting of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4; (b) DNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence that has a deletion, a substitution, an addition, or an insertion of one or a plurality of nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner; (c) DNA consisting of a nucleotide sequence having 90% or more sequence identity to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner; and (d) DNA hybridizing under stringent conditions to DNA consisting of a sequence complementary to a part or the entirety of the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 4 and having activity of promoting gene expression in a mature-leaf-specific manner.
US09163249B2
The present invention provides methods of reducing the levels of a titratable selectable pressure required, the number of amplification cycles, and the time taken to generate protein expressing cell lines by altering the codons of the desired open-reading-frames. Through the use of codon adaptation for this purpose the methods of the invention consistently provide sufficient yields in faster time frames saving many weeks in cell line development activities. Furthermore the methods of the invention also generate cell lines with lower concentrations of selection and amplification agent than previously achievable. Accordingly lower levels of selection and amplification marker in the final cells lines are observed.
US09163247B2
The present invention relates to a vector expressible in a prokaryotic host and a nucleic acid sequence comprising a mannose-inducible promoter of the mannose operon of Bacillus subfiles wherein the vector and nucleic acid sequence, respectively, can be suitably used for transforming a host cell for expression of a heterologous nucleic acid sequence coding a polypeptide in, in particular, high cell density fermentation.
US09163242B2
The present invention relates to optimized HER2 aptamers and methods of using these aptamers.
US09163235B2
The invention provides chemically modified oligonucleotides capable of inhibiting the expression (e.g., abundance) of miR-15 family miRNAs, including miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-16, miR-195, miR-424, and miR-497. The invention provides in some embodiments, oligonucleotides capable of inhibiting, in a specific fashion, the expression or abundance of each of miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-16, miR-195, miR-424, and miR-497. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the oligonucleotides, and methods of treating patients having conditions or disorders relating to or involving a miR-15 family miRNA, such as a cardiovascular condition. In various embodiments, the oligonucleotides provide advantages in one or more of potency, efficiency of delivery, target specificity, toxicity, and/or stability.
US09163220B2
The present invention relates to 3-hydroxypropionate dehydrogenase variants. The present invention also relates to polynucleotides encoding the variants; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides; and methods of using the variants.
US09163217B2
The present invention relates to a method for increasing the efficiency of inducing pluripotent stem cells by utilizing genes Jhdm1b and Jhdm1a that modify histone. By utilizing Jhdm1b, Jhdm1a, and a stem cell inducing factor, the present invention increases the efficiency of inducing pluripotent stem cells and increases the quality of induced pluripotent stem cells. The stem cell inducing factor is a combination of Oct4 and Klf4, or a combination of Sox2, Oct4, and Klf4, or a combination of Oct4 and Sox2, and Oct4 alone. The method further comprises exposing the cells to vitamin C, which further increases the efficiency of inducing pluripotent stem cells as compared with the case where no vitamin C is used. By using less stem cell reducing factors, the method of the present invention reduces the potential carcinogenicity, obtains a high inducing efficiency, and provides high-quality induced pluripotent stem cells capable of germ-line transmission.
US09163214B2
In the field of biological technology, a stem cell culture method is provided. The method includes preparing an amniotic epithelial cell feeder layer that is not treated to lose the division ability; and seeding the stem cells onto the amniotic epithelial cell feeder layer, and culturing in a culture medium. The stem cell culture method according to the present invention does not require the treatment of the feeder layer cells to lose the division ability, and is thus simple and safe, thereby effectively solving the problem of contamination caused by animal-derived ingredients in culture of human stem cells at present, greatly reducing the culture cost of the stem cells, and providing a safe, effective, and inexpensive stem cell culture method for the industrialization of the stem cells in the future.
US09163212B2
Compositions and methods for augmenting bone formation by administering isolated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) within a matrix provided. By adding calcium and/or phosphate ions to the matrix, one may foster greater bone regeneration.
US09163202B2
Cleaning compositions and methods of making and using the same are provided. The cleaning compositions of the present invention may include at least one alkyl 3-hydroxybutyrate and water, optionally including at least one surfactant and one or more additional additives. The cleaning compositions of the present invention, which are non-toxic and environmentally benign, can be useful to remove many types of soils from a range of different substrates in a variety of domestic, industrial, and/or institutional applications.
US09163196B2
The present invention relates to functional fluid compositions containing friction modifiers, and specifically stable compositions containing friction modifiers with limited solubility in and/or limited compatibility with the functional fluids with which they are used. In particular the present invention deals with functional fluids used in internal combustion engines, such as engine oils, and friction modifiers derived from hydroxy-carboxylic acids, where the friction modifier is present in the functional fluid composition at levels that would otherwise cause the composition to be unstable and/or hazy.
US09163192B2
A process for treating input coal includes treating input coal in a pyrolysis step to form coal char. The pyrolysis step includes heating the coal substantially in the absence of oxygen to remove volatile material from the coal. The volatile material evolved from the coal in the pyrolysis step is treated to separate the volatile material into gases and liquids, wherein the liquids contain condensed volatile material. A portion of the liquids is directed to the coal char, and the returned portion of the liquids is mixed with the coal char, thereby returning some of the volatile material to the coal char.
US09163186B2
Methods and apparatus relate to treatment of fluids to remove mercury contaminants in the fluid. Contact of the fluid with an amine that has absorbed a sulfur compound causes the mercury contaminants to be absorbed by the amine. Phase separation then removes from the fluid the amine loaded with the mercury contaminants such that a treated product remains.
US09163182B2
A novel process for cracking olefins including contacting a hydrocarbon oil with a catalyst in a riser reactor having multiple reaction zones under cracking reaction conditions; separating reaction products and the catalyst; regenerating at least a part of spent catalyst obtained, contacting a part of the regenerated catalyst with the hydrocarbon in the first reaction zone; contacting the other part of the spent catalyst and/or regenerated catalyst in at least one reaction zone after the first reaction zone with the products obtained in previous reaction zones.
US09163173B2
A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising preparing a wellbore servicing fluid comprising cement, an aqueous fluid, and a cyclodextrin, a cyclodextrin derivative, or combination thereof; placing the wellbore servicing fluid in the wellbore and allowing the fluid to set. A wellbore servicing fluid comprising cement, aqueous fluid, and a cyclodextrin, cyclodextrin derivative, or combination thereof.
US09163169B2
Adhesive compositions having a reduced cure time and methods for making and using same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the adhesive composition can include a mixture of one or more phenolic-aldehyde resins and one or more cure accelerants. The one or more cure accelerants can be selected from the group consisting of: ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, one or more primary amines, one or more secondary amines, one or more tertiary amines, one or more alkanolamines, one or more aromatic amines, one or more polyamines, one or more amides, one or more polyamides, one or more compounds containing at least one amine functional group and at least one sulfur functional group, and any mixture thereof. In one or more embodiments, the adhesive composition can also include one or more hardeners.
US09163168B2
The invention provides meltable and UV-crosslinkable pressure-sensitive adhesives, such as acrylate hotmelts or hotmelt formulations, which can be processed by commonplace hotmelt processes and also on customary hotmelt coating lines, without any immediate alteration in the product properties in the event of (unwanted) deviation in the operational parameters. The compositions of the invention are UV-crosslinkable and meltable pressure-sensitive adhesives comprising (i) mixtures of UV-crosslinkable polyacrylate polymers selected from a) mixtures of UV-crosslinkable polymers with at least one photoinitiator bonded covalently to the backbone of the polymers, and b) mixtures of UV-crosslinkable polyacrylate polymers, monomers and at least one photoinitiator, and also (ii) at least one UV stabilizer, and also methods for producing them and the use thereof as bonding agents.
US09163167B2
An adhesive composition includes 100 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylate copolymer having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 g/mol; and 0.05 to 5 parts by weight of a carbodiimide cross-linking agent.
US09163166B2
An adhesive composition includes a copolymer (A), the copolymer (A) being a copolymer of: a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylamide (a1), the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylamide (a1) including at least one of a hydroxyl group-containing acrylamide and a hydroxyl group-containing methacrylamide, and a (meth)acrylate (a2), the (meth)acrylate (a2) including at least one of an acrylic ester and a methacrylic ester; and an antistatic agent (B), the antistatic agent (B) including an ionic compound.
US09163162B2
A polishing agent according to one embodiment of the present invention contains a liquid medium, an abrasive grain including a hydroxide of a tetravalent metal element, a polymer compound having an aromatic ring and a polyoxyalkylene chain, and a cationic polymer, wherein a weight average molecular weight of the polymer compound is 1000 or more.
US09163155B2
Luminescent lanthanide complex and inks containing the complex as well as its method of production and article including the complex, wherein the complex includes the formula: wherein M is chosen from the alkali cations Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+ and mixtures thereof and is present to neutralize charge of the complex; wherein Ln is chosen from the trivalent rare-earth cations of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb and mixtures thereof; wherein R is a C5 to C6 heteroaryl: wherein Y is an optionally substituted C3-C8 heterocycloalkyl moiety linked to R by an N atom; wherein n is an integer of 3 or 5; and wherein x is an integer of 0 or 1.
US09163152B2
A UV photoactivatable curable paint formation for providing a cured paint coating of a desired appearance on a substrate by UV irradiation, comprises a UV curable film-forming compound; a UV photoinitiator; a particulate UV reflective material in an effective rate of curing enhancing amount without affecting the resultant desired appearance of the cured paint coating.
US09163149B2
An implant material includes: a base material 10; and a carbonaceous film 20 provided on a surface of the base material 10. The carbonaceous film 20 includes carbon atoms, oxygen atoms, and nitrogen atoms in a surface thereof, and the carbon atoms are bonded to the oxygen atoms to form carboxyl carbon and carbon having a single bond with oxygen. In the surface of the carbonaceous film 20, a content of nitrogen atoms is greater than or equal to 8.0 at. %, a content of carbon having a single bond with oxygen is greater than or equal to 5.4%, and a content of carboxyl carbon is less than or equal to 3.1%.
US09163145B2
A process for preparing photoresponsive hybrid organic-inorganic particles comprises (a) combining (1) at least one organosilane compound comprising at least two silicon-bonded groups selected from hydroxyl groups, hydrolyzable groups, and combinations thereof and (2) at least one neat photoactive material, to form a ceramic precursor composition; and (b) allowing or inducing hydrolysis of the hydrolyzable groups and condensation of the organosilane compound to form hybrid organic-inorganic particles comprising the photoactive material.
US09163143B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball which is excellent in abrasion-resistance and durability. The golf ball of the present invention comprises a cover using a cover composition containing thermoplastic polyurethane (A) and a polyisocyanate mixture (B) in which a urethane prepolymer (b-1a) having at least two isocyanate groups or a polyisocyanate (b-1b) having at least three isocyanate groups is dispersed in a thermoplastic resin (b-2) which does not substantially react with the isocyanate groups.
US09163138B2
The present invention provides a halogen-containing resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a halogen-containing resin; 0.01 to 2.5 parts by weight of a polyvinyl alcohol having a saponification degree of from 60 to 99.9 mol % and a viscosity-average polymerization degree of from 100 to 1,000; 0.01 to 2.5 parts by weight of a polyol having a molecular weight of 2,000 or less and a hydroxyl content of 10% by weight or more; and 0.01 to 5 parts by weight of a zinc compound.
US09163127B2
Disclosed is a rubber composition suitable for use as a cap ply rubber composition. The rubber composition comprises: (a) at least one natural or synthetic rubbery polymer; (b) from 0.1 to 20 phr of at least one hydrazide compound; (c) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene donor; (d) from 0.1 to 10 phr of at least one methylene acceptor resin; and (e) from 0.1 to 10 phr of zinc oxide. A method of making the same is also disclosed.
US09163118B2
A poly(amide-imide) block copolymer that includes: a first segment including a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1A, a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1B, a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1C, or a combination thereof; and a second segment including a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 2:
US09163116B2
To provide a polycarbonate resin composition excellent in low-birefringence and strength.Disclosed is a polycarbonate resin composition prepared by blending a polycarbonate resin (A) prepared by forming carbonate bonds in a 95-5% by mole of dihydroxy compound represented by formula (1) and a 5-95% by mole of dihydroxy compound represented by formula (2) with a diester carbonate, and a polycarbonate resin (B) prepared by forming carbonate bonds in dihydroxy compound represented by formula (3) with a diester carbonate or phosgene in a 45-85% ratio by weight of (100×(A))/((A)+(B)). (in the formula, R1 and R2 represent a hydrogen atom or methyl respectively.)
US09163109B2
The invention relates to a method for producing hydrophilic, aliphatic polyurethane foams having a low bulk density. The invention also relates to a hydrophilic, aliphatic polyurethane foam which can be obtained according to said method and to the use thereof as a wound dressing, incontinence product or as a cosmetic article.
US09163105B2
The present invention relates to a conjugated diene based polymer comprising a monomer unit derived from at least one conjugated diene selected from 1,3-butadiene and isoprene and a monomer unit derived from a compound having two conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds and one or more non-conjugated carbon-carbon double bond.
US09163100B2
Group 4 transition metal complexes of bidentate iminonaphthol pro-ligands can be used as catalysts to polymerise olefins, such as ethylene. Group 4 transition metal complexes of bidentate iminonaphthol pro-ligands can have a single-site nature, allowing the catalysts to be used to prepare ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having a narrow molecular weight distribution.
US09163097B2
This invention relates to low-viscosity, concentrated complex solutions containing magnesium, which are produced by reacting a magnesium alkoside with a carboxylic acid halogenide in a hydrocarbon-based solvent, and to a method for producing the same.
US09163096B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a nitrile rubber comprising adding 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of at least one phosphate emulsifier selected from the group consisting of monoalkyl ether phosphate (MAP) represented by the following Formula 1 and dialkyl ether phosphate (DAP) represented by the following Formula 2, with respect to 100 parts by weight of monomers constituting the nitrile rubber. The method minimizes mold contamination during molding of produced nitrile rubber, eliminates the necessity of any process of removing mold contaminants, improves production efficiency and thus reduces defect rates of final molded articles.
US09163092B2
Genetically modified mice are provided that express human λ variable (hVλ) sequences, including mice that express hVλ sequences from an endogenous mouse λ light chain locus, mice that express hVλ sequences from an endogenous mouse κ light chain locus, and mice that express hVλ sequences from a transgene or an episome wherein the hVλ sequence is linked to a mouse constant sequence. Mice are provided that are a source of somatically mutated human λ variable sequences useful for making antigen-binding proteins. Compositions and methods for making antigen-binding proteins that comprise human λ variable sequences, including human antibodies, are provided.
US09163085B2
Human antibodies, preferably recombinant human antibodies, both humanized and chimeric, which specifically bind to human OX40 are disclosed. Preferred antibodies have high affinity for OX40 receptor and activate the receptor in vitro and in vivo. The antibody can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antibody portions, are useful for modulating receptor activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which OX40 activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant human antibodies are provided, and methods of synthesizing the recombinant human antibodies, are also provided.
US09163083B2
Antibodies and compositions capable of neutralizing oncostatin M biological functions are useful in treating diseases and disorders associated with oncostatin M, such as osteoarthritis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
US09163080B2
A monoclonal antibody, wherein the monoclonal antibody specifically binds to a single-chain type IV collagen polypeptide, and wherein the monoclonal antibody is obtained by a hybridoma line of Anti NK-Antigen monoclonal antibody #141 having Accession No: FERM BP-11300.
US09163076B2
The present invention relates generally to compositions for wound healing. More specifically, the present invention provides human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous proteinase inhibitor polypeptides (e.g., TIMP-1 polypeptides) and compositions and methods for making human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides. In addition, the present invention provides methods for treatment of wounds with human skin equivalents engineered to express exogenous polypeptides.
US09163074B2
Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G Protein-Coupled Receptors and the genes encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T2R taste G Protein-Coupled Receptors that are believed to be involved in bitter taste sensation, and the genes encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular tastant in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating a novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes.
US09163067B2
Isolated peptides comprising sequences derived from the protein integrase of HIV-1, as well as their analogs, mixtures, conjugates with permeability enhancing moieties, and pharmaceutical compositions are disclosed. The peptides and compositions are capable of selectively killing HIV-1 infected cells and are used in treatment of HIV infection and AIDS.
US09163062B2
The invention provides conjugates comprising albumin and a peptide derived from the C-terminal region of amyloid beta peptide, as well as uses thereof for the treatment of diseases characterized by the deposition of amyloid proteins and, in particular, for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
US09163061B2
The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US09163060B2
The present invention relates to novel tubulin binding molecules of formula (I) and their use for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
US09163053B2
The invention generally relates to nucleotide analogs and methods of their use in sequencing-by-synthesis reactions. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a nucleotide analog including a detectable label attached to a nitrogenous base portion of a nucleotide analog by a cleavable linker, in which contact of the analog with at least one activating agent results in cleavage of the label and elimination of the linker, thereby producing a natural nucleotide, a 9-deaza-G, 9-deaza-A, or ψ-uridine.
US09163051B2
The present invention provides a process for preparing a spiroketal derivative, via an intermediate represented by Formula (VI): wherein variable groups and numbers are as defined in the specification, which can be produced from dihalobenzene derivatives in one pot reaction.
US09163040B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula I; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are defined herein. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical composition of the compounds of the invention and a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a compound of the invention.
US09163031B2
Dianhydrohexitol pellets, whose fluidity is preserved even after lengthy storage, include between 90% and 100%, preferably between 95% and 100%, and more preferentially between 97% and 100% of dianhydrohexitols by weight, on a dry weight basis, and have the particularity of not being subject to caking. A process for preparing the dianhydrohexitol pellets is also described.
US09163026B2
Disclosed herein are compounds of Formula (D) that form covalent bonds with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also described are irreversible inhibitors of Btk. Methods for the preparation of the compounds are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds. Methods of using the Btk inhibitors are disclosed, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions.
US09163025B2
Complexes between an alkaline earth metal salt of (6RS)— or (6S)—N5-methyl-(5,6,7,8)-tetrahydrofolic acid and a polyol were prepared by lyophilization or spray-drying. These products were found to be stable compared with the active ingredient alone or the mixture of the same components prepared by means of other methodologies.
US09163024B2
The present invention relates to a tris salt of 8-chloro-3-pentyl-3,7-dihydro-1H-purine-2,6-dione of Formula (A) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: corresponding pharmaceutical formulations, manufacture processes and uses of the aforementioned compound in therapy, particularly in treatment of diseases where under-activation of the HM74A receptor contributes to the disease or where activation of the receptor will be beneficial.
US09163021B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, wherein the substituents are as described herein, and their use in medicine, in particular as Trk antagonists.
US09163019B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I, the N-oxides, tautomers, the prodrugs and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof: In formula I the variables Het, A, X, Y, Z, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and Q are as defined in the claims.The compounds of the formula I, the N-oxides, tautomers, the prodrugs and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 10A. Thus, the invention also relates to the use of the compounds of the formula I, the N-oxides, tautomers, the prodrugs and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof for the manufacture of a medicament and which thus are suitable for treating or controlling of medical disorders selected from neurological disorders and psychiatric disorders, for ameliorating the symptoms associated with such disorders and for reducing the risk of such disorders.
US09163018B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of treatment and prophylaxis of retinal degenerative diseases. More particularly, the present invention contemplates a method for preventing, reducing the risk of development of, or otherwise treating or ameliorating the symptoms of, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or related retinal conditions in mammals and in particular humans. The present invention further provides therapeutic compositions enabling dose-dependent or dose-specific administration of agents useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of age-related macular degeneration or related retinal degenerative conditions.
US09163012B2
This invention relates to novel compounds of the invention pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful for the therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the modulation or inhibition of 11β-HSD1 in mammals. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions of the novel compounds and methods for their use in the reduction or control of the production of cortisol in a cell or the inhibition of the conversion of cortisone to cortisol in a cell.
US09163010B2
The present invention relates to new indolinone compounds and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and prodrugs for treating and preventing VEGFR related cellular disorders such as cancer.
US09163003B2
The present invention provides for compounds of formula (I): wherein R1-R4 and n are defined herein. The present invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising a compound of formula (I) as well as for the use of such compounds as tankyrase inhibitors and in the treatment of Wnt signaling and tankyrase 1 and 2 signaling related disorders which include, but are not limited to, cancer.
US09162994B2
According to the invention there is provided a compound of formula (I) wherein: A represents C(═N—W-D) or S; B represents S or C(—NH—W-D); when: A represents C(═N—W-D) and B represents S then the bond between B and the NH atom is a single bond; or A represents S and B represents C(—NH—W-D) then the bond between B and the NH atom is a double bond; X represents -Q-[CRxRy]n—; W represents —[CRxRy]m— or —C(O)—[CRxRy]p—; Q represents a bond, —N(Ra)—, —S—, or —O—; A1 to A5 respectively represent C(R1), C(R2), C(R3), C(R4) and C(R5), or, alternatively, up to two of A1 to A5 may independently represent N; D represents phenyl, pyridyl or pyrimidinyl optionally substituted by one or more R6 groups, which compounds are useful in the treatment of cancer.
US09162986B2
The present invention relates to novel inhibitors of Factors VIIa, IXa, Xa, XIa, in particular Factor VIIa, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these inhibitors, and methods for using these inhibitors for treating or preventing thromboembolic disorders, cancer or rheumatoid arthritis. Processes for preparing these inhibitors are also disclosed.
US09162981B2
Compounds, compositions, kits and methods for treating conditions related to neurodegeneration or ocular disease, are disclosed.
