US09482980B1

An image forming apparatus includes a forming unit and a transfer unit. The forming unit forms a first image using a first toner including a flat pigment containing a first metal or a first metal oxide, and forms a second image using a second toner that does not include any flat pigment containing a second metal or a second metal oxide, a maximum length of the second toner being smaller than that of the first toner. The transfer unit transfers the second image and the first image to a medium in order of the second image and the first image.
US09482972B2

An electrostatic charge image developing toner includes toner particles including a binder resin that contains a copolymer formed by copolymerizing at least an aromatic vinyl monomer and an aliphatic unsaturated alkyl carboxylate ester, wherein a weight ratio of component M1 of the aromatic vinyl monomer and component M2 of the aliphatic unsaturated alkyl carboxylate ester in the copolymer satisfies the following expression (1), and a weight ratio of volatile component m1 of the aromatic vinyl monomer and volatile component m2 of the aliphatic unsaturated alkyl carboxylate ester, as measured by a headspace method, satisfies the following expression (2): 0.10≦MW2/(MW1+MW2)≦0.30  Expression (1) 0.70≦mw2/(mw1+mw2)≦0.98  Expression (2) wherein MW1 represents the weight of M1, MW2 represents the weight of M2, mw1 represents the weight of m1, and mw2 represents the weight of m2.
US09482966B2

A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a space between the projection system and the substrate is filled with a liquid. An edge seal member at least partly surrounds the substrate or other object on a substrate table to prevent liquid loss when edge portions of the substrate or other object are, for example, imaged or illuminated. A lithographic projection apparatus includes a support structure configured to hold a patterning device, the patterning device configured to pattern a beam of radiation according to a desired pattern; a substrate table configured to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate; a liquid supply system configured to provide liquid to a space between the projection system and the substrate; and a shutter configured to isolate the space from the substrate or a space to be occupied by a substrate.
US09482957B1

The present disclosure provides a solvent for reducing resist consumption, which includes a first solvent selected from the group consisting of alkylene glycol alkyl ether acetate, alkylene glycol alkyl ether and a combination thereof, and a second solvent having a hydrogen bonding Hansen parameter lower than 5.34 and an evaporation rate (n-BuAc=1) lower than 0.6. A volume ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent is in a range of 0/100 to 90/10. A resist dispense volume for a 300 mm wafer is less than 0.6 cc, or a resist dispense volume for a 450 mm wafer is less than 1.1 cc.
US09482954B2

A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support and a coating containing a photopolymerisable layer; characterized in that the coating includes a compound including at least one moiety having a structure according to Formula (I) at a level above 10% wt and below 40% wt relative to the total dry weight of the ingredients of the coating: wherein n represents an integer equal to 0 or 1; L1 represents a divalent linking group; with the proviso that the carbonyl groups in Formula (I) are bonded to a carbon atom.
US09482952B2

To provide a composition for forming a topcoat layer enabling to produce a pattern excellent in roughness and in pattern shape, and also to provide a pattern formation method employing that.A composition for forming a topcoat layer, containing a solvent and a triphenylene derivative having a hydrophilic group; and also a method of forming a pattern by casting the above composition on a resist surface and then by subjecting it to exposure and development. The composition may further contain a polymer.
US09482950B2

Provide is a curable composition for imprints capable of keeping a good pattern and heat resistance. A curable composition for imprints comprising a polymerizable compound (Ax-1) having maleimide structure(s), or a compound (Ax-2) having a partial structure represented by formula (I) below. Formula (I)
US09482937B2

An illumination system including a plurality of light source units, at least one light concentrating unit, at least one taper tunnel and a light consolidating unit is provided. The light concentrating unit corresponds to and is disposed beside one of the light source units. The light concentrating unit has a first illuminating surface, the light source unit corresponding to the light concentrating unit has a second illuminating surface, and the other light source units not corresponding to the concentrator have a third illuminating surface, respectively. The concentrator is disposed between the taper tunnel and the light source unit, and the taper tunnel has a fourth illuminating surface. The light consolidating unit has a fifth illuminating surface. The area of the fourth illuminating surface, and each of the third illuminating surfaces corresponds to each other. A projection apparatus is also provided.
US09482930B1

A GoPro® pivoting/swivel mount that is securely integrated with high quality Mechanix® type gloves that are used for diving.
US09482921B2

The invention relates to an electrochemical device (100) having electrically controllable optical and/or energy transmission properties comprising a substrate (40), a functional system (60) formed on the substrate and a cover film (56) formed on the functional system. The functional system comprises a bottom electrode coating (46), formed on the substrate, a top electrode coating (54) and at least one electrochemically active film (48, 52) located between the two electrode coatings, the electro-chemically active film being able to switch reversibly between a first state and a second state having optical and/or energy transmission properties different from the first state. The cover film defines at least one surface cavity (66) that passes through the cover film without penetrating the top electrode coating and the device comprises electrical connection means (70) arranged at least partially in at least one surface cavity for electrical contact with the top electrode coating.
US09482911B2

