US09217434B2
A compressor may include a shell, a compression mechanism supported within the shell, a drive shaft engaged with the compression mechanism and a motor. The drive shaft may define first and second passages extending axially within the drive shaft and a third passage extending radially through an outer circumferential surface of the drive shaft and in communication with the second passage. The drive shaft may define an axially extending wall separating the first and second passages. The motor may include a rotor fixed to the drive shaft and a stator supported within the shell. The third passage may be adapted to provide oil to the stator during compressor operation to cool the stator.
US09217433B2
A synthetic resin bearing and a scroll compressor using the same are provided. In the synthetic resin bearing as a journal bearing fixed to an orbiting scroll or a main frame and relatively rotated with respect to a rotational shaft in a scroll compressor, the journal bearing is made of a PEEK material, and a thickness t of the journal bearing is smaller than a thickness t1 with which a temperature in a contact surface thereof with the rotational shaft during an operation of the scroll compressor corresponds to a glass transition temperature.
US09217432B2
A pendulum-slide pump may include a rotatingly mounted inner rotor connected via at least one pendulum with an outer rotor. The inner rotor may define a plurality of radial grooves configured to receive the pendulum. The grooves may have two groove walls that continues via a rounded region into a shared groove base. The rounded region may have variable groove radii and continue with at least a reduced curvature jump into the groove base or the groove walls. The groove radii may be greated in the translation to the groove walls and to the groove base than therbetween.
US09217426B2
A pump has an inlet opening, an outlet opening, a pump diaphragm comprising an opening, provided with a passive check valve, through the pump diaphragm, and an actuator configured to move the pump diaphragm between a first position and a second position. The passive check valve is configured such that a movement from the first position in the direction toward the second position has a closing effect, and that a movement from the second position in the direction toward the first position has an opening effect, so that a pumping cycle wherein the pump diaphragm is moved from the first to the second positions, and back, causes a net flow from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.
US09217423B2
Disclosed is an energy storage system using supercritical air, comprising a compressor unit, a heat exchanger and storage device, a cold exchanger and storage device, a cryogenic tank, a throttling valve, at least one cryogenic pump, an expander unit, a generator, and a driver unit. There are several advantages of this invention, including high energy density, high efficiency, no storage cycle and geographical conditions restriction, easy implementation with all kinds of power stations, environment friendliness and capability of recycling low to medium temperature waste heat and so on.
US09217420B2
The present invention relates to a dump load applied in a wind turbine generator; normally it is only operating to absorb the energy during faults. Therefore in the majority time of wind turbine generator operation, the dump load is not applied, and its health condition is unknown. This invention is about a method to check the dump load condition during normal operation.
US09217414B2
A wind power turbine configured to generate electric energy has: a supporting structure; a nacelle; a blade assembly which rotates with respect to the nacelle; a first and second electric machine having, respectively, a substantially coaxial first and second stator, and a first and second rotor coupled to the first and second stator to rotate about a first and second axis; a transmission configured to connect the first rotor to the second rotor; a control device configured to control the wind power turbine; and a detection system connected to the control device to detect relative movement between the first rotor and the second rotor.
US09217411B2
The present invention relates to a centripetally acting type of water turbine which uses low-head and low-speed water flow and which comprises a rotational force generating device having an inner and an outer centripetal canister rotatably supported by means of a stand and a securing shaft either vertically or to left and right in a straight line, and having a plurality of blades fixedly joined in a radiating fashion between the inner and outer centripetal canisters, and in which the combined shape of the inner and outer centripetal canisters and neighboring individual blades is constituted as a lower surface which inclines such that water or steam flows at an incline downwardly and, as it does so, the rotational radius progressively reduces.
US09217404B2
An atomizer used in the inner combustion engine and having energy saving and debris reducing function, which includes: a housing having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, the interior of the housing is installed with a flow regulating mask, and a bottom plate is installed inside the housing; a working fluid filled in the housing and disposed above the bottom plate; a floating carrier installed in the housing and floating on the liquid surface of the working fluid; at least an atomizing mechanism installed on the floating carrier; and a sensing controlling mechanism installed below the bottom plate and connected to the atomizing mechanism. Accordingly, with the driving and regulating provided by the sensing controlling mechanism, the flow regulating mask allows the atomizing mechanism to atomize proper amount of water with respect to the actual conditions of the rotation speed and loading status of an engine.
US09217402B2
Methods and systems for cleaning a capless refueling system in a vehicle are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises, in response to a leak detected following a refueling event, cleaning the capless refueling system using engine vacuum.
US09217400B2
An intake apparatus that mounts an air cleaner and an outdoor air duct inside an engine room and ensures space for maintenance that includes: a bottomed tubular case having an opened end and formed with an inflow port; a cover formed with an outflow port and configured to close the opened end of the case; an air cleaner disposed between the case and the cover and provided with a filter member dividing an interior of the air cleaner into a clean side positioned on the inflow port side and a dust side positioned on the outflow port side; and an outdoor air duct configured to introduce outdoor air into the air cleaner.
US09217399B2
An air cleaner arrangement or assembly is provided. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge. The air cleaner assembly also includes an arrangement for positioning the filter cartridge into a preferred, sealing, orientation and for securing the filter cartridge in that location. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are provided, as well as methods of assembly and use.
US09217398B2
In a gas engine 1 that uses a gas having a lower specific gravity than air and has a pre-mixing device before a turbocharger, a pre-mixed gas mixture compressed by a turbocharger 3 is cooled by an intercooler 4 located downstream of the turbocharger 3 in the intake system. Condensed water produced as the gas is cooled and the pre-mixed gas mixture discharged with the condensed water are separated into condensed water, air, and fuel gas in a vapor-liquid separator 7. The fuel gas is returned to the intake system upstream of the turbocharger 3, while the condensed water is discharged to atmosphere.
US09217394B2
A multi-stage supercharging apparatus including a first supercharger and a second supercharger. The first supercharger is provided with a first turbine accommodating section, a first exhaust inlet, and a first exhaust outlet which extends in an axial direction of the first turbine from the first turbine accommodating section and is bent upward. The second supercharger is provided with a second turbine, a second turbine accommodating section, and a second exhaust inlet which is directly connected to the first exhaust outlet to allow the first exhaust outlet to be communicated with the second turbine accommodating section, and the second supercharger is supported by the first supercharger by placing an opening of the second exhaust inlet on an opening of the first exhaust outlet.
US09217381B2
A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor generator configured to control the revolution speed of the engine, and an ECU configured to control ignition timing of the engine. The ECU modifies, in the case where the revolution speed of the engine is not controlled by the motor generator, the ignition timing for startup of the engine to a further timing retarding side, as compared to the case where the revolution speed of the engine is controlled by the motor generator.
US09217377B2
A valve device for controlling an exhaust gas flow of an internal combustion engine includes a housing comprising a channel which has the exhaust gas flow therethrough. A shaft is disposed in the housing. The shaft is rotatably mounted about a shaft axis. A flap is connected to the shaft. The flap controls a flow cross section of the channel. The flap comprises two flexurally rigid support plates. The support plates each comprise an outer periphery. An elastic flap body is arranged between the support plates. The elastic flap body comprises an outer periphery which is larger on all sides than the outer periphery of the support plates. A distance between the outer periphery of the elastic flap body and the outer periphery of the support plates is largest in an area of the shaft axis, and smallest at an angle of 90° relative to the shaft axis.
US09217374B2
The present invention proposes a structural unit for an aircraft engine having at least one fuel pump of a fuel circuit and at least one hydraulic fluid pump of a hydraulic fluid circuit, where the structural unit can be coupled to an accessory gearbox shaft of an accessory gearbox of the engine.
US09217360B2
This disclosure relates to an improved prechamber device for an internal combustion engine. The prechamber device is positioned adjacent to a combustion chamber. The improved prechamber device is configured to improve removal of heat from the prechamber device, particularly in the area adjacent to the combustion chamber.
US09217359B2
An internal-combustion engine includes a cylinder, a piston, a spark plug, and a fuel injection device. The piston includes a top surface, a guiding protrusion, and a cavity. The cavity is provided at a position closer to the fuel injection device than the guiding protrusion when viewed from above the top surface of the piston. The guiding protrusion includes a guiding surface to guide the fuel mist toward the spark plug when the fuel mist is injected from the fuel injection device at a first predetermined timing in a compression stroke. The cavity includes a guiding wall portion to guide the fuel mist toward the spark plug when the fuel mist is injected from the fuel injection device at a timing in the compression stroke between the first predetermined timing and a second predetermined timing.
US09217355B2
An arrangement for mounting at least one electrical component to a portion of an aftertreatment module, the arrangement including; at least one standoff member coupled between the electrical component and the portion of the aftertreatment module, and an enclosure substantially surrounding at least three sides of the electrical component.
US09217352B2
An exhaust gas purification system includes a dosing control unit that controls a supply module to supply urea water between a dosing valve and a urea tank in order to remove urea water accumulated in the dosing valve, when receiving a diesel particulate filter regeneration authorization request from an engine control unit, and then transmits the authorization to the engine control unit, when determining that an NH3 amount of a selective reduction catalyst is less than or equal to a prescribed value.
US09217351B2
A method for operating a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system having a urea solution supply and an ultrasound based urea concentration sensor, the measurement signal of the urea concentration sensor being representative of a propagation time of an ultrasonic pulse along a predefined path length in a fluid of the urea solution supply includes: heating at least the fluid in a detection region of the urea concentration sensor from a predefined first temperature to a predefined second temperature; during the heating, detecting the measurement signal at at least a third and fourth temperature, and in each case determining a raw concentration characteristic value as a function of the respective measurement signal, which raw concentration characteristic value is representative of the propagation time of the ultrasonic pulse; and determining a concentration characteristic value, representative of a concentration of urea in the fluid, as a function of the raw concentration characteristic values.
US09217350B2
Various systems and methods for detecting exhaust reductant injector degradation based on an exhaust NOx sensor are disclosed. In one example, degradation of the reductant injector is indicated when an actual NOx sensor output differs from an expected NOx sensor output by more than a threshold amount under engine off conditions.
US09217340B2
A camshaft assembly includes a camshaft rotatable about a cam axis, and a lobe pack slideably attached to the camshaft. The lobe pack includes a barrel cam that defines a control groove disposed annularly about the cam axis. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a first rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against either a first or second shifting pin, to guide the lobe pack along a first or third path respectively, into a first or second axial position respectively. When the camshaft and the lobe pack rotate about the cam axis in a second rotational direction, the control groove is shaped to react against the first and second shifting pins to guide the lobe pack along a second path, into the second axial position.
US09217338B2
This disclosure relates to a waste heat recovery (WHR) system and method for regulating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooling, and more particularly, to a Rankine cycle WHR system and method, including a recuperator bypass arrangement to regulate EGR exhaust gas cooling for engine efficiency improvement and thermal management. This disclosure describes other unique bypass arrangements for increased flexibility in the ability to regulate EGR exhaust gas cooling.
US09217335B2
A fixture and method for adjusting a workpiece are disclosed. The fixture includes a holding device engageable to a workpiece to secure the workpiece, and an adjustment device engageable to a projecting member of the workpiece and movable along a first axis and a second axis. Movement of the adjustment device along the first axis when engaged to the projecting member adjusts the projecting member along the first axis, and movement of the adjustment device along the second axis when engaged to the projecting member adjusts the projecting member along the second axis.
US09217334B2
The present application provides a cover plate assembly for use with a rotor disk. The cover plate assembly may include a radial flange extending from the rotor disk, a flange aperture extending through the radial flange, a cover plate segment with a fastening aperture and a hook for receiving the radial flange, and a fastener extending through the flange aperture and the fastening aperture.
US09217331B1
A number of variations may include a method of balancing a rotor assembly and a balanced rotor assembly which may involve additive material applied to the rotor assembly. One or more of the following options may be employed: adding a mass to an impeller hub between two adjacent vanes; adding a mass to an impeller back wall; adding a mass to back wall scallops, and adding a mass to an impeller nose. Material removal may be used in combination with material addition.
US09217329B1
A compressed air propulsion system supplies air utilized by a pair of opposing cylinders and their associated pistons and push/pull rods to cause a pair of sprockets to rotate clockwise in a controlled manner. The two pistons are acted upon by the cycling of various valves which introduces and/or vents compressed air as directed by a computer using a downloaded program through wireless interfaces. One of the two sprockets in turn, through additional sprockets/chain/axle devices, is utilized to supply drive torque to a vehicle transmission. The other axle which is connected to the remaining sprocket and through an additional chain/sprocket/axle device operates a direct current generator which produces electricity for charging a battery.
US09217328B2
Methods and apparatus for positioning a downhole tool in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, commencing coring operations by rotating a coring bit of the downhole tool and extending the rotating coring bit into a sidewall of the wellbore, sensing a parameter associated with the coring operations, and adjusting the coring operations based on the sensed parameter.
US09217322B2
A method for installing an apparatus for monitoring physical parameters in an annulus of an oil and/or gas well having a well head. The apparatus comprises a sensor plug including a sensor and a flange assembly arranged with a bore holding a signal processing unit for communication with the sensor. The method comprises installing the sensor plug in a passage in the well head, connecting a cable connector to the sensor plug, positioning the bore of the flange assembly essentially coinciding with the passage of the well head. The invention also comprises a method for retrieving an apparatus for monitoring physical parameters in an annulus of an oil and/or gas well having a well head.
US09217321B2
A system for determining a depth in a wellbore of a reference point associated with a coiled tubing. The system comprises a sensor coupled to a coiled tubing spool, wherein the sensor coupled to the coiled tubing spool is configured to determine an angular position of the spool, a processor coupled to the sensor, a memory coupled to the processor, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, determines the depth in the wellbore of the reference point of the coiled tubing based on an input from the sensor coupled to the coiled tubing spool.
US09217319B2
A tool having a high-molecular weight Polyglycolides such as polyglycolic acid (PGA) may be used in downhole hydrocarbon recovery applications. Advantageously, PGA tools do not need to be drilled out but will naturally break down into environmentally-compatible natural compounds.
US09217286B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for preventing backdriving of a mud motor through its output. One disclosed mud motor may include a housing having a longitudinal axis, a rotor disposed within the housing and configured to rotate generally about the longitudinal axis in a first direction with respect to the housing when a flow of fluid is provided to the power generator, an output shaft at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotor, and an anti-reverse bearing arranged radially between the output shaft and the housing and configured to support the output shaft within the housing and allow rotation of the output shaft in the first direction but resist rotation of the output shaft in a second direction about the longitudinal axis with respect to the housing, the second direction being opposite the first direction.
US09217284B2
An anti-fall transmission device for a handling door (1) having a flexible curtain (5) to be stacked or rolled about a drive shaft (4) during the movements thereof between an open and a closed position, includes a separate electric motor or gear motor (7) attached along a rotational axis which is offset and parallel to that of the drive shaft (4), as a protective anti-fall device (8) for connecting the motor or the gear motor (7) to the drive shaft (4) and for preventing the flexible apron (5) from accidentally falling.
US09217283B2
An apparatus having a base portion configured to be secured to a mounting surface and a sensor connected to the base portion that is configured to interface with an elongate member and measure one or more characteristics of the elongate member as the elongate member moves from being wound up on or paid out from a rotatable drive of a movable barrier operator. The one or more characteristics can include, for example, position, velocity, and direction of movement of the elongate member. By measuring the one or more characteristics of the elongate member, corresponding properties of a movable barrier connected to the elongate member can be accurately determined. The apparatus may be also used to supplement an estimate of the properties of the movable barrier obtained from measurement of the rotatable drive and provide a more accurate estimate of the movable barrier properties.
US09217272B2
Automatic doors have become commonplace in hospitals or retirement homes to facilitate entry into auxiliary rooms, such as bathrooms. Unfortunately, when a patient becomes incapacitated inside the bathroom, the door often becomes obstructed by the patient, making entry into the bathroom through the door impossible without further injuring the patient. In many instances removal of adjacent walls is required to gain entry into the room. The automatic door of the present invention includes a retractable door stop enabling reverse rotation of the door, and sensors for automatically setting and resetting the automatic door controls when the door is opened and closed in either direction.
US09217270B2
A mechanism for installing a spring in a vehicle decklid includes a bracket supported on the decklid to rotate about an axis, including a leg extending radially from the axis, a spring secured to the bracket, a stop, and an attachment engaged with the bracket for rotating the bracket about the axis and extending the spring to an installed position where a force applied by the spring to the leg forces the bracket into contact with the stop, said contact preventing rotation of the bracket in a direction that extends the spring.
US09217269B2
A hinge assembly includes a first bracket and a second bracket. The first bracket defines a first bracket surface and a second bracket surface opposite the first bracket surface. The hinge assembly further includes a first link pivotally coupled to the first and second brackets. The first link extends along a first longitudinal axis. The hinge assembly further includes a first, second, third, and fourth links pivotally coupled to the first and second brackets. Each of the first, second, third, and fourth links is pivotally coupled to the first and second brackets such that the second bracket is movable relative to the first bracket between a first bracket position and a second bracket position.
US09217267B2
An adjustable hinge set and a method for making it improves mounting of a deck lid to a motor vehicle body by permitting mass production adjustments without distortion or multiplication of the parts installed. A hinge set bracket with spaced flanges receiving a pivot strap and pivot therebetween is formed with a substantially vertical slot in each flange. At least one insert having a collar and a stem, reinforces the spacing between the support flanges, as the pivot pin compressionally engages the flanges. Preferably, two inserts having a collar and a stem have a combined length that reinforces the predetermined spacing within a predetermined tolerance when compression is adjusted.
US09217266B2
A self locating tie bar guide for use with a tie bar. The tie bar guide defines a passage into which the tie bar is received. A tie bar receiving portion is shiftable between an open orientation in which the tie bar can be inserted into the passage and a closed orientation in which the tie bar is held in the passage. A resilient engaging member that engages a prelocated opening in the tie bar is resiliently biased toward the tie bar when the receiving portion is in the open orientation. The resilient tie bar engaging member is shiftable away from the tie bar when the receiving portion is in the closed orientation by contact between a portion of the resilient engaging member and another portion of the tie bar guide.
US09217265B2
A joint lock comprises a lock body and a joint bar hoop, wherein the lock body accommodates a lock cylinder and a latch which is selectably movable by the lock cylinder from a locked position into a release position and wherein the joint bar hoop comprises a plurality of joint bars pivotally linked to one another, wherein a first end of the joint bar hoop has an elongate closing bar which can be introduced into an introduction opening of the lock body and which can be locked in the lock body by means of the latch. The joint lock is characterized in that the lock body furthermore accommodates a preloading device which preloads the latch into the locking position, with the latch being temporarily movable against the preloading from the locking position into the release position by introduction of the locking bar into the lock body, with the preloading device being adapted to move the latch back into the locking position again when the locking bar is completely introduced into the lock body.
US09217262B1
The present invention relates to a key and lock identification system. The key and lock identification system includes a first identification member connected to a second identification member. The first identification member and the second identification member have associated identifiers such as a color, a letter, a word, or a symbol that is identical or related.