US09162976B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition containing a combination i) of at least one screening agent of the dibenzoylmethane derivative type and ii) of at least one particular hydrophilic or water-soluble merocyanin UV-screening agent, especially corresponding to one of the formulae (I) or (II) below: in which at least one or two of the radicals contain: either an alkylsulfonate radical in its acid or salified form, or one or two hydroxyl radicals. The invention also relates to a process for the radiation-photostabilization of at least one screening agent of the dibenzoylmethane derivative type with an effective amount of at least one particular hydrophilic or water-soluble merocyanin UV-screening agent, especially corresponding to one of the formulae (I) or (II).
US09162968B2
The present invention relates to the identification of provided cyclohexane-1,3-diones (CHD compounds) and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for treating subjects with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. The invention also provides methods of preparing the provided CHD compounds.
US09162964B2
A process comprising for preparing C1 to C4 alkyl(meth)acrylates, such as butyl acrylate, wherein vaporized reactor contents are fed directly to a column, the aqueous reflux ratio to the column is from 4 to 12, and the level of acrylic acid in the primarily organic phase separated from the overhead condensate of the column is less than 2000 ppm.
US09162961B2
A process for the preparation of succinic acid comprising the steps of: a) providing an aqueous medium comprising magnesium succinate by fermentation of a carbohydrate source, in the presence of a magnesium base; b) processing the aqueous medium wherein the magnesium succinate is treated with a monovalent base, prior to or after a crystallization step, to provide a magnesium base and an aqueous solution comprising a monovalent succinate salt; c) adjusting the concentration of the monovalent succinate salt to between 10 and 35 wt. %; d) subjecting the aqueous solution to water-splitting electrodialysis, to produce a first solution comprising monovalent base and a second solution comprising succinic acid and monovalent succinate salt, the electrodialysis causing conversion of 40 to 95 mole %; e) separating the second solution into succinic acid and the monovalent succinate salt by crystallization; f) recycling the monovalent succinate salt solution of step e) to step d).
US09162960B2
A substituted benzene derivative is prepared in a process, which includes reacting a furan derivative of formula (I): wherein R is an alkyl group, with an olefin of formula (II): R1—CH═CH—R2 (II) wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and independently are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —CN, —CHO and —COOR3, wherein R3 is selected from hydrogen or an alkyl group, or R1 and R2 together form a —C(O)—O—(O)C— group, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not both hydrogen, to produce a bicyclic ether; and dehydrating the bicyclic ether to obtain a benzene derivative. The benzene derivative thus obtained can suitably be converted to a benzene carboxylic acid compound by oxidation.
US09162959B2
A controlled nitric acid process employing oxygen and nitric acid as co-oxidants is used to oxidize organic compounds subject to nitric acid oxidation, to their corresponding carboxylic acids. Oxidation of some carbohydrates by this process can produce one or more of their corresponding acid forms. The process is carried out at moderate temperatures, typically in the range of 20° C. to 45° C. in a closed reactor, with oxygen gas being introduced into the reaction chamber as needed in order to sustain the reaction. Computer controlled reactors allow for careful and reproducible control of reaction parameters. Nitric acid can be recovered by a distillation/evaporation process, or by diffusion dialysis, the aqueous solution made basic with inorganic hydroxide, and the residual inorganic nitrate removed using a filtration (nanofiltration) device. The method eliminates issues of thermal control of the oxidation, release of nitrogen into the atmosphere, and post-reaction difficulties in the removal of nitric acid and inorganic nitrates.
US09162955B2
A process for pyrolyzing a coal feed is described. A coal feed is pyrolyzed into a coal tar stream and a coke stream in a pyrolysis zone. The coal tar stream is separated into at least a pitch stream comprising aromatic hydrocarbons. The pitch stream is reacted in a reaction zone to add at least one functional group to an aromatic ring of the aromatic hydrocarbons in the pitch stream. The functionalized pitch stream is recycled to the pyrolysis zone.
US09162946B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing a C3-6 (hydro)fluoroalkene comprising dehydrohalogenating a C3-6 hydro(halo)fluoroalkane in the presence of a zinc/chromia catalyst, wherein the C3-6 (hydro)fluoroalkene produced is isomerised in the presence of the zinc/chromia catalyst.
US09162944B2
Systems and methods for conditioning synthetic crude oils are provided herein. The systems and methods described herein subject the synthetic crude to one or more process solutions to provide conditioned synthetic crude exhibiting, for example, a reduced TAN.
US09162941B2
A process for the conversion of an alcohol mixture to make propylene may include introducing into a reactor a stream that includes the alcohol mixture. The alcohol mixture may include 20 to 100 weight percent isobutanol. The process may include contacting the stream with a single catalyst at a temperature above 450° C. in the reactor at conditions effective to dehydrate the isobutanol, forming C4+ olefins, and to catalytically crack the C4+ olefins. The single catalyst may be an acid catalyst adapted to cause both the dehydration and the catalytic cracking. The process may include recovering from the reactor an effluent that includes ethylene, propylene, water, and various hydrocarbons. The process may include fractionating the effluent to produce an ethylene stream, a propylene stream, a fraction of hydrocarbons having 4 carbon atoms or more, and water.
US09162940B2
A process for the conversion of an alcohol mixture may include introducing into a reactor a stream including the alcohol mixture mixed with a stream including olefins having 4 carbon atoms or more. The process may include contacting the stream with a single catalyst at a temperature above 500° C. in the reactor at conditions effective to dehydrate isobutanol, forming C4+ olefins, and to catalytically crack the C4+ olefins. The single catalyst may be an acid catalyst adapted to cause both the dehydration and catalytic cracking. The process may include recovering an effluent including ethylene, propylene, and water, and fractionating the effluent.
US09162937B2
The present invention is a process for making an olefin product from an oxygen-containing organic feedstock comprising: providing a mixture of said oxygen-containing feedstock, an hydrocarbon and optionally an inert diluent, contacting said mixture in a reaction zone having an inner surface (the MTO reactor) with a zeolitic catalyst at conditions effective to convert at least a part of the oxygen-containing organic feedstock to olefin products (the MTO reactor effluent), recovering a reactor effluent comprising light olefins, a heavy hydrocarbon fraction and undesired by-products, wherein: at least a part of the inner surface is passivated such that the undesired by-products are reduced by comparison with a non passivated inner surface and/or one or more sulphur compound is co-injected with the said oxygen-containing feedstock and the hydrocarbon and said sulphur compound is capable to reduce the undesired by-products by comparison with a non injection of sulphur compound. The present invention is of high interest for the catalyst of the ZSM type such as ZSM-5 optionally containing phosphorus and regenerated in the MTO reactor.
US09162923B2
A method to prepare polymer woven fabric surface with selective oleophilicity or hydrophobicity and oil-oil separation and oil-water separation filter prepared by using the surface. The method to prepare the surface with selective oleophilicity or hydrophobicity includes steps comprising a step to form nano meter sized pores on the surface of the polymer woven fabric surface with micro sized pores through drying type etching; and a step to form selective oleophobic or hydrophobic film on the nano meter sized pores. It is possible to control hydrophobic/oleophobic property according to pore size, material or thickness of the film and this polymer surface with hybrid pores can be used in various areas such as an oil filter for car capable of selective separation of oil-oil mixture and water-oil mixture, disposal of waste oil, treatment of marine oil leakage, and pretreatment of crude oil refinement.
US09162918B2
An apparatus for manufacturing an optical fiber is provided. The apparatus includes a spindle having a bore for receiving a preform of the optical fiber along a longitudinal axis defined by the spindle. A plurality of work holding devices are positioned apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the spindle and configured to secure the preform against the spindle at two or more distinct positions when the preform is spinning. The plurality of work holding devices comprises any combination of chucks, collets, cams, set screws, or shims. A position of at least one of the work holding device is adjustable to shift the preform away from the longitudinal axis.
US09162916B2
A base material for a disk roll including ceramic fibers, an inorganic binder and scaly silica.
US09162913B2
The invention relates to a mixer assembly for agitating material in a digestion tank (1), comprising a drive unit (7, 8, 9) and an output shaft (10) extending from said drive unit, which output shaft is arranged to hang down into said digestion tank (1) rotatably suspended from the drive unit. According to the invention the mixer assembly (6) furthermore comprises a stabilizer (12) comprising a swivel (13) and at least one resilient element (14) connected to said swivel (13), the stabilizer (12) being connected to the lower end of the output shaft (10) of the mixer assembly (6) and being arranged to be connected to a floor (2) of said digestion tank.
US09162909B2
Numerous different types of waste compositions generally in an aqueous environment are bio-remediated under aerobic conditions utilizing highly diverse and multiple microorganisms within a reactor. The process is carried out with the microorganisms attached or bound by a variety of different surface characteristics to packing substrates, located within the reactor, having high surface areas and high porosity in the form of small micropores. Multiple different types of substrates are generally utilized that efficiently dissolve air into the water, as well as to maximize the concentration and diversity of types of microorganisms. Reactors are utilized that desirably have tubes therein containing the multiple types of packings and microorganisms and contain at least one perforated chimney through which air can flow and optimize dissolving oxygen into the aqueous environment of the various bio-remediation stages.
US09162904B2
A cleaning solution generator comprising a housing with an interior reservoir and a brine tank, the cleaning solution generator being configured to generate an alkaline solution from a mixed solution and to operably direct the generated alkaline solution to the interior reservoir of the housing.
US09162902B2
A method for the removal of aqueous phase selenite and selenate species using TiO2 assisted photocatalysis employing the use of artificial light, or solar radiation, in conjunction with EDTA as a hole scavenger. Among the two processes, UV-lamp assisted photocatalysis has the highest efficiency comparatively followed by solar light assisted photocatalysis. TiO2 mediated photocatalysis in conjunction with EDTA as an h+ scavenging agent is an efficient technique for selenium ion removal.
US09162897B2
A method of preparing a silver loaded activated carbon fiber includes the following steps. A viscose fiber is treated with a hydroxyalkyl cyclodextrin aqueous solution to obtain a hydroxyalkyl cyclodextrin loaded viscose fiber. The hydroxyalkyl cyclodextrin loaded viscose fiber is then treated with a silver salt aqueous solution to obtain a hydroxyalkyl cyclodextrin and silver salt loaded viscose fiber. The hydroxyalkylated cyclodextrin and silver salt loaded viscose fiber is heated in deionized water at 80 to 100° C. to obtain a silver loaded viscose fiber. The silver loaded viscose fiber is treated with a disodium hydrogen phosphate aqueous solution and then heated under nitrogen at 400 to 600° C. to obtain a silver loaded carbon fiber. The silver loaded carbon fiber is heated under nitrogen and water vapor at 900 to 1,200° C. to obtain the silver loaded activated carbon fiber.
US09162894B2
The present invention provides a method for preparing graphene, including reacting graphite in an acid solution in which an oxidant is present so as to obtain a graphene. Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention reside in that, the graphene prepared by the method of the present invention has excellent quality and substantially increased yield and production rate, as compared with mechanical stripping, epitaxial growth, and chemical vapor deposition; and the graphene prepared by the method of the present invention has significantly improved quality, substantially reduced structural defects, and significantly increased conductivity, as compared with oxidation-reduction preparation in the solution-phase; besides, the method is also advantageous for a simple process, mild conditions, low cost, and very easy for scale production. The graphene prepared by the present invention has very broad prospects in the fields of lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, functional composite materials, transparent conductive films, and microelectronic devices, etc.
US09162880B2
Systems and methods for transferring a micro device from a carrier substrate are disclosed. In an embodiment, a mass transfer tool includes an articulating transfer head assembly, a carrier substrate holder, and an actuator assembly to adjust a spatial relationship between the articulating transfer head assembly and the carrier substrate holder. The articulating transfer head assembly may include an electrostatic voltage source connection and a substrate supporting an array of electrostatic transfer heads.
US09162874B2
A semiconductor structure having a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) device is provided. The MEMS device includes a first and a second type electrical terminal, and a semiconductor interconnector. The semiconductor interconnector connects the first type electrical terminal with an external circuitry through a conductor. The conductor serves to electrically connecting the semiconductor interconnector with the first type electrical terminal. The second type electrical terminal surrounds the first type electrical terminal. In addition, the second type electrical terminal is interposed between the semiconductor interconnector and the first type electrical terminal. An isolative layer is provided around the conductor. The isolative layer is positioned under the first type electrical terminal, the second type electrical terminal and the semiconductor interconnector.
US09162872B2
A MEMS lead frame package body encloses a MEMS device enclosed in an internal cavity formed by the mold body and cover. To accommodate a MEMS microphone, an acoustic aperture extends through the mold body. In some embodiments, a conductive column extends through the pre-molded body to allow electrical connection from a partially encapsulated lead frame to the conductive cover. Some embodiments may include a multi-tiered cavity within the mold body for mounting an integrated circuit separated by a gap above the MEMS device.
US09162869B1
A MEMS microphone package structure having a non-planar substrate includes the non-planar substrate, a cover plate, and a sound wave transducer. The non-planar substrate has a carrying bottom portion and a sidewall. The carrying bottom portion has a sound hole. The cover plate covers the non-planar substrate from above and connects to the sidewall. Both the cover plate and the sidewall have a metal layer for shielding the microphone from electromagnetic interference. The sound wave transducer is located corresponding to the sound hole. Hence, the sidewall reinforces the non-planar substrate, such that the carrying bottom portion is thinned without weakening the non-planar substrate, so as to increase the capacity of a back chamber of the microphone without changing the appearance and dimensions of the package structure.
US09162860B2
A hydraulic cylinder includes a piston that defines a driving pressure chamber and a cushion pressure chamber within a cylinder tube, an air chamber defined inside a hollow piston rod, an orifice that leads a working fluid in the cushion pressure chamber into the air chamber when the cushion pressure chamber contracts during an extension operation, a check valve that returns a working fluid in the air chamber to the driving pressure chamber when a differential pressure between the air chamber and the driving pressure chamber rises to or above a predetermined value, and a valve housing that houses the check valve. A throttle gap is defined between an outer peripheral surface of the valve housing and an inner peripheral surface of the piston rod, and a working fluid ejected from the orifice during the extension operation flows into the air chamber through the throttle gap.
US09162857B2
An apparatus comprises a base, a top member, and a bladder. The top member defines a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the top member is pivotally coupled to the base. The bladder, in turn, is disposed between the base and the top member. Arranged in this manner, the apparatus is operative to raise the distal end of the top member away from the base as the bladder is inflated.
US09162846B2
A package for coiled welding wire includes an outer housing and a slip lift core within the outer housing. The outer housing and the slip lift core form an annular space for coiling a quantity of welding wire. The slip lift core includes a fixed core and a slip core. The slip core is capable of telescopic movement relative to the fixed core from a retracted position to an extended position. At least one of the fixed core and the slip core includes a locking mechanism integrally formed with the at least one of the fixed core and the slip core, and the locking mechanism is configured to hold the slip core in the extended position. A further example of the package for coiled welding wire can include a winding surface for the welding wire to be wound around the slip lift core in a series of turns.
US09162839B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes: a loading tray on which a sheet is loaded; a pair of ejection rollers that eject the sheet to the loading tray and in which a pair or roller members are configured to be able to contact with and separate from each other; a pair of shift rollers that is provided upstream of the pair of ejection rollers in a sheet conveyance direction, are movable in a sheet width direction that is a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction, convey the sheet towards the loading tray, and performs a shift operation of shifting the sheet to a different position in the sheet width direction; and a control unit that performs control to change, based on sheet information, a shift operation timing of the sheet by the pair of shift rollers and a contacting and separating timing of the pair of ejection rollers.
US09162838B2
A sheet conveying apparatus includes: a first sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet by a driving force of an asynchronous motor; a second sheet conveying unit that conveys a sheet by a driving force of a synchronous motor, wherein a sheet is transferred from one of the first sheet conveying unit and the second sheet conveying unit to the other one to convey the sheet; and an asynchronous-motor control unit that starts drive of the asynchronous motor at a drive start timing determined according to rotation information at a time of acceleration of the synchronous motor, at a time of starting sheet conveyance when a same sheet is conveyed by both the first sheet conveying unit and the second sheet conveying unit.
US09162834B1
A front-edge paper feeding device is applicable for automatically conveying a stack of cardboards one by one. During operation, the stack of cardboards is placed on a grid plate, and a control element is provided for controlling the grid plate to elevate and descend reciprocally. When the grid plate elevates, the cardboards are separated from a conveyor wheel. When the grid plate descends, the conveyor wheel is exposed, such that the conveyor wheel is in contact with the cardboard. A servomotor is provided for controlling intermittent rotations of the transmission shaft while driving the conveyor wheel, so that the conveyor wheel drives the cardboard to move in order to convey and output the cardboard smoothly.
US09162832B2
Example weather barrier apparatus are disclosed herein. An example weather barrier apparatus disclosed herein include rear edge seals to sealingly engage a rearward facing edge of a vehicle parked at a loading dock. In some examples, the rear edge seal is part of a pivotal upper or side seal member that also includes a surface seal. The surface seal is spaced apart from the edge seal and is to sealingly engage a side or upper surface of the vehicle. In some examples, the vehicle's side surface is the outward facing surface of the vehicle's swung-open door. In some examples, the vehicle backing against the edge seal is what deploys the side seal. Some example weather barrier apparatus disclosed herein include an upper seal member and two side seal members, where vehicle-activated movement of the upper seal and side seal members are coordinated to seek and seal against rear corners of a cargo opening of the vehicle. In some examples, one or more seal members lengthen in response to the size and position of the vehicle.
US09162831B2
Disclosed is a device for blocking a vehicle, a method making use of such a device and a loading-unloading station provided therewith. The device includes a guide track disposed along a driveway, a blocking component for blocking a wheel of the vehicle, and height-adjusting component for height adjustment of the guide track and/or the blocking component during use. The device preferably includes an anti-roll mode, wherein the blocking component engages at a first height, and a locking mode, wherein the blocking component engages at a second, greater height.
US09162828B2
Mail processing systems, methods, and computer-readable media. A method includes assigning first and second delivery points to a single output at the same time. The method includes sorting a first mail piece sorted to the first delivery point and a second mail piece sorted to the second delivery point. The method includes placing both first and second output containers, associated with the first and second delivery points, into a position proximate to the output. The method includes moving the first output container into a position to receive the mail pieces sorted to the first delivery point from the output and to moving the second output container into a position to receive the mail pieces sorted to the second delivery point from the output.
US09162823B2
A conveying system includes rolling bodies each with a rolling element cage and rolling elements. The rolling elements are arranged in recesses of the rolling element cage and for the rolling in a guide channel. In each case two or three or more rolling elements form a roller set, and the rolling elements of a roller set roll on one another as well as on the guide channel, and at least one roller set is present per rolling body. The conveying system includes at least two guide channels which run at an essentially constant distance to one another and together form a guide path; and at least two rolling bodies are connected to one other by way of a connection element, into a conveying element, and the conveying element with its at least two rolling bodies is movable in at least two guide channels along the guide path.
US09162815B2
A capsule for the preparation of a coffee extract from coffee contained therein and hot water injected under pressure in the capsule by a water injection device. The capsule has a frusto-conical body with a rim, sidewall, and an inlet wall and a lower delivery wall sealed to the rim and contains a predosed amount of coffee. The inlet wall may have a flat or convex portion and a structure in relief or in recess arranged for facilitating penetration of blades belonging to the injection device and extending on a substantially circular path of predetermined radius R1 equal to the radius R2 of the circular path along which the blades of the injection device extend.
US09162798B2
An improved beverage can includes a GRAS antimicrobial wipe contained in a low profile pouch that is adhered to the side of the can. The low profile pouch is constructed of a substantially planar substrate that retains the wipe directly to the exterior surface of the can. The pouch includes a perforated tab that is removed to access the wipe. To use, the perforated tab is ripped off, the user reaches into the pouch and pulls out the antimicrobial wipe, and wipes the can as desired, typically focusing on the drinking region of the can.
US09162795B2
A container lid includes a conventional main or pour opening and a vent opening spaced from the main opening. A vent score defines the shape of the vent opening, and a vent panel covers the vent opening. The vent panel has a raised convex shape. The lower surface of the tab handle includes a protruding portion, seen as a concave shaped element when viewed from above the container lid. The protruding portion of the tab handle can be aligned with the vent panel so application of a downward force on the tab handle transfers force to the vent panel and breaks the vent score. The shapes of the vent panel and concave element of the tab handle can be adjusted for selective and controlled force transfer to create the vent opening.
US09162783B2
Cigarettes are stored in one or more reservoirs at a customer location. A computer receives customer orders and transmits them to a dispenser. Upon receipt of a customer order, a pre-selected number of cigarettes is automatically removed from the reservoir(s) by the dispenser and then automatically packed in a container by a packer comprising a collation mandrel which is movable relative to the dispenser. A preferred type of substantially air-tight, self-sealing container has a lid portion, a body portion and a collar, which is mounted within the body portion. The body portion is provided with one or more upwardly extending protrusions on the upper surface of the base thereof. An air and moisture impermeable membrane is sealed about the upper periphery of the collar.
US09162782B2
An apparatus for packaging stacks of folded tissue products or the like with blanks of plastic film is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one pocket comprising a plurality of side walls disposed within a drum having a longitudinal axis, a plurality of adjacent grooves disposed upon the side walls within the pocket, insertion means for inserting a single stack in the pocket, along an insertion direction, with the interposition and consequent folding of a corresponding blank, and control means adapted to drive the stop means along the insertion direction in a coordinated manner with respect to the operation of the insertion means.
US09162776B2
An aircraft safety and configuration monitoring system includes a plurality of RFID equipped items, a plurality of RFID interrogators communicating with the plurality of RFID equipped items, a processor communicating with the plurality of RFID interrogators and adapted to determine an issue with respect to any of the plurality of RFID equipped items and an indicating mechanism communicating with the processor and adapted to indicate the issue.