The embodiments of the present invention provides a display panel comprising a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of pixel units; the pixel units comprise at least two electrode units; the electrode units comprise an IPS mode electrode unit and an ADS mode electrode unit; the IPS mode electrode unit has an electrode angle different from an electrode angle of the ADS mode electrode unit. The present invention further provides a display device comprising the display panel.
US09482908B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display element including: a first substrate which includes a first electrode; a second substrate which is disposed to oppose the first substrate and includes a second electrode; and a liquid crystal layer which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a plurality of openings which are elongated in a first direction and are adjacent to each other along the first direction, and when two openings of the plurality of openings which are adjacent to each other along the first direction are viewed, one of opening widths of opposing portions is large and the other thereof is small.
US09482897B2

Disclosed is a planar lighting device and more particularly, a planar lighting device including a light emitting device. The planar lighting device includes a plurality of light sources arranged on a first surface of a circuit substrate, the light sources mounted thereon, a light regulator disposed in an edge of the first surface, the light regulator regulating luminance difference caused by difference in distance between a plurality of light sources close to the edge, and an optical sheet disposed on the light sources.
US09482894B2

A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates with liquid crystal sandwiched therebetween. A first blue, a red, a green, and a second blue color filters are disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and arranged in a first direction. First to third light blocking films are respectively disposed between the first blue and the red color filters, between the red and the green color filters, and between the green and the second blue color filters. A distance Lr between a first central line of a part of the first light blocking film and a second central line of a width the second light blocking film is larger than a distance Lg between the second central line and a third central line of a width of the third blocking film.
US09482890B2

A liquid crystal display device including a first substrate, a second substrate disposed so as to face the first substrate and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and the second substrates, the first substrate including: a display area portion in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a manner of a matrix; and a frame edge area lying outside the display area portion, the frame edge area including a peripheral circuit configured to drive the plurality of pixels of the display area portion, the peripheral circuit having at least one transistor, wherein a channel area of the transistor is covered with a conductive layer via an inorganic insulating layer, the inorganic insulating layer and the conductive layer being stacked in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the first substrate in the stated order, and a predetermined negative potential is applied to the conductive layer.
US09482874B2

Disclosed is an optical valve or light valve for providing large area collimated illumination from localized light sources, and system and method thereof for 2D, 3D, and/or autostereoscopic displays. An optical valve may include a stepped structure, in which the steps include separated extraction features which may be optically hidden to light propagating in a first direction. Light propagating in a second direction may be refracted, diffracted, or reflected by the features to provide illumination beams exiting from the top surface of the optical valve. Such controlled illumination may provide for efficient, multi-user autostereoscopic displays as well as improved 2D display functionality.
US09482870B2

Provided is a light source apparatus including a plurality of semiconductor light sources that output beams of light having different wavelengths; a plurality of light collimating portions that convert the respective beams of light output from these light sources to collimated light beams; a combining portion that combines the plurality of collimated beams produced by these light collimating portions into a single light path; a light guide whose entrance end is disposed in the single light path; a focusing portion that focuses the collimated beams combined by the combining portion onto the entrance end; and a light-distribution-characteristics adjusting portion that adjusts beam diameters of the plurality of beams of light so that numerical apertures of the plurality of beams of light incident on the entrance end become substantially equal.
US09482865B2

In a light scanning method of scanning a light beam emitted from a light source on a plane to be scanned, a focal distance of an optical element that converges light emitted from the light source onto the plane to be scanned is sequentially varied to uniform a beam spot diameter at each position on the plane to be scanned where a distance from the light source varies.
US09482863B2

A method for fabrication of a device (206) from a wafer (170) of semiconductor material includes locally thinning the wafer in an area of the device to a predefined thickness by removing the semiconductor material from at least a first side of the wafer using a wet etching process, and etching through the thinned wafer in the area of the device so as to release a moving part (202) of the device. Other methods and systems for fabrication are also described.
US09482851B2

A wide-angle lens is disclosed. The wide-angle lens includes a first lens element L1, a second lens element L2, a third lens element L3, an aperture diaphragm S, a fourth lens element L4 and a fifth lens element L5 arranged from an object plane to an image plane. The first element L1 is a meniscus lens element having a negative focal power and protruding toward the object plane, the second element L2 is a meniscus lens element having a negative focal power and protruding toward the object plane, the third element L3 is a meniscus lens element having a positive focal power and protruding toward the image plane, the fourth element L4 is a meniscus lens element having a negative focal power and protruding toward the object plane, and the fifth element L5 is a lens element having a positive focal power.
US09482849B2

An optical photographing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element has refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element with positive refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric, and at least one of the surfaces of the fifth lens element has at least one inflection point. The optical photographing lens assembly has a total of five lens elements with refractive power.
US09482848B2

A five-piece optical lens for capturing image and a five-piece optical module for capturing image, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, including a first lens with positive refractive power having an object-side surface which can be convex; a second lens with refractive power; a third lens with refractive power; a fourth lens with refractive power; and a fifth lens which can have negative refractive power, wherein an image-side surface thereof can be concave, and at least one surface of the fifth lens has an inflection point; both surfaces of each of the five lenses are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.
US09482847B1