US09217253B2
A flooring material having a textile pad substructure with a density of greater than 10 pounds per cubic foot is provided. The textile pad has reinforcement and binding fibers. The binding fibers are thermoplastic and are used to bind the reinforcement fibers together. The pad is created by heating and compressing a fibrous textile batt so that it has a density of greater than 13 pounds per cubic foot.
US09217251B2
Ceramic floors and methods of making thereof such that the ceramic tiles are quickly and easily removable from the floor substrate and replaceable at a future date, and the ceramic flooring has crack isolation.A ceramic tile floor is laid by releasably adhering a sheet to a floor substrate using a releasable and not repositionable adhesive and bonding at least one ceramic tile to the sheet with a mortar.The sheet has a non-porous layer which is adhered to the substrate, a paper layer, and a water barrier layer to prevent swelling of the paper layer by water from the mortar and to thereby prevent lippage. The sheet may have an other paper layer to which the mortar is bonded.
US09217250B2
The invention relates to a floor panel, in particular a laminated floor panel. The invention also relates to a floor covering consisting of a plurality of mutually coupled floor panels according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for mutually coupling two floor panels, in particular laminated floor panels, according to the invention.
US09217249B2
A roof covering material is provided, as well as its method of manufacture, wherein a substrate, preferably of a fibrous material is provided, with a bituminous material, preferably asphalt coating, on opposite surfaces thereof, with granules being applied to an upper surface thereof and at least partially embedded in the bituminous material, and with a discontinuous top layer applied to the granule/bituminous material. The discontinuous top layer is preferably a polymeric material, and openings are provided therein, for passage of fluids therethrough, to avoid moisture, volatiles, and other fluid materials from being trapped beneath the top layer. Various techniques for application of the various materials, and for chemical treatment, are likewise provided.
US09217241B2
A flow diverter device includes a diverter body. The diverter body defines therein two inlet channels and an outlet channel and includes a diverter valve defining therein a connecting channel. The diverter valve is movable between a first position wherein the connecting channel fluidly connects one of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only and a second position wherein the connecting channel fluidly connects the other of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only. The flow diverter device further includes a sleeve component including a secondary inlet channel and a secondary outlet channel. The sleeve component is connectable to the diverter body.
US09217238B2
A controller monitors groundspeed in an articulated machine and selectively disables an automatic articulation control function when the groundspeed is at or near zero. If there is an indication that an operator may not be aware that the automatic articulation control function is active by comparing when a on switch was activated compared to a machine power cycle or an operator not being present, the automatic articulation control function may be inactivated until the on switch is toggled. If the articulated machine is in neutral and the groundspeed is at or near zero, the automatic articulation control function may disabled. If the groundspeed is at or near zero but the transmission is not in neutral, the machine may simply be stalled to due working conditions and the automatic articulation control function may be maintained.
US09217233B2
A system for controllably adjusting spent water levels in the tailrace pool area of a hydroelectric power-generating dam installed into a waterway. The system comprises: (a) a controllably adjustable weir device installed into a downstream portion of the waterway adjacent a distal end of the tailrace pool area. The controllably adjustable weir device is configured for controllably impeding the egress of spent water from the tailrace pool area, (b) an apparatus provided with operative components configured for manipulating the controllably adjustable weir device to controllably increase and decrease the impediment therewith of spent water egress from the tailrace pool area. The operative components are serviceable from above the spent water, and (c) a control device configured for communicating and cooperating with the apparatus for manipulating the controllably adjustable weir therewith. The controllably adjustable weir device may be optionally installed into an excavation provided downstream adjacent to the tailrace pool area.
US09217226B2
Fibrous structures that exhibit a Geometric Mean Overhang Length (GM Overhang Length) of less than 3.65 cm as measured according to the Flexural Rigidity Test Method and/or a Cross-Machine Direction Overhang Length (CD Overhang Length) of less than 3.875 cm as measured according to the Flexural Rigidity Test Method described herein are provided.
US09217221B2
A pocket inverter may include a wand and a head connected with the wand. The head may include a barbed portion comprising protrusions that extend outward from a surface of the barbed portion. The protrusions each may have a shape to ensnare fabric in a pocket when the head is inserted inside a pocket and rotated, but prevent the protrusions from piercing through fabric of the pocket.
US09217213B2
The present invention relates to a lower thread supply device for a sewing machine, comprising: a housing (100) which is fixed to a main body of a sewing machine, has a cylindrical shape in which a front side and a back side are opened along a central axis, and has a (a housing cut out portion) (110) formed by cutting the outer circumferential surface of one side; a rotation plate (200) which is connected to a power shaft of a sewing machine, has a disk shape, has a power transmission protrusion (210) formed on the front surface of the disk, and is provided at the back inner lateral side of the housing (100) to rotate; a hook body (300) which is rotatably provided inside the housing (100), has a cylindrical shape with an opened front side, a protrusion receiving part (320) formed at the back outer portion to receive the torque of the rotation plate (200) by being engaged with the power transmission protrusion (210), a bobbin mounting post (330) formed at the back inner portion, and a hook (310) that passes through the loop formed by an upper thread descending along a needle of a sewing machine, thereby pulling the upper thread, provided at the outer circumferential surface of one side; a spool-shaped bobbin (400) which is inserted into the bobbin mounting post (330) of the hook body (300) to be rotatably provided, and to which a lower thread is wound; and a cap (500) which passes through the center of the bobbin (400) to be detachably coupled to the bobbin mounting post (330), thereby preventing the separation of the bobbin from the hook body (300).
US09217208B2
The present invention is an apparatus for producing a single crystal, growing the single crystal by the Czochralski method and comprising at least: a main chamber in which a crucible for accommodating a raw material melt and a heater for heating the raw material melt are arranged; a pulling chamber into which the grown single crystal is pulled and accommodated, the pulling chamber being continuously provided above the main chamber; and a cooling cylinder extending at least from a ceiling of the main chamber toward a surface of the raw material melt so as to surround the single crystal during pulling, the cooling cylinder being forcibly cooled with a cooling medium. As a result, there is provided an apparatus for producing a single crystal that can increase the growth rate of the single crystal by efficiently cooling the single crystal during the growth.
US09217204B2
The present invention relates to methods for operating and controlling the temperature of inert electrodes during production of molten aluminum by electrolysis of an aluminous ore, preferably alumina, dissolved in molten salts, preferably a fluoride based electrolyte, in an electrolysis cell with vertical or essentially vertical electrode configuration.The invention describes methods of designing and operating inert electrodes in a vertical and/or inclined position for production of aluminum metal, where said electrodes have an operating temperature that may deviate from the electrolyte temperature, thereby controlling the dissolution of electrode materials and preventing solid deposit formation on the electrodes. The present invention is also applicable to aluminum production cells utilizing inert electrodes in a horizontal configuration, and traditional Hall-Hèroult cells retrofitted with inert anodes.
US09217199B2
There is provided a substrate processing apparatus, including a processing chamber configured to house a substrate, a first source supply system configured to supply a chlorosilane-based source to the substrate in the processing chamber, a second source supply system configured to supply an aminosilane-based source to the substrate in the processing chamber and a reactive gas supply system configured to supply a reactive gas different from each of the sources, to the substrate in the processing chamber. The substrate processing apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the first source supply system, the second source supply system, and the reactive gas supply system, so that a process of forming an insulating film on the substrate is performed by an alternating process.
US09217198B2
The present disclosure describes methods of inserting lithium into an electrochromic device after completion. In the disclosed methods, an ideal amount of lithium can be added post-fabrication to maximize or tailor the free lithium ion density of a layer or the coloration range of a device. Embodiments are directed towards a method to insert lithium into the main device layers of an electrochromic device as a post-processing step after the device has been manufactured. In an embodiment, the methods described are designed to maximize the coloration range while compensating for blind charge loss.
US09217192B2
In a semiconductor device 100 according to the present invention in which a semiconductor member 120 is stacked on a substrate 110, the semiconductor member 120 and the substrate 110 are bonded together by means of a semiconductor device bonding material 130 of which main component is zinc. Further, a coating layer to prevent diffusion of the semiconductor device bonding material 130 is provided on at least one of the surface of the substrate 110 and the surface of the semiconductor member 120. In addition, the coating layer 140 is configured such that a barrier layer 141 composed of nitride, carbide, or carbonitride and a protective layer 142 composed of a noble metal are stacked. Further, the nitride, the carbide, or the carbonitride composing the barrier layer 141 is selected so as to have free energy smaller than that of a material composing an insulating layer 111 provided in the substrate 110.
US09217177B2
The present invention provides methods for determining a nucleic acid sequence by performing successive cycles of duplex extension along a single stranded template. The cycles comprise steps of extension, ligation, and, preferably, cleavage. In certain embodiments the methods make use of extension probes containing phosphorothiolate linkages and employ agents appropriate to cleave such linkages. The invention provides methods of determining information about a sequence using at least two distinguishably labeled probe families. In certain embodiments the methods acquire less than 2 bits of information from each of a plurality of nucleotides in the template in each cycle. In certain embodiments the sequencing reactions are performed on templates attached to beads. The invention further provides sets of labeled extension probes containing phosphorothiolate linkages. In addition, the invention includes performing multiple sequencing reactions on a single template by removing initializing oligonucleotides and extended strands and performing subsequent reactions using different initializing oligonucleotides.
US09217170B2
System and method for detecting and measuring chemical perturbations in a sample. The system and method are useful for non-invasive pH monitoring of blood or blood products sealed in storage bags.
US09217162B2
This disclosure discloses a process and an anaerobic digestion system for crop stalk/straw. The process in one example comprises (A) Feeding, (B) Heating and Digestion at the set temperature, (C) Discharging of Biogas, Sludge and Effluent. The system in one example comprises (I) High Solid Content Digester (II) Hydro-Circulation Digester and (III) Stalk/Straw Feeder. Steps (A), (B) and (C) are accomplished in the devices (I) and (II).
US09217161B2
Fermentation products (e.g., bioproducts such as hydrocarbons and other organic compounds) are produced from biomass or gases through digestion and fermentation under conditions that thermodynamically favor production of the fermentation products.
US09217149B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer, comprising at least one selected from deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) for encoding small interfering RNA (siRNA) which complementarily binds to the base sequence of the transcript (mRNA transcript) of the FLJ25416 gene, represented by sequence number 3, sequence number 5, and sequence number 7 to inhibit the intracellular expression of the FLJ25416 gene, antisense RNA which inhibits expression of the FLJ25416 gene, and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) which inhibits expression of the FLJ25416 gene. As the siRNA, which is complementary to the base sequence of the transcript (mRNA transcript) of the FLJ25416 gene, the antisense RNA, and the shRNA, according to the present invention, inhibit expression of the FLJ25416 gene which is known to be expressed in cancer cells, and thus kill cancer cells, the composition of the present invention can be used as a novel anti-cancer agent.
US09217138B2
The present invention relates to a mutant microorganism, which is selected from the group consisting of genus Mannheimia, genus Actinobacillus and genus Anaerobiospirillum, producing homo-succinic acid and a method for producing homo-succinic acid using the same, and more particularly to a mutant microorganism producing succinic acid at a high concentration while producing little or no other organic acids in anaerobic conditions, which is obtained by disrupting a gene encoding lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA), a gene encoding phosphotransacetylase (pta), and a gene encoding acetate kinase (ackA), without disrupting a gene encoding pyruvate formate lyase (pfl), as well as a method for producing succinic acid using the same. The inventive mutant microorganism has the property of having a high growth rate and succinic acid productivity while producing little or no organic acids, as compared to the prior strains producing succinic acid. Thus, the inventive mutant microorganism is useful to produce succinic acid for industrial use.
US09217133B2
This invention relates to a composition suitable for use in the prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-compromised individuals comprising a probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium breve or Bifidobacterium longum and a fucosylated oligosaccharide selected from the group comprising 2′-fucosyllactose, 3′fucosyllactose, difucosyllactose, lacto-N-fucopentaose, lacto-N-fucohexaose, fucosyllacto-N-hexaose and fucosyllacto-N-neohexaose. The invention further extends to the use of such a composition in the prevention of opportunistic infections in immune-compromised individuals.
US09217129B2
Methods and devices for cell or tissue culture are provided. One aspect provides a bioreactor having a gas permeable, closed-loop chamber for cell or tissue culture, and an oscillating means for moving the gas permeable, closed-loop chamber bidirectionally along an axis horizontal to an axis normal to the closed-loop chamber to force convection of cells and fluid in the gas permeable, closed-loop chamber. The bioreactor optionally includes a tissue engineering scaffold, an inlet means, an outlet means, and integrated sensors. Another aspect provides a bioreactor having a plurality of gas permeable, closed-loop chambers for cell or tissue culture. Methods of culturing cells and producing tissue constructs are also provided.
US09217123B2
It is intended to provide a compound and a fragrance composition containing the same, wherein the compound has an odor with a tone of musk and a side note of woody tone, which are useful as fragrances, is excellent in fragrance retention, and can be blended with another fragrance to emphasize the top note and to enhance the feeling of cleanliness and refreshingness. It also is intended to provide 13-Methyl-9-cyclopentadecen-15-olide and a fragrance composition containing 13-methyl-9-cyclopentadecen-15-olide.
US09217119B2
A process for the extraction of lipids from living cells utilizing liquid carbon dioxide optionally in the presence of a porous inorganic matrix or polymer coating as well as additional solvents to improve extraction efficiency. The cells may also optionally be treated a photosensitive material to promote cellular photosynthesis.
US09217116B2
The present disclosure relates to a biogas purification system and method for removal of sulfur and halogenated compounds and acidic reaction products from biogas. A contaminant removal module is supplied containing a catalytic oxidation catalyst comprising vanadium oxide (V2O5) on a metal oxide support where the catalyst oxidizes 85% or more of the sulfur and halogenated compounds. This may be followed by a contaminant removal module containing alkali impregnated carbon which removes 85% or more of the acidic reaction products. If siloxane impurities are present in the biogas, one may utilize a contaminant removal module containing alumina oxide.
US09217113B2
Methods and systems for co-producing higher hydrocarbons and glycols from bio-based feedstocks containing carbohydrates are disclosed.
US09217112B2
A system and method of converting natural gases to liquids is provided. The system includes a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) system with natural gas, air and steam input, a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) system taking syngas from the CPO system, and supplying product gases to a power engine (PE), after separation of the product liquids. An F-T steam output line is in fluid communication with the CPO-steam input line. The energy output from the PE is supplied to the compressors and condensers, to provide self-sustainability in energy, for the gas-to-liquid separation system.
US09217109B2
The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline media and display devices comprising polymerizable compounds, to the use of the polymerizable compounds for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in liquid-crystal (LC) media and LC displays having a polymer-stabilized blue phase, and in LC media for LC displays of the PS or PSA (“polymer sustained” or “polymer sustained alignment”) type. The polymerizable compounds comprise a ring system which is functionalized by three or more polymerizable groups, each connected via an optional spacer group.
US09217106B2
The present invention relates to an etchant and an etching process, which are preferred for use in etching of oxides containing at least indium and gallium, such as an oxide consisting of indium, gallium and oxygen or an oxide consisting of indium, gallium, zinc and oxygen. According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, an etchant comprising sulfuric acid or a salt thereof and a carboxylic acid (except for oxalic acid) or a salt thereof ensures a preferred etching rate, a good residue removal property and low corrosiveness to wiring materials when used in etching of oxides containing at least indium and gallium. Moreover, this etchant not only causes no precipitate but also retains a preferred etching rate even when the concentration of oxides dissolved in the etchant is elevated.
US09217102B2
A downhole fluid comprises a base fluid, for example a hydrocarbon base fluid, and a gelling agent. The gelling agent has an aromatic core of one or more aromatic rings, the gelling agent having two or more amide branches distributed about the aromatic core, each of the two or more amide branches having one or more organic groups. An example gelling agent is a pyromellitamide gelling agent. The pyromellitamide gelling agent may have the general formula of: with R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 each being a hydrogen or an organic group. Methods of use and composition are discussed.
US09217090B2
A glass or ceramic dishware item with an image disposed thereon is provided. The image is transferred, at ambient temperature, to the surface of the dishware from an ink composite by using a silicone transfer substrate. The ink composite is dispensed by an inkjet head. Methods and systems for producing ink composites and dishware using ink composites are also provided.
US09217088B2
Particles and particle films are provided. In certain examples, particles produced from a single phase process may be used to provide industrial scale synthesis of particles for use in devices such as printed wiring boards.
US09217087B2
A corrosion inhibitor composition for use in coating compositions on metal surfaces, or in metal containers, to provide corrosion resistance to said metals. The corrosion inhibitor comprises at least one alkoxylated phosphate ester; and at least one borate ester. The corrosion inhibitor composition optionally comprises at least one inorganic metal salt. There is also provided an end-use coating composition comprising said corrosion inhibitor composition, and a method of providing corrosion resistance to a metal surface by applying said coating composition thereto.
US09217082B2
A polymeric formulation comprising at least one first epoxy resin having a density between 100 and 10,000 Pa·s, a blocked isocyanate, a polymer comprising hydroxy functional groups, a thermoplastic resin and a cross-linking agent, the polymer comprising hydroxyl functional groups with a hydroxyl content in the range 0.65 to 0.95 meq/g, the isocyanate-equivalents-to-polymer-OH-equivalents rate being in the range 0.60 to 1.1. The first epoxy resin is substantially semisolid at room temperature, the formulation comprising at least one second epoxy resin substantially liquid at room temperature, the first and second epoxy resins being present in a weight ratio from 60:40 to 80:20. These formulations are advantageously used for manufacturing prepregs and articles of composite material according to a dry winding process. By virtue of improved stability, a higher glass transition temperature, and a rheological profile result which can be chemically tailored to the needs of the impregnation/dry winding process.
US09217079B2
A long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin composition having improved impact resistance, includes: (A) a long fiber reinforcement; (B) an ethylene-propylene copolymer; (C) a first thermoplastic elastomer; (D) a second thermoplastic elastomer; (E) a functional group-grafted modified polypropylene resin; and (F) an inorganic filler.
US09217072B2
A filler composition for use in a casting formulation, where the filler composition includes a mineral filler, hollow plastic microspheres, and a food grade and non-flammable liquid, and where when the filler composition is mixed with a casting resin an OSHA 8-hour Permissible Exposure Limit set for Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated is not exceeded.
US09217062B2
Disclosed herein are the compounds shown below. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds. R1=—O—; R2=any alkyl chain; R3=—CH3, —CN, —COOCH3, -tetrazole, -imidazole, or -triazole; R4=—H or —R5; R5=—H, -halogen, —C≡CH, or —C≡C—; n is a positive integer; and m is a positive integer.
US09217059B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently and highly selectively preparing a composition comprising a perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal at a higher ratio. The present invention provides a method for increasing a ratio of a perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal, relative to a total amount of the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal and a perfluoropolyether having carboxyl groups at both terminals in a composition comprising these perfluoropolyethers, wherein the method comprises a step of subjecting the composition to chromatography in which a moving phase is supercritical or subcritical state carbon dioxide of the specific temperature and the specific pressure, and a stationary phase is silica gel to thereby collect a fraction containing the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal at a higher ratio. Further, present invention provides for increasing a ratio of a perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal, relative to a total amount of the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal, a perfluoropolyether having carboxyl groups at both terminals and a perfluoropolyether having no carboxyl group at any terminal perfluoropolyether, in a composition comprising these perfluoropolyethers, wherein the method comprises a step of subjecting the composition to chromatography in which a moving phase is supercritical or subcritical state carbon dioxide of the specific temperature and the specific pressure, and a stationary phase is silica gel to thereby collect a fraction containing the perfluoropolyether having a carboxyl group at one terminal at a higher ratio.