US09162763B1
The method and system may be used to control the movement of a remote aerial device in an incremental step manner during a close inspection of an object or other subject matter. At the inspection location, a control module “stabilizes” the remote aerial device in a maintained, consistent hover while maintaining a close distance to the desired object. The control module may retrieve proximal sensor data that indicates possible nearby obstructions to the remote aerial device and may transmit the data to a remote control client. The remote control module may determine and display the possible one or more non-obstructed directions that the remote aerial device is capable of moving by an incremental distance. In response to receiving a selection of one of the directions, the remote control module may transmit the selection to the remote aerial device to indicate the next movement for the remote aerial device.
US09162760B2
According to one embodiment, a radial fluid device contains a cylinder block mounted for rotation, a first and second plurality of radially extending cylinders, and a first and second cam. The cylinder block contains the first and second plurality of radially extending cylinders, and each radially extending cylinder contains a piston. The cams are disposed about each plurality of radially extending cylinders, and the second cam has at least one more lobe than the first cam.
US09162759B2
A twist mechanism for twisting a rotary-wing blade (2). A twist member (8) is movable by an actuator (11) of the centrifugal force type, which twist member has at least one flyweight (14) for driving a rotary member (13) about a pivot axis (A). The flyweight (14) is radially movable on the rotary member (13) by movement means. The centrifugal force FC to which the flyweight (14) is subjected as a result of the blade (2) being caused to rotate induces drive torque CM for causing the rotary member (13) to pivot, thereby causing the twist member (8) to be moved. The twist member (8) is in engagement with the blade (2) at its free end and is connected to the rotary member (13) via remote mechanical transmission means (12).
US09162754B2
A method for actively manipulating a primary fluid flow over a surface using an active flow control system including an active fluid flow device to provide lift enhancement and lift destruction. The method including the disposing of an active fluid flow device in the surface. The active fluid flow device is then operated to generate at least one of a steady blowing secondary fluid flow, a pulsed secondary fluid flow or an oscillating secondary fluid flow. While flowing the primary fluid over the surface to create a primary flow field, a secondary fluid flow is injected in an upstream direction and substantially opposed to the incoming primary fluid flow. The injecting of the secondary fluid flow in this manner provides for influencing of the primary flow field by manipulating a momentum of the secondary fluid flow to influence the incoming primary fluid flow and resultant lift.
US09162750B2
An aircraft propeller blade including an airfoil-profile structure. The airfoil-profile structure includes at least one fiber reinforcement obtained by three-dimensional weaving of yarns and densified by a matrix, and a shaping part made of cellular rigid material of determined shape, the reinforcement including at least two halves linked together by continuous weaving in the leading edge of the propeller blade, the two halves fitting tightly around the shaping part.
US09162740B2
A free vehicle suitable to serve as a platform to carry a variety of equipment to the ocean floor, actuate devices at the floor and at intermediate points on the way to and returning from the ocean floor is described. The free vehicle includes standardized power, control electronics, navigation equipment and mechanical release mechanisms that can be used in conjunction with custom experiments. Exemplary experiments include sensors and sampling equipment used for deep-sea exploration. The free vehicle platform provides for scalable designs to meet scientific needs and surface vessel constraints.
US09162739B2
An inflatable buoyant platform (100) comprising a hollow inflatable enclosure (105) having a top surface (165) and a bottom surface (170), which are being peripherally joined by a flexible curtain (175). A support means (180) being provided inside the enclosure (105), the support means (180) adopts an extended form inside the enclosure (105) to enhance the rigidity of the enclosure (105) when the platform (100) is inflated, the support means (180) adapts a retracted form inside the enclosure (105) when the enclosure (105) is deflated. At least one inflating valve (135) on the enclosure (105) for inflating the enclosure (105) by an external source of compressed gas; at least one deflating valve (145) on the enclosure (105) for deflating the enclosure by the external source of compressed gas; and at least one exit valve (185) on the enclosure (105) for allowing the compressed gas to escape while deflating the enclosure (105).
US09162732B2
An improved watercraft hull providing stability and maneuverability in turns. The hull may include a longitudinal centerline extending from bow to stern, a first and second transverse air channel that are fluidly isolated from the rest of the hull, the first and second air channels separating the hull into a bow planing portion, a middle planing portion, and a stern planing portion, a first plurality of strakes protruding from the bow planing portion, a second plurality of strakes protruding from the middle planing portion, and a third plurality of strakes protruding from the stern portion. The hull may also include a V-shaped keel portion at the bow portion centerline, and a flattened hull portion at the stern portion centerline having a deadrise angle of 0°, the flattened hull portion being disposed between and directly adjacent to two adjacent longitudinal elements of the third plurality of longitudinal elements.
US09162726B2
A mobile vehicle 1A includes a front-wheel support mechanism 4 having a trail adjustment mechanism 9, a steering actuator 8 which generates a steering force for steering a front wheel 3f, a trail adjustment actuator 15 which generates a driving force for changing a trail of the front wheel 3f, and a control device 50. The control device 50 has a function of controlling the steering actuator 8 so as to stabilize the posture of a vehicle body 2, and a function of controlling the trail adjustment actuator 15 in accordance with an observed value of the vehicle speed.
US09162723B2
A vehicle covering and storage system is provided. The vehicle storage system may include a motorized vehicle having an outer surface. The present invention may further include an attachment component. The attachment component includes a fabric panel having a front surface and a back surface. At least one strap is attached to the front surface of the fabric panel. The at least one strap is attached to the fabric panel at a plurality of attachment points along the length of the strap forming a plurality of loops in between the attachment points. The back surface of the fabric panel is attachable to the outer surface of the motorized vehicle.
US09162722B1
An alarm device for a bicycle includes a locking block and an alarm assembly connected with the locking block. The alarm assembly includes a base, a mounting seat, an alarm unit, a top cover, and a bottom cover. The alarm unit includes a circuit board, at least one sensor, at least one buzzer, a control switch button, at least one storage battery, an indication lamp, and at least one socket hole. When the alarm unit is started, the alarm unit detects vibration or shaking of the locking block or the alarm assembly due to an external force and transmits an alarm signal so as to achieve a burglar-proof effect.
US09162721B2
A bipod robotic walking apparatus consisting of two feet on the coupler link of a spherical four-bar linkage, for movement in a forward or rearward direction by repeated motions of the four-bar linkage. Three four-bar linkages may be connected in tandem to form a hexapod with three points of contact with the ground.
US09162720B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an approach for reproducing a human action with a robot. The approach includes receiving data representing motions and contact forces of the human as the human performs the action. The approach further includes approximating, based on the motions and contact forces data, the center of mass (CoM) trajectory of the human in performing the action. Finally, the approach includes generating a planned robot action for emulating the designated action by solving an inverse kinematics problem having the approximated human CoM trajectory as a hard constraint and the motion capture data as a soft constraint.
US09162719B2
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems including a limbed vehicle having a plurality of controllably movable limbs (e.g., a limbed machine, limbed robot, etc.), a plurality of spaced posts that the limbed vehicle may travel on using the limbs, and at least one logistical-support unit associated with at least one of the posts and configured to provide logistical support to the limbed vehicle. As non-limiting examples, such disclosed embodiments of systems may be used to service an agriculture field, to enable travel over an environmentally-sensitive area or an area impassable by a conventional wheeled or tracked vehicle, and may be used in many other different applications. Embodiments disclosed herein also relate to limbed vehicles configured to receive logistical support from a logistical-support unit, methods of providing logistical support to such limbed vehicles, post networks, and posts.
US09162709B2
An arched fender extension portion is attached along an edge of an existing fender of an agricultural vehicle with a common curvature and lying in a common plane by a pair of brackets mounted on the existing fender at longitudinally spaced fastening arrangements thereof. The extension portion includes two bolt connectors arranged to pull the flat edge of the extension portion into butting engagement with the outer side edge of the existing fender inwardly of an edge flange portion of the existing fender.
US09162704B2
In a PID control system, a proportionality coefficient multiplication unit multiplies a valve opening degree command value by a proportionality coefficient. A first angle deviation computation unit computes a deviation between an output value from a proportionality coefficient multiplication unit and a detected rotation angle of a valve driving motor. A differential coefficient multiplication unit multiplies the valve opening degree command value by a differential coefficient. A third angle deviation computation unit computes a deviation between an output value from the differential coefficient multiplication unit and the detected rotation angle of the valve driving motor.
US09162680B1
A method of controlling a transmission and engine during a coasting downshift is particularly suited to transmission arrangements exhibiting strong inertia coupling. During the inertia phase of the downshift, a third clutch such as a torque converter bypass clutch is modulated to control output torque. Simultaneously, engine torque is modulated to control engine speed. The resulting control scheme is only semi-coupled.
US09162679B2
A vehicle operating condition profile can be determined over a given route while also considering imposed constraints such as deviation from time targets, deviation from maximum governed speed limits, etc. Given current vehicle speed, engine state and transmission state, the present disclosure optimally manages the engine map and transmission to provide a recommended vehicle operating condition that optimizes fuel consumption in transitioning from one vehicle state to a target state. Exemplary embodiments provide for offline and online optimizations relative to fuel consumption. The benefit is increased freight efficiency in transporting cargo from source to destination by minimizing fuel consumption and maintaining drivability.
US09162675B2
The invention relates to a control device of a hybrid system. The control device selectively performs first and second modes for concomitantly using an EV mode for operating the electric motor (12) with the engine operation being stopped and an HV mode for selectively operating the engine and stopping the engine operation with the electric motor being operated by switching the EV and HV modes according to a predetermined switching condition set such that a proportion of an engine operation time in the first mode is smaller than that in the second mode. When an actual acceleration pedal manipulation amount is smaller than a first manipulation amount, an amount of the hybrid system power increased according to the increasing of the actual acceleration pedal manipulation amount in the first mode is made larger than that in the second mode.
US09162673B2
A gear shift control system for vehicles is provided which mathematically calculates a rate of deceleration of the vehicle equipped an automatic transmission upon start of deceleration of the vehicle and inhibits the automatic transmission from upshifting or changes a permissible gear shift range of the automatic transmission as a function of the rate of deceleration of the vehicle, thereby ensuring a desired degree of braking force including an engine braking force while the vehicle is decelerating.
US09162672B2
A method for controlling an exhaust gas aftertreatment device of a vehicle hybrid drive is provided. The method comprises operating the hybrid drive only by a combustion engine, only by a non-combustion motor, or by both, as a function of a temperature of the exhaust aftertreatment device, and conducting exhaust gas of the hybrid drive at least partially through the exhaust aftertreatment device, the engine and motor each providing output to power the vehicle. In this way, the aftertreatment device may be operated at an optimal temperature for conversion performance.
US09162671B2
A hybrid vehicle control unit (HV-ECU) sets a sub-battery voltage during an engine non-operation time to be lower than a sub-battery voltage during the normal time, which decreases a charge amount to the sub-battery relative to an amount during the normal time. The HV-ECU sets the sub-battery voltage during an engine operation time to be higher than the sub-battery voltage during the engine non-operation time, which increases the charge amount to the sub-battery relative to an amount during the engine non-operation time. A SOC control according to the above-described scheme prevents a SOC decrease of the sub-battery SOC in comparison to the conventional SOC control scheme, thereby preventing charging of the sub-battery when the main battery SOC is lower than a certain threshold. Therefore, a run-down of the sub-battery is prevented.
US09162668B2
A drive control device for a hybrid vehicle is provided with a differential device including four rotary elements; and an engine, a first electric motor, a second electric motor and an output rotary member which are respectively connected to the four rotary elements. One of the four rotary elements is constituted by a rotary component of a first differential mechanism and a rotary component of a second differential mechanism which are selectively connected to each other through a clutch, and one of the rotary components of the first and second differential mechanisms which are selectively connected to each other through the clutch is selectively fixed to a stationary member through a brake. The drive control device comprises: a clutch engagement control portion configured to place the clutch in an engaged state when a warm-up operation of the hybrid vehicle is required.
US09162664B2
A total power demand including a wheel power demand may be observed. The wheel power demand may be modified to determine a modified total power demand including a modified wheel power demand if the total power demand falls within a target range of power values defined by upper and lower threshold power values such that the modified total power demand is generally equal to the lower threshold power value.
US09162655B2
A braking device for a vehicle is provided which includes a braking simulator, thus resulting in improved mountability of the braking device in the vehicle. The braking device is designed to permit component parts of the hydraulic booster to slide on one another in response to a braking effort on a brake pedal, thereby absorbing an undesirable load on the braking device and also ensuring the stability in operating the brake pedal. This results in improved durability and maneuvering feeling of the braking device.
US09162644B2
A hatch protection system and method protect personnel against blunt force trauma caused by contact with a hatch. In an embodiment, a hatch protection system for a hatch on a vehicle includes a hatch pad. The hatch pad is attached to the hatch. In addition, the hatch pad comprises a protective padding. Further, the hatch pad is adapted to be raised, lowered, or any combinations thereof. The hatch protection system also includes a plurality of brackets. The plurality of brackets is secured to the vehicle and to the hatch pad.
US09162637B2
An ultracapacitor energy storage system and in particular a system for packaging and connecting ultracapacitors (15) for energy storage purposes is described which is applicable in automotive and stationary applications. The ultracapacitors (15) in the system can be in series or parallel or a combination of both. A controller, relays, voltage monitoring and isolation fault detection are used to regulate the system. The mechanical construction of frame and different pluggable modules (2 and 7) lead to an easy in- and de-installation of the different parts. The different constructions are designed with a safe handling by the operator in mind.
US09162632B2
A method for producing a patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive body includes a pattern forming step of cutting a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer in a pressure-sensitive adhesive film including a first release film and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer laminated on one surface of the first release film so as to form a first slit in a pattern shape and an outer frame forming step of cutting the first release film and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer so as to form a second slit in an outer frame shape surrounding the pattern shape. The second slit has a discontinuous portion in a cutting direction.
US09162627B2
An item holder for a vehicle interior includes first and second retention members which are operable between at-rest and recessed positions relative to one another. The first and second retention members have edge portions which are generally arranged in a parallel relationship and define a spacing therebetween for the insertion of an item in use. An item stored in the item holder is retained by the first and second retention members in that the first and second retention members are biased towards the at-rest position for engagement of an item therebetween. The item holder provides ready access to personal items as stored therein by a vehicle occupant.
US09162611B2
A light assembly and method for generating a light pattern, the assembly comprising a first light module including a first LED array, the first LED array including at least a first line of LEDs where each LED in the first array generates an LED light pattern and where dark areas occur between adjacent LED light patterns, the first LED array forming a first light pattern including interleaved bright and dark areas and a second light module wherein the first and second light modules are arranged with the first light pattern misaligned with a second light pattern generated by the second light module so that at least a subset of the bright areas in the first light pattern are aligned with dark areas in the second light pattern to generate a combined light pattern.
US09162608B2
A covering element for an air inlet opening and/or air outlet opening in a motor vehicle body. A covering element lamella or a design element spans the opening and has a translucent surface in the direction towards the outside of the vehicle at least in a sub-region or the sub-region is designed to be translucent such that light from a light source which lies behind the sub-region and which is arranged in the interior of the lamella or the design element can exit.
US09162604B2
A fastener operable to fasten to a strap having a tensioned segment and a loose segment includes a planar profile having at least two sides defining an elongated wrap section configured for having the loose segment of the strap wrapped around it, and at least one slot configured to clip onto the tensioned segment of the strap, and retain the loose segment of the strap wrapped around the elongated wrap section against the tensioned segment of the strap.
US09162593B2
A vehicle safety seat and infant carrier system allowing height adjustment of a shoulder harness strap without rethreading the harness strap through the seat. A positioning member is normally biased out of engagement with a toothed rail, allowing a harness strap carried by the positioning member to be adjusted up or down to fit the size of a child. As the harness strap is pulled tight, the positioning member is brought into engagement with the toothed rail, fixing the position of the strap relative to the seat.
US09162591B2
A seat assembly having a seat cushion and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion for pivotal movement between a generally upright seating position and a folded position overlying the seat cushion. A power return mechanism is operatively coupled to the seat back for automatically returning the seat back from the folded position to the seating position. The power return mechanism includes a support bracket for mounting the power return mechanism to the seat assembly, a slider bracket slidably coupled to the support bracket, a cable connected between the seat back and the slider bracket, and a motor and gear assembly for power driving the slider bracket between a home position when the seat back is in the seating position and a full stroke position pulling the cable to pivot the seat back from the folded position to the seating position.
US09162573B2
An electronic throttle control (ETC) system is disclosed for use on a recreational or a utility vehicle. The ETC system includes a drive mode selection device for selecting between a plurality of drive modes. The ETC system provides an adjustable engine idle speed and an engine power limiting feature.
US09162567B2
A driveline component with a housing, a pinion mounted in the housing for rotation about a first axis, a ring gear and a pair of output members. The ring gear is meshed with the pinion and is rotatable about a second axis. The ring gear is supported for rotation relative to the housing by a pair of tapered roller bearings that are disposed along the second axis on a common lateral side of the ring gear. The output members are drivingly coupled to the ring gear.
US09162559B2
A fuel-cell-system providing structure is provided which is capable of preventing a collision of a fuel cell with a related apparatus of the fuel cell while suppressing the increase in weight of a vehicle. A fuel cell system provided in a vehicle includes: a fuel cell unit in which a fuel cell is contained; and a related apparatus that is electrically connected to the fuel cell and that is located adjacent to the fuel cell unit. The related apparatus is arranged at a position closer to an outer surface of the vehicle than the fuel cell unit.
US09162545B1
In the specification and drawings an amphibious machine is described and shown with a first wheel and a second wheel; a track, the track comprising a first belt engaged to the first wheel and a second belt engaged to the second wheel, wherein the first belt and the second belt are constructed of a flexible material; the first belt and the second belt being substantially parallel to each other; and a space between the first belt and the second belt.
US09162542B2
A tire air pressure transmission device is provided that is configured to set a sampling period or cycle based on a centrifugal acceleration of a wheel in the centrifugal direction, and to detect the value of the gravitational acceleration component of the centrifugal acceleration at each set sampling period.
US09162537B2
Technique for improving the endurance of beads of a radial tire for a heavy vehicle of the civil engineering type, by blocking the cracks that are initiated in the carcass reinforcement upturn end zone and that are propagated in the surrounding polymer materials, causing the deterioration of the bead over time. A binding element (23), having at least two layers of binding including reinforcement elements made of textile material, is in continuous contact with the carcass reinforcement upturn (211) between a first point of contact (A2) on the axially inner face (211a) of carcass reinforcement upturn, corresponding to a first end (I2) of the binding element, and a last point of contact (B2) on the axially outer face (211b) of the carcass reinforcement upturn.
US09162534B2
A pneumatic tire with a designated rotational direction comprises a tread portion, a pair of center circumferential main grooves extending on both sides of a tire equatorial plane, a center land portion between the center circumferential main grooves, a ripe provided with the center land portion, a plurality of V-shaped grooves each provided separately in the center land portion, each V-shaped groove having a peak located in a middle area of the center land portion, the first inclined portion extending from the peak to one side edge of the center land portion, and the second inclined portion extending from the peak to the other side edge of the center land portion, and a first inclined sub-groove and a second inclined sub-groove provided between a pair of V-shaped grooves, the first inclined sub-groove and the second inclined sub-groove being provided separately in the circumferential direction of the tire.
US09162532B2
The tire includes a tread portion to come into contact with a road surface. A lateral groove portion extending in a direction intersecting with a tire circumferential direction, and a land portion partitioned by the lateral groove portion are formed in the tread portion. The land portion includes: a ground-contact face to come into contact with the road surface; a side face formed on an outer side in a tread width direction of the land portion; a lateral groove face constituting a groove wall of the lateral groove portion formed on one end in the tire circumferential direction of the land portion; and a tapered face which meets the ground-contact face, the side face, and the lateral groove face in a corner portion formed by the ground-contact face, the side face, and the lateral groove face.
US09162527B1
A mechanically interlocked wheel assembly including a rigid core formed from aluminum integrally bound to an elastomeric infill by passing the infill material through a plurality of slots defined in the core rim during the molding process is provided. A ground-engaging tread is attached to the infill to form a structurally superior wheel assembly capable of carrying heavy loads in extreme environments for an extended period of time without the need to replace the wheel components. A method of manufacturing a mechanically interlocked wheel assembly is also included herein.
US09162526B2
A rotary ring of a hub unit has an annular end face on one side in the axial direction, and a tapered outer periphery in a radially outer region of the end face. The diameter of the tapered outer periphery increases toward the other side in the axial direction. An outer ring of a joint has an annular end face on the other side in the axial direction, and had a tapered inner periphery in a radially outer region of the end face. The diameter of the tapered inner periphery increases toward the other side in the axial direction, and the tapered inner periphery faces the tapered outer periphery. Splines are formed in the tapered outer periphery and splines are formed in the tapered inner periphery, and the splines of the tapered outer periphery and the splines of the tapered inner periphery mesh with each other.
US09162519B2
Provided are a decorative surface structure of a synthetic resin molded article which has excellent wear resistance, design and texture, a method for producing the same, and a synthetic resin molded decorative article. Specifically provided are a decorative surface structure of an automobile interior part, which is capable of various design representations having an excellent three-dimensional appearance, while ensuring antidazzling property, and does not spoil glossy finish, a method for producing the same, and an automobile interior part. The decorative surface structure is comprised of a base coating region formed on a surface of a synthetic resin molded article by a coating layer and one or more convex portion formed on the base coating member.