A six-piece optical lens for capturing image and a six-piece optical module for capturing image are provided. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lenses along the optical axis include a first lens with refractive power, a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power, a fourth lens with refractive power, a fifth lens with refractive power and a sixth lens with refractive power, and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the six lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09482846B2

An imaging lens, the imaging lens including in an ordered way from an object side, a first lens having positive (+) refractive power, a second lens having negative (−) refractive power, a third lens having negative (−) refractive power, a fourth lens having positive (+) refractive power, and a fifth lens having negative (−) refractive power, wherein meeting a conditional expression of 0.5
US09482843B2

An imaging lens includes a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens; a third lens; a fourth lens; a fifth lens having negative refractive power; and a sixth lens. The first lens is formed in a shape so that a surface thereof on the object side and a surface thereof on the image plane side have positive curvature radii. The fifth lens is formed in a shape so that a surface thereof on the image plane side has a negative curvature radius. The sixth lens is formed in a shape so that a surface thereof on the image plane side has a positive curvature radius.
US09482831B2

Provided are a silica-on-silicon-based hybrid integrated optoelectronic chip and a manufacturing method therefor. The hybrid integrated optoelectronic chip comprises a silicon substrate (1), wherein the surface of the silicon substrate (1) is provided with a platform (8), lug bosses (6,7) and a groove (10); a silica waveguide element (2) is arranged in the groove (10), the lug bosses (6,7) are protruded from the surface of the platform (8), and the surface of the platform (8) is provided with a discontinuous metal electrode layer (3); and the surface of the metal electrode layer (3) is provided with solder bumps (4), and an active optoelectronic chip (5) is arranged above the solder bumps (4) and the lug bosses (6, 7). In the manufacturing method, multi-step processes including material growth, hot oxygen bonding, flip-chip bonding, lithography alignment and the like are adopted, thereby guaranteeing the high-efficiency light coupling among waveguide devices of different materials, and reducing the light reflection between waveguide end faces. A high-frequency electrode composed of alternating current electrode areas (26) is manufactured between the alignment lug bosses (6, 7). Due to the fact that flip-chip bonding technology is beneficial to the transmission of high-frequency signals, integration level between devices is improved. Meanwhile, the process design not only can achieve the chip-level probe test, but also can be used for the subsequent gold ball bonding or wedge bonding process, thereby facilitating the achievement of encapsulation and mass production of hybrid integrated chips.
US09482829B2

A fiber optic connector and cable assembly includes a cable with one or more strength members secured to a connector that is connectable to both a hardened and a non-hardened fiber optic adapter. The cable can include multiple cable types with various shapes and strength member configurations. The connector includes a connector housing having a one-piece main body and a cover piece mounted thereon. The one-piece main body defines a plug portion compatible with the adapters. A ferrule assembly is mounted in the plug portion and biased outwardly by a spring. An insert within the connector housing includes a spring stop for holding the spring and a cable retention portion for securing the strength members of the cable. The spring stop and the cable retention portion can be included on a one-piece insert or they can separately be included on separate inserts. The cable retention portion of the insert and the cover piece can take various forms suited for a particular cable of a given fiber optic connector and cable assembly.
US09482822B2

A wavelength selective switch 1A includes a light input/output unit 10, a dispersive element 20, and a light deflection element 30 disposed side by side on a predetermined axis C. The light input/output unit 10 has a first portion 10a in which light enters and exits a light input/output port 11 by an optical axis inclined with respect to the predetermined axis C, and a second portion 10b in which light enters and exits a light input/output port 12 by an optical axis inclined with respect to the predetermined axis C. A light entry/exit angle of the light input/output port 11 with the predetermined axis C as a reference and a light entry/exit angle of the light input/output port 12 with the predetermined axis C as a reference differ from each other.
US09482814B2

The present invention relates to an MCF with a structure for enabling an alignment work with higher accuracy. The MCF has a plurality of cores and a cladding. An outer peripheral shape of the cladding in a cross section of the MCF is comprised of a circumferential portion forming a circumference coincident with an outer periphery of the MCF, and a cut portion. The cut portion has a bottom portion and two contact portions provided on both sides of the bottom portion and projecting more than the bottom portion. When a side face of the MCF is viewed, the two contact portions have flattened faces and the flattened faces of the two contact portions extend along a longitudinal direction of the MCF with the bottom portion in between.
US09482807B2

Optical constructions use a low index of refraction layer disposed between a low absorption layer and a high absorption layer to increase confinement of light to the low absorption region of the optical constructions. Low index layers can be used in optical constructions that have multi-tiered light confinement. In these constructions, a first tier of reflection is provided when light is reflected at the surface of a low index optical film which is disposed directly or indirectly on a light guide. A second tier of reflection occurs at the surface of a light redirecting film having appropriately oriented refractive structures.
US09482802B2