US09217057B2
Provided are a complex prepared from ammonium salt-containing ligands and having such an equilibrium structural formula that the metal center takes a negative charge of 2 or higher, and a method for preparing polycarbonate via copolymerization of an epoxide compound and carbon dioxide using the complex as a catalyst. When the complex is used as a catalyst for copolymerizing an epoxide compound and carbon dioxide, it shows high activity and high selectivity and provides high-molecular weight polycarbonate, and thus easily applicable to commercial processes. In addition, after forming polycarbonate via carbon dioxide/epoxide copolymerization using the complex as a catalyst, the catalyst may be separately recovered from the copolymer.
US09217032B2
The present disclosure is directed to methods of treating and preventing colorectal cancer metastasis or recurrence of colorectal cancer with compositions comprising anti-progastrin antibodies.
US09217027B2
The invention relates to thrombin inhibitors derived from the salivary glands of haematophagous arthropods and in particular to bivalent and trivalent thrombin inhibitors that act by interacting with thrombin at two or three different sites.
US09217009B2
A compound comprising a metal chelate linked to a hexose carrier for use as a metallopharmaceutical diagnostic or therapeutic agent is provided. The compound is suitable for imaging by single-photon emission computed tomography, computer assisted tomography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, fluorescence imaging or x-ray.
US09217006B2
The present invention relates to transition-metal complexes of the general formula I or II, in particular as emitter molecules in organic electronic devices, to a layer and to an electronic device which comprise the compounds according to the invention, and to a process for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention.
US09217002B2
The present invention relates to novel cluster boron compounds and their use as sodium channel blockers. In particular, the novel cluster boron compounds may be lidocaine analogs where the aromatic ring of the lidocaine molecule is replaced with a cluster boron group. The invention also provides methods for making the cluster boron compounds comprising contacting a halogenated cluster boron with an amino acetamide in the presence of a catalyst, a proton acceptor, and a ligand.
US09216999B2
Novel tricyclic pyrimidine compounds and tricyclic pyridine compounds having JAK inhibitory activities are provided. A tricyclic heterocyclic compound represented by the formula (Ia): wherein the rings Aa and Ba, Xa, Ya, R1a, R2a, R3a, L1a L2a, L3a and na are as defined in the description.
US09216993B2
The present disclosure relates generally to thienopyrimidine and thienopyridine compounds and methods of use thereof. In particular embodiments, the present disclosure provides compositions comprising thienopyrimidine and thienopyridine compounds of Formula 4: and methods of use to inhibit the interaction of menin with MLL1, MLL2 and MLL-fusion oncoproteins.
US09216992B2
The present invention provides thienopyridine compounds which are potassium channel inhibitors. In another embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising thienopyridines. In another embodiment, the invention provides methods of using thienopyridines in the treatment or prevention of cancer, arrhythmias, autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases, including gastric cancer, atrial fibrillation, type-2 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, type-1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disorder and demyelinating disorders such as multiple sclerosis.
US09216977B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I-IV): compositions containing the same, and methods of use thereof such as for the treatment of cancer.
US09216973B2
A compound of formula (I): where A, B, C, G, m, n, o, p, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, X, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11 are as defined in claim 1; or a salt or N-oxide thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for preparing compounds of formula (I), to insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal and molluscicidal compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I) and to methods of using the compounds of formula (I) to control insect, acarine, nematode and mollusc pests.
US09216967B2
The invention provides a compound of formula (Ia), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention also provides use of the compounds or salts as modulators of Kv3.1 and/or Kv3.2, and in the treatment of diseases or disorders where a modulator of Kv3.1 and/or Kv3.2 is required, such as depression and mood disorders, hearing disorders, schizophrenia, substance abuse disorders, sleep disorders or epilepsy.
US09216962B2
The present invention relates to thiazole compounds of formula I, the method for preparation and use thereof. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel derivatives of natural product largazole, the method for preparing them and their uses for treatments against tumor and multiple sclerosis as inhibitors of histone deacetylase.
US09216960B2
Compounds, methods, and compositions for the treatment of infections in or exposure to humans and other host animals of Flaviviridae viruses, including HCV, that includes the administration of an effective amount of a spiro[2.4]heptane as described herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof, optionally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, are provided. The spiro[2.4]heptane compounds either possess antiviral activity, or are metabolized to a compound that exhibits such activity.
US09216959B2
The present invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and formulations comprising the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are useful in modulating lyn kinase activity. In particular, the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful for treating or preventing a disease or disorder including cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, a disorder of glucose metabolism, metabolic syndrome (i.e., Syndrome X), a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, septicemia, a thrombotic disorder, type II diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, hypertension, renal disease, inflammation, or impotence.
US09216956B2
Deuterium-enriched 4-hydroxy-5-methoxy-N,1-dimethyl-2-oxo-N-[(4-trifluoromethyl) -phenyl]-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide, having a deuterium enrichment in the amide-N methyl group of at least 70%; or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic cation; and a method of preparing said compounds. The compounds are useful in therapy, e.g. for the treatment of a malignant hyperproliferative disorder or an autoimmune disease.
US09216954B2
A novel serine racemase inhibitor exhibits sufficient activity and specificity. The serine racemase inhibitor includes one or more compounds selected from compounds respectively represented by the following general formulas [MM_1], [DR_1], [DR′_1], [LW_1], and [ED_1] as an active ingredient.
US09216953B2
Provided herein are novel chiral sulfinamide and imine compounds. Also provided herein are methods of synthesizing novel chiral sulfinamide and imine compounds comprising simplified purification methods when compared to prior methods. The novel chiral sulfinamide and imine compounds are useful, for example, in the synthesis of complex natural products and pharmaceutical important compounds.
US09216951B2
A composition which includes a salt of metformin and the use of the composition for treatment of or use in prediabetes, diabetes, lowering triglycerides and/or other conditions in mammals.
US09216942B2
The present invention provides compounds, and compositions comprising these compounds, which have immunomodulatory activity and/or anti-inflammatory activity.
US09216939B2
A metal organic framework (MOF) material including a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area greater than 7,010 m2/g. Also a metal organic framework (MOF) material including hexa-carboxylated linkers including alkyne bond. Also a metal organic framework (MOF) material including three types of cuboctahedron cages fused to provide continuous channels. Also a method of making a metal organic framework (MOF) material including saponifying hexaester precursors having alkyne bonds to form a plurality of hexa-carboxylated linkers including alkyne bonds and performing a solvothermal reaction with the plurality of hexa-carboxylated linkers and one or more metal containing compounds to form the MOF material.
US09216933B2
A method for the reduction of carbon dioxide and/or carbon dioxide derivatives to methanol comprises the step of hydrogenation carbon dioxide and/or carbon dioxide derivatives in the presence of a Ruthenium-phosphine complex.
US09216926B2
A method for producing a reaction product including at least one synthetic formulation that carbonates sufficiently, said method comprising: providing a first raw material, having a first concentration of M; providing a second raw material, having a second concentration of Me; and mixing the first raw material and the second raw material to produce a reaction product that includes at least one synthetic formulation having the general formula MaMebOc, MaMeb(OH)d, MaMebOc(OH)d or MaMebO(OH)d•(H2O)e, wherein M comprises at least one metal that can react to form a carbonate and Me is at least one element that can form an oxide during the carbonation reaction, wherein the at least one synthetic formulation is capable of undergoing a carbonation reaction, and wherein the at least one synthetic formulation is capable of undergoing volume change during the carbonation reaction.
US09216922B2
Granules of a glass raw material mixture, for producing alkali-free glass containing substantially no alkali metal oxides, such that the glass composition of glass obtained from the granules comprises, as represented by mol % based on oxides, 60-75 mol % of SiO2, 5-15 mol % of Al2O3, 1-9 mol % of B2O3, 0-15 mol % of MgO, 0-20 mol % of CaO, 0-12 mol % of SrO and 0-21 mol % of BaO, provided that the total of CaO, SrO and BaO is more than 0, and in an X-ray diffraction spectrum of the granules obtained by means of a CuKα ray, when the diffraction peak area of quartz (100) in a range of 2θ being 19.85-21.71 degrees is taken as 1, the total of the relative values of the diffraction peak areas of strontium borate hydrate, calcium borate hydrate and barium borate hydrate, is at least 0.005.
US09216921B2
The invention relates to a method and a system for purifying process water, particularly for continuously purifying process water in the paper industry. The method comprises at least one process water treatment step, which comprises the following steps: a) an anaerobic purifying step, wherein process water to be purified is brought in contact with anaerobic microorganisms in an anaerobic reactor in order to decompose impurities present in the waste water, b) a first separating step, wherein gases present in the process water obtained in step a) are separated from said process water, and c) a second separating step, wherein solids present in the process water obtained in step b) are separated from the process water.
US09216917B2
Improved systems and processes for forward osmosis water purification or desalination are herein disclosed. According to one embodiment a process for purifying contaminated water is provided wherein a contaminated feed solution stream comprising water and with a first osmotic pressure is passed through a semipermeable membrane to a draw side having a draw solution stream with a second osmotic pressure on a draw side of the semipermeable membrane. The diluted draw solution stream is heated, agglomerated and cooled to produce a cooled single phase water rich stream that is purified to produce a water product stream.
US09216908B2
A method for making a strip shaped graphene layer includes the following steps. First, a graphene film is located on a surface of a substrate is provided. Second, a carbon nanotube structure is disposed on the graphene film. The carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotube segments and a number of strip-shaped gaps between the adjacent carbon nanotube segments. Third, the graphene film exposed by the strip-shaped gaps is removed by applying a voltage to the carbon nanotube segments and heating the substrate.
US09216906B2
A method for manufacturing aluminum nitride powder includes steps of: preparing a polymer powder, a wood powder having grain size similar with that of the polymer powder, and an alumina powder; and mixing the polymer powder, the wood powder and the alumina powder uniformly and forming granules to be carried out a single-replacement reaction by exposing the granules in a nitrogen-containing atmosphere at a temperature of 1680-1850° C.
US09216890B1
This invention is directed to a vertical fluid storage system that has a lower container for containing fluid that includes a lower fill port defined in the top of the lower container. A routing hose routes fluid from the lower fill port to an upper container disposed above the lower container. The upper container includes an upper outlet connected to a gravity hose wherein the gravity hose is connected to a gravity port to direct fluid from the upper container to the lower container. An intake valve attached to the lower container and closes to prevent fluid from flowing from the upper container to the lower container when the amount of fluid in the lower container reaches a certain volume.
US09216888B2
An assembly for purging a canister into a tank and for rinsing the canister, the canister having a floor, the assembly including a “A” configured lance having a plurality of legs and a bar, each leg among the plurality of legs forming a blade having an upper end and an outer edge, the blades' upper ends and outer edges being sharpened for, upon upward impingement against the canisters' floor, dividing the floor into a plurality of sections, each section among the plurality of sections being configured as a flexible leaf, the bar member forming and functioning both as a leaf deflecting mandrel, and as a rotatable sprinkler head, the “A” configured lance and associated sprinkler head configured mandrel being mountable within the tank by suspension hooks.
US09216881B2
A car power supply device of an elevator which performs power supply to a car without using a traveling cable, does not require arrangement of a power supply line along the whole path, has good installability and layout capability, and in which weight balance between a car and a counterweight is taken into consideration. A car power supply device of an elevator which lifts and lowers a car and a counterweight in a well-bucket manner arranged to be able to ascend and descent in a shaft of an elevator includes: a power supply line arranged in the shaft along the path of the car and the counterweight; and power receiving devices provided each in the car and the counterweight and that receive power supply from the power supply line. In this car power supply device of an elevator, the power receiving device of the car and the power receiving device of the counterweight receive power supply from the same power supply line.
US09216879B1
An automated oil containment boom recovery apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus is comprised of a base frame having upward extending boom supports on which are mounted corresponding rotatable wheel and tire combinations. The wheel and tire combinations are pivotally adjustable with respect to each other as desired to accommodate the width of an oil containment boom. Hydraulic motors are provided for rotation of each axle and its corresponding wheel and tire combination. When an oil containment boom is placed lengthwise between the wheel and tire combinations, the boom is gripped between the rotating wheel and tire combinations and drawn into the recovery vessel.
US09216877B2
An installation for folding and stacking an endless web of corrugated cardboard comprises at least one corrugated cardboard production device for producing an endless web of corrugated cardboard, a squeezing device which is arranged downstream of the at least one corrugated cardboard production device for embossing folds into the web of corrugated cardboard, and a folding device which is arranged downstream of the at least one squeezing device for folding the web of corrugated cardboard along the folds. The folding device has a first engagement member which is guided for displacement so as to carry along the web of corrugated cardboard in the region of a first fold and at least one second engagement member which is guided for displacement independently of the first engagement member so as to carry along the web of corrugated cardboard in the region of a second fold which is arranged upstream of the first fold. Furthermore, the installation comprises a stacking device which is arranged downstream of the folding device for stacking the web of corrugated cardboard, which has been folded along the folds, in such a way as to form stacks.
US09216876B2
A paper discharge device includes: an end fence to restrict leading end positions of paper sheets discharged to a paper receiving tray; a lift mechanism to lower the paper receiving tray by a prescribed distance upon reach of a top surface position of the paper sheets stacked on the paper receiving tray to a reference position; an ultrasonic sensor to emit an ultrasonic wave in a horizontal direction toward the paper receiving tray from upstream of the paper receiving tray in a discharge direction in a prescribed height range including the reference position and portions above and below the reference position, and receive a reflected wave from a detection target; and a detector to detect the top surface position on a basis of changes in a reception level of the reflected wave over an elapsed time from an emission of the ultrasonic wave.
US09216863B2
For the purpose of transferring a tube in a tube filling machine between a staging location and a set-down location, the tube at the staging location is gripped at its lateral surface by a holding device and transported by a transfer device to the set-down location where it is set down while simultaneously being rotated about its longitudinal axis or about an axis parallel thereto during transport. Such a transfer device has a multiple-member articulated arm, which has at least one 1st arm member that is mounted to pivot about a rotary axis and directly or indirectly pivotably supports at least one holding member. The holding member carries at least one holding device by means of which the tube can be picked up and which can be pivoted about an axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube or that coincides therewith.
US09216862B2
A material handling system including a sorter that uses compressed air and drive from the narrow belts to cause articles or loads to change from one conveyor segment to an adjacent segment.
US09216860B2
A belt tensioner assembly is described for a seeding machine that moves seed along a seed path with a seed-transport belt, the seed-transport belt being contained by a belt housing and supported by a fixed belt support. An adjustment mechanism may have an input member accessible from outside the belt housing and a positioning member disposed within the belt housing, the positioning member changing positions in response to user input applied to the input member. A transfer mechanism may be coupled to the positioning member and to a movable belt support, and may move in response to the change in positions of the positioning member. User input to the adjustment mechanism may vary the tension of the seed-transport belt by changing the positioning of the positioning member to move the transfer mechanism and drive the movable belt support along a centerline extending between the fixed and movable belt supports.
US09216849B2
A plastic container includes a first portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange and a second portion including an outwardly extending peripheral flange. The first portion and the second portion define a container volume. The plastic container also includes a hinge joining the peripheral flange of the first portion and the peripheral flange of the second portion. The hinge includes a pivot line and two arcuate segments proximate to respective ends of the pivot line. The pivot line is tangent the peripheral flange of the first portion and tangent to at least a portion of each arcuate segment. The flange of the first portion can extend further than the flange of the second portion proximate each end of the pivot line to create a seamless periphery about the hinge relative to a periphery of the first portion when the container is closed.
US09216839B1
One or more rods pass through the corrugations of first and second folded down flaps and across the divide between adjacent edges of the flaps of a cardboard box blank to hold the flaps together and in a closed position.
US09216832B2
This invention is to replace the need for a corrugated carton by wrapping an article with a heat shrinkable bubble wrap film. Heat shrinking the bubble wrap will allow the bubble wrap to shrink sufficiently to conform to an article such as a group of containers, e.g. bottles. Because of the inability of the bubble wrap film to tightly shrink around the containers, the containers can move and bump each other. To ensure stability, the bubble wrapped article is film wrapped with a heat shrink film and heat shrunk to provide an article that does not require a corrugated box for to ensure the integrity of the containers.
US09216824B2
Wind energy systems, such as an Airborne Wind Turbine (“AWT”), may be used to facilitate conversion of kinetic energy to electrical energy. An AWT may include an aerial vehicle that flies in a path to convert kinetic wind energy to electrical energy. The aerial vehicle may be tethered to a ground station with a tether that terminates at a tether termination mount. In one aspect, the tether may be a conductive tether that can transmit electricity and/or electrical signals back and forth between the aerial vehicle and the ground station. The tether termination mount may include one or more gimbals that allow for the tether termination mount to rotate about one or more axis. In a further aspect, the tether termination mount may include a slip ring that allows for rotation of the tether without twisting the tether.
US09216817B1
A winglet system for an aircraft wing may include an upper winglet and a lower winglet mounted to a wing tip. The lower winglet may have a static position when the wing is subject to an on-ground static loading. The lower winglet may be configured such that upward deflection of the wing under an approximate 1-g flight loading causes the lower winglet to move upwardly and outwardly from the static position to an in-flight position resulting in an effective span increase of the wing under the approximate 1-g flight loading relative to the span of the wing under the on-ground static loading. The lower winglet may have a length of approximately 50-80 percent of a length of the upper winglet.
US09216811B2
An aircraft comprising a front beam having stiffeners and a front lower fuselage section having stiffeners, each stiffener comprising a core and at least one bearing surface. Each stiffener of the front beam is connected to a stiffener of the lower fuselage section by at least one batten which abuts against the bearing surfaces of the stiffeners. A sealed wall is arranged in a transverse plane which corresponds approximately to the connection plane between the front beam and the front lower fuselage section. The sealed wall includes cut-outs in order to allow the stiffeners and the battens to pass.
US09216809B2
A ventilation system for an avionics bay has two strut assemblies for stiffening the floor of the cockpit, each strut assembly being arranged symmetrically regarding to the central plane of the aircraft, and means of distribution of the blowing air in the cabinets of the bay from the strut assemblies. The extraction circuit includes exhaust ducts integrated in the cabinets and couples together by tight inter-cabinets junctions in an overall configuration of maximized compactness.
US09216806B2
A system for airship hull reinforcement and in-situ repair includes a sensor for detecting a leak in the airship hull of a lighter-than-air airship and a repair mechanism inside lighter-than-air airship for dispensing repair material to seal the leak. A durable airship hull includes an inner gas barrier, an outer gas barrier, and a microlattice layer sandwiched between the inner gas barrier and the outer gas barrier.