US09162516B2
A display board assembly includes a display board having a planar surface and an edge extending along at least a portion of the planar surface. The display board assembly also includes a mounting member coupled to the display board. The mounting member defines a first gap adjacent the planar surface of the display board and a second gap adjacent the edge of the display board. The display board assembly further includes a display board accessory including a projection. The display board accessory is removably coupled to the mounting member in one of a first position, in which the projection is received in the first gap, and a second position, in which the projection is received in the second gap.
US09162509B1
An apparatus detects inoperative inkjets during printing. The apparatus operates the printhead or printheads in the printer to form test pattern on a thermal substrate. The heat of the materials used to form the test pattern change the optical density of the areas where the materials land. The area where the test pattern is formed is imaged and the image data are analyzed to identify inoperative inkjets.
US09162506B2
A printing apparatus includes an ejection unit including a piezoelectric element that is displaced according to a driving signal, and a nozzle capable of ejecting the liquid; a driving signal supply unit that supplies the driving signal; a detection unit that detects change of an electromotive force of the piezoelectric element; a determination unit that determines an ejection state of the liquid in the ejection unit based on the detection result of the detection unit; and a decision unit that is capable of performing a first process of deciding a waveform of the driving signal for inspection such that the liquid is not ejected from the nozzle when the driving signal for inspection is supplied to the piezoelectric element and a second process of correcting the waveform decided in the first process and deciding the corrected waveform as a waveform of the driving signal for inspection.
US09162503B2
A machine for printing an object includes: a chassis, at least four inkjet printing heads respectively suitable for orienting jets of ink toward the object in at least four printing directions, and a system for maintaining and moving printing heads fastened on the chassis and suitable for moving the printing heads between a number of positions relative to the chassis. The system is suitable so that, in each of the number of positions, the printing directions are separate from one another and pass through a same central axis (C). The central axes correspond to the number of positions respectively situated at a number of distances (D) from the chassis.
US09162497B2
A printer includes a printer body, a lid, a cutter, a fixed blade unit, a movable blade unit, a gimbal plate, and a spring. The printer body includes a print head. The lid is connected to the printer body so as to be opened and closed relative to the printer body. The cutter cuts recording paper. The fixed blade unit is provided in the printer body and includes a fixed blade of the cutter. The movable blade unit is provided on the lid and includes a movable blade of the cutter. The gimbal plate is attached to the lid. The movable blade unit is connected to the gimbal plate. The spring intervenes between the movable blade unit and the gimbal plate. The movable blade unit is provided on the lid with the gimbal plate attached to the lid.
US09162495B2
A printer apparatus comprises a paper conveyance path configured to pull out wound paper and connect the paper with a paper discharge port, a conveyance unit configured to convey the paper in the paper conveyance path; a printing section configured to print on the paper; a cutter configured to cut the paper on which a given printing operation is carried out by the printing section; a curved paper intrusion section configured to be arranged between the cutter and the paper discharge port to accommodate curved paper the front end of which is not conveyed; and a paper detection section configured to detect the paper intruding into the curved paper intrusion section.
US09162472B2
A filter unit includes: a space portion, through which a liquid passes, whose outer cross-sectional shape when cut along the direction orthogonal to the axial direction is circular or polygonal; a filter provided at the surface on one end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof; a protruding member, provided at the surface on the other end side of the space portion in the axial direction thereof, that protrudes toward a center area of the surface on the one end side of the space portion; an inflow channel that allows the liquid to flow into the space portion from a direction tangential to the side circumferential surface of the space portion; and an outflow channel that allows the liquid to pass through the filter and flow out from the space portion.
US09162467B2
An ink cartridge (1) for inserting into an inkjet printer, with an outer housing (2) and an ink container (4) located inside, wherein the ink contained comprises an ink outlet piece (5) through which the ink container (4) can be contacted from the outside in a fluid-conductive manner, wherein on the outer housing (2) of the ink cartridge (1) guiding means (136) are provided in order to align the outer housing (2) on inserting the ink cartridge (1) in the inkjet printer relative to puncturing means, arranged in the inkjet printer in a fixed location, the outer housing (2) of the ink cartridge (1) at least for the greatest part is of a cellulose material and the guiding means are formed as a component that is separate from the outer housing (2) and fixed to the latter, and the component comprises a material that differs from the material of the outer housing.
US09162464B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit which includes a nozzle forming surface having nozzle openings for ejecting liquid formed thereon, a wiper which is contactably disposed on the nozzle forming surface, a movement unit which is able to relatively move the liquid ejecting unit and the wiper, and a control unit which controls the movement units such that an interference amount of the wiper and the nozzle forming surface in a position of the wiper which comes in contact with the liquid ejecting unit, is smaller than an interference amount of the wiper and the nozzle forming surface when the wiper is relatively moved through a nozzle region which is a region including the nozzle openings of the nozzle forming surface in a direction along the nozzle forming surface.
US09162461B2
There is provided an ink jet recording apparatus including a recording head in which nozzle arrays are configured by lining up a plurality of nozzles which discharge identical inks and the nozzle arrays are arranged in a plurality of lines, and which discharges a plurality of types of ink, and a cap member which covers the plurality of the nozzle arrays in which out of a plurality of nozzle arrays which are accommodated in one cap member in a capping operation, a nozzle array in an end side region of the cap member discharges ink with the lowest solid content concentration and a nozzle array in a central region of the cap member discharges ink with highest solid content concentration.
US09162456B2
A method of manufacturing a fluid dispensing subassembly includes forming a body pressure chamber from a body plate or a set of plates including a body plate, and adhesively bonding a diaphragm plate to at least the body plate of the fluid dispensing subassembly, with an adhesive layer having a polymer core and thin adhesive layers on each side of the polymer core, wherein the diaphragm plate is bonded to one of the thin adhesive layers on a first side of the core and the body plate is bonded to the thin adhesive layer on a second side of the core.
US09162454B2
A printhead includes a plurality of liquid channels and a nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles and an acoustic dampening structure. The acoustic dampening structure includes a plurality of sets of air pockets and liquid flow restrictors. Each set of air pockets and liquid flow restrictors is in fluid communication with a respective one of the plurality of nozzles. Each liquid channel is in fluid communication with the respective one of the plurality of nozzles through the associated liquid flow restrictor. A common liquid supply manifold is in fluid communication with the plurality of liquid chambers.
US09162453B2
One example provides a printhead including a substrate and a fluidics structure attached to the substrate. The fluidics structure includes actuators for ejecting ink from the printhead. The printhead includes an integrated circuit die attached to the substrate. The integrated circuit die is for driving the actuators. The integrated circuit die is cooled by a coolant contacting the integrated circuit die and flowing through the substrate.
US09162452B2
An image forming apparatus includes a liquid jetting head for jetting liquid onto a recording medium and a movement mechanism for moving the liquid jetting head orthogonal to the recording medium. The movement mechanism includes translation cams movable in a direction orthogonal to the movement of the liquid jetting head, each of the translation cams including a cam gap into which a protruding part of the liquid jetting head is inserted. Each cam gap includes a parallel part and a slope part. The cap gaps of the translation cams are configured so as to constantly maintain a relationship in which when the protruding part is positioned in the slope part of the cap gap of one of the translation cams, the protruding part is positioned in the parallel part of the cap gap of the other translation cam.
US09162444B2
A printing apparatus includes a position detection unit which includes an optical element, a light source and a light receiving element, radiates light from the light source toward the printing surface, causes diffused reflection light of reflection light which is reflected by the printing surface to be incident to the light receiving element through the optical element and outputs positional information relating to a position of the printing surface at which the light from the light source reflects, from the light receiving element, and a controller which causes movement of the carriage to stop when lifting up of the printing medium is detected on a basis of the positional information output from the light receiving element, in which a virtual plane which contains the optical element and the light receiving element is in a state of being inclined in relation to a normal line of the printing surface.
US09162434B2
A system and method for making advanced composite laminates includes a tape dispensing system, a tape placement head, and a tooling surface. Tape sections are formed and moved through a tape section guide using a gripping assembly. The tape section guide system is suspended over the tooling surface. Once the tape section is positioned over a desired location on the tooling surface, a tape tacking device tacks or otherwise attaches the tape section to the tooling surface or another underlying tape section.
US09162427B2
There are provided a method for manufacturing a surface-modified fluororesin film capable of long-term inventory storage, a method for manufacturing a rubber composite composed of the surface-modified fluororesin film and rubber bonded together, and a rubber product for medical use made of the rubber composite. The method for manufacturing a surface-modified fluororesin film comprises the step of performing surface roughening on a fluororesin film RF by applying an ion beam from an anode layer ion source to the surface of the fluororesin film RF. A rubber is placed over the roughened surface of the thusly produced surface-modified fluororesin film, and, through vulcanization molding process, the surface-modified fluororesin film and the tuber can be firmly bonded to each other.
US09162425B2
A heat-ray shielding glass products (e.g., solar control double glass) which have excellent heat-ray shielding property, especially thermal insulation property and enhanced durability under the condition of existence of moisture (under high humidity), and which can be prepared in low cost is provided. The solar control double glass 40 comprises a solar control glass 30 having a glass plate 21 and a heat-ray reflection layer 24 comprising an electrically-conductive polymer provided thereon and another glass plate 37, the solar control glass and the another glass being arranged at an interval such that the heat-ray reflection layer faces the another glass and the interval forming a hollow layer 38, and the heat-ray reflection layer 24 has a surface resistivity of not more than 10,000Ω/□.
US09162422B2
Steel contains each of C, Si, Mn, P, S, Al, N, O, at a range from ⅛ thickness centered around a ¼ sheet thickness from a surface to ⅜ thickness centered around the ¼ sheet thickness from the surface at a base steel sheet, a structure of the base steel sheet contains, in volume fraction, 3% or more of a retained austenite phase, 50% or less of a ferrite phase, and 40% or more of a hard phase, average dislocation density is 5×1013/m2 or more, solid-solution C amount contained in the retained austenite phase is in mass % 0.70 to 1.00%, X-ray random intensity ratio of FCC iron in an texture of the retained austenite phase is 3.0 or less, ratio between a grain diameter relative to a rolling direction and a grain diameter relative to a sheet width direction of the retained austenite phase is 0.75 to 1.33.
US09162421B2
A multi-layer bio-based composite film with a bio-based heat seal layer. The compostable bio-based film can comprise a crystalline bio-based heat seal layer and an amorphous bio-based barrier web layer. The heat seal layer has a second heat melting temperature which is lower than its first heat melting temperature.
US09162420B2
A solvent-free multilayer laminated material comprises a lower substrate layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer or a mixture of thermoplastic polymers, an intermediate layer arranged thereon and comprising a flexible material, a further fibrous intermediate layer comprising plastic, which is provided with an adhesive material and an upper layer comprising metal, comprising plastic or comprising wood or wood-like materials. It does surprisingly not show any deformation even under exposure to temperatures of about 80° C. over a period of up to 40 days and can be used for the production of articles of furniture, floor coverings, wall panels or shaped articles for the electrical, construction or automotive industry.
US09162414B2
A method for preparing a scored flexible structure that has utility in the construction of packaging structures, including steps of: (i) providing a structure as a web of flexible material; (ii) enhancing a thickness of the structure in a discrete region thereof by applying a substantially all-solids electron-beam-curable polymer material in fluid form onto the discrete region, the discrete region occupying a minor percentage of a total surface area of the structure; (iii) curing the polymer material by irradiating the polymer material with an electron beam, thereby forming an EB-cured polymer region; and (iv) forming a score line through a thickness of the EB-cured polymer region and through the thickness of the structure.
US09162413B2
A rotary knife assembly includes a rotatable core and a plurality of knife blades extending from the rotatable core. A heating element is coupled with the plurality of knife blades, and the heating element is configured to heat the knife blades. One or more package guides are interposed between each of the plurality of knife blades configured to engage along one or more deformable packages as the rotatable core is rotated. In another example, a discharge assembly includes a conveyor belt including inner and outer belt surfaces, and a plurality of belt rows extending along a belt length. A plurality of package spacing ridges each include outer engaging edges, and one package spacing ridge of the plurality is positioned between each of the plurality of belt rows. The outer belt surface is recessed from the outer engaging edges.
US09162407B2
A reservoir for catching a portion of overflow of molding material from a non-pneumatic tire mold during molding includes a tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end, and a flange associated with the proximal end of the tubular portion. The flange is configured to be associated with a surface of the tire mold, such that the tubular portion extends substantially perpendicular to the surface of the tire mold. The reservoir further includes a reservoir portion configured to be removably mounted around the tubular portion. The reservoir portion includes a base having an aperture configured to receive the tubular portion, and a wall configured such that molding material flowing from the distal end of the tubular portion is received in the reservoir portion.
US09162406B2
A feedblock including a first packet creator that forms a first packet including a first plurality of polymeric layers, the first plurality of layers including at least four first individual polymeric layers; and a second packet creator that forms a second packet including a second plurality of polymeric layers, the second plurality of layers including at least four second individual polymeric layers, wherein the first and second packet creators are configured such that, for each packet creator, respective individual polymeric layers of the plurality of polymeric layers are formed at approximately the same time. The feedblock may include a packet combiner that receives and combines the first and second primary packets to form a multilayer stream. In some examples, at least one of the first and second primary packets may be spread in the cross-web direction prior to being combined with one another.
US09162385B2
Methods, devices and systems for closed mold composite material production may include placing an injection tool connected within a pressure chamber, where the injection tool is connected to a material distribution system within the pressure chamber. The methods, devices and systems may also include injecting material at an injection pressure and an injection flow rate, via the material distribution system, into the injection tool and raising an environment pressure of the pressure chamber during the injection process. The methods, devices and systems may include equalizing an injection tool pressure and the environment pressure and adjusting the environment pressure to a curing pressure to cure the material within the injection tool to form a composite product.
US09162375B2
The present invention relates to a mold drum for molding products from a mass of food starting material. The mold drum comprises one or more cavities with a mold cavity wall having at least partially a porous structure, whereas each cavity is connected to a passage. The present invention further relates to a cleaning apparatus for the inventive mold drum with supporting means for supporting the axis of the drum. Additionally, the present invention relates to a process for cleaning the inventive drum.
US09162367B2
A system and a method of using the system for reproducibly cutting a cove using a table saw are presented. The system comprises a first fence assembly and a fixturing means, where the fence assembly is rotatably affixed to the fixturing means, wherein the fixturing means can be releasably secured to the table of the table saw. The method comprises providing a blank molding, a table saw having a table and saw blade, and the cove system and releasably affixing the cove system to the table. The method further comprises setting a fence angle using the first fence assembly and setting a fence depth by adjusting the position of the fixturing means with respect to the table. The method finally comprises feeding the blank molding over the saw blade thereby cutting a cove in the blank molding.
US09162359B2
A robot system of the present disclosure includes: a robot including an operable working arm driven by an actuator; an operation load detection unit configured to detect an operation load of the actuator; a region setting unit that sets a region with a predetermined range around the robot; a moving body detection unit configured to detect a position of a moving body other than the robot; and an abnormality determination unit that determines abnormality when detecting of the position of the moving body within the region, wherein the region setting unit changes the range of the region in accordance with the operation load of the actuator.
US09162356B2
A method of controlling two arms of a robot including: a finding-out step of finding out position differences in axial directions of an end of one arm and an end of the other arm; a generating step of generating a virtual force at the end of the other arm based on the position differences that have been found out; and a converting step of converting the generated virtual force into a driving torque for joints of the other arm, using a Jacobian matrix.
US09162355B2
This mobile unit suppresses lateral vibration produced when the mobile unit passes over a step. A stabilizer according to the present invention predicts contact timing at which the mobile unit makes contact with a step, which may be a bump or pit, using sensor information or map information, shifts the center of gravity of the mobile unit laterally by controlling actuators, and shifts the center of gravity laterally for the next step after detecting that the mobile unit has passed over the previous step.
US09162352B2
A hand-guided apparatus may include an operating lever, a switch, and an intermediate lever. The operating lever may actuate a function of the hand-guided apparatus, be constructed in an elongated manner and be pivotably attached to a housing of the apparatus. The switch actuates the function and is arranged in the housing. The intermediate lever mechanically actuates the switch. The operating lever includes a safety element enabled to be pretensioned and shifted along a longitudinal axis of the operating lever. The operating lever and the intermediate lever are enabled to be mechanically coupled by shifting the safety element into a pretensioned state to enable actuation of the switch by pivoting of the operating lever. The operating lever and the intermediate lever are enabled to be mechanically decoupled by shifting the safety element into a relaxed state to prevent actuation of the switch by pivoting of the operating lever.
US09162345B2
A substrate includes a surface having blind apertures formed therein. The blind apertures formed in the surface are preferably arranged in a regular and repeating pattern, such as with an array. A super-abrasive material fills each of the blind apertures. Each apertures hole has an opening with a cross-sectional dimension in the range of 1 mm to 15 mm. The super-abrasive material filling each of the plurality of blind apertures may be a polycrystalline diamond compact or an impregnated diamond material (such as formed by fused tungsten carbide impregnating randomly distributed diamond particles). The blind apertures may be formed in the substrate using electrical discharge machining.
US09162338B2
A method cuts a patch to be applied onto a curved substrate and includes the preliminary calculation of curvilinear lengths on the substrate between a reference point and a peripheral edge of said substrate. The calculated lengths are applied to a planar film for making the patch, and then the patch is cut by connecting the ends of the applied lengths. The patch then precisely coincides with the edge of the substrate. Such a method is particularly useful for applying a functional film onto a spectacle lens, as a trimming of the lens after the film is assembled with the lens would degrade said film.
US09162336B2
The machine tool includes a saddle, a table which moves relative to the saddle, a telescopic cover fixed to the saddle, and a wiper fixed to the table. The telescopic cover protects a guide member which supports the saddle in such a manner as to be capable of moving with respect to the bed. When chips generated by the working of a workpiece placed on the table have deposited on the surface of the telescopic cover, the wiper fixed to the table removes the chips by the movement of the table and causes the chips to fall.
US09162333B2
A domestic appliance (1) with a bus (2) is disclosed. A plurality of modules (3) are connected to the bus, each controlling an operational component (4). Initial programming of the modules may take place from a single connection point (61). The modules may be configured to control the domestic appliance jointly and non-hierarchically. Suitably, all modules are identical up to content of a data memory provided therein.
US09162329B2
The method for removing an inner casing from a machine includes removing a top part of the outer casing, removing a top part of the inner casing, removing the bottom part of the inner casing, before removing the bottom part of the inner casing connecting the bottom part of the inner casing to the rotor, such that the bottom part of the inner casing is supported by the rotor, then rotating the rotor around the longitudinal axis to make the bottom part of the inner casing accessible.
US09162323B2
Provided is a welding method and electrodes (wires) with aluminum as a primary deoxidizer and a basic flux system for joining a workpieces with weld metal of comparable strengths and enhanced toughness. For instance, provided is a welding wire, comprising an aluminum content configured to act as a primary deoxidizer, and an overall composition configured to produce a weld deposit comprising a basic slag over a weld bead, wherein the aluminum content is configured to kill the oxygen in the weld pool, and wherein the oxygen comprises oxygen provided by a shielding gas or produced by heating of welding filler materials. Further provided is a welding method comprising arc welding a workpiece using an electrode having aluminum as a primary deoxidizer under a gas shield to produce a bead of weld deposit and a basic slag over the weld bead.
US09162321B2
A laser welding apparatus includes laser generator, arc generator, wire feeder, filler feeder, filler-feeding-abnormality detector, and controller. Controller stops welding immediately upon receiving a filler-feeding-abnormality signal from filler-feeding-abnormality detector. This can stop welding before the formation of a defective weld bead, and can also prevent the breakage of the welding apparatus.
US09162318B2
A friction stir processing apparatus comprises a tool, a processing head retaining the tool, a support table retaining the workpiece, and a cylinder unit biasing the support table toward the tool. The tool having a probe projecting from a shoulder surface, for performing friction stir processing on a workpiece made of a metal material. The processing head is pressing the tool against the workpiece so as to relatively shift the tool in a processing direction. The friction stir processing apparatus comprises load control means for controlling to constantly keep the bias force of the cylinder unit so as to constantly keep pressurizing force of the tool pressing the workpiece. It is thus possible to perform friction stir processing with excellent quality even when the workpiece has a different thickness or is made of a different material.
US09162316B2
An electron beam welding method capable of restoring toughness even when high heat input welding is performed. The electron beam welding method comprises: forming a first weld bead (3) so as to include a groove (2) provided at the butt portions of two base materials (1), and forming a second weld bead (4) and a third weld bead (5) having a narrower width than the first weld bead (3), at predetermined positions displaced from the groove (2) and centered symmetrically about the butt portions so as to include a portion of the first weld bead (3), using a lower heat input than that used during formation of the first weld bead (3).
US09162308B2
A pulse welding welder is provided which provides a pulse welding waveform to a workpiece to be welded. The welding waveform has a plurality of welding cycles and each of the cycles has a droplet transfer peak pulse and a background portion with a first polarity and an opposite polarity portion which precedes the droplet transfer peak pulse and is after the background portion.
US09162304B2
A method for brazing parts having complex profiles, while enabling reproducible implementation conditions to be defined. The method adjusts a heat cycle during brazing by controlling and mapping heat, while taking emissivity coefficient of the material to be brazed into account. Further, a brazing station includes a power generator configured to supply a predetermined voltage to a transformer connected to a circuit forming a shape inductor, the circuit having an overall shape of the parts to be brazed. A pressure mechanism exerts a load on the parts to be brazed. A camera establishes a heat map. A laser-sighted infrared pyrometer measures the brazing temperature by radiation after parameterizing an emissivity coefficient, other parameters being fixed. A controller supplies a set power to the generator on the basis of the measured temperature.