A method for producing a long retardation film having an optical axis in an oblique direction relative to the length direction of the long retardation film is provided.
US09482800B2

In a plurality of asymmetric color-shifting flakes, each flake has an asymmetric magnetic core with a magnetic layer visible on the first side of the core and a non-magnetic reflector layer on the magnetic layer, visible on the second side of the core. The flake has a spacer layer and an absorber layer on the first side of the core, and also a spacer layer and an absorber layer on the second side of the core, for providing color shifting effects. The material of the magnetic layer is different from the material of the reflector layer, and may be more stable when exposed to a chemical. When a coating with the asymmetric color-shifting flakes is exposed to the chemical, it may have better optical performance than a coating with symmetric color-shifting flakes.
US09482796B2

An optical device has a first metasurface disposed over a substrate. A high-contrast pattern of the first metasurface is operable for modifying, over a first phase profile, a phase front of an incident light beam. A second metasurface, is disposed over a plane parallel to the first metasurface with a second high-contrast pattern and operable for shaping, over a second phase profile, the modified phase front of the incident light beam into a converging spherical phase front. A spacer layer, in which the modified phase front of the incident light beam diffracts, is disposed in a controllably changeable separation between the first and second metasurfaces. Controllably changing the separation between the first and the second metasurfaces by a first distance correspondingly changes the position of the focus point of the converging spherical phase front by a second distance significantly greater than the first distance.
US09482788B2

The present disclosure provides a UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition including a hydrophilic silicone macromer, a UV-blocking monomer, a first hydrophilic monomer, a crosslinker and a polymerization initiator. The hydrophilic silicone macromer has a general formula: V-L-S-(L′-V′)x, wherein V and V′ are independently ethylenically-based polymerizable groups, L and L′ are independently a covalent bond or a linkage group, S is a siloxane group having a chemical structure such as and x is 0 or 1. A silicone contact lens containing the UV-blocking silicone hydrogel composition is also provided herein.
US09482784B2

The present invention is related to an imaging metamaterial, comprising at least one resonant unit with a controllable split structure that comprises at least one gap and at least one segment, wherein the segment is connected by a node or separated by the gap. The present invention also provides a method for preparing an imaging metamaterial. The present invention further provides an imaging apparatus.
US09482781B2

Systems and transmitter assemblies for exploring geophysical formations at great depths. In order to explore the formation, transmitter assemblies with a size less than 500 nanometers are inserted into the formation. The transmitter assemblies include propulsion devices to propel through the formation, analyzing fluids and conditions as each moves through the formation. The transmitter assemblies can communicate with a machine on the surface via a series of receivers and transmitters located in the wellbore. The machine on the surface is able to combine and analyze the data from the nanorobots to create a three dimensional map of the formation. The map shows the locations of pathways through the formation, pockets of hydrocarbons within the formation, and the boundaries of the formation.
US09482776B2

A method of identifying a bed boundary in a subterranean formation by processing data measured by an induction logging tool. An interferometric method compares recorded voltages and/or phases recorded at axially spaced apart receivers on the logging tool. A transmitter is on the logging tool and set between the receivers, where the receivers are equally spaced apart from the transmitter. The transmitter emits a signal having frequencies up to around 50 kHz.
US09482774B2

Operation of a marine vessel is disclosed. A marine vessel may be operated so as to determine that an end of a first sail line is approaching. Once determined, a turn path from the end of the first sail line to the beginning of a second sail line may be determined. The turn path may be determined based on at least one of current direction and current magnitude.
US09482773B2

Wide azimuth data acquisition systems using at least three streamer sets achieve shorter survey time and enhanced angular coverage relative to conventional systems using two streamer sets. Various techniques such as high-density seismic source activation and alternating surveyed bands with skipped bands lead to data quality similar to the conventional system, while maintaining the increased productivity advantage.
US09482749B1

A method and system is disclosed for tracking object clusters that reduces the complexity of isotropic scaling and conformal transformations that are used with current methods of tracking clusters. The method and system comprise obtaining a first sensor image and a second sensor image. Then, angular measurements between objects of the first sensor image are determined. Next, the second sensor image is rotated to align it with the first sensor image, and then angular measurements between objects of the second sensor image are determined. Then angular measurements from the first sensor image are compared to angular measurements of the second image, and correlated object clusters are identified.
US09482743B2

A system may be configured to compute an estimated location of a user device based on an estimation coefficient and a measured distance between the user device and a base station. The estimation coefficient may be based on: an actual distance between a reference device and the base station, and a measured distance between the reference device and the base station. The system may store or output the information regarding the estimated location of the device.
US09482739B2

An apparatus and method is provided for indoor/outdoor transition detection of devices to improve selection of the navigation algorithms. To determine whether an outdoor-to-indoor transition has occurred, a mobile device can determine whether a difference between an indoor position determined using indoor position information and outdoor position determined using outdoor position information is less than a threshold and can conclude that the mobile device transitioned from outdoor to indoor of the structure, if the difference is less than the threshold. Also, to determine whether an indoor-to-outdoor transition has occurred, the mobile device can determine whether an indoor position survey area exists, determine whether an outdoor position determined based on outdoor position information is outside of the survey area, and determine whether a signal strength associated with the outdoor position location information is greater than a threshold.
US09482738B2