US09216797B2
A frame is for a remotely operated vehicle. Several frame elements provide a carcass formed of a buoyant material. The frame elements are provided by a curable material having been arranged on the surfaces of the carcass, forming a rigid shell around the carcass. A method of constructing a frame is for a remotely operated vehicle. Several frame elements provide a carcass formed of a buoyant material. The method comprises: forming several core elements of a buoyant material; forming a carcass by joining the core elements together; applying a curable material to the surface of the carcass; and forming several mounts integrated into the curable material, for vehicle components.
US09216793B2
Bicycle single-acted gear-shifting device (12), comprising one front or rear derailleur (10, 20) coupling a ratchet indexing mechanism (13) acted by only one single-acting slave-connector (110, 120) attached to said ratchet indexing mechanism (13), operated by a unidirectional operator mechanism (15) with optional multiple unidirectional handle operator units (30). Said ratchet indexing mechanism (13) removably defines and holds a plurality of predetermined working stable positions of the derailleur's cage-plate (102,202) for each gearshift, and it comprises a ratchet-gear (1) with a pawls' system. And said unidirectional operator mechanism (15) comprises optional multiple unidirectional operator units (30) connected in parallel with the only single-acting slave-connector (110, 120), in order to indistinctly operate it, by means of a branched single-acting drive circuit (115, 123) which can be arranged either using a hydraulic circuit (115, 115′, 115″) acting by pushing, or using flexible cables (123,123′) and housings (124) to act by pulling.
US09216789B2
A two-wheeled vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of ground-engaging members for supporting the frame, and an engine supported by the frame and operably coupled to the ground-engaging members. Additionally, the two-wheeled vehicle includes an upper and lower fairing assembly that cooperate together to define wind flow around the vehicle. Vents and deflectors are controllable to regulate the airflow to the rider. A vehicle control unit is operable to control the heated grips and the cruise control. A trunk is provided for mounting to the motorcycle and is electrically coupled to a harness running beneath the seat. The vehicle is further profiled to receive a hand held GMRS handset and smart phone.
US09216778B1
A suspension system for a vehicle cab is disposed between a chassis frame and a cab rear. A cross rail is fastened to the chassis frame sides. A gas spring is mounted laterally centrally of the chassis frame sides on the cross rail. A gas spring is disposed on the base. A damping mechanism damps vertical displacements of the cab on the chassis frame. A multi-limb bar assembly interfaces the cab, the chassis frame, and the gas spring.
US09216776B2
A foldable vehicle which has a vehicle body divided into two sections of a front section and a rear section and has a size reduced by rotating the rear section of the divided vehicle body to be folded with respect to the front section thereof. The foldable vehicle includes a front vehicle body having a front wheel; a rear vehicle body having a rear wheel and having a lower front end rotatably connected to a lower rear end of the front vehicle body through a rotating shaft to rotate around the rotating shaft in a vertical direction, thereby being folded to overlap with the front vehicle body or unfolded; a folding drive unit for folding or unfolding the vehicle bodies by rotating the rear vehicle body with respect to the front vehicle body; and a control unit for controlling the operation of the folding drive unit.
US09216775B2
Disclosed is a subframe for a vehicle that allows a molten metal to be smoothly guided in order to maintain a good flow. This subframe for a vehicle is equipped with a rear subframe. For the rear subframe, a rear cross member, a rear section of a left side member, and a rear upper section of a right side member are constructed with an aluminum alloy and formed into one piece that has a substantially U-shape in a plan view. The rear cross member has a radial rib group that extends radially and a parallel rib group that intersects with the radial rib group. The radial rib group is configured such that radial ribs positioned further outside in the vehicle width direction form larger tilt angles.
US09216774B2
A reinforcement includes a material layer disposed on a carrier that includes integrally formed support features, such as ribs, holes, pins, or a combination thereof, and/or a connector pin that deforms to secure the material layer to the carrier. The support features reduce the weak interface between the material layer and the carrier by improving bonding of the material layer to the carrier.
US09216770B2
A motor vehicle including a motor vehicle body defined by two body sides and a vehicle floor, and a wall attached laterally to the body sides and transversely to the floor, to separate a passenger compartment of the vehicle from the engine compartment. The motor vehicle further includes an upper firewall crossbeam having a cross-section that opens toward outside of the vehicle, and which is closed by the wall. The upper firewall crossbeam is omega-shaped, including a first portion configured to be attached onto the wall and a second portion configured to be attached onto the wall, the first and second portions being connected via swaged portions, the first portion extending toward the engine compartment of the vehicle via a first swaged portion, which is inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The upper crossbeam includes openings configured to engage with a mechanism for attaching windshield-wiper crankpins.
US09216769B2
A cowl cross member mounting assembly for a vehicle, may include front side members that may be respectively formed on both lower sides of an engine compartment, a shock absorber housing that may be formed between the front side members and a fender apron upper member, a dash lower panel that separates the engine compartment from an inside of the vehicle, a cowl cross bar that may be connected to both sides of the dash lower panel, and a reinforcing member that may be connected to the cowl cross bar while being bonded between the shock absorber housing and the dash lower panel.
US09216764B2
A vehicle steerable by movement of the center of gravity has an auxiliary wheel. A left drive wheel is driven by a left rotary driver. A right drive wheel is driven by a right rotary driver. A gravity center position calculator calculates a position of the center of gravity of a driver on a steering step board based on a detection signal from a load detection module detecting a load distribution of the driver. A travel controller has a first control mode controlling rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel or turning. The travel controller also has a second control mode controlling the rotary drive of the left and right rotary drivers to achieve straight forward travel, turning or straight backward travel based on the position of the center of gravity. A driver input operation device can be used to select either the first or the second control mode.
US09216763B2
A personal mobility vehicle is described. Generally, the vehicle includes a vehicle frame with multiple wheels rotatably connected thereto. The vehicle further includes one or more components that allow the vehicle to be leanable, yet stable. In this regard, such components may include: a fifth link suspension mechanism that couples at least one of the wheels to the vehicle frame, an offset hub motor system that is connected to at least one of the wheels, a lean adjustment system connected to at least one of the wheels, a return to neutral lean position mechanism connected to at least one of the wheels, and a differential system for a leanable vehicle. While the vehicle can seat any suitable number of occupants, in some cases, the vehicle seats one or two occupants. Other implementations are also described.
US09216762B2
An apparatus for driving a motor driven power steering (MDPS) may include: a first calculation unit configured to calculate a damping force gain based on an MDPS output current; a second calculation unit configured to calculate a damping force using vehicle speed and steering angle speed; and a damping force calculation unit configured to calculate a final damping force using the damping force gain calculated through the first calculation unit and the damping force calculated through the second calculation unit.
US09216757B2
A driverless vehicle capable of being steered, and includes a number of driven wheels, a steering linkage assembly, and a steering controlling system. The steering controlling system includes a steering wheel, a number of light receivers, a fixing ring, a number of light emitters, a controller, and a processor. The steering linkage assembly is coupled with the driven wheels and the steering wheel. The light receivers are positioned on the steering wheel. The fixing ring positions the light emitters corresponding to the light receivers. The controller controls only one of the light emitters emitting light rays each time. The processor determines a turning direction and a turning angel according to a location of a current light receiver and a location of a preceding light receiver. The steering wheel steers the driven wheels to turn according to the turning direction and the turning angle.
US09216750B2
A cart enabling a single person to pull a livestock chute across the ground. The cart includes a bar having a handle and wheels provided at opposing ends. The bar includes first and second members pivotally engaged together. A crossbar pivotally mounted on the bar includes first and second arms configured to engage handles on a lower front end of the chute. When the bar is in a collapsed position, where the first and second members are disposed at an angle to each other, the first and second arms are insertable into the chute handles. When the bar is moved to an erected position, where the first and second members are aligned along the same plane, a force is applied to a footrest on the bar. The arms lift the front end of the chute off the ground and the cart's wheels move under the front end of the chute.
US09216747B2
A locking apparatus includes a shaft member having an operating shaft of a non-circular shape in cross section, and a body member including a bearing part and a cylindrical part. A cover member of a ring shape is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part, at a position corresponding to a tip end of the operating shaft, and a movable member is slidably fitted onto the operating shaft. The movable member is configured so that it is located at a normal position where the movable member fills a clearance between the operating shaft and the cover member when a latch member engages with the car body, and the movable member is maintained at a retreated position that is retreated from the normal position when the movable member is plunged, the operating shaft is rotated, and the engagement between the latch member and the car body is released.
US09216744B2
A power train subsystem for a motorized vehicle and methods of programming such power train controllers of the power train subsystem are disclosed. The power train subsystem may include a power train component, a controller, and a memory device. The controller may be coupled to the power train component to control operation of the power train component. The memory device may include boot code, application software, standard calibration parameters, and custom calibration parameters. The boot code provides an environment upon which the application software executes per the standard calibration parameters and custom calibration parameters. The standard calibration provides parameters which configure the controller for a range of vehicular applications. The custom calibration parameters provide parameters which configure the controller for a particular vehicular application in the range of vehicular applications.
US09216743B2
A driver assistance device in a motor vehicle can completely or partially independently guide the motor vehicle. The driver assistance device has an operating device having a grip element which is arranged on a center console of the motor vehicle and on which a plurality of operating elements are arranged. To improve clarity, the grip element can be moved with respect to an interior trim of the motor vehicle by an actuator of the operating device. A control device of the driver assistance device is designed to adjust a position of the grip element with respect to the interior trim by controlling the actuator on the basis of the currently active assistance mode.
US09216736B2
This control device is applied to a hybrid vehicle that is provided with a motor lock mechanism that changes over the state of a power distribution mechanism between a differentiating state in which a differentially rotating state between an engine and a first motor-generator is permitted, and a non-differentiating state in which the rotation of the first motor-generator is prohibited. The control device stops combustion by the engine and changes over to an EV mode when predetermined conditions become valid during implementation by the power distribution mechanism of a differentiating mode of the differentiating state or of a non-differentiating mode of the non-differentiating state. The condition is set to be more severe while the non-differentiating mode is being implemented, as compared with the case while the differentiating mode is being implemented.
US09216720B2
A system, apparatus and method provide emergency differential braking for effecting braked steering of an aircraft. A brake input device is provided that not only allows for emergency and parking brake functions, but also enables differential braking. The brake input device (e.g., a parking and/or emergency brake lever, pedal, handle, etc.) can be used in a brake system including a brake system control unit (BSCU), one or more electro-mechanical actuator controllers (EMACs) and a brake assembly including one or more electrical actuators. Each EMAC is electrically coupled to one or more of the actuators so as to provide electrical power for driving the actuators. Each EMAC is also communicatively coupled to the BSCU so as to receive braking data therefrom. In an emergency, the input device sends braking signals directly to the brake actuators.
US09216718B2
A battery unit mounting apparatus for an electric vehicle includes four or more fixing portions configured to be provided at the bottom of an electric vehicle and four or more corresponding portions-to-be-fixed on a battery unit. When the battery unit is raised toward the vehicle, the battery unit mounting apparatus causes each fixing portion to be engaged with the corresponding one of the portions-to-be-fixed. There is a first group, formed by three of the fixing portions and corresponding three of the portions-to-be-fixed, and a second group, formed by the remaining one or more of the fixing portions and the remaining one or more of the portions-to-be-fixed. The fixing portion and the portion-to-be-fixed in the second group are configured to be engaged with each other after the fixing portions and the portions-to-be-fixed in the first group are engaged.
US09216715B2
The invention relates to a belt retractor (10) for a seatbelt, comprising a belt reel (20) for winding up and unwinding the seatbelt, and a lockable locking base (30) which is connected to the belt reel (20) and, before locking, is rotated together with the belt reel (20) and, after locking, the rotational movement of said locking base is blocked, wherein, in the event of locking of the locking base (30) for limiting the belt force, the locking base (30) and the belt reel (20) can rotate relative to each other. According to the invention, the belt retractor has a band (70) which, in the event of a relative rotation between belt reel and locking base, is pulled into a gap (110), said gap (110) being defined by at least one deformable element (150, 200) which is deformed by the band (70) pulled into the gap (110).
US09216712B1
An airbag apparatus in which the deployment pressure is adjustable. A ring portion of the airbag apparatus is formed on a first tether coupled to a front surface of an airbag, and a second tether coupled to a rear surface of the airbag penetrates the ring portion and is coupled to a first vent rate adjusting member and a second vent rate adjusting member.
US09216711B2
A head protection airbag apparatus includes an airbag which is configured so that an attaching portion arranged on an upper edge thereof upon completion of inflation is attached to a body of the vehicle using an attaching clip. The attaching portion includes an attaching hole to which the attaching clip is insertable. The attaching clip includes an attaching leg. The attaching leg includes an insertion shaft portion adapted to be inserted in the locking hole and at least a pair of locking claws. The attaching hole is configured so that, when the attaching leg is inserted through the attaching hole, an peripheral edge portion of the attaching hole is pressed against an outer peripheral surface side on a region of the insertion shaft portion which is located more toward the base portion than the locking claws.
US09216709B2
A deployable structure to provide protection when vehicles roll over, which is made up of a “V” shaped structure (1) closed at the top where both the lateral vertical bars (4) and the uppermost horizontal bar (7) can fold and unfold telescopically, resulting in an increase in the width and the height of the structure when changing from the folded to the unfolded positions. The lower end of the tubular vertical lateral elements (4) of the structure are conveniently coupled to the chassis of the vehicle (2) in question, with the structure (1) being deployed when a certain tilt of the vehicle is detected by means of a tilt sensor using an activation control or algorithm.
US09216694B2
A vehicle center console includes a small item receptacle closing a part of an opening of a console body and capable of storing therein small items, and an arm rest closing a remaining part of the opening of the console body and capable of placing thereon an elbow of a passenger. The small item receptacle and the arm rest are mounted adjacent to each other on the console body in such a manner that the small item receptacle and the arm rest are slidable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle. The vehicle center console has an opening mode for opening the opening of the console body by sliding the small item rearwardly so that both the small item and the arm rest are together slid rearwardly.
US09216693B2
A container holder includes a housing that defines a cavity therein. A liner lines the cavity of the housing and includes a resilient portion that is laterally movable responsive to insertion of a container into the cavity, to accommodate and support containers of different sizes. At least one spring finger extends adjacent the resilient portion and opposes the lateral movement of the resilient portion.
US09216688B2
Various embodiments are described herein for a system and method for blindzone obstacle detection for a host vehicle. The system comprises a sensor array configured to generate measurement data for a blindzone of the host vehicle; a blindzone object detector having at least two detectors that are coupled to the sensor array to process the measurement data and generate outputs which are then combined to form a final detection value that is used to detect an object in the blindzone of the host vehicle. An indicator can also be coupled to the blindzone object detector to generate an indication of object detection in the blindzone.
US09216681B1
A grain cart and foldable auger assembly having an upper auger assembly portion with a discharge portion, a lower auger assembly portion with an intake portion, and a compound angle joint that allows the upper auger assembly portion to be moved between operating and transport positions. When in an operating position, the upper auger portion and the lower auger portion are offset from each other by an operating offset angle. When in a transport position, the upper auger assembly portion is offset from the lower auger assembly portion by a transport offset angle such that the upper auger assembly portions folded across the front of the grain cart in a non-obstructive and non-protruding manner.
US09216670B2
A child restraint system includes an infant carrier and a base adapted to be mounted on a passenger seat in a vehicle in a vehicle mode. The infant carrier is also configured to be mounted on a stroller frame in a stroller mode. The infant carrier includes a seat shell and a carrying handle coupled to the seat shell.
US09216668B2
A vehicle seat fitting includes a relatively rotatable first fitting part, with toothed ring, and second fitting parts, with guide segments. Catches are guided between locked and unlocked states by the guide segments and interact with the toothed ring to lock the fitting. A spring-loaded rotatable eccentric acts such that the catches interact with the toothed ring. A rotatably supported driver rotates the eccentric. An indicator is connected to the driver or to a fastening ring fastened to the driver. An adapter is connected to an operating lever and is supported on the driver or on the fastening ring. A sensor, fastened to the adapter, is connected to the fitting, detects a position change of the indicator and provides an electrical output signal. The adapter is returned to an initial position by a restoring spring regardless of the locking state of the fitting if the operating lever is not actuated.
US09216661B2
This invention provides a kind of mixed power supply energy management method for fuel battery, including the following steps: initialization; control the output current of DCDC converting unit according to the measured energy storage device voltage and the actual current outputted by the DCDC converting unit, respond to the energy need resulting from load condition change and at the same time ensure the energy storage device to be in a best charge state; send a current setting instruction to the DCDC converting unit. This invention does not adopt the SOC calculation mode any more, the system no longer relies on the accuracy, reliability of current sensor; and this invention is strongly compatible, highly reliable, strongly practical and stable in output voltage, with the same system being applicable to more vehicles of different models (forklift) and parameter correction being unnecessary. By correcting battery capacity decrease in advance through setting up parameters in advance, the long-term reliability of the system is ensured.
US09216649B2
A power transfer mechanism for a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a first shaft for transferring torque to a first driveline, a second shaft for transferring torque to a second driveline, and a transfer mechanism driving the second shaft. A mode clutch drivingly connects the first shaft to the transfer mechanism and includes a clutch gear-driven by the transfer mechanism and a mode sleeve. A sprocket associated with the transfer mechanism has internal spline teeth meshed with external spline teeth on the second shaft with a predetermined amount of backlash therebetween. A ball cam mechanism centers the backlash and permits relative rotation of the transfer mechanism and the mode sleeve to circumvent a blocked mode shift.
US09216646B2
Methods and systems are provided for accurately confirming fuel tank depressurization before unlocking a fuel door to enable refueling. Following a refueling request, a fuel system may be sealed from the atmosphere while one or more fuel system valves are adjusted to divert fuel tank pressure or vacuum to an engine intake. Depressurization may be inferred based on the presence of air or vapor flow into the intake as sensed by a manifold airflow sensor.
US09216645B1
A motor vehicle in which a de-coupler has a first attachment point to a cab body, a second attachment point to a vertical engine exhaust pipe, and a de-coupler mechanism having at least one ball joint which allows limited vertical and limited horizontal movement of the engine exhaust pipe relative to the cab body.
US09216643B2
An apparatus is disclosed for controlling air flow through a radiator. The apparatus includes a first track and a second track that receive a plurality of panels in a sliding relationship. Top and bottom engagement features of the panels engage each other to extend and retract the panels. The panels may be horizontally aligned in an intermediate or central portion of the apparatus that is disposed behind a bumper beam.
US09216635B2
An encapsulated windshield molding surrounds at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the windshield and includes one or more seals, such as multiple lip or whisker-type seals. The encapsulated molding aims to provide a water-tight installation of the windshield into the windshield opening of the vehicle and allows for butyl-free or adhesive-free restraint of the windshield.
US09216634B1
A rocker seal attachment structure for a side door includes an attachment base that projects inward from the lower end of a cutline seal. A receiving surface is formed along the lower surface of the attachment base. The rocker seal includes a first clip and a second clip attached to an elongated rocker seal body, which is hollow and has an open end. An upper surface of the end of the rocker seal body in the vicinity of a door hinge configures an attachment surface. The end is fastened to the attachment base from below by the first clip with the attachment surface held in contact with the receiving surface. The rocker seal body is fastened to the side door from below by the second clip at a position spaced from the first clip in the longitudinal direction of the rocker seal body.