US09162301B2
An electrochemical machining tool and method capable of rounding sharp edges that may be prone to cracking, for example, edge regions of cooling slots within dovetail slots of turbine wheels. The electrochemical machining tool includes an electrode and is secured to the component. The electrode of the electrochemical machining tool is inserted into a first slot, an electrolyte solution is applied between the electrode of the electrochemical machining tool and a second slot that intersects the first slot, an electrical potential is applied to the electrode and the turbine wheel to create a potential gradient between the electrode and the edge of the second slot, and material is removed from the edge of the second slot by displacing the electrode about and along the edge.
US09162297B2
A method of operating a dual acting hydraulic cylinder comprising the steps of returning a hydraulic fluid from a rod-side chamber to a piston-side chamber of the cylinder during a start phase of cylinder extraction with a speed component and increasing pressure of the fluid during end phase of cylinder extraction with a booster component and permitting the fluid to flow from the rod-side chamber to a reservoir. A hydraulic device for operating a dual acting hydraulic cylinder comprising a speed component arranged to return a hydraulic fluid from a rod-side chamber to a piston-side chamber of the cylinder at a start phase of cylinder extraction and a booster component arranged to increase the pressure of the fluid at an end phase of cylinder extraction.
US09162291B2
A tool head for use in machine tools, has a main body which can be rotated around an axis of rotation. The tool head has a slide. The slide can be moved by means of a pull rod axially oriented in the main body. The slide can be fitted with at least one tool or one tool holder. At least one adjustable toothed plate is fixedly arranged on the slide. The toothed plate has a helical gearing functioning as a gear means for engaging with a helical gearing of the pull rod which is complementary thereto. The slide has an adjustment unit for moving the at least one toothed plate and the helical gearing thereof into the complementary helical gearing of the pull rod.
US09162290B2
A machine tool for supporting and rotating a workpiece includes a first machine center supporting a first workpiece end of the workpiece. A dead center defines a second machine center of the machine tool. A center spacer has a first spacer end rotatably supported on the second machine center and a second spacer end supporting a second workpiece end of the workpiece. A drive mechanism is configured to rotate the workpiece and, during rotation of the workpiece, the center spacer is configured to rotate with the workpiece about the second machine center. The second workpiece end includes a first material and the center spacer includes a second material that is different than the first material.
US09162273B1
A pipe bender includes an actuating handle having an actuating element movably installed at the actuating handle and controllable to move in order to extend in an axial direction of the actuating handle, and a support arm transversally spanned over the actuating handle and having a support device disposed at both ends of the actuating handle separately and slidable along the support arm. Each support device includes a base with a grip portion, and a grip space formed in the grip portion, and the base is sheathed from the grip space on the support arm through the grip portion, and the support device includes a positioning mechanism for sliding and moving the support device to a selected position and then positioning the support device on the support arm.
US09162266B2
The invention relates to an installation part for mounting an upper support roll in a roll stand. The installation part has, on its cambered side, a lubricant receiving space, from which at least one lubricant drain hole (130) extends, in the lower region of the installation part, in the direction of the drain side of the installation part. In order to be able to reduce the width in the lower region of the installation part and while guaranteeing the stability of the installation part, it is proposed according to the invention that the distance d from the center point of the lubricant drain hole (130) to the vertical longitudinal center plane LM of the installation part is ≦half of the diameter of the main hole and that—in the vertical longitudinal center plane—the vertical minimum distance s from the counter-surface of a ring seal (400) in the lower region of the installation part to the horizontal tangential plane (500) at the top edge of the lubricant drain hole is not below a specified minimum clearance threshold value.
US09162264B2
A system and a method for remediation of organic contaminated soil are provided, which comprises M*N electrodes to form an electrode matrix of symmetrical electric field structure. The field intensity is uniform in those points that are equidistant from each electrode in remediation area. The electrodes arrayed in mesh style in remediation area are carried out electrokinetic remediation. To exchange between positive polarity and negative polarity of the electrodes periodically is to make each electrode be a state of anode intermittently which has preferable remediation efficiency, by operation mode of reversing row/column electrode groups in manner of electrical scanning.
US09162248B2
A backpressure injection foot is provided. The backpressure injection foot includes an injection nozzle for applying an adhesive flowing therethrough onto a planar object having a core structure; and a backpressure foot attached to a distal end of the injection nozzle, wherein the backpressure foot is configured to cover a portion of a plurality of cores disposed within the planar object to facilitate application of the adhesive from a proximal surface of the planar object through to a distal surface of the planar object.
US09162240B2
A liquid container assembly for a spray gun can include a ring, a collapsible liner, and a lid for closing the open end of the liner. The ring can include a peripheral flange, a ring recess, an inner wall, and at least one rib segment extending from the inner wall. The collapsible liner can include a liner side wall formed with an open end and a liner lip at the open end. The liner can be is insertable through the ring such that the liner lip is received and supported by the ring recess. Further, the liner can be collapsible during use as liquid is removed from the liner. The lid can include at least one tab that can extend from an outer circumference of the lid. The tabs can engage the rib segments to threadably attach to the ring.
US09162231B2
Systems and methods for producing engineered fuels from solid waste material are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a waste stream at a multi-material processing platform and separating the waste stream to remove non-processable waste and marketable recyclables. The method further includes conveying processable materials to a material classification system and incorporating additives to produce an engineered fuel from the constituents of the waste stream.
US09162230B2
Orifice plates, grinding machines, and method of using the same are provided that can process a material. In one aspect, an orifice plate includes multiple orifices, at least one of which has two tapered segments aligned with and operably connected to each other and that taper downwardly from respective outer portions to inner portions. An intermediate bore may connect to minimum diameter portions of each of the tapering segments so that the tapering segments are connected to each other by way of the intermediate bore.
US09162223B2
This invention is directed to the production of improved chromatographic resins and method of making and using such resins.
US09162222B2
The present disclosure relates to a surface structure control and preparation process for a metal nanocatalyst involving a metal nanocatalyst. The present disclosure provides a surface structure control and continuous preparation system for a metal nanocatalyst, a metal nanocatalyst having an open surface structure and high surface energy, and a surface structure control and a preparation process thereof. The system is provided with a nucleation electrolytic cell, a distribution valve, at least two growth electrolytic cells, with two ends of the distribution valve being connected to an output port of the nucleation electrolytic cell and to input port of all the growth electrolytic cells, respectively. The metal nanocatalyst having an open surface structure is a single metal nanoscale crystal and has a high density of terrace atoms or active sites on the surface thereof. The precursor reaction solution is injected into the nucleation electrolytic cell, and a nucleation programmed potential is applied to one pair of electrodes in the nucleation electrolytic cell to obtain a nucleation reaction solution having the metal crystal nucleus formed, which is conveyed to the growth electrolytic cell through the distribution valve, a growth programmed potential is applied to one pair of electrodes in the growth electrolytic cell to obtain a metal nanoscale crystal having an open surface structure; controlling the growth time to obtain a reaction solution, and collecting a product by centrifugation.
US09162221B1
Heterogeneous liquid phase catalytic process for the dehydration of monoethanolamine to ethylenimine
A novel heterogeneous liquid phase catalytic process for dehydration of monoethanolamine to ethylenimine and water has been discovered. The process utilizes a novel catalyst made by modifying a cation exchange resin in the hydrogen ion form. The process using the catalyst is performed in a solution of monoethanolamine in a solvent.
US09162217B2
An apatite compound represented by general formula: A10(PO4)6(OH)2 (wherein A represents Ba or a combination of Ba and Sr and/or Ca) is used as a carrier. This exhaust gas purifying catalyst is obtained by having the apatite compound carrier support a noble metal component.
US09162207B2
The invention relates to a fluidized bed reactor and a hydrogenation method thereof. The fluidized bed reactor (7) comprises a reactor shell (103) vertical to the ground and a phase separator (111) at the upper part of the shell (103). An inner circulation zone is provided under the phase separator (111), and comprises a cylinder (114), a tapered diffusion section (115) and a guiding structure (104). In the hydrogenation method using the fluidized bed reactor (7), an expanded bed reactor (3) is used to further hydrogenate part of the product from the fluidized bed reactor (7), and supply catalyst without influencing on the stable operation of the fluidized bed reactor (7).
US09162203B1
A hydrogen generator into which a mixed gas is run and out of which a reformed gas including hydrogen is discharged, which can reliably control the hydrogen concentration in the reformed gas to a desired concentration. The hydrogen generator is provided with an upstream side oxidation unit and a downstream side decomposition unit, burns part of the compound in the mixed gas in the oxidation unit using the oxygen in the mixed gas so as to generate heat of combustion, and uses the heat of combustion to break down another part of the compound in the mixed gas in the decomposition unit so as to generate hydrogen. The hydrogen generator is provided with a first temperature sensor controller.
US09162201B2
A hydrogen generator is provided for generating hydrogen gas for a fuel cell stack. The hydrogen generator includes container, and a first reactant storage area configured to contain a liquid first reactant. The hydrogen generator also includes a reaction area and a solid second reactant within the reaction area, and a hydrogen outlet. The hydrogen generator further includes a flexible liquid delivery member extending into the reaction area and configured to deliver liquid reactant from the first reactant storage area to the reaction area. The flexible liquid delivery member includes a flexible portion that flexes to allow the delivery member to move with the solid second reactant as the second reactant is consumed.
US09162200B2
Disclosed is provided a method of injecting and reacting super-critical phase CO2 without pressure loss. The method includes preparing gas phase CO2, producing liquid phase CO2 by pressurizing the prepared gas phase CO2, producing super-critical phase CO2 by adjusting a temperature of the produced liquid phase CO2, filling incompressible fluid in a reactor and an injection line from an injection unit and pressurizing the incompressible fluid, injecting the produced super-critical phase CO2 into the reactor, and controlling a pressure of the injected super-critical phase CO2 by a pressure regulating unit.
US09162197B2
A mixing and metering device for mixing and metering liquid chemicals comprises a circulation pump having a suction port and a pressure port, a pipe coil, the contents volume of which is dimensioned such that the chemicals metered into the device have a residence time sufficient for the chemical reaction, a choke tube which guides the circulation stream exiting from the pipe coil, with formation of a choke point, from the outlet of the pipe coil to a metering conduit which is arranged between the choke tube and the suction port of the circulation pump and at least two metering valves, and also a falling tube which is connected to the choke tube and has a vacuum flange for connection of the mixing and metering device to a vacuum device.
US09162196B2
When kneading kneading materials that include raw rubber and carbon black in a closed-type rubber kneader, the extent of the kneading efficiency of the closed-type rubber kneader is evaluated in accordance with the magnitude of the evaluation index calculated from unit work/total amount of shear by calculating an evaluation index calculated by a calculation device based on a total amount of shear obtained by integrating the shear velocity applied to the kneading materials by a rotor that is being driven to rotate by the rotor drive unit of the kneader over the kneading time, and a unit work obtained by dividing the integrated power obtained by integrating the instantaneous power of the rotor drive unit over the kneading time by the mass of the kneading materials.
US09162194B2
A lid and a jug for a blender. The lid and jug cooperate, wherein the lid is a relatively tight fitting polymeric lid having an outer edge and an upper surface. A pull tab being integral with the lid. The pull tab forms a ring above the upper surface of the lid that defines an at least finger-sized opening located adjacent to the outer edge of the lid, the opening having a central axis of symmetry that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the jug.
US09162188B2
A method includes performing a first cleaning step to clean a membrane, wherein during the first cleaning step, a first solvent passes through the membrane. After the first cleaning step, a second cleaning step is performed to clean the membrane. During the second cleaning step, a second solvent passes through the membrane. The first solvent and the second solvent are in different groups among three solvent groups, wherein the three solvent groups include a non-polar solvent group, a polar aprotic solvent group, and a polar protic solvent group.
US09162179B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for decomposing perfluorocarbons and harmful gas using a high-density confined plasma source that includes: a reactor having inlet and outlet ports formed in the top and bottom sides thereof for receiving and discharging perfluorocarbons and harmful gas, a chamber having an internal passage, a ferrite core formed outside of the chamber and connected to an antenna, and a permanent magnet arranged around the ferrite core; a gas supply portion for supplying a gas for decomposing the perfluorocarbons and harmful gas into the reactor; and a generator and a controller for supplying electric power for the antenna of the reactor.
US09162177B2
A method for capturing ammonia present in combustion flue gas subjected to carbon dioxide removal, using a water wash unit (102) included in a chilled ammonia process, comprises: providing CO2 loaded liquid (122) comprising CO2 dissolved in the liquid; providing wash water liquid (108, 138); combining the CO2 loaded liquid with the wash water liquid to form CO2 enriched wash water liquid (105, 106) before the liquid is added said water wash unit (102); and bringing said combustion flue gas into contact with said CO2 enriched wash water liquid by adding the CO2 enriched wash water liquid to said water wash unit (102).
US09162173B1
An air filtration assembly for selectively eliminating smoke from an area includes a housing that may be coupled to a support surface. A motor is coupled to the housing. A fan is operationally coupled to the motor. The motor moves the fan. An actuator is coupled to the housing. The actuator is operationally coupled to the motor so the actuator selectively actuates the motor. A filter is coupled to the housing. The filter is operationally coupled to the fan. The fan draws air through the filter so the filter removes smoke from the air. A screen is operationally coupled to the housing. The screen is selectively extendable from the housing.
US09162171B2
A method, system, and apparatus for separation in processing of feedstocks are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a tubular vessel having a square pipe entry and a vapor outlet, wherein the vapor outlet is positioned at the top of the tubular vessel, and wherein the square pipe entry is tangential to an inner diameter of the tubular vessel; a barrel positioned below the tubular vessel; and a double isolation knife valve positioned between the tubular vessel and the barrel, wherein a stream of gas and solids enters the tubular vessel through the square pipe entry, and wherein the gas and solids are separated by using centrifugal force, and wherein the gas exits the vapor outlet and the solids are collected in the barrel.
US09162166B1
Methods and apparatus for vacuum operated sorting. The apparatus may include a plurality of casing members each having a passageway with a filter member across the passageway. The casing members may be removably coupled to one another in a desired order and/or quantity and attached to a vacuum source to provide sorting of objects such as beads into a plurality of size ranges.
US09162158B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for purifying water. The apparatus includes a water still for receiving water and a hot air maintained in a heat-exchanging relationship to obtain a hot water and a cold air. The apparatus also includes one or more water purification units configured to receive the hot water from the water still in which the hot water is further heated using thermal energy received from one or more thermal energy sources to obtain steam and waste matter. A water purification unit of the one or more water purification units includes a waste matter remover for removing the waste matter from the water purification unit. The water still includes a heat-exchanging unit configured to receive the steam from the one or more water purification units. The steam received at the heat-exchanging unit is condensed to obtain purified water within the heat-exchanging unit using the cold air.
US09162156B2
A bubble wand includes a primary member and an auxiliary member. The primary member is substantially entirely formed in a first, single plane and defines an elongated slot and a first plurality of bubble-forming rings. The first plurality of bubble-forming rings includes a different bubble-forming ring positioned on each of at least two opposing sides of the elongated slot. Each of the first plurality of bubble-forming rings defines an opening therethrough. The auxiliary member is substantially entirely formed in a second, single plane and is coupled to the primary member such that the auxiliary member extends through the elongated slot of the primary member such that a first side portion of the auxiliary member is maintained on a first side of the primary member and a second side portion of the auxiliary member is maintained on a second side of the primary member. The auxiliary member defines at least one additional bubble-forming ring in each of the first side portion and the second side portion of the auxiliary member.
US09162153B1
In one embodiment there is a toy vehicle having a low inductance motor powered by a high frequency switched voltage at a frequency high enough to create continuous conduction. The vehicle further includes an H-bridge circuit configured to control a direction of the motor and an adjustable high frequency DC-DC switch configured to convert a supply voltage to an output voltage, lower than the supply voltage, for use by the H-bridge circuit to power the low inductance motor in a forward or reverse direction. In addition, a processor is included and has instructions configured to change the output voltage from the DC-DC switch from a first voltage to a second voltage.
US09162151B1
A safety assembly for preventing a swing from twisting includes a frame coupled to a swing set frame. The frame may support the swing. A retainer is coupled between the frame and the swing set frame. The frame is retained on the swing set frame. A stabilizing arm is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing arm prevents the frame from rotating.
US09162149B2
Methods are described for selling, loaning, renting, or otherwise providing a retail product, such as an interactive product, that allows a consumer to participate in one or more venues. The retail product is capable of interfacing with interactive devices in the venues that are capable of producing sensory effects based on communication from and/or to the retail product. Furthermore, the retail product preferably has an independent or intrinsic value apart from the use of the product in the venues, and may include, for example, a toy wand or like toy device, apparel, and/or jewelry. In certain examples, the retail methods include tracking the consumer's use of the retail product in the venue(s). Such tracking information may be used to customize the experience of the user during a subsequent visit to the same venue or another venue.
US09162147B2
A game playing information integration system is provided which is capable of objectively performing selection and/or settings according to preference of a player, and is capable of effectively making entry into market, based on a result of logical analysis of a gaming machine invoking demands of a player and a manger in gaming facility in a well-balanced manner. The system includes a plurality of gaming machine units and a server connected to enable communication with each of the gaming machine units. Each of the gaming machine units includes player identification information reading means, number-of-consumptions data output means, and number-of-payouts data output means. Gaming machine unit identification information is individually assigned to each of the gaming machine units. The server stores data storage means for storing each of number-of-consumptions data and number-of-payouts data in association with reception time data, player identification information, and gaming machine unit identification information.
US09162146B2
A system for establishing multi-party wireless game sessions includes a game session broker and at least two wireless units. Each wireless unit includes a first wireless device having relatively low power consumption and a second wireless device having relatively high power consumption. The game session broker receives a session ready message that includes location information for a first player and search for a second player having location information matching the location information for the first player. Finding a matching player, the game session broker sends session available messages to wireless units associated with the first and second players. Session ready messages are sent and session available message are received via first wireless devices. Upon receiving the session available message, the first and second players can establish a wireless game session using their respective second wireless devices.
US09162144B2
In embodiments of portable device pairing with a tracking system, a pairing system includes a portable device that generates device acceleration gesture data responsive to a series of motion gestures of the portable device. The pairing system also includes a tracking system that is configured for pairing with the portable device. The tracking system recognizes the series of motion gestures of the portable device and generates tracked object position gesture data. A pairing service can then determine that the series of motion gestures of the portable device corresponds to the series of motion gestures recognized by the tracking system, and communicate a pairing match notification to both the tracking system and the portable device to establish the pairing.
US09162140B2
A method for simulating a game of baseball via a computer network is playable by opposing managers running game application logic at remote computers communicating with an event outcome server. The server executes steps for receiving selected pitcher data and a pitcher control value from a first remote computer, and receiving, for an engagement with the selected pitcher data, selected batter data from a second remote computer. The server optionally modifies the pitcher control value according to the batter data, and generates a first random number for comparison to the pitcher control value. Based on the comparison, the server selects a set of probabilities representing possible outcomes of the engagement, where one selectable set favors the pitcher and another selectable set favors the batter. The server generates a second random number, determines an outcome of the engagement by comparing the second random number to the selected set of probabilities, and transmits instructions to the remote computers for updating status of the game on a visual display according to the outcome of the engagement. Pitcher data, control value, batter data, and probabilities are derived from historical statistics resulting from human performance in major league baseball.
US09162136B1
An outdoor kickball billiards gaming apparatus including a perimetric frame erectable atop a border of a rectangular polymeric mat, said frame thereby enclosing an area of game-play, said frame including a plurality of polymeric cushions thereupon disposed within the area of game-play, said frame interconnected at each corner by each of a plurality of corner pockets interconnectable cornerwise into the frame, and a pair of side pockets interconnectable medially into the frame oppositely disposed across a tangential axis of said frame, wherein each of a plurality of balls, voluble upon the polymeric mat, is directable into each of the respective corner and side pockets, whereby a cue ball is kickable to impact each of a plurality of game balls for capture within each of the plurality of corner and alternately side pockets, and a game of outdoor kickball billiards is playable thereby.
US09162130B2
A swing analyzing device includes at least an angular velocity sensor, a data acquiring unit, and a motion detecting unit. The angular velocity sensor detects angular velocities generated about a plurality of axes by a swing. The data acquiring unit acquires detection data of the angular velocity sensor. The motion detecting unit detects at least one of motions of the swing. Particularly, the motion detecting unit includes an angular velocity calculating unit which calculates the sum of the magnitudes of the angular velocities generated about the plurality of respective axes using the acquired detection data.
US09162129B2
Contact-indicating devices including an elongate contacting member, and a housing configured to enclose a portion of the contacting member, the housing further enclosing a translation sensor configured to detect an inward longitudinal translation of the contacting member, and a rotation sensor configured to detect a pivoting of the contacting member in a first direction. The disclosed devices further include at least one indicating element, where the indicating element is configured to differentiate between the detected longitudinal translation of the contacting member and the detected pivoting of the contacting member in the first direction.
US09162125B1
A multi-use golf towel including an absorbent front layer, a back layer being chamois, and a moisture barrier inner layer disposed therebetween to keep the front layer dry, a removable rotating golf brush with wire and nylon bristles disposed in a frame within the towel, and a ring to accept a hanging device to attach the towel to a golf bag. A cover disposed on a back side of the frame to protect the bristles.
US09162124B1
A golf tee bag device includes a main body constructed from a single piece of fabric material having a front surface, a back surface and a plurality of edges. The device includes a main pocket area, a horizontal pocket and a pair of connectors for engaging the back surface of the main body in order to attach the device to a belt.