A method for determining a topology of a wireless communication network (14), the method comprising: receiving a plurality of signal strength data respectively measured at a plurality of fixed stations (12) in the network each with respect to its neighbouring fixed stations; receiving a sensor data measured at a mobile station 16 operable to communicate with the network; and determining positions of the plurality of fixed stations based on the signal strength data measured at the plurality of fixed stations and the sensor data measured at the mobile station.
US09482736B1

A system and device phase-aligns and sums signals from a very large array of sensors, such as microphones or ultrasonic transducers, without prior knowledge of time delays of signals reaching each sensor, so as to accommodate effects of reverberant fields or acoustic or ultrasonic media containing multiple reflectors or scatterers and/or having heterogeneous, unknown acoustic properties.
US09482723B2

A wireless power supply system includes a power transmission device capable of transmitting power to a plurality of power receiving devices by a magnetic field resonance method. The power transmission device includes a detection unit configured to detect an amount of charge of each of the plurality of power receiving devices, a determination unit configured to determine, if the amount of charge of a certain power receiving device is not increased even when a predetermined time has elapsed since start of power transmission to the certain power receiving device, whether a cause of failure to increase the amount of charge is the power transmission device or the certain power receiving device, based on the amount of charge of any other power receiving device detected by the detection unit, and a notification unit configured to transmit a notification about the determination result by the determination unit.
US09482721B2

A control unit for a rotary electric machine includes a first current command module, a second current command module, a change module, and a return module. The first module performs a first current command on a maximum efficiency characteristic line on a d-q plane thereby to drive the machine at a maximum efficiency. The second module performs a second current command on a switching line set at a retard angle side relative to the maximum efficiency characteristic line. The change module changes a control mode from a rectangular wave voltage phase control mode to an overmodulation current control mode when an operation point of the machine reaches the switching line. The return module returns the current command from the second command to the first command after performance of the second command for a predetermined period.
US09482719B2

A semiconductor chip includes an OCC that receives an ATPG test pattern and generates clock pulses in response. An OCC test circuit detects clock pulses of the OCC circuit and provides debug data to test output configurable logic that also receives results from other circuits testing different DUT flip-flops. A clipping test circuit detects ATPG failures due to clipped clock pulses from the OCC by providing pulse-width sensitive flip-flop outputs to DUT I/Os. An IR drop test circuit detects if ATPG failures are due to IR-drop problems in certain flip-flops. A pulse bit manipulating circuit varies the test pattern provided to the OCC and OCC-generated clock pulses. A debug controller connected to test output configurable logic selects between results of the different tests for supply as an output test signal to be compared on-the-fly with expected pattern data on ATE and used to isolate errors on the chip.
US09482715B2

A method for determining conductivity of cable insulation of a cable including at least one conductor that determines the central axis of the cable and insulation layer surrounding the conductor longitudinally and radially includes steps of retrieving a cable sample from a cable, which sample includes a length of at least one insulation layer and preparing an insulation sample from the cable sample. The insulation sample is prepared from cable sample by cutting a circular layer having a set thickness at desired radius from the central axis of the cable.
US09482714B2

Embodiments relate to systems for improved relative location identification for overheat, short circuit, and open circuit events. The systems accomplish the improvements by utilizing any, or a combination, of implementing a novel calculation formula, determining and implementing an external offset value, and determining and implementing an internal offset value.
US09482712B2

An apparatus for performing measurements on a utility power device that shares a common ground with the apparatus selectively sends a first high voltage signal via a first lead to a first terminal of the utility power device, measures a first corresponding signal returned via a second lead of the apparatus from a second terminal of the utility power device. While the corresponding first lead and the second lead of the apparatus remain electrically coupled to the corresponding first and the second terminal of the utility power device. The apparatus selectively sends a second high voltage signal via the second lead to the second terminal of the utility power device, and measures a second corresponding signal returned via the first lead of the apparatus from the first terminal of the utility power device.
US09482710B2

An electrical part testing system for evaluating quality of an insulated electrical part, including a computer-controlled switching apparatus for providing an original voltage to the electrical part automatically according to a pre-established testing scheme calling for provision of voltage to each phase of the part, in turn, while grounding the other phases of the part. A high-frequency filter for receiving receive the original voltage, receiving a load voltage emanating from the electrical part in response to the part receiving the original voltage, and filtering the original voltage from the load voltage to isolate any partial-discharge voltage added to the original voltage by the electrical part while the part is being electrified by the original voltage, yielding a filtered signal. A computing device determines, based on a comparison of a peak amplitude of the partial-discharge inception voltage to a voltage threshold, the quality of the electrical part being tested.
US09482708B2