US09216632B2
A sliding/folding soft top assembly having opposing first and second linkage assemblies with a plurality of guide rollers located within a first and second guide track for selectively moving the soft top assembly between a deployed position to a first stowed position or a retracted stowed position. A first bow and second bow are coupled to each of the first and second linkage assemblies, which include a first pivot joint for rotating the first bow to the first stowed position. A rear pivot joint allows a rear link of the first and second linkage assemblies to rotate in an area where the first and second guide tracks curve. A third bow is rotatably connected to first and second pivot brackets, and a fourth bow is pivotably connected to the third bow, to allow rotation of the third and fourth bow between the deployed position and retracted stowed position.
US09216623B1
A multipurpose mobility system of the present invention includes a land vehicle, a platform removable engageable with the land vehicle. The platform includes a bottom portion and a rear portion and a central axis bisecting the bottom portion and the rear portion. At least one opening defined in the bottom portion is used to receive the land vehicle thereby exposing the driving arrangements of the land vehicle to water to allow moving the land vehicle positioned on the platform on the water. The platform includes a pair of driving wheel devices connected to the rear portion and spaced from one another.
US09216618B2
A pneumatic tire is mounted on a vehicle so a first side in a tire width direction corresponds to a vehicle outer side. A tread surface has four circumferential main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and five land portions partitioned by the circumferential main grooves. A ratio W2/W1 ranges 4 to 5 when W1 is a groove width of a first circumferential main groove that is located at a first position when viewed from the first side and W2 is defined as a groove width of a second circumferential main groove located at a second position when viewed from the first side, and a ratio Sin/Sout ranges 1.1 to 1.2 when, in a region of the tread surface which interposes the tire centerline, Sout is defined as a groove surface area ratio in a region on the first side and Sin is defined as a groove surface area ratio in a region on the second side.
US09216613B2
A FRP rim for a bicycle, including a radially outer tire-engaging portion and a radially inner spoke-engaging portion. A first sidewall is in a spaced configuration with a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls extend between the radially outer tire-engaging portion and the radially inner spoke-engaging portion. A brake track is disposed on each of the first and second sidewalls including a layer of microparticles.
US09216610B2
A coated panel may include at least a substrate and a top layer with a printed motif. The top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may also include a transparent or translucent synthetic material layer, which is provided above the printed motif. The top layer, and preferably at least the transparent or translucent synthetic material layer may include a foamable or foamed synthetic material.
US09216609B2
A radical etching apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber for a substrate to be treated; a pipe pathway, connected to the vacuum chamber, a zone for generating plasma and a gas introduction device through which N2 and at least one of H2 and NH3 can be introduced; a microwave applying microwaves to the interior of the pipe pathway; a gas introducer as a source of supply for F, between the vacuum chamber and the zone; and a shower plate. A method comprises introducing N2 and at least one of H2 and NH3 into a pipe pathway and applying microwaves. The gas mixture is decomposed by the plasma forming decomposition products as active species which react with F during transportation to the vacuum chamber to make radicals. An SiO2 layer on the substrate etched in the vacuum chamber, by irradiating the substrate with the radicals through the shower plate.
US09216601B2
An embodiment of this invention relates to an electric device capable of controlling a plurality of elements with an inexpensive, simple configuration, and a printing apparatus using the same. In this embodiment, an operation unit of the printing apparatus switches the states of a plurality of general purpose input/output ports between low-level signal output, high-level signal output, and input high impedance for each time set in a timer by an MPU. This allows LED light emission control and switch key press detection. Also, output ports used for LED light emission control, and input ports used for key press detection are shared using general purpose input/output ports to realize LED light emission control and switch key press detection with a configuration simpler than the conventional configuration.
US09216600B2
A printer apparatus includes a presenter unit including a first roller and a second roller connected to the first roller by a connection arm to move along an outer periphery of the first roller in accordance with the rotation of the first roller between a first rotating position and a second rotating position, rotate at the first rotating position in accordance with the rotation of the first roller to transfer a cut printed recording paper in an ejecting direction while interposing with the first roller, and rotate at the second rotating position in accordance with the rotation of the first roller to transfer the cut printed recording paper in a recovering direction while interposing with the first roller.
US09216596B1
In accordance with one embodiment, a printing apparatus comprises a conveyance section, a print head, an erasing head, a cutter and a control section. The conveyance section conveys roll paper. The print head carries out printing with color erasable ink on the roll paper conveyed forward by the conveyance section. The erasing head erases the color of the color erasable ink printed on the roll paper conveyed backward by the conveyance section. The cutter cuts the roll paper printed by the print head. The control section determines whether or not to cut the roll paper by the cutter, controls the conveyance section to convey the roll paper backward in a case of not cutting the roll paper, and controls the erasing head to erase the color of the color erasable ink printed on the roll paper.
US09216593B2
An ink jet printer includes a transportation mechanism that transports a medium in a first direction; a plasma irradiation mechanism that irradiates the medium with plasma; a head mechanism that ejects ink to a portion of the medium irradiated with the plasma and moves in a second direction intersecting the first direction; and a control section that controls whether to irradiate the medium with the plasma by the plasma irradiation mechanism, wherein the control section prohibits the irradiation of the medium with the plasma when a transportation speed of the medium is in a range of 0 m/min to 0.1 m/min, and irradiates the medium with the plasma when the transportation speed of the medium is greater than 0.1 m/min.
US09216584B2
A printer includes a carriage mounted with a head including a nozzle that discharges ink onto a recording medium, a lever including a first end that contacts a surface of the recording medium. The lever is disposed such that an inclination of the lever relative to a vertical direction of the surface changes based on a thickness of the recording medium. The printer further includes a cam that changes an orientation of the carriage based on the inclination of the lever.
US09216578B2
A liquid ejection head includes a recording element substrate including an electrode at a first side portion; an electrical wiring substrate having a wire line; a connecting portion connecting the electrode and the wire line; and a sealing material provided between the first side portion of the recording element substrate and the electrical wiring substrate. A first line and a second line are out of alignment in a direction along a side of the recording element substrate. The first line orthogonal to the side passes through a center of gravity of the recording element substrate. A second line passes through a center of a part covered with the sealing material and extends parallel to the first line. Of a part of the sealing material, a first area on the first line side has a larger volume than that of a second area opposite to the first line side.
US09216572B2
A printing device include a control section that causes the head to execute an ejection operation of forming an image forming dot for printing an image designated as a print target and a flushing dot other than the image forming dot on a printing medium, wherein the control section has an acquiring unit that acquires a prescribed parameter in printing conditions for forming the image forming dot on the printing medium, a determining unit that determines a margin area in which the flushing dot is not formed in an end portion of the printing medium based on the prescribed parameter, and an executing unit that executes the ejection operation so as not to form the flushing dot in the margin area on the printing medium.
US09216570B2
A process for producing a liquid ejection head, comprising providing a substrate with an energy-generating element for ejecting liquid and a wiring; forming a flow path wall forming layer containing a negative photosensitive resin on the substrate; exposing a portion to be a flow path wall of the flow path wall forming layer; forming an ejection orifice forming layer containing a negative photosensitive resin on the flow path wall forming layer; applying a material for a water-repellent layer onto the ejection orifice forming layer; drying a solvent contained in the applied material to form the water-repellent layer; exposing another region than a portion to be an ejection orifice of the ejection orifice forming layer and the water-repellent layer; and dissolving and removing the non-exposed portions, wherein the boiling point of the solvent is not more than the drying temperature in the step to form the water-repellent layer.
US09216568B2
A variable lithographic inking system includes a chamber blade system configured to supply ink to an anilox member of an inking system. The inking system includes a soft ink transfer roll and a hard form roll. Ink is transferred from the anilox roll to the form roll by way of the transfer roll, and from the form roll to a reimageable surface layer of an imaging member of a variable data lithographic system. An ink layer free of ink history is uniformly applied onto a surface of the form roll, and subsequently transferred to the reimageable surface layer while avoiding or substantially eliminating image ghosting related to inking non-uniformities.
US09216564B2
Portions of microwave energy interactive material may be cut and removed during intermediate steps in a lamination processes, so that remaining microwave energy interactive material in a resultant laminate is arranged in a pattern. Regarding the removal of the portions of the microwave energy interactive material, a compound laminate may be delaminated into parts, and one of the parts may be a sacrificial laminate that includes the removed portions of the microwave energy interactive material.
US09216562B2
The present invention discloses an alignment film and the manufacturing method for liquid crystal display panel. The method comprises preparing a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal, at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate being provided with an alignment film; the material of the alignment film comprising a solvent and a substance dissolved in the solvent, the substance comprising at least one first polymer, the first polymer comprising a main chain and a side chain; folding the first substrate and the second substrate, and injecting the liquid crystal between the first substrate and the second substrate to form a liquid crystal cell; applying voltage to the liquid crystal cell, and then irradiating the liquid crystal cell with UV light. Through the above way, the present invention can reduce the mura phenomenon in the liquid crystal display panel and improve the display quality.
US09216554B2
The present invention relates to a process of fusion-bonding a plastic film (8a, 8b) to an object to be fusion-bonded such as a port member (16) in manufacturing a drug bag, and relates to a drug bag. The present fusion-bonding process comprises steps of disposing a heat generation element generating heat by absorbing infrared laser, on an opposite surface (8c) of the plastic film (8a, 8b) from the port member (16), or between the port member (16) and the plastic film (8a, 8b), pressing a press member (30a, 30b), which allows infrared laser to be transmitted therethrough, from a side of the plastic film (8a, 8b), and irradiating the infrared laser (L) to the heat generation element (24a, 24b) through the press member (30a, 30b).
US09216553B2
The invention relates to a pressing device for a press, in particular for a rotary press, wherein the pressing device is designed to work together with at least one press punch of the press during operation of the press so that the at least one press punch presses material located in a receiver, wherein the pressing device comprises a force measuring device for measuring the force exerted by the at least one press punch on the pressing device, wherein at least one section of the pressing device is moveable between a closed operation position and an opened maintenance position, and wherein the force measuring device in the opened maintenance position is at least partially accessible from outside. The invention also relates to a rotary press.
US09216538B2
Methods of enhancing one or more physical properties of a thermoplastic film include incrementally stretching thermoplastic films in the machine direction and/or transverse direction. In one or more implementations, methods of incrementally stretching thermoplastic films include reducing the gauge of the films without reducing the films' machine-direction tear resistance. The methods can involve cold stretching the films and imparting rib patterns into the film. The linear ribs can have alternating thick and thin gauges. Incrementally stretched thermoplastic films can have a machine-direction tear resistance that is approximately equal to or greater than the machine-direction tear resistance of the film prior to stretching.
US09216537B2
An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container is provided. A mold having a mold cavity defines an internal surface and is adapted to accept a preform. A pressure source is operable to draw liquid through the inlet and urge it into the preform. A blow nozzle may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at high pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and create a resultant container. A pressure compensation system can exert a clamping force on the mold in response to the pressure source. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.
US09216536B2
A system for preparing a dry viscous material for packaging comprises a tank containing the dry viscous material, the tank having a nozzle at one end. A piston in the tank is configured to exert pressure on the dry viscous material in order to extrude the dry viscous material through the nozzle. A mold is movably positioned at a first position at an exit end of the nozzle, the mold having rigid sides surrounding a hollow and configured to accept the dry viscous material extruded from the nozzle so as to form the dry viscous material into a molded portion. A mold moving mechanism is configured to move the mold from the first position to a second position once a predefined amount of dry viscous material is received therein. Finally, an ejection mechanism is configured to remove the molded portion from the mold at the second position.
US09216525B2
A process for producing expanded polyolefin resin particles with use as a foaming agent of water contained in an aqueous dispersion medium. The process includes dispersing polyolefin resin particles together with the aqueous dispersion medium into a closed vessel; heating the polyolefin resin particles up to or above a softening temperature of the polyolefin resin particles and pressurizing the polyolefin resin particles; and releasing the polyolefin resin particles into a zone whose pressure is lower than an internal pressure of the closed vessel. The polyolefin resin particles are composed of a polyolefin resin composition including polyolefin resin, a water-absorbing substance, and a foam nucleating agent.
US09216520B2
Process for the manufacture of a rubber composition comprising various constituents, such as base elastomers, reinforcing fillers, additives and a vulcanization system, during which the following stages are carried out: A—using a continuous mixing device, a starting rubber composition comprising the reinforcing fillers and optionally other components, with the exception of the crosslinking system, is produced, the operating parameters for the continuous mixing device being chosen so that: a—the residence time of the elastomer in the mixing chamber is between 20 and 60 seconds, b—the specific energy conferred on the rubber composition is between 2000 joules/gram and 5000 joules/gram, B—at the outlet for the starting rubber composition from the mixing chamber, the temperature of the said starting rubber composition is lowered to a temperature of less than 140° C. in less than 5 minutes.
US09216518B2
A power equipment in one embodiment includes a riving knife with a circular mounting hole opening to an outer surface of the riving knife through a throat, the throat having a minimum diameter that is less than a minimum diameter of the mounting hole, and an anti-kickback assembly including a generally cylindrical grooved shaft having a first diameter larger than a minimum diameter of the throat and a second diameter smaller than the minimum diameter of the throat, and an actuating arm operably connected to the grooved shaft and configured to rotate the grooved shaft from a first position whereat the second diameter is aligned with the throat and a second position whereat the second diameter is not aligned with the throat.
US09216513B2
A shaving head includes at least one cutting unit in which an external cutting member is subjected to a shaving action. The external cutting member is suspended relative to a holder of the shaving head through suspension means. The suspension means includes at least two pivot constructions, wherein one pivot construction enables a member of the suspension means to be pivotable relative to the holder. The other pivot construction enables the external cutting member to be pivotable relative to the suspension member. Furthermore, a pivoting stiffness of a connection of the latter pivot construction is lower than a pivoting stiffness of the first pivot construction. In this manner, good contour following performance is obtained at two levels, in both relatively small and relatively large curvature changing areas.
US09216512B2
Provided are scissors with excellent safety that can more reliably prevent finger pinch when being closed. In the present invention, finger pinch prevention guards 20a, 20b for preventing fingertips from entering the opposing inner surfaces 10a, 10b side from above or below are formed on left and right operation portions 7a, 7b. This can prevent user's fingertips from reaching the opposing inner surfaces (10a, 10b) by setting the user's fingertips inserted into finger placing holes (6a, 6b) along upper and lower surfaces of the finger pinch prevention guards 20a, 20b. Consequently, when the operation portions 7a, 7b are in the closed position, the fingertips are prevented from being pinched between the opposing inner surfaces 10a, 10b so as not to cause finger pinch.
US09216509B2
Systems and methods for cloud-based social surveillance are disclosed. At least one mobile robot patrol a certain surveillance area and capture data content through various function modules. A computing device coupled with each robot collects and sends the data to a cloud-based analytics platform via network for surveillance real-time or near-real-time analysis. A cloud-based analytics platform is comprised of at least one cloud server, at least one cloud database, communication network, and user interface. Authorized users access the information related to their corresponding predetermined surveillance environment inputs and/or analytics of the inputs within the system via a user interface and/or override commands or updates generated based on the analysis.
US09216507B2
A wall mounted collapsible work bench, the bench having a frame mounted flush against a wall, at least one support member, and a work surface having a top planar surface, a bottom, a back side, a front side, a first end and an opposing second end, wherein the back side is fixedly hinged to the top bar of the frame such that, in an open position, the work surface hinges upward to rest atop the A shaped braces, perpendicular to the frame and, in a collapsed position, the work surface hinges downward to lie parallel to the frame.
US09216503B2
A multi-tool is provided having a first end having a socket wrench, a second end having a retractable blade, a plurality of interchangeable wrench heads that are affixable over the second end of the tool when the blade is retracted, a screwdriver that is pivotally deployable from the body of the tool, an extendable magnet that is pivotally deployable from the reverse side of the tool, and at least one level. An alternative embodiment of the present multi-tool further includes a light to be used to illuminate dim work environments. The interchangeable wrench heads include an open-ended wrench head, an adjustable open-ended wrench head, a box end wrench head, and other such wrench head attachments.
US09216502B2
Compression return springs can be mounted on rails between the driver and an impact absorber. The springs include a plurality of wires twisted together to form a multi-stranded twisted wire member, which forms the coils of the spring. The springs can have an inner diameter that resists movement of the coils along the rails when the spring is at its free length, but has a mounted inner diameter that freely allows such movement. The coil-to-coil pitch of the spring can vary along its length. A motor initially rotates the flywheel without engaging the driver. The driver then contacts the rotating flywheel to propel the driver, which compresses the return springs against the impact absorbers as the driver travels from the returned position to the extended position.
US09216499B2
A pulling structure contains: a holding disc, an adjusting member, a screw rod set, and pulling hooks. The holding disc includes a threaded orifice for inserting the screw rod set, the threaded orifice has a wide screwing section and a narrow screwing section, the holding disc also includes plural connecting portions for connecting with the pulling hooks. The screw rod set includes an inner screw rod, an outer screw rod, and a hollow screw sleeve, and the outer screw is screwed with the wide screwing section, and the screw sleeve is screwed with the outer screw rod. The adjusting member is fitted in the outer screw rod and is defined between the screw sleeve and the holding disc, and a spring element abuts against the adjusting member and the holding disc. The adjusting member includes a plurality of coupling posts, and each pulling hook has an inclined guiding face.
US09216496B2
This invention relates to a fastener driving device including a variable ratio gear mechanism that enables the ratio of the rotation of the handle to the rotation of a driving bit extending from the handle to be varied to allow the bit to rotate at different speeds from the handle. The device includes a gear mechanism disposed within a housing for the device that includes a locking member. The locking member can be engaged with the gear mechanism to lock the gear mechanism in a configuration for a 1:1 gear ratio. The locking member can be moved with regard to the gear mechanism to provide an increased gear ratio for the gear mechanism when desired.
US09216493B2
A method of making diamond including mixing graphene with diamond seed to form a powder mixture, and then sintering the powder mixture, in the absence of a transition metal catalyst, at high pressure and high temperature; and a method of making a polycrystalline diamond compact including mixing graphene in diamond powder to form a powder mixture with less than about 50% graphene by weight, and then sintering the powder mixture, in the absence of a transition metal catalyst, at high pressure and high temperature.
US09216492B2
A superabrasive material and method of making the superabrasive material are provided. The superabrasive material may comprise a superabrasive crystal and a plurality of particles. The plurality of particles may be included within the superabrasive crystal. The plurality of particles may comprise a non-catalyst material.
US09216476B1
A laser engraving device includes a retractable enclosure which provides full access to the product to be engraved for set-up while providing complete enclosure of the product during the engraving operation.