US09162115B1
A golf club head is described having a body defining an interior cavity and comprising a heel portion, a toe portion, and a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, and a crown positioned at a top portion. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. A face is positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face has a center face location and includes a center face characteristic time. An off-center location on the face is located at about −40 mm in a heel direction away from the center face location. The off-center location has an off-center characteristic time of at least 80% of the center face characteristic time.
US09162113B2
A golf ball has a strong durability against the hit by a golf club by preventing the degradation caused by ozone, and has the core having a good elasticity. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the core compositions including a base rubber, a co-crosslinking agent, a filler, an antioxidant, a degradation preventing agent, and a cross-linking reaction initiator, wherein the degradation preventing agent which includes a substituted or unsubstituted paraphenylenediamine derivative represented by Formula 1. And, the core composition maybe comprises a micro crystalline wax with the ozone degradation preventing agent additionally, that has a strong durability against the heat, rubbing and ozone.
US09162105B2
A fitness apparatus includes a chassis, two linkages, two handlebars, two cranks and two joint bars. Each of the linkage includes a first linking-up part and second linking-up part transversally. The first linking-up parts are pivotably attached to the cranks for revolution of the cranks relatively to the chassis. Each of the handlebars includes a lower portion pivotably attached to the second linking-up portion, and an upper portion which can be held by the user to move along a closed elliptical trajectory. Each of the joint bars includes a rear and portion pivotably attached between the upper portions and the lower portions, and a front end portion pivotably attached to the chassis. In this way, the user's arms can take exercise effectively along an elliptical trajectory to further prevent the user from suffering sports injury resulting from incorrect posture.
US09162103B2
Regulating group for adjusting the initial operating position of an interface associated with a gymnastic machine comprising a frame; a load group connected to the interface through a respective transmission device; a support group designed to carry the interface movable relative to the frame; the regulating group comprising a return device suitable, in use, to define, at the initial operating position, a stop for the movement of the interface relative to the frame; wherein the return device can be connected, in use, to the transmission device through a given coupling, so that to each variation in the initial operating position actuated through the return device corresponds a respective given variation in the operating configuration of the transmission device.
US09162102B1
A means and method for automatically selecting an amount of weight to be connected to a cable system in a fitness machine. When a dial is rotated to select a weight, a connected computer receives the rotational position information, operates a program to determine the amount of each weight to attach to the cable system and actuates solenoids accordingly to attach the weight to the cable by inserting pins fully into weight stacks to connect weights to a rod connected to a cable. The computer also displays the selected weight on the dial. When the new weight is selected, one or more retracting solenoids draw any inserted pins partially out before any new pins are fully inserted to connect the weights to the rod. This ensures that the system is cleared before attaching any weights to the cable.
US09162091B2
The present invention generally relates to a safety restraint suitable for restraining the hunter to a tree in a deer stand. The safety harness of the invention comprises a iii) user member for connecting to the user, iv) an anchor member for attachment to a tree or other suitable generally vertical stand mounting member and iii) a connecting member which cooperatively connects the user and anchor members, wherein connected to said anchor member is a round and/or oval shaped ring sewn into the anchor strap material. The connecting member which is attached to the user member is connected to the D-ring or round and/or oval shaped ring attached to said anchor member.
US09162087B2
The invention relates to an emergency tubing set, including an oxygen mask adapted to cover a users mouth and nose, a tubing connected at a first end to said tubing set to provide oxygen to said oxygen mask, and a connect or connected to said tubing at a second end opposed to said first end, the connector being adapted to be connected to an oxygen source for supplying oxygen to said tubing. According to the invention the tubing includes an excess tubing section and a connecting tubing section wherein the excess tubing section is stored in a bottom pouch and a first part of an intermediate tubing section is arranged inside the bottom pouch and a second part of said intermediate tubing section is arranged outside said bottom pouch, wherein the intermediate tubing interconnects the excess tubing section and the connecting tubing section.
US09162078B2
Skin disorders such as, for example, atopic dermatitis, dyshidrosis, eczema, lichen planus, psoriasis, and vitiligo, are treated by applying high doses of ultraviolet light to diseased regions of a patients skin. The dosage employed exceeds 1 MED, an MED being determined for the particular patient being treated, and may range from about 1 MED to about 20 MED or higher. The ultraviolet light has a wavelength within the range of between about 295 nanometers to about 320 nanometers and preferably is between about 300 nanometers and about 310 nanometers. High doses of ultraviolet light are restricted to diseased tissue areas so as to avoid risk of detrimental side affects in healthy skin, which is more susceptible to damage from UV light. Cooling the skin prior to and/or while exposing the skin to the UV light can be used to minimize tissue damage resulting from exposure to the UV light. Higher doses of UV light can therefore be employed without injurious affects.
US09162076B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for tissue regeneration or degeneration in human by applying rotational field narrow focused quantum magnetic resonance on the required area. The apparatus consists of a plurality of guns for delivery the quantum magnetic resonance, a traveling platform for carrying the person under treatment, an electronic switching system for controlling the guns, said electronic switching system being controlled by a main computer through an on board microprocessor and means for cooling and dispersing the heat generated during the operation.
US09162063B2
An implantable apparatus can comprise an electrical test energy delivery circuit configured to provide an electrical test signal to a cervical location in a patient body. A detector circuit can use the electrical test signal to detect cervical impedance and generate a cervical impedance signal representing fluctuations in the detected cervical impedance. The implantable apparatus can comprise a therapy delivery circuit, such as configured to provide electrical neural modulation therapy using a neural modulation timing parameter, and a processor circuit that can be coupled to the electrical test energy delivery circuit, the detector circuit, and the therapy delivery circuit. The processor circuit can be configured to determine a pulsatile signal or pulse pressure signal, such as using the cervical impedance signal, identify a characteristic of the pulsatile signal or pulse pressure signal, and control a neural modulation therapy using the timing parameter and the identified pulse pressure signal characteristic.
US09162051B2
Methods of treating language, behavioral and social disorders are described, including methods of treating language disorders associated with electrographic abnormalities in the primary or associative language cortex of persons with autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental delay or acquired epileptic aphasia. A language, behavioral and social disorder may be treated by detecting epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure for a subject's brain and applying neurostimulation to a language cortical region of the subject's brain (e.g., a primary or associative language cortical region). Detection of epileptiform activity or an electrographic seizure and stimulation of language cortex may be performed by a sensing and/or stimulation electrode that is inserted into a subject's brain and connected to one or more neurostimulation devices for monitoring and/or stimulating the language cortex.
US09162042B2
A catheter system (10) with a valve assembly (12) that expels excess inflation fluid when a cuff or balloon (16) of the catheter system is overinflated. The valve assembly includes a luer-activated spool (34) biased toward a sealed condition, a precision relief/check valve (56) biased toward a scaled condition, a primary valve body outlet (22), a valve body feedback inlet (24), and a secondary valve body outlet (26). An inflation lumen (48) is in fluid communication with the primary valve body outlet and an interior of the cuff or balloon. A feedback lumen (54) is in fluid communication with the interior of the cuff or balloon and the valve body feedback inlet. When feedback fluid builds up pressure in excess of the restoring force of the relief spring, the relief/check valve opens, unsealing an expulsion pathway and relieving excess fluid from the cuff or balloon.
US09162034B2
A patient interface includes a sealing arrangement adapted to provide an effective seal with the patient's nose, an inlet conduit arrangement adapted to deliver breathable gas to the sealing arrangement, and a cover that substantially encloses the sealing arrangement and/or the inlet conduit arrangement.
US09162030B2
A safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub and a needle fixed to the hub. Further, a first shield is provided, along with a second shield which has a biasing element disposed to urge the second shield proximally towards a proximal end of the needle. The assembly further includes a releasable retaining assembly for releasably retaining the second shield in an initial position against the force of the biasing element. A predetermined extent of movement of the first shield causes the retaining assembly to release the second shield. With the second shield being released, the second shield is urged proximally by the biasing element to a second position where the second shield covers the proximal end of the needle. Advantageously, an assembly is provided which allows for passive activation of a shield on a non-patient end of a pen needle assembly by a patient-end shield.
US09162029B2
A valve for a needleless valve system. The valve includes a body configured to be disposed in the needleless valve system and controlling fluid flow through the needleless valve system and wherein the body is tail-less. The body includes a continuous top surface, and a compression feature configured to control how the body is compressed to allow fluid flow through the needleless valve system.
US09162027B2
A wearable infusion pump assembly includes a reservoir for receiving an infusible fluid, and an external infusion set configured to deliver the infusible fluid to a user. A fluid delivery system is configured to deliver the infusible fluid from the reservoir to the external infusion set. The fluid delivery system includes a volume sensor assembly, and a pump assembly for extracting a quantity of infusible fluid from the reservoir and providing the quantity of infusible fluid to the volume sensor assembly. The volume sensor assembly is configured to determine the volume of at least a portion of the quantity of fluid. The fluid delivery system further includes a first valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the pump assembly from the reservoir, and a second valve assembly configured to selectively isolate the volume sensor assembly from the external infusion set.
US09162010B2
Drug delivery systems and biocompatible coatings for use with implantable stimulation devices such as cochlear implants have been developed. These drug delivery systems and coatings comprise polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers and copolymers. The drug delivery systems may be used to deliver pharmacologically active substances, for example, directly from a cochlear implant to the inner ear. The coatings can impart lubricity to cochlear devices for ease of insertion of the electrodes. In the preferred embodiment, the drug delivery system comprises a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer, and in the most preferred embodiment, the PHA polymer comprises poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(4HB)) or copolymer thereof. A particularly preferred embodiment is where the silicone sheath of the cochlear implant electrodes has been surface modified, and coated with P(4HB), and the P(4HB) either contains a pharmacologically active substance or has been coated with such a substance.
US09162002B2
Disclosed are reactive fibers having a polycationic exterior surface to which multivalent peroxy anions are bound. The use of such fibers, mats of such fibers, and filters of such fibers, as well as methods of treating fluid streams, and rejuvenating such fibers, mats and filters are also disclosed.
US09161998B2
The invention relates to a method and a kit for preparing a radiopharmaceutical, the method comprising the steps: elution of a 68Ge/68Ga-Generator using hydrochloric acid as an eluent for obtaining a generator eluate comprising 68Gallium, feeding the generator eluate through a cation exchange cartridge, which collects the 68Gallium, separating the used eluent, eluting the 68Gallium from the cation exchange cartridge using a solution comprising sodium chloride and hydrochloric acid and feeding the resulting eluate into an aqueous precursor mixture comprising at least a labelling precursor thereby forming a reaction solution.
US09161997B2
The present disclosure is directed, in part, to compounds and methods for imaging myocardial perfusion, comprising administering to a patient a contrast agent which comprises a compound that binds MC-1, and an imaging moiety, and scanning the patient using diagnostic imaging.
US09161990B2
The present invention relates to a compound of formula I: wherein x is in the range of from about 1 to about 2. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds; processes for preparing such compounds; and methods of using such compounds to, for example, treat a bacterial infection.
US09161982B2
The present invention provides alcohol-based sanitizers containing an efficacy enhancer for improved antimicrobial effectiveness. The present invention further provides skin sanitization methods comprising contacting skin having microbial contamination with an antimicrobial composition comprising an alcohol and an efficacy enhancer to achieve a minimum 3 log10 reduction in skin pathogen contamination after one application.
US09161980B2
The present invention relates to a medical solution, a method for producing said medical solution, a multi-compartment bag containing the medical solution as well as use of said medical solution. According to the invention the medical solution comprises a first single solution comprising bicarbonate and carbonate in such proportions that the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, CO2, in the first single solution is of the same order of magnitude as the partial pressure of carbon dioxide, CO2, of the atmosphere. The medical solution further comprises a second single solution comprising an acid. Said first and second single solutions are, after terminal sterilization and up on use, to be mixed to form a final solution. Said second single solution has a pH of 1.0-1.5, and said final solution has a pH of 7.0-7.6.
US09161975B2
The present invention relates to the use of a immunogenic or immunostimulatory composition comprising a Shigella outer membrane protein (OMP) and Shigella LPS molecule in medicine and methods for preparing the composition.
US09161965B2
The invention provides methods of treating a patient having epilepsy in which an effective regime of an agent that inhibits specific binding of PSD-95 to an NMDA receptor is administered to a patient.
US09161964B2
The invention provides a method for inhibiting EGF receptor activity comprising contacting an EGF receptor with an immunomodulatory protein (GMI) from Ganoderma microsporum, or a recombinant thereof. Also provided is a method for treating invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, comprising administering an effective amount of an immunomodulatory protein (GMI) from Ganoderma microsporum, or a recombinant thereof, to a subject in need of such treatment.
US09161958B2
Provided are methods of treating cellulite, the methods comprising applying to skin in need of cellulite treatment a composition comprising paulownin or an extract of Paulownia wood.
US09161955B2
Compositions having a combination of specific biological components have been found to exert a number of useful effects in mammalian cells, including modulating TGF β signaling, apoptosis, and proliferation of mammalian cells, as well as decreasing inflammation in mice. These components can be obtained commercially, or can be prepared from biological tissues such as placental tissues. Placental amniotic membrane (AM) preparations described herein include AM pieces, AM extracts, AM jelly, AM stroma, and mixtures of these compositions with additional components. The compositions can be used to treat various diseases, such as wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis-related diseases.
US09161954B2
Compositions having a combination of specific biological components have been found to exert a number of useful effects in mammalian cells, including modulating TGF β signaling, apoptosis, and proliferation of mammalian cells, as well as decreasing inflammation in mice. These components can be obtained commercially, or can be prepared from biological tissues such as placental tissues. Placental amniotic membrane (AM) preparations described herein include AM pieces, AM extracts, AM jelly, AM stroma, and mixtures of these compositions with additional components. The compositions can be used to treat various diseases, such as wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis-related diseases.
US09161937B2
Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level above that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid.
US09161936B2
This invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a GABA related disorder comprising periodically administering to the subject an effective amount of laquinimod or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in an amount effective to treat the subject.
US09161930B2
The invention relates to application of 4,4′-diphenylmethane-bis(methyl) carbamates (DPMC) extracted and isolated from Cortex Mori and preparation of medicine for diabetic nephropathy. The pharmaceutical composition is made up of DPMC as active ingredient and the normal drug carriers, and the weight percentage of active ingredient is 0.1-99.5%. For the remarkable effect of prevention and cure for diabetic nephropathy and convenience for use, it will be a new facultative drug for patients.
US09161924B2
The present invention provides a compound of Formula (I) as described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more said compounds, and methods for using said compounds for treating or preventing a thromboses, embolisms, hypercoagulability or fibrotic changes.
US09161923B2
The invention provides a use of panthenol or dexpanthenol in the prevention and/or treatment of contact lens papillary conjunctivitis in a subject. A contact lens care solution containing 0.001 to 10% by dry weight dexpanthenol is also provided.
US09161917B2
Process for preparing a powder comprising the steps of providing at least one first component in liquid form at ambient temperature, providing at least one second component having a melting point or melting range in the range from above ambient temperature to below the degradation temperature of said first component, forming a homogenous liquid mixture comprising the at least one first component and the at least one second component by stirring and heating the mixture to or keeping the mixture at a temperature in the range from above the melting point or melting range of the second component and below the degradation temperature of the first component, transferring the liquid mixture to at least one spray congealing unit, spray congealing the mixture, and isolating the powder obtained upon spray congealing.
US09161914B2
The present invention relates to improved topical gel compositions comprising an active agent, and uses thereof.
US09161903B2
Flowable compositions and methods are provided for delivering a therapeutic agent at or near a target tissue site beneath the skin of a patient, the flowable composition comprising (i) a solvent and (ii) an effective amount of the therapeutic agent, the flowable composition being capable of hardening to form a drug depot at a physiological temperature or as solvent contacts bodily fluid at or near the target tissue site, wherein the drug depot is capable of releasing the therapeutic agent over a period of at least one day and the target tissue site comprises at least one muscle, ligament, tendon, cartilage, spinal disc, spinal foraminal space near the spinal nerve root, facet or synovial joint, or spinal canal. In some embodiments, an implantable drug depot for delivering a therapeutic agent is provided, the implantable drug depot comprising (i) a chamber; and (ii) a flowable composition comprising an effective amount of a therapeutic agent disposed within the chamber of the drug depot, the flowable composition capable of hardening when the drug depot is delivered at or near the target tissue site.
US09161889B2
Disclosed is a non-aqueous oral care composition comprising an organoclay, carrier humectant and a calcium source. The non-aqueous oral care composition of the present invention is stable, has rheological characteristics of a hydrous oral care composition, and does not require a manufacturing step of heating and cooling.
US09161864B2
An absorbent article comprising a first layer comprising a nonwoven having a first colored region that includes at least one of a central colored region, an intermediate colored region, and an outer colored region; and a second layer comprising a polymer film having a second colored region that includes at least one of a central colored region, an intermediate colored region, and an outer colored region; wherein the first colored region differs from the second colored region. The article may further comprise a background region. The background region may be visually distinguishable from at least one of the first colored region and the second colored region.
US09161850B2
An introducer assembly for introducing a stent-graft or other device into a vessel of a patient is provided with a dilator tip which is naturally curved, preferably to be substantially a U-shape. The dilator tip is flexible so as to be able to become substantially straight with a guide wire therein and yet to be able to curve back towards its natural curvature during deployment of an implant. The curvature of the dilator tip can ensure that the dilator tip does not cause damage to the vessel wall during deployment of an implant carried thereon, as can occur with straight dilator tips.
US09161848B2
A prosthetic device includes an inner socket assembly including an upper interface member having a generally cylindrical outer periphery, the outer periphery defining a diameter and a length, the diameter being substantially greater than the length, and an outer socket assembly including a lower interface member having a recess correspondingly-shaped to the outer periphery of the upper interface member. At least a portion of the upper interface member is received within the recess of the lower interface member to secure the inner socket assembly to the outer socket assembly.
US09161844B2
A trial acetabular cup having a signal generating device located thereon.
US09161838B2
A burr hole plug comprises a plug base configured for being mounted around a burr hole. The plug base includes an aperture through which an elongated medical device exiting the burr hole may pass. The plug base is configured to accommodate a variety of cranium forms without requiring deformation of the plug base. A plug base holding tool is used to secure the plug base to the cranium, wherein the tool aligns fasteners with the plug base for insertion through the plug base and into the cranium. The burr hole plug further comprises a retainer configured for being mounted within the aperture of the plug base to secure the medical device. The retainer includes a clamping mechanism that secures the elongated medical device in the burr hole plug, wherein the movement of the clamping mechanism is controlled to prevent skewing of the clamping mechanism.
US09161831B2
A modular stent graft system and methods of assembly are disclosed. The stent graft assembly comprises a first stent graft having an interface region at its distal end and a first locking stent secured to an internal surface of the interface region. A second stent graft having an interface region at its proximal end is configured to at least partially overlap with the interface region at the distal end of the first stent graft. The second stent graft comprises a second locking stent secured to an external surface of the interface region. The first and second locking stents are configured to be engaged such that the second locking stent is nested between the first locking stent and an internal surface of the interface region of the first stent graft thereby interlocking the first and second stent grafts to each other.
US09161829B2
In one general aspect, a medical device can include a first elongate member made of a material and having a proximal end portion configured to be attached to a first portion of a bodily portion within a body of a patient where the first elongate member has a distal end portion. The medical device can include a second elongate member made of the material and having a proximal end portion configured to be attached to a second portion of the bodily portion where the first elongate member has a distal end portion. The medical device can also include a third elongate member having a proximal end portion in contact with and coupled to the distal end portion of the first elongate member and in contact with and coupled to the distal end portion of the second elongate member.
US09161818B2
A device for holding a surgical tool includes a first member extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The first end includes an inner surface defining a conduit extending transverse to the longitudinal axis. The conduit includes a first portion and a second portion defining a first chamber. A cap has an inner surface including a first section configured to engage an outer surface of the first member and a second section defining a second chamber extending transverse to the longitudinal axis. The second chamber is in communication with the first chamber when the cap engages the first member such that the first and second chambers define a cavity. A pivoting member is movably disposed in the cavity and includes an inner surface defining a passageway. A second member is disposed within the passageway. Methods of use are disclosed.
US09161814B2
A method of manufacturing a microwave ablation device, the method including applying a balun short circumferentially about an outer conductor of a coaxial feedline and applying a dielectric material circumferentially about the outer conductor of the coaxial feedline and in contact with the balun short to form a balun. The method further including extending a temperature sensor along the coaxial feedline such that the sensor contacts the balun short, securing the temperature sensor to the coaxial feedline with a first heat shrink material, and securing the dielectric material, balun short, and temperature sensor in contact with each other and to the coaxial feedline using a second heat shrink material.
US09161806B2
An electrosurgical vessel sealing instrument having a first and a second opposing jaw member at a distal end thereof, wherein each jaw member includes a jaw housing, a seal plate having a tissue contacting surface and a side wall, and an insulating region disposed on the side wall of the seal plate. The instrument includes the ability to move the jaw members relative to one another from a first position wherein the jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue. The insulating region enables precision overmolding of the jaw housing to the seal plate, while advantageously reducing thermal spread and edge cutting during vessel sealing procedures.
US09161799B2
A surgical instrument comprises a first member including an inner surface that defines a cavity and an outer surface configured to space tissue. The first member includes a first locking surface. A second member is configured for disposal within the cavity and extends between a first end configured to penetrate tissue and a second end configured to generate a signal representative of a position of the second member. The second member includes a second locking surface. The members are disposable between a first orientation such that the locking surfaces are engaged to resist relative axial translation of the members and a second orientation such that the locking surfaces are disengaged and the second member is axially translatable relative to the first member. Systems and methods are disclosed.