A method and apparatus for an enhanced reverberation chamber are disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more positioners are coupled to a tuner, such that when the tuner moves, the positioner moves. A device involved with a test may be mounted to the positioner so that when the positioner moves, the device moves.
US09482704B2

A method, a controller unit for a bridge rectifier, and a bridge rectifier system are disclosed for detecting a shorted diode in a bridge rectifier. The method can include determining a phase-to-phase voltage between two phase inputs of the bridge rectifier, wherein a phase input is provided between the two series connected diodes of the respective phase, and indicating a shorted diode fault by determining whether the phase-to-phase voltage is zero for more than a commutation time of the bridge rectifier.
US09482700B2

A current detector senses current flowing through a conductor, such as a conductive trace of a circuit board, without being placed in series with the conductor. A first magnetically conductive partial ring is located above the conductor, and a second magnetically conductive partial ring is located below the conductor. Ends of one of the partial rings may be inserted through holes of the circuit board to either side of the conductive trace. The partial rings, upon being contactively aligned with one another, form a magnetically conductive complete ring around the conductor. A Hall effect sensor disposed within one of the partial rings outputs a signal corresponding to the current flowing through the conductor.
US09482694B2

A device for measuring electronic components having a plurality of conductors applied to a dielectric cable carrier, which conductors are each connected both to a contact finger and to a connection contact, such that a switch is integrated in at least one of the conductors, via which the conductor can be additionally connected to a ground connection.
US09482691B1

A new active optical Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) probe integrating monolithically a semiconductor laser source, an AFM tip, and a photodetector into a robust, easy-to use single semiconductor chip to enable both conventional AFM measurements and optical imaging and spectroscopy at the nanoscale.
US09482684B2

Systems, methods and apparatus are described for a centrifuge module of a laboratory analysis system. Specimen containers may be weighed, loaded into a centrifuge adapter, and transported to a centrifuge module by an adapter shuttle. A centrifuge adapter gripper may transport the centrifuge adapter into a centrifuge for centrifugation. The centrifuge adapter may be transported by the centrifuge adapter gripper to an adapter shuttle for unloading of the specimen containers, which may be performed by a specimen container gripper. A centrifuge drawer that allows a centrifuge to be extended from its installed position is also described. Additional embodiments pertain to a sequence for replacing, in a centrifuge, a set of centrifuge adapters that have been centrifuged with a set of centrifuge adapters that have not been centrifuged. A sequence for loading specimen containers into centrifuge adapters is also described.
US09482683B2

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for sequential testing across multiple devices. In one implementation, the method includes analyzing test device requirements, received from a plurality of user devices, to generate automation scripts for test automation. Further, the method includes allocating testing devices, from among the plurality of user devices, for the sequential testing based on availability of the plurality of user devices and the test device requirements. Further, the method includes determining a sequential schedule based on at least one of a waiting time for the testing devices, a priority assigned to the testing devices and the automation scripts, intermediate data, an execution status, and a device status.
US09482676B2

The present invention provides a method for detecting idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, which comprises measuring the expression level of a periostin gene or the amount of a periostin protein in a biological sample. Thereby, a method for detecting idiopathic interstitial pneumonia using a marker is provided.
US09482668B2

Disclosed are methods and systems for the isolation and detection of microbes from a sample. The use of binding agents for isolation of a microbe of interest from a sample are described. In certain embodiments, the methods use ribosome-based and/or bacteriophage-based amplification of the signal in detection of bacteria and other microorganisms. For example, embodiments of the present invention can achieve total amplification of at least 10,000 from a single infected cell.
US09482658B2

A test system and method for determining thermal effects of tissue ablation on an ex vivo tissue includes a power generator, a grounding patch, and a material block configured to emulate an electrical property of a patient. The power generator electrically connects to an electrode to generate an electrical current in the electrode. The grounding patch electrically connects to the power generator, and the material block electrically connects to the grounding patch. Furthermore, the material block includes an ex vivo tissue patch configured to emulate an in vivo tissue of the patient. As such, selectively engaging the electrode to the ex vivo tissue patch electrically connects the electrode to the grounding patch through the material block for electrocauterizing the ex vivo tissue patch.
US09482657B2

A computer implemented method. The method includes obtaining, using a processor, reflectance data from a target coating and calculating, using the processor, a reflectance from the data, wherein calculating comprises performing a calculation using a radiative transfer equation. The method also includes generating, using the processor and based on the reflectance, a coating formulation that is the same or substantially similar in appearance to the target coating.
US09482648B2

A method for detecting and quantifying galacto-oligosaccharide in a sample containing galacto-oligosaccharide and dextrin is characterized in that the sample is caused to react with a derivatizing reagent to derivatize the dextrin and galacto-oligosaccharide in the sample, after which the galacto-oligosaccharide component in the sample is separated by high-performance liquid chromatography using a C30 reverse-phase chromatography column, thereby accurately detecting and quantifying galacto-oligosaccharide with ease and at low cost.
US09482641B2