US09216472B2
A friction stir welding apparatus includes a rotating tool provided with an upper rotating body arranged to be axially adjustable in position by an upper actuator, a lower rotating body integral with a rotating main rod extending through the upper rotating body and arranged to be axially adjustable in position by a lower actuator, and a stirring part formed in the rod. The upper rotating body and the lower rotating body clamp therebetween a joint of members to be joined placed with their end faces butting each other. The stirring part is rotated to stir the joint by frictional heat to join them. The rotating tool includes a slide plate attached, through a thrust bearing, to one or both of end portions of the upper rotating body and the lower rotating body facing each other to provide good finished surfaces of the joint.
US09216452B2
There is provided an edge dam upper portion sealing apparatus for a twin roll strip caster. The edge dam upper portion sealing apparatus may include: a sealing pad making tight contact with an upper portion of an edge dam and a lateral side of a meniscus shield of the twin roll strip caster; a bearing member coupled to the sealing pad; and a driving unit connected to the bearing member and coupled to at least two links for forming a link structure.
US09216445B2
A machine for asymmetric rolling of a work-piece includes pair of rollers disposed in an arrangement to apply opposing, asymmetric rolling forces to roll a work-piece therebetween, wherein a surface of the work-piece is rolled faster than an opposite surface of the work-piece; and an exit constraint die rigidly disposed adjacent an exit side of the pair of rollers so that, as the work-piece exits the pair of rollers, the work-piece contacts the exit constraint die to constrain curling of the work-piece.
US09216439B2
A rotary brush attachment for use with a tool, such as a power tool, to remove rust, paint, debris, and other unwanted matter accumulated on the surface of fasteners and other parts used in construction, automotive applications, and industrial applications. The rotary brush attachment comprises a body oriented along a longitudinal axis, an engagement portion for removably engaging a tool, and a brush portion. The brush portion comprises a hollow extending at least partially into the body along the longitudinal axis, and bristles extending from the interior surface of the hollow towards the longitudinal axis.
US09216436B2
This disclosure concerns the production of ZnO (zinc oxide) coated particles for use in rubber as a substitute for bulk ZnO particles. Compared to bulk oxide, oxide coated particles offer the advantage of a higher specific surface per mass unit of ZnO. This implies both ecological and economical benefits. An enhanced process is presented for the synthesis of aggregate particles, comprising a core of CaCO3, which is at least partially coated with ZnO, comprising the steps of: heating a metallic Zn bath, thereby evaporating Zn and forming a Zn-vapor atmosphere; injecting CaCO3 particles as core compound in the Zn-vapor atmosphere; injecting air in the Zn-vapor atmosphere in an amount in excess of the stoechiometric need for the oxidation of the Zn vapor to ZnO. This process is clean and sustainable, producing no unnecessary phases.
US09216428B2
Each spindle system turbine blade has front and rear surfaces relative to the rotational direction. The rear surface is a recessed columnar surface with a radius of curvature R1, while the front surface is a smooth continuous surface having a projecting columnar surface with a radius of curvature R2 larger than R1 and a flat surface between which a projecting columnar surface with a radius of curvature R3 larger than R1 is arranged. Among the three surfaces, the projecting columnar surface is at an inlet side of a channel straddling the projecting columnar surface, while the flat surface is at the outlet side. A space sandwiched between a facing front surface and rear surface of adjoining turbine blades forms a gas channel. Gas ejected from a nozzle flows in from an inlet in a direction along the arc-shaped curve of the recessed columnar surface and out an outlet.
US09216426B2
A solid cone nozzle including a nozzle housing and a swirl insert, wherein the nozzle housing has an outlet chamber including a discharge orifice and the outlet chamber is disposed downstream of the swirl insert. The swirl insert has on its external periphery at least one swirl duct, which extends, in a swirl portion, helically or at an angle to the longitudinal center axis of the swirl insert and which extends in the axial direction in an outlet portion, which outlet portion extends from the end of the swirl portion to the downstream end of the swirl duct.
US09216425B2
A shower attachment acts as a shield to block a child from the encompassing high pressure water spraying from an ordinary shower head. The shower attachment also acts as a kiddie shower that imitates the spraying action of an ordinary bathroom showerhead. The shield portion can include a funnel shape that allows the blocked water from the shower head to flow down through the shower attachment and then exit in a spraying fashion that is less frightening to children. The shower attachment includes a clamping mechanism to attach to a conventional shower arm, a funnel-shaped shield and shower, and extender bars interconnecting the clamping mechanism with the funnel-shaped shield and shower. The extender bars can be rotated to position the funnel-shaped shield and shower in front of the shower head to catch water being expelled therefrom.
US09216420B2
An apparatus for separating magnetic particles from a dispersion that includes magnetic particles and non-magnetic particles, the apparatus comprising; at least one arcuate canal forming 90 to 350° of a circular arc through which the dispersion flows, at least one magnet that is movable adjacent to the canal and which forces the magnetic particles into at least one first outlet, and at least one second outlet through which the non-magnetic particles exit the canal, the apparatus further comprising treating the dispersion, or a part of the dispersion, with a hydrophilic liquid, and treating the dispersion, or a part of the dispersion, with a hydrophobic liquid.
US09216417B2
A small mill is essentially composed of a feed chute (1) discharging onto a rotor (2) equipped with milling and/or cutting hammers (3) interworking with a milling housing (4) that is equipped with screening walls (5), a crusher element (6) that can be provided upstream from the rotor (2), above the feed chute (1) and at a distance from the latter. The mill is characterized in that the axis of the rotor (2) is inclined relative to the axis of the feed chute (1) by forming an acute angle with the latter. This mill can be applied more particularly in the field of processing materials of any origin, especially by shredding with crushers, hammer mills, or the like.
US09216416B2
A wear part for a mineral material processing apparatus includes an outer wear surface which comprises an initial phase wear surface to be put in crushing contact with an opposite wear surface, and an end phase wear surface to be taken vertically into use in the crushing process from under the initial wear surface when the wear is progressing. The wear part comprises an end phase wear surface with a protrusion to be put in use when the wear of the outer wear surface is progressing. By means of the protrusion working life of the wear part can be prolonged. A mineral material processing apparatus and a mineral material processing plant.
US09216415B2
The invention provides a method for dispensing liquid, comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a droplet to be dispensed in a gap of an electrowetting device using an electrowetting array; and (b) dispensing the droplet through a hole in a housing or substrate of the electrowetting device. The invention further provides a method for withdrawing liquid comprising the steps of: (a) positioning a droplet to be withdrawn from a gap of an electrowetting device using an electrowetting array; and (b) withdrawing the droplet through a hole in a housing or substrate of the electrowetting device.
US09216403B2
This invention provides aqueous-compatible, polar-embedded reversed-phase stationary phase compositions, devices and systems comprising the stationary phases as well as methods of producing these compositions using epoxide ring-opening reactions. Also provided are methods of using the stationary phases of the invention in separations.
US09216399B2
Disclosed herein are formulations, substrates, and arrays. Also disclosed herein are methods for manufacturing and using the formulations, substrates, and arrays. Also disclosed are methods for identifying peptide sequences useful for diagnosis and treatment of disorders, and methods for using the peptide sequences for diagnosis and treatment of disorders, e.g., celiac disorder. In certain embodiments, substrates and arrays comprise a porous layer for synthesis and attachment of polymers or biomolecules.
US09216392B2
System, including apparatus and methods, for forming an array of emulsions. The system may comprise a plate including an array of emulsion production units. Each unit may include at least one first input well, a second input well, and an output well connected to the first and second input wells by channels that form a droplet generator. The system also may comprise a vacuum or pressure source configured to be connected operatively to wells of the plate to form a pressure drop between the input wells and the output well of each unit that is capable of driving a first fluid and a second fluid from respective first and second input wells of such unit and through the droplet generator, for collection as an emulsion in the output well of such unit.
US09216390B2
Disclosed herein are membranes comprising a substrate, a support layer, and a selective layer. In some embodiments the membrane may further comprise a permeable layer. Methods of forming membranes are also disclosed comprising forming a support layer on a substrate, removing adsorbed species from the support layer, preparing a solution containing inorganic materials of a selective layer, contacting the support layer with the solution, drying the membrane, and exposing the membrane to rapid thermal processing. Also disclosed are methods of fluid purification comprising providing a membrane having a feed side and a permeable side, passing a fluid mixture across the feed side of the membrane, providing a driving force for transmembrane permeation, removing from the permeate side a permeate stream enriched in a purified fluid, and withdrawing from the feed side a fluid that is depleted in a purified fluid.
US09216388B2
A simulator device configured to replace a filtration unit in a crossflow filtration system comprises a feed inlet (41), a first flow path (43) connected to the feed inlet (41) for simulating a retentate flow in the filtration unit, and a second flow path (44) connected to the feed inlet (for simulating a permeate flow in the filtration unit. Adjustable valve means (45, 46) are provided for controlling at least one of the simulated retentate flow and the simulated permeate flow.
US09216384B2
Synergized Platinum Group Metals (SPGM) catalyst system for TWC application is disclosed. Disclosed SPGM catalyst system may include a washcoat with a Cu—Mn spinel structure and an overcoat that includes PGM supported on carrier material oxides, such as alumina. SPGM catalyst system shows significant improvement in nitrogen oxide reduction performance under stoichiometric operating conditions and especially under lean operating conditions, which allows a reduced consumption of fuel. Additionally, disclosed SPGM catalyst system also enhances the reduction of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon within catalytic converters. Furthermore, disclosed SPGM catalyst systems are found to have enhanced catalyst activity compared to commercial PGM catalyst system, showing that there is a synergistic effect among PGM catalyst and Cu—Mn spinel within the disclosed SPGM catalyst system.
US09216383B2
Disclosed here are material formulations of use in the conversion of exhaust gases, where the formulations may include Copper (Cu), Cerium (Ce), Tin (Sn), Niobium (Nb), Zirconium (Zr), Calcium (Ca) and combinations thereof.
US09216378B2
Method for cool drying gas, in particular air, whereby this gas is guided through the secondary part of a heat exchanger (2) whose primary part is the vaporizer (3) of a cooling circuit (4), which consists in measuring the ambient temperature (Tamb), as well as the lowest gas temperature (LAT) or the dew point, and to switch the cooling circuit (4) on and off on the basis of these measurements in order to always maintain the lowest gas temperature (LAT) or the dew point between a pre-determined minimum and maximum threshold value, and whereby pre-determined threshold values are calculated on the basis of an algorithm which is a function of the measured ambient temperature (Tamb).
US09216377B1
The present invention relates to a method and system for removing an impurity from a feed gas stream. Various embodiments include, for example, using a rotating packed bed, a pressure reducing device such as a turbine and/or control valve, a regenerator, and novel internal seal designs and liquid distributors. Advantageously, at least a portion of any energy produced is recycled for use in the process or elsewhere.
US09216374B2
The gas separation device includes an adsorption tower having at least one part thereof exposed to an atmosphere at a higher or lower temperature than normal temperature, a mixed gas feed unit, an adsorbent provided inside the adsorption tower to adsorb a matter contained in a mixed gas upon contact with the mixed gas in a prescribed pressure and temperature environment, and separate the matter from the mixed gas, a separated gas discharge unit that discharges a separated gas from the adsorption tower, and an adsorbed gas discharge unit that discharges from the adsorption tower the adsorbed gas which is adsorbed by the adsorbent. Heat reserving elements are arranged in the adsorption tower at positions upstream and downstream of the adsorbent in the mixed gas supply direction respectively such that the mixed gas, separated gas, and adsorbed gas flow through the heat reserving elements.
US09216373B2
A filtering cartridge (2), intended to be contained within an outer casing (TO) provided with an inlet (11) and an outlet (12) so as to filter the fluid which flows from the inlet (11) towards the outlet (12), the filtering cartridge (2) comprising at least one filtering membrane (40), characterized in that it comprises at least one tubular body (30) into which said filtering membrane (40) is fitted so as to be at least partly wound, the tubular body (30) comprising at least one fin (32) having helical development deriving from the internal wall of the tubular body (30).
US09216354B2
Methods and systems for emotion-based game character manipulation are provided. Each character is associated with a table of quantified attributes including emotional attributes and non-emotional attributes. An adjustment to an emotional attribute of a game character is determined based on an interaction with another game character. The emotional attribute of the first game character is adjusted, which further results in an adjustment to a non-emotional attribute of the first game character. The behavior of the first game character is then determined based on the adjusted non-emotional attribute.
US09216349B2
Various devices, systems, and methods for gripping controllers for use with portable computing devices are described herein. In various embodiments, a system for gripping controllers for use with portable computing devices includes two gripping controllers. Each gripping controller includes a top portion having a face with an input controller arranged to receive input from a user, a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, and a radio antenna. Each gripping controller clamps onto a side of the portable computing device. At least one gripping controller communicates the received input from one or both gripping controllers to the portable computing device via the radio antenna using a wireless communication protocol.
US09216345B2
A prize placement section includes a first plate-like member having a side on which a prize is placed, and a frame member that supports the first plate-like member, the frame member including a frame-side attachment section that is adapted to removably attach the frame member to an apparatus-side attachment section provided in a game space, and the frame-side attachment section being positioned so that the frame member can be attached to the apparatus-side attachment section from above when the first plate-like member is not supported by the frame member.
US09216344B1
A set of tiles interconnecting to each other in a continuous end-to-end manner. Each tile has a body. The body of each tile has a specific amount of through bores, a pair of blind bores, and a pair of pins. The pin of the body of one tile sits in the blind bore of the body of another tile. A portion of the specific amount of through bores in the body of the one tile align with a similar portion of the specific amount of through bores in the body of the another tile.
US09216334B2
A variable length shaft assembly comprising at least one spacer, a shaft portion, and a threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener removably connects the spacer to the lower shaft, is disclosed herein. The variable length shaft assembly may further comprise at least two spacers that are stackable on a butt end of the shaft portion so a golfer can adjust the total length of the shaft. Methods of adjusting the length of a golf club shaft without damaging any portion of the shaft and variable length shaft kits are also disclosed herein.
US09216333B2
A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a weight member secured to a weight mount. The weight member is preferably constructed so that it has a low profile and so that it interacts with an angled abutment portion of the weight mount to locate the weight member in the golf club head.
US09216324B2
A golf club head is provided having a body and a face, with a slot in a perimeter region of the body of the club head adjacent the face. The slot increases the flex of the hitting surface on impact with a golf ball, thereby increasing the speed with which the ball rebounds off the hitting face and increases the overall distance the ball is hit. The slot preferably moves the sweet spot of the hitting face a distance X from the face center of the hitting face. The slot may be filled with an insert.
US09216322B2
Multi-layered golf ball core sub-assemblies and the resulting golf balls are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) comprising a foam composition, preferably foamed polyurethane. The intermediate and outer core layers are preferably formed from non-foamed thermoset compositions such as polybutadiene rubber. The core layers have different hardness and specific gravity levels. The core assembly preferably has a positive hardness gradient extending across the entire assembly. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency.
US09216321B2
Provided is an exercise device including a planar support surface and a rolling joint which is configured to enable a 360° range of motion for the exercise device. In this regard, the user may roll the exercise device along a planar surface in a forward-and-backward motion, a side-to-side motion, or in an arcuate or circular motion.
US09216313B1
An elastic cord includes a hollow outer elastic cord having a first end and a second end spaced from the first end in a longitudinal direction. The hollow outer elastic cord further includes an outer periphery and an inner periphery spaced from the outer periphery in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A rib extends from the inner periphery. The rib extends from the first end through the second end of the hollow outer elastic rod. The rib includes a longitudinal hole extending from the first end through the second end of the hollow outer elastic cord. An elastic string is received in the longitudinal hole of the rib. The elastic string includes two ends respectively located in the first and second ends of the hollow outer elastic cord. The elastic string has a maximal elongation larger than a maximal elongation of the hollow outer elastic cord.
US09216311B2
The invention provides a spinal therapy device that can be used by an individual to self-apply overpressure, spinal decompression, spinal joint mobilization or a combination thereof to the spine, as well as methods for using a spinal therapy device to self apply overpressure, spinal decompression, spinal joint mobilization or a combination thereof.
US09216310B2
A hydrotalcite-like substance capable of ion exchange with target anions, being of small crystal size that exhibits large basal spacing and excels at anion exchange performance; a process for producing the same; and a method of immobilizing hazardous substances. The hydrotalcite-like substance is produced by mixing an acidic solution containing aluminum and magnesium ions with an alkaline solution containing an alkali to synthesize a hydrotalcite-like substance, followed by, without ageing, water removal or neutralization. The molar ratio of aluminum ions and magnesium ions is preferably in the range of 1:5 to 1:2. Hazardous substances can be immobilized by pulverizing the hydrotalcite-like substance after synthesis and adding the powder to a subject, or adding a hydrotalcite-like substance in slurry form to a subject, or carrying out addition so as to cause the synthesis directly at the position of the subject. Furthermore, anion adsorption can be performed by a filter containing the hydrotalcite-like substance.
US09216309B1
Design criteria are presented for an adiabatic expansion nozzle that overcomes previous deficiencies. The original patent demonstrated that dry ice could be produced, but the device clogged, was prone to fracture, and not optimized for any specific application Calculations are presented for a single application, the hand-held, 5-pound, carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Design considerations for other fire sizes and firefighting applications are also presented.
US09216308B2
A unique method for suppressing the spread of and extinguishing underground electrical fires in confined areas such as tunnels and conduits. A super absorbent polymer is mixed with water to form a hydrated super absorbent polymer and this admixture is applied to an electrical fire. The admixture has superior fire suppression and extinguishing properties than the fire suppression and extinguishing properties of plain water. The admixture has the ability to cling to the object(s) to which it has been applied and both cool down the object(s) and block the fire from reaching the object(s). The super absorbent polymer and water admixture also encapsulates the noxious and toxic gases produced by electrical fires and prevents the release of these toxic gases into the atmosphere. Finally, the super absorbent polymer and water mixture retains the ash, particulates, and other byproducts of the electrical fire to enable a thorough cleanup.
US09216305B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a core-shell-type cerium oxide microparticle, a dispersion solution comprising the microparticle, and a process for production of the microparticle or dispersion solution, and to achieve the object, the present invention provides a core-shell-type cerium oxide microparticle which has an average particle diameter of 30 to 200 nm and a coefficient of variation therein no greater than 0.25, and in which the secondary particle forming the core portion is spherical in shape and a polymer is attached to its surface, a dispersion solution of this cerium oxide microparticle and a dry powder from the cerium oxide microparticle dispersion solution, and a process of producing a core-shell-type cerium oxide microparticle or a dispersion solution thereof, which comprises the steps of: mixing a cerium salt and a polymer in an organic solvent to obtain a mixture; and heating this mixture under reflux at a prescribed temperature to precipitate core-shell-type cerium oxide microparticles, wherein the cerium salt is cerium nitrate and the particle diameter of the microparticles is adjusted using the molecular weight of the polymer.
US09216304B2
A method of removing hair from skin, preferably facial skin, is provided, comprising the steps of: (a) applying a hydrophobic protective composition to an area of skin, preferably facial skin, on which unwanted hair is growing, the hydrophobic protective composition comprising 20% or more, preferably 50% or more and more preferably from 75% to 99% of at least one triglyceride by weight of the hydrophobic protective composition, the or each triglyceride having the following formula: wherein R, R′ and R″ may be the same as or different from one or both of the others, wherein each of R, R′ and R″ is a fatty acid and wherein the or each triglyceride is solid at 25° C. (b) applying a depilatory composition to the area of skin to which the hydrophobic protective composition has been applied, the depilatory composition comprising a keratin reducing agent.