US09161798B2
Systems and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures are provided. A kit can include at least one body containing a bone cement precursor to be mixed with at least one other bone cement precursor to form a bone cement. The body or a package containing the body can include at least one sensor. In some embodiments the sensor can be a temperature sensor. In some methods, data from the sensor can be used to determine certain parameters related to a treatment interval involving the bone cement.
US09161796B2
The present invention is directed to devices and methods that can be used in ankle surgery, especially ankle fusion surgery.
US09161791B2
A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one hole extending through the upper and bone contacting surfaces for receiving a bone screw. The at least one hole includes a first portion and a second portion that overlap one another. The first portion defines a substantially circular outer periphery and the second portion defines an elongated outer periphery that is elongated in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plate. The first portion may have threads configured to engage threads on the head of a bone screw, and the second portion may be configured to cooperate with the head of a different bone screw to provide compression to the fracture.
US09161771B2
A medical instrument includes a snake wrist structure further including: a first joint disk having a first rim having a first tooth slot and a first toothed gear with the first tooth slot opposite the first toothed gear along the first rim; and a first strut having a first slot bearing and a first hole bearing connected by a first connection strut with the first slot bearing in the first tooth slot.
US09161765B2
A thrombectomy catheter deployment for operation of a thrombectomy catheter includes a stand alone drive unit and a disposable pump/catheter assembly which is manually placed into a carriage assembly in the drive unit. The pump/catheter assembly has a plurality of preconnected components including tubular structure and a thrombectomy catheter connected thereto and is transported into or out of the interior of the drive unit for automatic high pressure pump piston head engagement or disengagement with a reciprocating linear actuator and for automatic engagement of disengagement of an effluent waste tube with a roller pump. A barcode reader senses specific operational data pertaining to an individual pump and provides an interface for operation of the reciprocating linear actuator.
US09161764B2
A hinged pivoting guide for positioning a femoral tunnel in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction locates a drilling hole for placement that optimally penetrates a minimal depth of soft tissue (skin, muscle, etc.) yet directs drilling into a sufficiently rigid and structurally sound area of the femur. The hinged guide allows placement of an aimer point at a desired drilling exit location on the femur. The hinge is adapted to secure the aimer at a degree of rotation about an axis defined by the hinge rotation, such that the axis passes through the aimer point throughout rotation of the hinge while maintaining the aimer point in line with an insertion guide slideably movable through the aperture in the handle, the aperture defined by an insertion axis extending toward the aimer point such that the aimer point remains disposed at the intersection of the hinge axis and the insertion axis.
US09161763B2
An undercutting system for preparing a region between an ilium and a sacrum for sacroiliac fusion. The undercutting system includes a probe assembly and a cutting assembly. The probe assembly is operably mounted to the insertion apparatus. The probe assembly is moveable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the extended configuration at least a portion of the probe assembly extends laterally from the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is operably mounted with respect to the probe assembly and the insertion apparatus. The cutting assembly is movable with respect to the insertion apparatus between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. In the extended configuration at least a portion of the cutting assembly extends laterally from the insertion apparatus.
US09161761B2
An instrument set and related method for preparing a proximal tibia during a bi-cruciate retaining procedure are disclosed. The instrument set can include a tibial resection block, a cut guide, and a locking arm. The tibial resection block can be configured to be fixed to an anterior portion of the proximal tibia. The tibial resection block can define a slot that extends in a medial-lateral direction when the tibial resection block is fixed to the proximal tibia. The cut guide can have a body, a medial arm, and a lateral arm. A medial cut slot can be defined between the body and the medial arm. A lateral cut slot can be defined between the body and the lateral arm. The cut guide can further comprise a tongue extending therefrom. The tongue can be configured to be received by and slidably translate along the slot of the tibial resection block.
US09161760B2
A surgical tool is disclosed that may be rotatably mounted to a surgical robotic arm. The surgical tool is rotatable about a first axis that is at least substantially vertical when the robotic arm is in a horizontal position. The surgical tool includes a housing that is coupled to the arm and rotatable about the first axis. The housing is at least substantially cylindrical and defines a second axis that is at least substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The tool also includes a handle that includes a grip that is coupled to a sleeve. The sleeve rotatably accommodates at least part of the housing. As a result, the handle and sleeve may be rotated about the second axis while the housing remains fixed with respect to the second axis.
US09161757B2
An apparatus for forming an anastomosis between adjacent intestinal sections is provided. The apparatus includes an anastomosis device having a cartridge assembly; and an anvil assembly having a shaft extending therefrom and a connection feature on the shaft. The apparatus further including a hub having a connection portion selectively attachable to the connection feature of the shaft, the connection portion defining a lumen for receiving the shaft; and an annular structure operatively connected to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the hub being arranged for locating the annular structure between the adjacent intestinal sections when connected to the shaft.
US09161756B2
A surgical tape applicator includes a dispenser housing, a protective liner, and a surgical tape. The dispenser housing has a proximal end and a distal end and defines a passageway therethrough. The protective liner is disposed within the passageway of the housing. The surgical tape is at least partially disposed within the dispenser housing and protected by the protective liner. The surgical tape has a first surface and a second surface each having at least one tissue reactive component.
US09161751B2
A suture system configured to place suture in tissue includes a tool and a suture assembly. The tool includes a proximal portion, a distal end spaced apart from the proximal portion by a throat, and a needle that is movable through a needle exit port formed in the proximal portion of the tool to a cavity formed in the distal end of the tool. The suture assembly includes a leader that is insertable into the cavity. The leader has a distal end attached to a length of suture and a band having at least two prongs extending from a proximal edge of the band. The prongs are configured to engage with the needle to allow the needle to extract the leader from the cavity and deliver it to the needle exit port.
US09161749B2
A system and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating sexual dysfunction. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchor devices for such purposes.
US09161747B2
Various methods and devices are provided for accessing an interior surgical site using an access portal which can be inserted and removed with minimal tissue damage and which can form a seal with tissue while inserted. Generally, a device is provided having a rigid elongate surgical access member with a lumen extending therethrough that is configured to receive a surgical tool. The device can also include a flexible sleeve having a lumen extending therethrough that is configured to receive the elongate surgical access member. A substantially rigid collar is provided disposed adjacent to a proximal end of the flexible sleeve and having a lumen extending therethrough that is configured to receive the elongate surgical access member. In an exemplary embodiment, the collar is movable relative to the elongate surgical access member to selectively configure the flexible sleeve in a relaxed condition in which the flexible sleeve has a relatively smooth outer tissue-contacting surface and a compressed condition in which the flexible sleeve has a plurality of protrusions formed on the outer tissue-contacting surface that are configured to create a seal between the outer tissue-contacting surface and tissue.
US09161744B2
A treatment tool of an endoscope including: a movable tip end portion that performs a treatment on a living body; a flexible first coil sheath into which a wire is spirally wound; a flexible second coil sheath into which a wire is spirally wound and which is concentrically fitted onto or into the first coil sheath; a flexible operation wire that is formed into an elongated thin shape, a tip end thereof being connected to the movable tip end portion, and the operation wire being movably inserted into the first coil sheath; and an operation portion for advancing and retracting the operation wire, in which a tip end of the second coil sheath is fixed to the movable tip end and a base end thereof is fixed to the operation portion.
US09161733B2
The invention relates to imaging systems in which during imaging of an object a matching medium is used to match the object to its surroundings. An interface device is used for phase contrast rim-imaging of the object, which comprises a compartment in which a deformable matching material is contained which can be pushed to the side when the object to be imaged is compressed. Thus, a lateral field of view for X-ray phase contrast mammography may be increased.
US09161730B2
An X-ray detection apparatus including a case; a circuit board disposed in the case; a connection circuit unit disposed in the case, where the connection circuit unit is electrically connected with the circuit board and includes an integrated circuit (“IC”) chip; a detection panel configured to be inserted into and ejected from the case, where the detection panel is electrically connected to the connection circuit unit; and a contact support unit disposed in the case, wherein the contact support unit allows the connection circuit unit and the detection panel to contact each other by applying a force on the connection circuit unit.
US09161728B2
An X-ray diagnosis apparatus of an embodiment includes: an imaging unit that includes an X-ray tube which emits an X-ray to a subject, and an X-ray detector which detects an X-ray passing through the subject; an X-ray beam limiting unit that is disposed between the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector, has a plurality of collimator blades, and can be rotated; an image processing unit that generates a fluoroscopic image of a region of interest set by the X-ray beam limiting unit; and a control unit that individually controls the plurality of collimator blades in such a way that a long side of an opening formed by the plurality of collimator blades goes in a longitudinal direction of a target within the fluoroscopic image.
US09161720B2
A sensitive method of assessing treatment using molecular and anatomical imaging scans provides automatic tumor identification and quantification within anatomical zones based on treatment criteria. Absolute or comparative measures of tumors in pre- and/or post-scans are thereby isolated from other tissue to accentuate the progress of the treatment when multiple scattered disease lesions are present.
US09161713B2
A patient monitoring system comprises a plurality of emitters configured to transmit light into a tissue site and a detector configured to receive the light after tissue absorption. The detector generates a signal responsive to the intensity of the light and communicates the signal to a monitor. An information element is readable by the monitor so as to identify an environment of use. An actuator may preset at least one user-selectable operational parameter of the monitor in response to the information element.
US09161712B2
A mountable device includes a bio-compatible structure embedded in a polymer that defines at least one mounting surface. The bio-compatible structure has a first side defined by a first layer of bio-compatible material, a second side defined by a second layer of bio-compatible material, an electronic component, and a conductive pattern that defines sensor electrodes. A portion of the second layer of bio-compatible material is removed by etching to create at least one opening in the second side in which the sensor electrodes are exposed. The etching further removes a portion of the first layer of bio-compatible material so as to create at least one opening in the first side that is connected to the at least opening in the second side. With this arrangement of openings, analytes can reach the sensor electrodes from either the first side or the second side of the bio-compatible structure.
US09161711B2
A system for detecting an epileptic seizure in a prone person, comprising: at least one motion sensor with at least one measurement axis having fastening means for securing said motion sensor to said person; first means for determining a first probability of at least a first state transition diagram of the nocturnal activity of a prone person with respect to data representing the measurement signals of the motion sensor, said first diagram comprising predetermined probabilities of oriented transitions between two different or identical states, the probabilities of the states of said first diagram being predetermined; and second means for determining a second probability of at least a second state transition diagram for an epileptic seizure with respect to data representing the measurement signals of the motion sensor, said second diagram comprising predetermined probabilities of oriented transitions between two different or identical states, the probabilities of the states of said second diagram being predetermined.
US09161704B2
The invention is directed to a method of making an implantable insulated electrical circuit that utilizes polyparaxylylene, preferably as Parylene, a known polymer that has excellent living tissue implant characteristics, to provide for chronic implantation of conductive electrical devices, such as stimulators and sensors. The device is thin, flexible, electrically insulated, and stable after long exposure to living tissue. Layers of Parylene may be combined with layers of a polymer, such as polyimide, to yield greater design flexibility in the circuit. Multiple electrical conduction layers may be stacked in the circuit to increase packing density.
US09161697B2
A system for measuring and recording data pertaining to a user's vital signs in response to a single action by the user is provided. The system includes a base unit with a computer system, metallic layers affixed to a first side face and a bottom face of the base unit, an aperture, and a flexible shaft extending from the bottom face of the base, and an extension member pivotably mounted to a second side face of the base unit. The system receives the user's thumb on the metallic layer located on the first side face, index finger between the base unit and the extension member, lips on the bottom face metallic layer and tongue above the flexible shaft to capture the vital signs data and communicate the data to the remote location.
US09161692B2
A Wireless Monitoring Apparatus is used in conjunction with an automated external defibrillator (AED) system for patient rescue in mass-casualty incidents. The rescuer applies the device on each patient. The wireless monitoring apparatus automatically analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and communicates with the AED system. The AED system is therefore is able to display information with regard to each patient, notifies the rescuer on actions to take and can deliver defibrillation therapy if needed.
US09161687B2
The invention relates to a solution for interferometrically measuring the eye length and the anterior eye segment after the optical axis of the measuring system has been aligned with the optical axis of an eye. The device according to the invention for interferometrically measuring the eye length and the anterior eye segment consists of an illumination source, at least one interferometric measuring array with external reference, diverse optical imaging systems, and a control and evaluation unit. The illumination source has high spatial coherence and low coherence of time. Preferably, light is emitted by the illumination device from the NIR range, having a wavelength of 700-1000 nm, for example. Furthermore, an optical imaging system is arranged in front of the eye such that the illumination light impinges on the eye as a nearly collimated beam.
US09161681B2
A motionless adaptive focus stereoscopic scene capture apparatus employing tunable liquid crystal lenses is provided. The apparatus includes at least two image sensors preferably fabricated as a monolithic stereo image capture component and at least two corresponding tunable liquid crystal lenses preferably fabricated as a monolithic focus adjustment component. Using a variable focus tunable liquid crystal lens at each aperture stop provides constant magnification focus control. Controlled spatial variance of a spatially variant electric field applied to the liquid crystal of each tunable liquid crystal lens provides optical axis shift enabling registration between stereo images. A controller implements coupled auto-focusing methods employing multiple focus scores derived from at least two camera image sensors and providing multiple tunable liquid crystal lens drive signals for synchronous focus acquisition of a three dimensional scene. Wafer manufacture provides a compact stereoscopic image capture apparatus for endoscopic surgery, optical inspection and entertainment applications.
US09161680B2
An air/water valve assembly for use in an endoscope or other medical equipment is provided. The valve assembly includes a spool and a one-piece sealing member that includes a number of sealing rings. The spool can be injection molded, and the sealing member can be overmolded onto the spool. A spring, retainer, and housing are also included to form the valve assembly. As such, an air/water valve assembly may be made that can be used in a single medical procedure and then discarded in a cost-effective manner. Corresponding methods of manufacturing an air/water valve assembly are also provided.
US09161678B1
A footwear cleaning apparatus has a housing formed of a single hollow molded plastic body. A rotary brush is rotatably supported on laterally opposed walls of the housing so as to partially protrude upwardly through an opening in the top side of the housing. A motor mounted alongside the housing drives rotation of the rotary brush by directly coupled bevelled gears on the motor output and rotary brush respectively. A lower portion of the housing defines a refuse receptacle which spans the full length and width of the housing and is suitable for containing liquid and other debris removed from footwear engaged with the rotary brush. A rear discharge spout mounted in a rear perimeter wall of the housing permits the contents of the refuse receptacle to be discharged therethrough.
US09161677B2
The invention relates to a silverware container (1, 40), especially a silverware basket and/or a silverware tray, for arrangement on a crockery basket (2) of a dishwasher, wherein the silverware container (1) comprises two opposing ends (16A, 14A; 16B, 14B) that are adapted for arrangement on the upper ends of two opposing side walls (3,4) of the crockery basket (2) or the silverware container (40) is adapted for arrangement on the bottom (21) of the crockery basket (2), characterized in that the silverware container (1, 40) comprises a bottom wall (18; 46A, 46B) for supporting the silverware that comprises at least two essentially horizontal segments (18A, 18B; 46A, 46B) that are arranged telescopably relative to each other. Furthermore, the invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a crockery basket (2) comprising a silverware container (1, 40), a silverware tray (1) and/or a silverware basket (40) according to the invention.
US09161673B2
The disclosed wringer for a bucket includes flexible wall members for squeezing around a strip mop. Each wall member has an outer portion, an inner portion, and a transition zone between the outer portion and inner portion and each wall member having an upper face and an under face that is facing the container. On at least one of the wall members at the under face is a least one outwardly projecting rib extending through the transition zone.
US09161672B2
A laminated flat mop head which includes a flat foam layer laminated with a fabric material without using glue or adhesive.
US09161668B2
A vacuum cleaning appliance includes a filter housing having at least one air inlet for receiving an air flow, a filter assembly removably locatable within the filter housing for removing dirt from the air flow, and a duct for receiving the air flow exhausted from the filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a filter body, a filter mounted on the filter body, and a spring-loaded coupling member moveable relative to the filter body for engaging the duct. The coupling member includes an air outlet through which the air flow is exhausted from the filter assembly. A convoluted sealing member forms a seal between the filter body and the coupling member while allowing relative movement therebetween as the coupling member engages the duct.
US09161653B2
A beverage dispenser comprises: a housing (1), at least two refillable containers (2) for storing bulk beverage ingredients, at least a beverage preparation unit (3) operatively linked to the containers for preparing a beverage from at least one of the stored bulk beverage ingredients, a sub-housing (4) in which the containers are placed, the sub-housing being removable from the housing.
US09161647B2
A system for mounting decorative objects, such as Christmas trees, is disclosed. The system can include a base and a plurality of inserts. The base can comprise a plurality of feet that have a retracted position for ready storage and a deployed position for supporting a tree. The base can further comprise a locking mechanism for locking the feet in the retracted position, the deployed position, or both. The base can further comprise an adapter for receiving one or more inserts. The inserts can comprise a consistent outer diameter, for insertion into the adapter, and a variety of inner diameters for use with a variety of tree diameters. The insert can be installed on the trunk of a tree and then installed into the adapter on the base simplifying the tree erection process.
US09161642B2
An adjustable positioning roll including a support portion having a support side and a substantially flat base surface, and one or more separately formed base portions, or elevating portions, configured to have a substantially same length and width as the flat base surface, the one or more base portions being detachably coupled to the flat base surface of the support portion.
US09161639B1
A folding breath guard configured to at least partially cover food in a foodservice area includes a top panel, a first side panel, a first hinge rotatably coupling the first side panel to the top panel, wherein the first side panel is movable between an extended position and a storage position, a second side panel, a second hinge rotatably coupling the second side panel to the top panel, wherein the second side panel is movable between an extended position and a storage position, a first storage position securing device for securing the first side panel in the storage position, and a second storage position securing device for securing the second side panel in the storage position.
US09161637B2
The present invention is to disclose a handrail device adapted for a playard frame, and the handrail device includes a handrail, a connecting component, and an engaging structure for detachably connecting the handrail and the connecting component. The handrail is detachably connected to the connecting component and is assembled easily. Hence, it is beneficial to decrease a size of a package for packing the handrail device before being assembled, and the handrail device can be transported or stored easily.
US09161636B2
The present invention relates to a cradle (10) for a chair (1), where the chair comprises a chair back (11) having at least one element having an upper end or edge (12), characterized in that the cradle comprises at least one hooking means (122) in the rear portion of the cradle which enables the cradle to be hooked over the upper end or edge of the chair back elements(s), said cradle also being capable of standing alone on a base, such as a floor, when it is not hooked onto the chair back and, in both cases, is used as a cradle or a seat for a baby or small child.
US09161632B1
A foot pillow including at least one cushion having a top side, a flat bottom side a right side and a left side. The flat bottom of the at least one cushion prevents the at least one cushion from rolling. A cover having an outer wall and a right side and a left side is provided. The at least one cushion is removably insertable through each of the right side and the left side of the cover. An elastomeric strap having a right end and a left end is provided and attached to the cover. The strap wraps around the perimeter of a foot rest item such as a foot end of a mattress or a recliner foot rest, securing the foot pillow in place.
US09161630B2
A seat assembly includes a seat bottom with a deformable seat shell. The deformable seat shell is configured to change shape with a changing occupant load distribution. The seat shell is coupled with a support frame via a shell motion controller having one or more motion control links. Each motion control link is coupled with the seat shell at a fixed location relative to the seat shell and with the support frame at a fixed location relative to the support frame. The shell motion controller allows these fixed locations to move relative to each other and also constrains their relative movement. The combined seat shell deformation and controlled movement relative to the support frame can provide the seat occupant with a comfortable seating experience while preventing pelvis drift and potentially eliminating traditional foam seat cushions.
US09161619B1
A configurable bottle storage rack includes front panels, rear panels, panel connecting members, leg members and spacer members. Panel connecting members connect adjacent front panels as well as adjacent rear panels. The panel connecting members can also be attached to the leg members to allow the leg members to support the front and rear panels. The spacer members are disposed between respective front and rear leg members to place the front and rear panels in spaced-apart relationship to one another. The panel connecting members allow adjacent panels to be angled inward towards one another in a concave shape.
US09161618B2
A tray device that is detachably connectable to a surface, such as a table surface, providing an eating and/or playing surface for a child. The tray is provided with a lip that extends upwardly and outwardly toward the child's body so as to catch items and/or food or drink dropped by the child and direct the slipped item onto the tray surface. The tray may also be provided with a removable insert and various attachment mechanisms to firmly hold the tray onto the table surface.
US09161615B2
A collapsible picnic table set comprising a tabletop, where the tabletop rests atop a base. The base includes at least two pairs of legs, where each pair of legs includes a support bar; a pivot lock attached beneath the tabletop; and a tension beam attached to the support bar at one end and to the pivot lock at an opposing end. The picnic table includes a pair of collapsible benches, where each of the pair of collapsible benches includes; a seat; at least two pairs of bench legs; at least one support bar connecting the pair of bench legs to each other; a pivot lock fastened beneath the seat; and a bench tension beam attached to the support bar and the pivot lock. The legs of both the picnic table and the benches fold against the tabletop and the seat, respectfully to create a compact structure when not in use.
US09161600B1
A retractable luggage handle assembly includes a base unit consisting of two outer sleeves, a retractable handle consisting of two retractable bars, two actuation members and a grip and mounted in the base unit and movable relative to the base unit between an extended position and a received position, and a pullback and buffer unit consisting of two rails, two sliding blocks, two movable member sets, two spring-loaded guide members, two buffers, and two locating caps and adapted for pulling the retractable bars back to the inside of the outer sleeves of the base unit and moving the buffers to buffer the movement of the sliding blocks when the user operates a control button at the grip to receive the retractable handle.