Provided is a device adapted for detecting chemical and physical phenomena and suitable for high integration, and a method for controlling the detection device. When a plurality of pH-detecting devices are used, a variation in sensitivity occurs in each of the sensing units. The variation in sensitivity can be calibrated using a simple method. The amount of charge (output signal) delivered by each of the sensing units to a standard solution is determined, and the difference between the delivered charge amount and a standard charge amount (standard output signal) delivered by a standard sensing unit is determined. The capacity of the potential well of the sensing unit is changed, or the potential of a TG unit when a charge is delivered is changed, so as to cancel out the difference.
US09482640B2

Methods and devices for improving measurements of test meter, and in particular for detecting a presence of an electrochemical sensor or strip in the test meter and a start time of an electrochemical reaction, are provided. In one exemplary embodiment of an electrochemical system includes an electrochemical sensor, a test meter, and a circuit. The circuit is configured to form an electrical connection with the electrochemical sensor such that the circuit can detect three distinct voltage ranges. The voltage ranges can be indicative of an absence of the electrochemical sensor, a presence of the sensor that is devoid of a sample, and a presence of the sensor with a sample. Test meters, methods for detecting when a sample starts to fill an electrochemical sensor for establishing when a reaction starts, and circuits for use with electrochemical strips, are also provided.
US09482635B2

A glucose measurement system includes a display and a biosensor that provides a signal representative of a glucose level of a fluid sample. A processor determines glucose data values and a rate of change of blood glucose using the signal. The processor can determine a state band and a rate band using the values and rate, and display a state icon colored per the state band and a rate icon colored and shaped per the rate band. The processor does not display any other indication of the determined rate of change or of any of the stored glucose data values. The processor can also display a unified icon shaped per the rate of change, with a prevailing color determined using the values. The processor does not display any other indication of the determined rate of change or of any of the stored glucose data values. Corresponding methods are also described.
US09482626B2

An open-ended waveguide probe including a finite flange extending outwardly and functioning as an infinite flange. A signal source provides a microwave signal to the waveguide, which in turn transmits microwave electromagnetic energy incident upon an object to be tested. The finite flange at the waveguide's aperture is shaped to reduce scattering of the electromagnetic field reflected from the object and received by the aperture. The probe is adapted for coupling to a receiver for sampling the reflected electromagnetic field received by the aperture and the receiver is adapted for coupling to a processor for determining at least one material characteristic of the object based on sampled electromagnetic field reflected from the object.
US09482625B2

Embodiments of methods and systems for identifying or determining spatially resolved properties in indirect bandgap semiconductor devices such as solar cells are described. In one embodiment, spatially resolved properties of an indirect bandgap semiconductor device are determined by externally exciting the indirect bandgap semiconductor device to cause the indirect bandgap semiconductor device to emit luminescence (110), capturing images of luminescence emitted from the indirect bandgap semiconductor device in response to the external excitation (120), and determining spatially resolved properties of the indirect bandgap semiconductor device based on a comparison of relative intensities of regions in one or more of the luminescence images (130).
US09482624B2

The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus, the inspection apparatus including a projection unit configured to project a plurality of lights, each having a different focal length relative to a surface of an inspection object, and an inspection unit configured to inspect a surface of an inspection object using the light reflected from the inspection object, wherein the projection unit is provided with a plurality of lenses configured to project the lights, and curvature of each lens is different, and the focal length is different due to the difference of the curvature, whereby the curve on a surface of the inspection object can be reliably measured.
US09482615B2

Embodiments encompass a single-molecule detection system and methods of using the detection system to detect an object. Further, embodiments encompass a detection system comprising a movable light coupler, a waveguide, and a light detector. Embodiments further encompass methods of single-molecule detection, including methods of single-molecule nucleic acid sequencing.
US09482610B2

A method of controlling processing of a substrate includes measuring a spectrum reflected from the substrate, for each partition of a plurality of partitions of the measured spectrum, computing a partition value based on the measured spectrum within the partition to generate a plurality of partition values, for each reference spectrum signature of a plurality of reference spectrum signatures, determining a membership function for each partition, for each partition, computing a membership value based on the membership function for the partition and the partition value for the partition to generate a plurality of groups of membership values with each group of the plurality of groups associated with a reference spectrum signature, selecting a best matching reference spectrum signature from the plurality of reference spectra signatures based on the plurality of groups of membership values, and determining a characterizing value associated with the best matching reference spectrum signature.
US09482606B2

A method for operating an electronic device including a first sensor is provided, the method including: obtaining a first reading from the first sensor; detecting a state of the electronic device; and adjusting the first reading based on the state the electronic device to generate an adjusted reading; and performing, by the electronic device, an action based on the adjusted reading; wherein the first sensor includes at least one of a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.
US09482603B2

Described is a device for solid phase extraction of a dried sample of a biological fluid. The device includes a support structure such as a plate or support block that has a first side to receive a dried sample card. The support structure also has a second side that is opposite the first side and a number of apertures that extend between the first and second sides. The device also includes a plurality of wells each containing a sample preparation material and having an inlet end that communicates with a respective aperture at the second side of the support structure. Each dried sample on the dried sample card is aligned with one of the apertures. Extraction samples in each well pass through the sample preparation material, such as a chromatographic sorbent, in the well to remove one or more constituents of the extraction sample.
US09482601B2