US09216300B2
A phototherapy apparatus with interactive user interface for treating biological tissue of an animal or human target. The user interface comprises intuitive graphic menus which allow the clinicians or practitioners to define the properties of the biological tissue through easily observable physical characteristics such as weight, skin color, and hair color of the patient. The central control unit of the phototherapy apparatus then automatically optimizes the parameters of the light source according to the properties of the biological tissue and generates an appropriate treatment protocol to produce the optimum phototherapy result.
US09216293B2
An inner subassembly of a delivery system assembly extends within a lumen of an elongate outer tube of the assembly, and includes a flared distal end, which is preferably configured to conform to a proximal end of an implantable medical device; a distal-most portion of the outer tube is sized to contain both the flared distal end and an entirety of the medical device. The inner subassembly includes a core, an elongate pull-wire, extending along the core, and a sheath surrounding the pull-wire and the core; the sheath includes a slot opening that allows the pull-wire to pass laterally therethrough. The assembly preferably has a pre-formed curvature along a length of the sheath, and the slot opening extends along the pre-formed curvature. The outer tube is longitudinally moveable relative to the inner subassembly, for example, to deploy the medical device.
US09216290B2
A method of treating a patient with at least one substance addiction, which comprises directly stimulating a cranial nerve, such as the vagus nerve, of a patient with an electrical pulse signal defined by a plurality of parameters to provide a therapy regimen for alleviating a symptom associated with the substance addiction.
US09216276B2
This invention provides methods and systems uniquely capable of enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness through the use of energy to predictably disrupt membranes and mechanically and thermally modulate cells and tissues. In exemplary embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein are capable of modulating multiple layers of tissue. In an exemplary embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy (e.g., ultrasound). In other exemplary embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents, or various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling. Medicants can be first introduced to the region of interest by diffusion, circulation, and/or injection. An exemplary system for enhancing medicant delivery and/or effectiveness comprises a control system, a probe, and a display or indicator system. Imaging and/or monitoring may alternatively be coupled and/or co-housed with an ultrasound system contemplated by the present invention.
US09216267B2
A system for providing automated delivery of medication to a ventilator circuit that extends between a mechanical ventilator and a patient includes a connector that resides in-line with a portion of the ventilator circuit, a portable medication delivery unit attached to the connector, and a control device in communication with the portable delivery unit. The portable delivery unit includes a housing releasably holding at least one metered dose inhaler canister containing medication and an actuator held by the housing and in communication with the canister to direct the canister to release medication to the ventilator circuit for the patient. The control device is configured to control an amount and/or frequency of medication delivery from the canister to the ventilator circuit for a respective patient and to direct the actuator to actuate to deliver the medication from the canister to the ventilator circuit at a defined amount and/or frequency.
US09216261B2
A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.
US09216260B2
A manually operated metered dose inhaler includes a dose counter chamber including a dose display tape driven by a ratchet wheel which is driven in turn by an actuator pawl actuated by movement of a canister, the tape unwinding from a stock bobbin during use of the inhaler, a rotation regulator being provided for the stock bobbin and including a wavelike engagement surface with concavities which engage against control elements in the form of protrusions on resilient forks of a split pin thereby permitting incremental unwinding of the stock bobbin yet resisting excessive rotation if the inhaler is dropped onto a hard surface.
US09216256B2
Disclosed is a device for the parenteral delivery of a medication, such as a drug. The device includes upper and lower housings in which the upper housing is configured to move relative to the lower housing as a result of application of an external force to permit the user of the device to control the rate at which the drug is administered.
US09216249B2
Ambulatory infusion pumps, pump assemblies, cartridges, baseplates, cannulas, insertion tools, and related components as well as combinations thereof and related methods.
US09216246B2
A renal failure therapy method includes causing therapy fluid to flow to a renal failure therapy filter, directing at least twenty-five percent of the therapy fluid to the renal failure therapy filter to perform conductive clearance, and using the renal therapy failure filter to cause at least a substantial amount of the remaining therapy fluid to perform diffusive clearance.
US09216244B2
An apparatus for connecting multi-lumen conduits may include a conduit adapter and a conduit collar. The conduit adapter may include a housing, a bayonet connector, and a support member connecting the housing and the bayonet connector. The support member has an aperture that permits fluid communication through the support member. One end of the conduit collar is sized for insertion into the housing, and a second end is adapted to receive a first multi-lumen conduit. The housing also is adapted to receive a second multi-lumen conduit. The bayonet connector engages a primary lumen of the first multi-lumen conduit and the second multi-lumen conduit such that the primary lumen of the second multi-lumen conduit fluidly communicates with the primary lumen of the first multi-lumen conduit. The conduit adapter and the conduit collar are capable of 360 degree rotation relative to each other about a common axis.
US09216241B2
An object is to provide a medical device having excellent antithrombotic and sliding characteristics, which can exert a cell adhesion inhibitory effect. A medical device comprising: a substrate capable of forming hydroxyl groups; and a biocompatible material layer laminated on the substrate at an appropriate position, wherein the hydroxyl groups are formed on a surface of the substrate at least at a required position by a surface treatment, while the biocompatible material layer is formed from a polymer containing phosphorylcholine groups, and wherein the substrate and the biocompatible material layer are joined via a binder layer formed from silica being covalently bonded with the hydroxyl groups and the biocompatible material, respectively.
US09216238B2
The invention provides a method for fabricating an implantable medical device to increase biocompatibility of the device, the method comprising: heat setting a polymer construct, wherein the polymer construct is at a temperature range of from about Tg to about 0.6(Tm−Tg)+Tg such that the set polymer construct comprises a crystalline structure having crystals at a size less than about 2 microns; and fabricating an implantable medical device from the heat set polymer construct.
US09216237B2
A device includes a core, a membrane, at least one first electrode coupled to the core, at least one second electrode coupled to the core or the membrane and a collapsible electroactive polymer element. The collapsible polymer element is configured to extend from or extend around at least a portion of the core where the element is in an expanded configuration without application of a voltage and in a collapsed configuration with the application of the voltage or in a collapsed configuration without application of a voltage and in an expanded configuration with the application of the voltage. The voltage is applied via the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09216236B2
Decellularized tissue-derived extracellular matrices (ECM) and methods of generating and using same are provided. The method of generating a decellularized matrix includes the steps of: (a) subjecting the tissue to washes and a hypertonic buffer; (b) subjecting the tissue to an enzymatic proteolytic digestion with an enzyme such as trypsin; and (c) removing all cellular components from the tissue using a detergent solution which includes Triton-X-100 and ammonium hydroxide. Specifically, there is provided a decellularized myocardium-derived matrix which is completely devoid of all cellular components and hence non-immunogenic in a subject, exhibits suitable structural and mechanical properties for cardiac tissue engineering or replacement therapy of damaged cardiac tissue, and is capable of remodeling upon seeding of cells.
US09216227B2
Derivatives of PSAs are synthesized, in which a reducing and/or non-reducing end terminal sialic acid unit is transformed into a N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) group. The derivatives may be reacted with substrates, for instance substrates containing amine or hydrazine groups, to form non-cross-linked/crosslinked polysialylated compounds. The substrates may, for instance, be therapeutically useful drugs, peptides or proteins or drug delivery systems.
US09216221B2
We disclose a diagnostic test to determine suitable therapeutic intervention of subjects suffering from subclinical Cushing's syndrome [SCS] and also agents that antagonize the action of cortisol or inhibit excess cortisol production in the treatment of conditions such as SCS in the presence of an adrenal incidentaloma.
US09216216B2
An adjuvant combination that stimulates immune activation or response includes a hydrophobic immune adjuvant and a pathogen derived lipoprotein that chaperones the hydrophobic immune adjuvant to an immune receptor.
US09216213B2
The present invention relates to adjuvanted recombinant anti-rabies vaccines and the oral administration of such vaccines to raccoons and other wildlife. Advantageously, the anti-rabies vaccine may comprise a recombinant vaccinia virus containing a rabies glycoprotein gene. The invention encompasses methods of vaccinating raccoons and other wildlife by administration of an anti-rabies vaccines which may comprise a recombinant vaccinia virus containing a rabies glycoprotein gene, in combination with an adjuvant which increases both vaccine viscosity and efficacy. The invention provides effective oral recombinant vaccines used in oral rabies vaccination (ORV) programs for wildlife, effective at protecting raccoons, gray foxes, coyotes, and other animals.
US09216212B2
The invention provides expression vectors and virus-like particles (VLPs) containing Newcastle Disease Virus Sequences in combination with sequences encoding proteins of interest. The vectors are useful in, for example, generating virus-like particles (VLPs) that contain proteins of interest. In one embodiment, the expressed VLPs elicit an immune response by an animal host against the protein. The invention's VLPs are useful as, for example, vaccines.
US09216207B1
A method for oral administration of an active ingredient to a subject is provided whereby a plurality of bubbles containing the active ingredient t are formed in a small intestinal of the subject. The method includes administering orally to the subject an effective amount of the above-mentioned pharmaceutical composition. The pharmaceutical composition includes a drug layer and an enteric coating layer. The drug layer comprises an active ingredient, a surfactant, an acidic component and an effervescent ingredient. The active ingredient comprises a nucleic acid, a peptide or a protein. When the acidic component of the drug layer is dissolved in the small intestinal to react with the effervescent ingredient for generating carbon dioxide and the plurality of bubbles containing the active ingredient, and the active ingredient is embedded in a gap formed between an inner layer and an outer layer of an double-layer structure formed by the surfactant.
US09216204B2
The present invention provides novel bisphosphonate conjugates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising bisphosphonate conjugates and methods of using such analogs in the treatment of bone cancer, bone-related diseases, bone infection, bone inflammation, and diseases of the soft tissues surrounding bones.
US09216201B2
The present invention provides a composition for regenerating cartilage or treating a cartilage disease containing a monovalent metal salt of alginic acid for which the endotoxin level thereof has been lowered to an extent that does not substantially induce inflammation or fever. As a result, it is possible to provide a composition for regenerating cartilage that improves cartilage regenerative action and ease of application to a cartilage injury lesion, and a composition for treating a cartilage disease, which has the effects of protecting cartilage from mechanical irritation, inhibiting degenerative changes in cartilage caused by wear and inflammation, repairing a cartilage injury lesion, and inhibiting inflammation and pain of joint tissue.
US09216196B2
The present invention relates to a beverage that provides rapid uptake of calcium ions into the blood stream in less than ten minutes.
US09216191B2
A flowable or spoonable medicament, food, food ingredient or food supplement is useful for inducing satiety. It comprises (a) one or more mono-, di- and/or oligosaccharides and (b) a methylcellulose, wherein the methylcellulose has anhydroglucose units joined by 1-4 linkages wherein hydroxy groups of anhydroglucose units are substituted with methyl groups such that s23/s26 is from 0.17 to 0.36, wherein s23 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 3-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups and wherein s26 is the molar fraction of anhydroglucose units wherein only the two hydroxy groups in the 2- and 6-positions of the anhydroglucose unit are substituted with methyl groups.
US09216186B2
This invention relates to the use of 4-methyl-8-phenoxy-1-(2-phenylethyl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]quinoline or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof in combination with an aminoglycoside antimicrobial agent for the prevention and/or treatment of microbial infections.
US09216166B2
Antimicrobial molecular conjugates for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms in human and animals are provided. The key to these conjugates is a special spacer connecting at least one photosensitizer to a microorganism receptor (vector) which in turn binds selectively to the surface of a microorganism bringing about photo-destruction upon irradiation. Spacers having hydrophilic structure such as ethylene glycol units and amino carboxyl end capped ethylene glycol units must be used for linking the vector to the photosensitizer. In a preferred embodiment a spacer would have at least 3 ethylene glycol units and be end capped with a carboxyl group on one end and a amino group at the other end. The present invention effectively works to combat bacterial infection in the real patient-related environments where blood, serum and other body fluids are always present or at least nearby. Spacers of selected length and structure, in preferred embodiments, are used for linking the vector to the photosensitizer. These conjugate are found to be very effective in combating bacterial infection in the real patient-related environments where blood, serum and other body fluids are always present or a least nearby. A method of use is also provided.
US09216162B2
Methods and compositions comprising N-acetylcysteine amide (NAC amide) and derivatives thereof are used in treatments and therapies for human and non-human mammalian diseases, disorders, conditions and pathologies. Pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable compositions of NAC amide or derivatives thereof are administered alone, or in combination with other suitable agents, to reduce, prevent, or counteract oxidative stress and free radical oxidant formation and overproduction in cells and tissues, as well as to provide a new source of glutathione.
US09216160B2
Compositions and methods for treating hyperlipidemia and elevated LDL cholesterol and for weight reduction are disclosed. The compositions comprise (a) choline, or a salt or hydroxide thereof; (b) niacin, or a salt, amide or ester thereof; (c) folic acid, or a salt thereof; (d) methionine or a salt or ester thereof; and (e) glycine or a salt, ester or methylated form thereof.
US09216151B2
The present invention provides a compound which is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) derivative of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or solvate thereof, for use in treating various skin disorders.
US09216150B2
Novel drug carriers capable of targeted and/or pH dependent release of biologically active agents into selected pH environments including the gastrointestinal (GI), ophthalmic, urinary, or reproductive tracts. Unexpectedly, carriers including free fatty acids (FFA) are able to deliver biologically active agents to various pH environments. Such targeted delivery is tailorable and useful for active agents that are: (a) injurious to the upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum), (b) acid labile, (c) impermeable/insoluble compounds in GI fluids, (d) susceptible to first pass metabolism, and/or (e) cause stomach irritation, upset, or dyspepsia.
US09216149B2
The present invention relates to solid, color-stable L-ascorbic acid compositions, which are in the form of a powder or granule. These improved compositions have a high amount of vitamin C and they have excellent color stability.
US09216146B2
A cosmetic composition comprises a) an N-acyl amino acid compound selected from the group consisting of N-acyl amino acid, its isomers, its salts, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof, and b) hexyldecanol.
US09216143B2
A stable, multiphase liquid isotropic cleansing composition is described that contains high levels of Petrolatum and shows a substantial decrease in reflectance compared with isotropic cleansing compositions containing other oils and liquid crystalline compositions with similar levels of oils. The inventive composition has a total of less than 2% by wt. of other oils such as glyceride, mineral and silicone oils, or blends thereof.
US09216141B2
The present disclosure relates to a curable composition to be prepared by mixing a base paste and a catalyst paste, the base paste comprising (A) a hardenable compound comprising at least two aziridine moieties, and (B) a metal containing component containing anions and/or ligands, the metal containing component being present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 5 wt.-%, the metal being selected from Zn, Cu, Co, Ni, Ag and combinations thereof, the anions or ligands being selected from oxide, hydroxyl, (hydro)carbonate, sulphate, nitrate, halide, lactate, benzoate, wolframate, linear or branched aliphatic carboxylic acid anions, ligands having not more than two coordinating moieties and combinations thereof, the catalyst paste comprising (C) a Lewis acid, the composition optionally further comprising (D) a retarder, (E) filler and (F) additive(s). The present disclosure also relates to a kit of parts, the use of a metal containing component and a method of taking a dental impression.
US09216138B2
The present disclosure relates to a self-venting cannula assembly. The self-venting cannula assembly including an outer tube that defines a throughbore, an inner tube, a vent aperture, and a filter element. The inner tube is positioned within the outer tube, which defines a vent channel therebetween. The vent aperture is formed in the outer tube to provide fluid communication between the vent channel and an external environment. The filter element is positioned over the vent aperture and prevents particles having a dimension greater than about 0.2 microns from passing therethrough.
US09216134B2
Provided is a massage machine capable of performing a rubbing operation and a pressing operation separately on different areas of the back surface of a body part of a person to be treated while performing the rubbing operation on the side surface of the body part. Specifically provided is a massage machine (M1 (M2)) provided with a rubbing unit (1) comprising a pair of rubbing parts (2, 2) for applying a rubbing massage to a body part of a person to be treated and a rubbing driving part (3) for driving the rubbing parts (2). The rubbing parts (2) comprise a pair of first rubbing parts (12, 12) disposed on both sides of the body part and reciprocating in the direction along the side surface of the body part, and a pair of second rubbing parts (13, 13) disposed on the back surface of the body part and reciprocating in the direction along the back surface of the body part and in the direction crossing the back surface.
US09216132B2
A device that supports a motion for restoring an inclination angle of a body to a reference direction is provided. A balance device includes a sensor, at least one flywheel, and a controller. The sensor is configured to detect an inclination angle of the body with respect to the reference direction. The at least one flywheel is arranged on the balance device so that an axis of the flywheel is non-parallel to a yaw axis of the body when the balance device is attached to a user. The yaw axis of the body corresponds to a longitudinal direction of the body. In addition, the yaw axis coincides with the reference direction when the user stands erect. The controller is configured to change a rotation rate of the flywheel based on an inclination angle detected by the sensor.
US09216129B2
A container for containing cremated remains is provided herein. The container provided herein is suitable for use as a clutch or point cover for a motorcycle.
US09216126B2
A table adapter and joint assembly are configured for use with a table during a medical procedure, e.g. a medical imaging procedure or combined imaging and surgical procedure. The table adapter is connectable, directly or indirectly, to a portion of the table. The joint assembly connects with the table adapter about a shaft such that the joint assembly is rotatably adjustable. A head fixation device in the form of a skull clamp is attachable to the joint assembly. The joint assembly generally has a parallelogram shape that has four joints for adjustment where these four joints can be selectively locked or unlocked relative to each other using a single actuator.
US09216120B2
The manual shopping chair includes a frame supported by a left rear wheel, a right rear wheel, a left front caster wheel and a right front caster wheel. A wheel lock disk with a plurality of radially extending slots is connected to each rear wheel. Springs urge lock bars toward the slots to lock both wheels. The lock bars are manually held out of the slots during movement. A mast is clamped to the frame front. A pair of basket support tubes are pivotally attached to the mast by a shaft in vertical slots. A basket is clamped to basket tubes. The basket is pivotable from a storage position to an upright position. Hooks hold the support tubes in an upright position. The mast top edge is lower than a seat mounted on the frame for nesting multiple shopping units.
US09216119B2
An absorbent article and a package thereof are provided for a pet animal without a possibility that a fastener might be exposed on the outer side of the article. The absorbent article includes an absorbent panel and a fastener for fastening the absorbent panel. The absorbent panel has an absorbent region in which an absorbent body is disposed, a first non-absorbent region extending from the absorbent region to a first end edge and a second non-absorbent region extending from the absorbent region to a second end edge. The fastener is allocated on an exterior surface in the first non-absorbent region and releasably grabbed by the exterior surface of the absorbent panel except the first non-absorbent region to maintain such folded state when the absorbent panel is folded until the interior surface of the first non-absorbent region faces the interior surface of the second non-absorbent region.
US09216112B2
Systems and methods for bilateral treatment of a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear function by aligning a first device with a target tissue of the first ear; aligning a second device with a target tissue of the second ear; and therapeutically remodeling, with synchronization, the target tissues of the first and second ear with the first and second aligned devices, respectively.