US09161593B2
A heel traction aid (HTA) includes a gripping pad and a traction device having an upper surface, where the gripping pad includes a receiving bore penetrating the gripping pad and a raised ring encircling the receiving bore. The traction device is disposed in receiving bore such that the upper surface is disposed below the raised ring. The HTA includes a heel cup attached to lateral edges of the gripping pad, a first strap attached to the heel cup and including a first hook, and a second strap attached to the heel cup and including first holes. The first and second straps have elasticity sufficient to maintain tension when a heel of a shoe or foot is positioned in a concavity formed by the gripping pad and the contoured heel cup and when the first hook is engaged with one of the first holes of the second strap.
US09161592B2
A fluid-filled chamber may have a barrier, a stacked tensile member, and a fluid. The barrier may be formed from a polymer material that is sealed to define an interior void. The stacked tensile member may be located within the interior void and includes a first tensile element and a second tensile element that are joined to each other. Additionally, opposite sides of the stacked tensile member are joined to the barrier. The fluid is located within the interior void and may be pressurized to place an outward force upon the barrier and induce tension in the stacked tensile member. In some configurations, each of the tensile elements may be a spacer textile.
US09161581B2
A garment having an outer shell with a pocket having a height below a top opening to the pocket and a width between pocket sides. An extender has opposite sides secured to the shell whereby the extender is adjacent the pocket opening, and the extender opposite sides are substantially aligned with the pocket sides. A first releasable connection is above the pocket opening between the extender and the shell. When connected, the extender is adjacent the shell at the first releasable connection holds. When released, the extender and shell define an opening substantially aligned with the pocket top opening.
US09161577B1
Inflatable undergarment with an inflatable bladder to provide protection and comfort has a fabric garment portion. A rear area of the undergarment further includes an integral air bladder. The bladder covers the buttocks area and is selectively inflated using a manual pump located near the waistband of the undergarment. The bladder system further includes a release valve that allows air to be released from the device.
US09161571B2
The object of the application is an apparatus for picking up a loose substance in the tobacco industry equipment comprising a loose substance feeding unit provided with a loose substance feeding tape and a picking up unit, characterized in that the picking up unit (6) is provided with vacuum pockets (7) cooperating with scrapers (30), whereas the vacuum pockets (7) together with the scrapers (30) are adapted to moving relative to the loose substance (2) feeding tape (3). In addition, the objects of the application are a scraper and a picking up method.
US09161569B2
Disclosed is a smoking article wrapping material comprising a base wrapping material to which has been applied, at least in discrete zones, a composition comprising a mechanically fragmented, chemically crosslinked polysaccharide having a particle size (weighted average) in the range from 1 to 1000 μm for the dry product; a process for production thereof; and a smoking article comprising the smoking article wrapping material described.
US09161566B2
A plant processor, having: a) a rotatable drum for receiving plant matter, the rotatable drum having a plurality of slots; b) a rotatable cutting reel positioned below the rotatable drum, the cutting reel rotatable in the opposite direction of the drum; c) a cutting knife horizontally positioned below the top of the reel; the cutting knife maintained in position by one or more magnets, the cutting knife slidable along a slot in a frame of the processor by a rod extending above the knife; and d) a motor to rotate a shaft secured to the reel, the shaft having a groove to frictionally engage a ring, the ring supporting the drum, whereby rotation of the reel rotates the drum in the opposite direction.
US09161561B2
Method for extracting puree, or juice, from a starting product based on vegetable or animal food comprising a starting treatment step, for example a step of softening the food product obtaining a treated product (101). A deviation step follows (102), during which the treated product is selectively directed towards a cold extraction (110), or towards a hot extraction (200). If the treated product is directed towards a cold extraction, it follows firstly an extraction step (103), in which the treated product at the inlet is separated into a main product comprising the puree, or the juice (103a) and into a waste material (103b). The main product is then subjected to an enzymatic inactivation step which provides quickly heating the treated product up to a determined temperature T (104). In case, instead, the treated product is directed towards a hot extraction, it follows firstly the enzymatic inactivation step (203), and then it follows the extraction step, from which the main product (204a) and the waste material (204b) derive.
US09161558B2
A method and a system comprising pressurizing the vapor generated by evaporation, and circulating the pressurized vapor through the maple water above boiling temperature, so as to evaporate water from the maple water. As a result, once the steady state is reached, the main source of energy for water maple evaporation is the pressurized vapor, produced by a compressor. The compressor may be powered by an electrical or an internal combustion engine for example. The initial heating stage, needed to first get vapor from the maple water, is performed by an auxiliary heating unit, such as direct acting electrical heating elements, or a indirect heat source such as wood, oil, etc. for example.
US09161555B2
A protein fraction and an oxidation stable fat fraction are recovered from meat trimmings. The trimmings are comminuted, mixed with a food grade acid at pH 3,6 to 4.4 to form a liquid protein fraction and a solid fat fraction. The liquid fraction is mixed with a food grade alkali to precipitate the protein. A myoglobin rich fraction is recovered from the protein fraction and mixed with the precipitated protein.
US09161554B1
The apparatus of the present invention is useful for recycling protein waste and producing fuel from protein waste. Waste is ground by a grinding means and digested by a enzyme digest medium composed of enzymes, preservatives, and inedible egg. The ground proteins are digested with the enzyme in recirculated digest tanks. Fat can be collected from the tank by addition of acid and separation of fat from water with a centrifuge. Alternatively the ground protein and enzyme can be fermented and gas collected from the digest tank in a pressure tank with a compressor. The protein solubles are emulsified, separated from water, and extruded before drying. Either fat or gas can be used to fuel a dryer. The dried proteins are then milled in a hammer mill and screened for uniform size.
US09161545B2
Biocontrol agents are provided, which protect plant and plant material from pests and pathogens, and promote the growth of plants. Also provided are compositions comprising the same, methods for protecting plant and plant material and promoting growth in plants, and uses of said biocontrol agent in the preparation of a pesticidal composition and a growth-promoting composition.
US09161543B2
A composition and methods of its use, the composition comprising: a halogen source, urea, and an additional halogen stabilizer excluding urea, optionally an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide said composition with a pH of greater than 10; and optionally excluding a stabilized bromine compound from said composition is disclosed. Additionally, a method for reducing biological activity in a process stream is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a composition to a process stream, wherein said composition contains: a halogen, urea, and an additional halogen stabilizer excluding urea, optionally an alkali in a concentration sufficient to provide said composition with a pH of greater than 10; and optionally excluding a stabilized bromine compound from said composition. The invention is also directed to compositions and methods of their use as effective biocidal agents for water streams.
US09161539B2
A plant disease control composition comprising a carboxamide compound represented by following formula (I), wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 represents a methyl group, a difluoromethyl group or a trifluoromethyl group, and fludioxonil is provided by this invention, and this composition has an excellent effect for controlling plant disease.
US09161538B2
The present invention provides an agricultural fungicide having definitive effects which can be safely used, and a pyridine compound or salts thereof useful as an active ingredient of an agricultural fungicide. The pyridine compound or salts thereof of the present invention are represented by the following formula. In the formula, R1 represents a formyl group or the like, R2 represents a hydrogen bond or the like, each of R3, R4, and R5 independently represents a hydrogen atom, E represents a phenyl group or the like, A represents a halogen atom, and n is any integer of 0 to 5.
US09161530B2
An agrichemical-containing composition that exhibits excellent agrichemical efficacy is provided. The agrichemical-containing composition comprises hydroxypropyl cellulose, an agrichemical, an organic solvent having a saturated vapor pressure of 50 mmHg or higher at 25° C., and water. When the composition as a whole is taken as 100 wt %, the content of the organic solvent is 0.02 to 1 wt %, and the weight ratio of the hydroxypropyl cellulose to the organic solvent (hydroxypropyl cellulose/organic solvent) is in a range of 0.1 to 2.
US09161520B2
The present invention provides transgenic non-human animals and non-human mammalian somatic and germ cells harboring a human DNA sequence encoding Alzheimer's Disease (AD) derived tau protein, capable of inducing AD pathology in transgenic animals. Alzheimer's tau protein is expressed on specific genetic backgrounds allowing also simulation of different human diseases including hypertension, diabetes, hyper-cholesterolemia, which are associated with neurodegeneration and are considerable risk factors for AD development. Transgenic animals and cells of the invention exhibit neurofibrillary pathology and may serve as in vivo and in vitro assay systems for screening and developing therapeutic and preventive substances and also diagnostic markers and probes for tauopathies and AD. Furthermore these transgenic animals and cell lines derived thereof provide an in vivo and in vitro assay system for neurodegenerative disorders preferably tauopathies and AD result from combinations with other disease as hypertension and others representing risk factors associated with the process of neurodegeneration.
US09161513B2
A wild animal feeder is provided for holding a food block having a passageway therein. The feeder comprises a base member and a roof member. The base and roof members define a food receiving space there between for receiving a food block. A food block engaging member has a proximal end and a distal end. A food block engaging member coupler is provided that is attached to one of the base member and roof member for coupling the food block engaging member to one of the base member and roof member for permitting the food block engaging member to move between a food block engaging position and a food block release position. In the food block engaging position, the food block engaging member is positioned in the food receiving space between the roof and base member to engage the food block for maintaining the food block on the feeder on the food receiving space. In the food block released position, the food engaging member is positioned to permit the food block to be inserted into the food receiving space.
US09161510B2
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 41-177 RZ, which exhibits a combination of traits including resistance against downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races Bl:1-28 and Ca-I to Ca-VIII, currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0, lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), and corky root rot (Sphingomonas suberifaciens), as well as solid main veins and narrow base leaves. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 41-177 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 41-177 RZ.
US09161509B2
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-33 RZ, which when grown into a plant exhibits a combination of traits including resistance against downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races Bl:1 to Bl:28, CA-I, CA-IIA, CA-IIB, CA-III, CA-IV, CA-V, CA-VI, CA-VII, CA-VIII and strain FR10.021, resistance against lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), resistance against currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri) biotype Nr:0 as well as medium to dark green colored mature leafs with a flat or almost flat apical margin. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-33 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-33 RZ.
US09161508B1
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046317. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046317. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046317 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046317 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09161507B1
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CC1211818 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CC1211818 and its progeny, and methods of making CC1211818.
US09161506B2
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety WN1118398 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety WN1118398 and its progeny, and methods of making WN1118398.
US09161496B2
A moisture collection apparatus is provided to collect and store percolating ground water for increased water absorption by foliage growing above the moisture collection apparatus. In one embodiment, the moisture collection apparatus includes a first plurality of strands extending along a first direction, a second plurality of strands extending along a second direction and connected to at least one of the first plurality of strands, a plurality of channels extending along at least one of the first direction and the second direction, and a plurality of openings between adjacent strands of the first plurality of strands and adjacent strands of the second plurality of strands. In another embodiment, the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction, such that the moisture collection apparatus forms a grid-like pattern of channels.
US09161490B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide an independent suspension system coupled to a main-frame of ride-on equipment including a subframe coupled to the main frame with a pivot including a pivot axis. Some embodiments include a transaxle assembly supported on the subframe coupled to a drive wheel, and a power source supported on the main frame coupled to the transaxle assembly. A rider can control the transaxle assembly with a compensated control linkage assembly that can compensate for movement of the subframe. Some embodiments include driven pulleys, idler pulleys and backside idler pulleys supported by the subframe coupled to the power source not supported by the subframe. In some embodiments, the pivot axis resides between the power source and the transaxle assembly. In some embodiments, the drive wheel can be driven by an electric motor supported by the subframe and the power source can be a battery.
US09167731B2
A high voltage shielding device including a main body having an enclosing outer solid insulating wall, an outer electrode arranged on the solid insulating wall providing a first level of insulation to the outer electrode, and a first inner electrode which is uninsulated or has a coating providing a second level of insulation, which second level of insulation is lower than the first level of insulation. The first inner electrode is oriented relative the outer electrode in such a way that the first inner electrode mainly shields a component of an electric field which is perpendicular to a component of an electric field mainly shielded by the outer electrode.
US09167722B2
The electronic device according to the Present Disclosure is an electronic device provided with a heat-dissipating portion and an electronic component socket that can accommodate, therein, an installable electronic component, wherein the electronic component socket has a thermal connecting portion for connecting thermally to the electronic component, and, when the electronic component is operating, the electronic component and the heat-dissipating portion are connected thermally through the thermal connecting portion.
US09167721B2
A cooling apparatus and method are provided. The cooling apparatus includes a coolant-cooled heat exchanger for facilitating dissipation of heat generated within an electronics rack, and a coolant control apparatus. The coolant control apparatus includes at least one coolant recirculation conduit coupled in fluid communication between a facility coolant supply and return, wherein the facility coolant supply and return facilitate providing facility coolant to the heat exchanger. The control apparatus further includes a coolant pump(s) associated with the recirculation conduit(s) and a controller which monitors a temperature of facility coolant supplied to the heat exchanger, and redirects facility coolant, via the coolant recirculation conduit(s) and coolant pump(s), from the facility coolant return to the facility coolant supply to, at least in part, ensure that facility coolant supplied to the heat exchanger remains above a dew point temperature.
US09167716B2
A divider for a bay of a blade server chassis includes a plurality of posts, a plurality of flex tabs, and a rail. The posts are located along a first side of the divider, and are configured to be inserted within respective holes in a first panel of the bay of the blade server chassis. The flex tabs are located along a second side of the divider, and are placed in physical communication with a second panel of the bay. The flex tabs are configured compress within the divider and away from the second panel to enable the posts to be inserted within in the holes of the first panel, the second side of the divider being opposite to the first side of the divider. The rail is located along a third side of the divider, and is configured to guide a blade server within the bay.
US09167711B2
A mobile apparatus includes a first body, a second body, a rotary adaptor including an accommodation portion to accommodate the second body, rotatably installed on the first body, and to move the second body to a position where the second body is stacked on the first body and a position where the second body is unfolded, first magnets disposed on the accommodation portion, and second magnets disposed on the second body so as to face the first magnets and having different polarity from the first magnets.
US09167702B2
A method of manufacturing a component-built-in wiring substrate which exhibits excellent reliability, through improvement of adhesion between a resin filler and a core substrate, is provided. In some embodiments the method comprises a core substrate preparation step for preparing a core substrate, an accommodation-hole forming step for forming an accommodation hole in the core substrate, and a through-hole forming step for forming through-holes. In a plating-layer forming step, a plating layer is formed on an inner wall surface of the accommodation hole and plating layers are formed on the inner wall surfaces of the through-holes, which become through-hole conductors each having a hollow. In an accommodation step, a component is accommodated in the accommodation hole. In a resin charging step, a resin filler is filled into a gap between component side-surfaces and the inner wall surface of the accommodation hole and into the hollows.
US09167693B2
A method of producing a wired circuit board includes a first step of preparing a metal supporting layer, a second step of forming, on one side of the metal supporting layer in a thickness direction thereof, an insulating layer having a first opening, and a plurality of terminal formation portions, a third step of forming, on one side of the insulating layer in the thickness direction, a conductive layer having a plurality of terminal portions each corresponding to the plurality of terminal formation portions, a fourth step of partially removing the metal supporting layer to form a second opening and at least one reinforcing metal supporting portion placed between the plurality of terminal formation portions, and a fifth step of removing the plurality of terminal formation portions exposed from the second opening to expose both side surfaces of the plurality of terminal portions in the thickness direction.
US09167684B2
A substrate including a fluid reservoir and a connected fluid channel, the fluid reservoir positioned away from a component region of the substrate, the fluid channel configured to extend from the fluid reservoir to guide an electrically conductive fluid from the fluid reservoir at a reservoir end of the fluid channel through the fluid channel to a component end of the fluid channel, the component end extending to the component region of the substrate to enable the formation of an electrical connection to a connector of an electronic component appropriately positioned in the component region, formation of the electrical connection allowing the electronic component to be interconnected to other electronic components using one or more of the fluid reservoir and fluid channel.
US09167683B2
A printed circuit board includes a first layer stack and a second layer stack coupled to the first layer stack. The first layer stack includes a first electrically-insulating layer, a first electrically-conductive layer, and a cut-out area defining a void that extends therethrough. The first electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first electrically-conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the first electrically-insulating layer. The second layer stack includes a second electrically-insulating layer. The second electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. One or more electrically-conductive traces are disposed on the first surface of the second electrically-insulating layer. The printed circuit board further includes a device at least partially disposed within the cut-out area. The device is electrically-coupled to one or more of the one or more electrically-conductive traces disposed on the first surface of the second electrically-insulating layer.
US09167672B2
The invention relates to automatically verifying the possibility of rendering a lighting atmosphere from an abstract description, for example from a lighting atmosphere specified in XML (Extensible Markup Language) independent of a specific lighting infrastructure and of a room layout. A basic idea of the invention is to translate the possibilities of a lighting infrastructure into so called light element templates. A light element template contains an indication of the possibilities of the lighting infrastructure at a certain semantic location, for example in a shop or a home in which the lighting infrastructure is provided. For every type of light effect of a lighting infrastructure, a different light element template may be created. This allows to automatically verify the possibility of rendering a lighting atmosphere from an abstract description in a lighting infrastructure at an early stage of the lighting atmosphere design process.
US09167669B2
A state change device may be electrically connected to a switched receptacle, or to both the switched and unswitched receptacles, of an outlet. The state change device may generate a change of state signal when power is applied to, or removed from, the switched receptacle. The state change device may wirelessly communicate the signal. The state change device may include a load control circuit that may be configured to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the state change device. The state change device may receive commands directed to the load control circuit. The state change device may be deployed in a load control system and may operate as a control entity, such that the state change device may issue commands to one or more load control devices, responsive to the application or removal of power at the switched receptacle.
US09167665B2
A control unit controls an operation of an electric power conversion unit so that load current that flows through a light source load becomes a constant value, using electric power setting value that is used to determine a size of electric power that is supplied to the light source load and a current detection value that is detected by a current detection resistor (current detection unit), and a load electric power calculation unit obtains load electric power of the light source load using the electric power setting value and a voltage detection value that is detected by a voltage detection unit, and an input electric power estimation unit corrects a circuit loss for the obtained load electric power and estimates input electric power.
US09167655B2
A preferred embodiment relates to controlling the amount of backlight power in an electronic display to account for the temperature in the backlight cavity. Another embodiment relates to a system for controlling the amount of backlight based on both the temperature of the backlight and the amount of ambient light.
US09167651B2
A method and apparatus for providing one or more operating voltages and currents to one or more auxiliary loads by tapping an LED array driven by an LED driver providing a drive voltage to the LED array, and/or supplying an operating voltage to the LED driver itself using such a tap.
US09167646B2
A PWM architecture of a microcontroller is disclosed that includes a fault module for regulating and detecting faults in current sensing or illuminating devices (e.g., LED strings). The fault module is part of a hardware regulation loop of LED voltage and LED current that allows the CPU to be placed in idle mode (“IDLE”) while an LED string is regulated in illumination. The microcontroller includes a PWM generator having a double channels PWM timer with a specific fault mode and an amplified comparator with a voltage reference. The architecture allows tuning of various parameters, including LED peak current, LED voltage supply, LED voltage regulation step and LED dimming value. In IDLE mode, the hardware regulation loop can regulate LED peak current and LED voltage supply without any CPU resource (microcontroller in IDLE mode). The fault module part of the hardware regulation loop can also detect and inform the CPU of: 1) an open LED; 2) a weak battery; and 3) an LED voltage that is under a target value.
US09167644B2
Embodiments described herein provide a LED lighting system and method. A transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. A plurality of LED strings are coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. At least one switch is coupled to at least one of the plurality of LED strings. A controller is coupled to the at least one switch and configured to control the operation of the at least one switch such that current flows through the plurality of LED strings in an alternating manner.
US09167640B2
The present disclosure provides an AC-direct-type LED-lighting device including compensation circuit for AC input compensation, including a compensation inductor and first compensation capacitor parallelly connected to one terminal of AC input and a second compensation capacitor connected in series; rectifying unit for rectifying output from second compensation capacitor terminals to obtain direct current; and LED array driven by the rectifying unit output, wherein capacities of the first and second compensation capacitors and the compensation inductor and LED array output voltage are determined to cause 0.9 or larger cosine value of a phase, with respect to the AC input voltage, of resulting current obtained by dividing AC input voltage by sum of (i) parallel value of an equivalent impedance Re of the rectifying unit and LED array and an impedance of the second compensation capacitor and (ii) parallel value of impedances of the compensation inductor and first compensation capacitor.
US09167639B2
A device and method to interface with a Magnetic or Electronic Fluorescent Ballast; evaluate, process, and regulate the incoming power from the Ballast device and output a steady AC power that can be used by LED drivers, LED chips, or set of multiple LED chips in a Tube or Bulb application. This device and method will allow for a non-fluorescent replacement lighting device such as a LED Lighting Tube or Bulb to be used as a universal LED ballast compatible device in a Fluorescent Light Luminaire (fixture) without any electrical wiring modification or removal of the Electronic or Magnetic Ballast.
US09167619B2
A facility for performing employing multiple frequencies in a secure distributed hierarchical convergence network is described. The facility receives a signal in a first frequency, converts the received signal to an internal representation, applies a business rule to the converted signal, and, when the business rule indicates that the signal should be transmitted in a second frequency, causes the internal representation of the signal to be translated to a second frequency and transmitted in the second frequency.