US09216110B2
A system for refractive ophthalmological surgery, in particular LASIK, has—in addition to the ablation laser and, where appropriate, further optical guidance means (18, 30)—a device (34) for optical coherence tomography as an integrated component, in order to make available results of measurement acquired with this device either for the purpose of representation on a display device and/or for the purpose of control of the ablation.
US09216109B2
Described here are systems and methods for accessing Schlemm's canal and for delivering an ocular device or fluid composition therein. The ocular devices may maintain the patency of Schlemm's canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The fluid composition may be a viscoelastic fluid that is delivered into the canal to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor by disrupting the canal and surrounding trabeculocanalicular tissues. Tools for disrupting these tissues and minimally invasive methods for treating medical conditions associated with elevated intraocular pressure, including glaucoma, are also described.
US09216106B2
Hydrogel lenses are infused with a drug for the treatment of posterior segment disease. The lenses are placed in contact with the subject's cornea. Drugs can be passively released from the hydrogel and can migrate around the globe of the eye to the posterior segment.
US09216095B2
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US09216083B2
A method for locating a material having thermoplastic properties in pores of bone tissue includes providing a pin having the material having thermoplastic properties and a core, wherein the material having thermoplastic properties is arranged on the circumferential surface of the core constituting an outer region of the pin. An opening is provided in the bone tissue, and the pin is positioned at least partly in the opening. The outer region of the pin is then impinged with mechanical vibration energy for a time sufficient for liquefying at least part of the material having thermoplastic properties, and, in a liquefied state, pressing it into the pores of the bone tissue surrounding the opening. The vibration energy is stopped for a time sufficient for re-solidification of the liquefied material, and then the core is removed.
US09216081B2
A total prosthesis for the middle ear, with a prosthesis body, with a first coupling element for connection of the prosthesis to the tympanic membrane or for coupling to the manubrium, and with a second coupling element for connection to the footplate of the stirrup, which second coupling element has a receiving part, connected rigidly to the prosthesis body, and has an insert part with a plug element that can be inserted coaxially, and with a shoe that is connected rigidly to the plug element and that bears on the footplate of the stirrup, is characterized in that the receiving part has an elongate cavity as a receiving opening with a cylindrical bore which extends axially and encloses the full circumference of the plug element and whose inside diameter is greater than the maximum transverse extent of the plug element, which elongate cavity is closed at the end away from the insert part and acts as an end abutment for the plug element, and in that the second coupling element extends axially by at most a third of the axial length of the prosthesis body. In this way, it is easy to produce a desired defined length of the prosthesis, which also remains fixed after surgery, and it is also possible, during surgery, to react to the specific individual situation of the stirrup bone.
US09216078B2
A tensioner system for use in tensioning graft strands in a knee reconstruction procedure can include a handle assembly, a tensioner assembly coupled relative to the handle assembly, and a drive shaft slidably received through and supported by the handle assembly. The tensioner assembly can include an arm support member rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and first and second arm members each rotatably coupled to lateral sides of the arm support member. Each arm member can include at least one graft attachment area adapted to be coupled to a graft strand. The arm support member can be configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tensioner system and perpendicular to an axis of rotation of each of the arm members. The drive shaft can include proximal and distal ends that extend beyond respective proximal and distal ends of the handle assembly.
US09216063B2
A system and method for cleaning instruments, which provides removal and collection of material from one or more surgical instruments. The cleaning apparatus may be a dry cleaning process or offered in conjunction with one or more fluids. In one embodiment, the cleaning apparatus continuously purges blood, bone and other debris quickly and may comprise a system for removing reusable material from the cleaning process for reuse.
US09216054B2
Systems, devices, apparatus and methods that may be used for en bloc circumferential esophageal mucosal resection or ablation that can extend over only a selected portion or all of the length of the esophagus.
US09216040B2
Minimally invasive methods and devices are provided for positioning a spinal fixation element in relation to adjacent spinal anchors. In an exemplary embodiment, the device is a percutaneous access device that can be coupled to a spinal anchor, and the method includes the step of positioning a spinal fixation element through at least one sidewall opening of at least two percutaneous access devices such that the spinal fixation element extends in a lengthwise orientation that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each percutaneous access device. The spinal fixation element can then be advanced in the lengthwise orientation to seat the spinal fixation element in or adjacent to the receiver heads of at least two adjacent spinal anchors. A fastening element or other closure mechanism can then be applied to each spinal anchor to engage the spinal fixation element within the receiver heads of the adjacent anchors.
US09216037B2
A device for recovering one or more blastocysts from the uterus of a human includes an outer guide member for insertion into a cervical canal of the human. The outer guide member includes a distal portion with an activatable seal for isolating the uterus from the external environment and defines a lumen having a longitudinal axis. The device also includes an inner catheter located within the lumen and slidable along the longitudinal axis of the lumen relative to the outer guide member. The inner catheter has a distal tip positionable distally of the seal to extend into the uterus and includes a fluid delivery lumen terminating at a distal fluid delivery port for delivering fluid into the uterus. The device defines a distal suction port for aspirating fluid and entrained blastocysts from the uterus. The distal fluid delivery port and the distal suction port are arranged such that, in use, fluid delivered from the distal fluid delivery port travels through the distal suction port to the uterus.
US09216035B2
A surgical instrument and method, for example to accomplish phacoemulsification, are disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handpiece that has a piezoelectric transducer, and a titanium needle having a free distal tip and a supported end that is attached to the handpiece. The titanium needle has a substantially cylindrical portion with an outer diameter in the range 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and a length in the range 12 mm to 37 mm. A circuit drives the piezoelectric transducer to periodically longitudinally expand and longitudinally contract at a driving frequency. The driving frequency is selected to ring the titanium needle with a standing wave that is characterized by longitudinal expansion and longitudinal contraction, the standing wave having a distal node of minimum amplitude in the substantially cylindrical portion.
US09216034B2
Devices and methods are provided for percutaneously treating atherosclerotic plaques within blood vessels. Atherosclerotic plaques cause significant morbidity and mortality by narrowing the arteries, which adversely affects blood flow, and by acting as a source for thrombi and emboli thus causing acute organ ischemia. Current treatments include open surgery with its inherent drawbacks, and stenting, which is less invasive but leaves the plaque material in the artery, which promotes restenosis. The present invention combines the advantages of both approaches. In general, the invention provides tools that enable percutaneously dissecting the plaque from the arterial wall and removing it from the body.
US09216031B2
A tissue cutting device that is especially suited for neurosurgical applications is disclosed and described. The device includes a handpiece and an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. The inner cannula includes a hinge between a body section and a cutting section that allows the cutting section to pivot when the inner cannula reciprocates within the outer cannula. A tissue collector is also provided and is in fluid communication with the lumen of the inner cannula. A fluid supply sleeve is disposed about the outer cannula and is selectively positionable along the length of the outer cannula.
US09216030B2
A laparoscopic forceps comprising a handpiece including a distal end portion; a tubular member protruding from the distal end portion of the handpiece, the tubular member having a distal end with a distal opening, a pair of jaws having legs that are disposed within the tubular member and partially protruding from the distal opening, the jaws and the tubular member being movable relative to each other; wherein each of the jaws has an arcuate section; an operable mechanism for creating relative motion between the jaws and the tubular member along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and one or more spacing members extending across the distal opening of the tubular member and between the jaws; wherein the jaws are closable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws towards each other so that the tubular member advances over the arcuate section of the jaws, and the jaws are openable by the relative movement of the tubular member and the jaws away from each other so that the one or more spacing members extend between the jaws and the jaws are moved apart.
US09216028B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus for treating mammalian meibomian glands involves clearing the meibomian glands. The apparatus comprises a heater configured to apply a regulated heat to an eyelid containing the meibomian glands to a temperature adequate to melt obstructions in the meibomian glands to put the obstructions in a fluid or suspension (melted) state, and a controller maintaining the heat for a time period adequate to melt the obstructions. The glands can then be mechanically treated by a mechanical treatment applicator to express fluid from the glands by using a compressive force, wherein the treating is carried out either during the time period or after the time period but while the obstruction remains in a fluid state. Subsequent pharmacological treatment of the glands by use a pharmacological agent (topical or systemic) can then be used to assist in maintaining proper flow of lipids from the glands. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US09216026B2
A femoral sizing guide comprises a body, a superstructure and a stylus. The body has feet extending underneath and resting against posterior condylar surfaces of the femur and an extension component. The superstructure is slidable on the extension component and the extension component is rotatable with respect to the feet. The stylus may be coupled to the superstructure. The superstructure has a first guide hole defining a first alignment axis and the extension component has a second guide hole defining a second alignment axis. The distance between the first and second guide holes varies as the superstructure slides relative to the body. A method of locating an alignment axis on a resected femoral surface at a distal end of a femur which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the femur using the femoral sizing guide is also disclosed.
US09216012B2
A medical device for localization of tissue at a target site in a patient's body includes a tube having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis. The medical device is configured for placement of the distal end at the target site. A fixation device is disposed on the distal end. The affixation device is configured to mechanically fix the distal end of the medical device to tissue at the target site.
US09216002B2
Standby power supplies for patient tables need frequent replacement of the lead-acid batteries on which they depend. We propose to feed the emergency power direct to the drive motors, subsequent to the control circuitry. This will reduce the load on the standby power system, allowing greater design freedom to select longer-lasting or less expensive energy stores.
US09216000B2
A tissue oximetry device utilizes at least three or at least four different wavelengths of light for collection of reflectance data where the different wavelengths are longer than 730 nanometers. The three or four wavelengths are utilized to generate a range of reflectance data suited for accurate determination of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations. The relatively long wavelengths decrease optical interference from certain dyes, particularly methylene blue and PVPI, which may be present on tissue being analyzed for viability and further enhance the generation of accurate reflectance data. The wavelengths are 760 nanometers, 810 nanometers, and 850 nanometers, or 760 nanometers, 810 nanometers, 850 nanometers, and 900 nanometers.
US09215985B2
A method of monitoring a treatment of a patient, preferably for monitoring hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and/or peritoneal dialysis, that includes the steps of irradiating a sample of a dialysis liquid used in the treatment with irradiation light of at least a first irradiation wavelength, detecting light emitted by the irradiated sample in at least a first detection wavelength, the detection wavelength being different from the first irradiation wavelength, and determining the presence and/or concentration of at least one analyte in the sample on the basis of the detected light.
US09215961B2
An automatic floor cleaning machine includes a base, an upper cover covering the base, a supporting seat mounted on the base, a random-turn driving unit installed on the supporting seat, and a floor cleaning plate installed on a bottom of the base. The automatic floor cleaning machine is randomly operated over a floor by the random-turn driving unit. Dedusting papers are disposed on a bottom surface of the floor cleaning plate and protruded from two sides or two corners of the base. The dedusting papers turn to sweep and kick up dust particles on the floor when the automatic floor cleaning machine is operating. Thereby, the effect of thorough cleaning of the floor can be achieved. The automatic floor cleaning machine may further include a vacuum cleaner for further enhancing the cleaning effect.
US09215958B2
A pick-up head system comprises a housing and a main fan connected in air suctioning relation to the housing for causing the interior of the housing to have a reduced internal air pressure. A secondary substantially continuously available source of low air pressure has an inlet connected in air suctioning relation to the housing. A valve is operatively mounted between the housing and the inlet of the source of low air pressure. A control mechanism is operatively connected to the valve and responsive to at least one operational condition in the pick-up head system. In a reduced-flow position, the air pressure in the housing is unaffected by the vacuum tank. In the increased-flow position, when the at least one operational condition passes a threshold, the vacuum tank decreases the air pressure in the housing, thus precluding the escape of dust and other fine particulate matter from the interior of the housing.
US09215954B2
A twist action mixing container is capable of separately storing various substances for later mixing. The mixing container includes an upper and lower housing which respectively define an upper and lower chamber. The upper and lower chambers are separated by a valve assembly that seals off one chamber from the other until the valve assembly is opened. The valve assembly includes upper and lower valve halves, each of which includes one or more tracks along their periphery and corresponding guide members that insert into said tracks. When the upper and lower housings are twisted in opposite directions, the guide members travel along their respective tracks moving upper and lower valve openings into alignment, thus opening the valve assembly. A preventer is operably coupled to the lower valve for blocking the container opening while the valve assembly is closed.
US09215924B2
A mobile furniture system includes a work surface and a framework assembly, which includes a pair of vertical frame members to support the work surface. The frame members extend above the work surface. At least one utility service line is routed through the framework assembly. A rotatable support may be operatively coupled to each frame member. The rotatable support includes a housing and a rotatable wheel. At least a portion of each of the rotatable supports is in vertical alignment with one frame member. A pair of leg members is operatively coupled to the work surface and is spaced from the pair of frame members. Another rotatable support is coupled to each leg member. A movable foot may be coupled to each of the frame members and to each of the leg members to support the system in a stationary configuration upon a lowering movement of the movable foot.
US09215900B2
Laminates are described having a durable outer film surface for use in making lightweight liquidproof articles, including articles of apparel, such as outerwear garments. A method of making the laminate and a lightweight outerwear garment having an abrasion resistant exterior film surface is described.
US09215896B2
A breast support device designed to provide the wearer with a high degree of control and support of breast tissue while minimizing the pain and discomfort associated with conventional breast control garments, that can be worn on its own or integrated into garments where breast support is desirable. The breast support device achieves these objectives through the innovative combination of various non-stretch and stretch fabrics, as well as through the use on one or more darts of varying length sewn into the non-stretch fabric.
US09215888B2
Nutritional compositions, formulations, and intermediates are provided which may be utilized to formulate various sweeteners and other products. The formulations described herein are made from constituents found in soils or fossilized soils.
US09215887B2
The objects of the present invention are to provide a method for inhibiting the coloration of a syrupy sweetener, comprising a reducing saccharide together with a non-reducing oligosaccharide having a β-fructofuranosidic linkage, without deteriorating the taste inherent to the syrupy sweetener; and to provide a syrupy sweetener, comprising a reducing saccharide together with a non-reducing oligosaccharide having a β-fructofuranosidic linkage, which is stabilized by the method. The present invention attains the above objects by providing a method for inhibiting the coloring of a syrupy sweetener, comprising a reducing saccharide together with a non-reducing oligosaccharide having a β-fructofuranosidic linkage, which comprises a step of incorporating a lactate into the syrupy sweetener, and by providing a syrupy sweetener, comprising a reducing saccharide together with a non-reducing oligosaccharide having a β-fructofuranosidic linkage, which is stabilized by the method.
US09215884B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for popping kernels, comprising a heating chamber for containing kernels, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more high intensity microwave regions, and a device configured to move kernels within the high intensity microwave regions.
US09215878B2
The invention relates to a method and device for continuous production of articles including at least two different types from a pasty mass. The mass is introduced into a processor unit by a supply unit, processed in the processor unit and transported further thereby, whereupon an adjunct is added by a metering unit to the mass transported through the processor unit. The mixing of the adjunct introduced to the mass is carried out by a mixing unit with mixing elements located downstream of the processor unit. The mass with provided adjunct is formed by a forming unit into individual articles downstream of the mixing unit. According to the invention, the metering of the adjunct is carried out in a sequence of metering conditions with at least two different metering conditions, wherein the metering unit, for a given metering condition, introduces the adjunct to the mass at a given metering rate.
US09215877B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to compositions including a vacancy-engineered (VE)-ZnO nanocomposite, methods of making a composition, methods of using a composition, and the like.
US09215867B2
The invention provides, in various embodiments, systems, devices and methods relating to ex-vivo organ care. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to maintaining an organ ex-vivo at near-physiologic conditions.
US09215865B2
A cover open mechanism of a dual-bearing reel includes a frame, a first side cover, a spool support portion and a cover opening and closing portion. The cover opening and closing portion includes a cover opening and closing structure and an urging member. The cover opening and closing structure is engaged with the spool support portion and the first side cover, and sets an opened/closed state of the first side cover. The urging member is disposed between the first side cover and the cover opening and closing structure, and urges the first side cover in an openable state. The first side cover is configured to be prevented from rotating when any one of the first side cover and the spool support portion is engaged with the other of the first side cover and the spool support portion.
US09215863B2
A method is provided for evaluating a protected plant having a protection mechanism. A population of immature insects (i.e., larvae or nymphs) belonging to an insect species having a plurality of instars is first exposed to the protected plant such that the protected plant is at least contacted thereby. The insect exposure extends for a selected time period corresponding to a sublethal exposure of the insect population to the protected plant. The exposure of the insect population to the protected plant is then halted following the selected time period and insects collected. A physical characteristic of at least some collected insects is measured. The measured physical characteristics are then statistically analyzed so as to determine an efficacy of the protection mechanism of the protected plant with respect to the insect population. Associated methods are also provided.
US09215856B1
A soybean cultivar designated 82926150112 is disclosed. Embodiments include the seeds of soybean 82926150112, the plants of soybean 82926150112, to plant parts of soybean 82926150112, and methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean 82926150112 with itself or with another soybean variety. Embodiments include methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more genes or transgenes and the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. Embodiments also relate to soybean cultivars, breeding cultivars, plant parts, and cells derived from soybean 82926150112, methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean 82926150112, and the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. Embodiments further include hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing 82926150112 with another soybean cultivar.
US09215854B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1W6H and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W6H with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W6H through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1W6H or a locus conversion of PH1W6H with another maize variety.
US09215851B2
A new and distinct Guzmania hybrid named ‘ROSTARA’ characterized by solid growth habit; funnel-form rosette plant, measuring about 55 cm in height (above the pot when flowering); numerous, green color foliage (measuring about 40-55 cm length and about 3-4.5 cm in width) Superior floral bract production; primary bracts are red in color (closest to RHS 46A) compound inflorescence, measuring about 22 cm in height and about 22 cm in diameter and long lasting habit.
US09215850B1
A novel maize variety designated X85C454 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X85C454 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X85C454 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X85C454, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X85C454. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X85C454.
US09215847B2
A remotely operable anchoring system for a mobile irrigation apparatus includes anchoring units mounted to irrigation towers. The anchoring units are remotely operable through a control module and have anchor members which, upon command, can be moved by the anchoring units from a retracted position to an extended position in which each anchor member penetrates and anchors itself into the soil beneath the irrigation tower. Upon command, after the danger of high wind has passed, each anchor member may be retracted from the extended position to the retracted position in preparation for future use.
US09215840B2
A particulate material delivery system for an agricultural implement including, an inductor box configured to receive particulate material from a tank, the inductor box including, an inductor segment comprising an air bypass channel extending through a particulate material supply chamber, wherein the particulate material supply chamber is configured to receive the particulate material for distribution to at least one row unit, and the air bypass channel is configured to guide airflow through the particulate material supply chamber without interacting with a flow of the particulate material through the particulate material supply chamber.
US09215837B2
An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, and a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit. The agricultural implement system also includes a valve assembly in fluid communication with the down force cylinder and the depth control cylinder. The valve assembly is configured to automatically adjust the downward force by varying fluid pressure within the down force cylinder based on fluid pressure within the depth control cylinder.