The invention relates, in accordance with one aspect, to a portable device for transporting at least one histological sample or at least one cassette containing a histological sample. The device is attachable to a processing station for processing 5 histological samples. In the attached state, energy for cooling the histological sample is transferred from the processing station to the device or vice versa. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a processing station for processing a histological sample is provided, which station is embodied for releasable attachment of a portable device. The processing station is further embodied to transfer energy 10 for cooling to, or receive it from, an attached device.
US09482591B2

Improved gas leak detection from moving platforms is provided. Automatic horizontal spatial scale analysis can be performed in order to distinguish a leak from background levels of the measured gas. Source identification can be provided by using isotopic ratios and/or chemical tracers to distinguish gas leaks from other sources of the measured gas. Multi-point measurements combined with spatial analysis of the multi-point measurement results can provide leak source distance estimates. These methods can be practiced individually or in any combination.
US09482589B2

Provided herein is a leak detector comprising: a flat base sheet bound by an outer perimeter and an interior aperture; a wick material barrier coupled to the base between the aperture and the outer perimeter in a continuous or substantially continuous strip around the aperture, the wick material barrier interrupted by one or more gap regions, each gap region defined by a pair of wick material projections starting at either end of the gap region and extending radially outward; a liquid sensor in fluid communication with the pair of wick material projections; and a liquid-impermeable material coupled to the base sheet and surrounding the pair of wick material projections to form a liquid-impermeable enclosure defining an interior cavity comprising the pair of wick material projections and the liquid sensor.
US09482586B2

A heating control apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The heating control apparatus includes a heating module, a temperature sensing module, a pulse width modulation circuit, and a comparator. Input terminals of the comparator are respectively coupled to the temperature sensing module and the pulse width modulation circuit, and an output terminal of the comparator is coupled to the heating module. In the control method, a heating temperature of the heating module is sensed by the temperature sensing module, so as to provide a temperature sensing signal. The comparator receives the temperature sensing signal and a pulse width modulation signal generated by the pulse width modulation circuit and compares the temperature sensing signal and the pulse width modulation signal to generate a comparing pulse width modulation signal, so as to control the heating temperature of the heating module by using the comparing pulse width modulation signal.
US09482583B1

Methods and systems for measuring heliostat reflectivity with a control processing unit configured to receive an image of a heliostat, receive an image of the Sun, process the received images, and determine a reflectivity estimate based on a comparison of the processed images.
US09482575B1

A System and Method for Low Signal Knife Edge Wavefront Sensing in an Adaptive Optical System to provide measurement and compensation of aberrations induced by propagation through an optical system and through a turbulent medium to a target. The wavefront sensing method requires a minimum signal level for effective operation by taking advantage of the implicit gain afforded by the knife edge principle and incorporating a means for on-line calibration of the knife edge gain. This particular advantage reduces requirements on the laser utilized to generate a beacon signal for wavefront sensing and reduces requirements on the detectors utilized for wavefront sensing, ultimately reducing cost of the method relative to alternative adaptive optical systems using conventional wavefront sensing methods. The method is suitable for use with a broad range of laser sources, including continuous wave and pulsed laser sources, cooperative and non-cooperative targets.
US09482574B2

Method for determining a characteristic for the quality of alignment of a rotating machine, by obtaining vibration data with at least one vibration sensor, and using the vibration data obtained with the vibration sensor to determine a characteristic for the quality of alignment. Furthermore, alignment data obtained from first and second optoelectronic units is used in addition to the vibration data obtained with the at least one vibration sensor to produce a combination value from which both an instantaneous vibration state and success of the alignment can be determined.
US09482563B2

To provide accurate determinations of volumetric flow rate and thus of total liquid volume transported over a given time period, two pressure transducers are disposed a predetermined distance apart along a conduit. Precise pressure measurement readings are generated from which volumetric flow rate can be derived with accuracy. Integration of the volumetric flow rate over time yields an improved measure of the total liquid volume that has flowed through the conduit during the respective temporal interval. The two pressure transducers are disposed along the conduit a predetermined distance apart with no obstruction or restriction in the conduit between the transducers. A controller can be used to determine the volumetric flow rate using the Hagen-Poiseuille Equation.
US09482560B2

The invention relates to a position transmitter with a position code and an optical sensor element for detecting at least one part of the position code. The sensor element has a row of photosensitive detection regions, which convert incident photons into electric charges, and a readout structure for outputting an electric data signal corresponding to the stored electric charges. The sensor element has an analog memory unit structure with a number of N>1 rows of photo-insensitive analog memory cells in order to temporarily store the electric charges and an electric switching structure, by means of which a charge transfer can be carried out between the detection regions and the memory cells, between the memory cells amongst one another, and between the memory cells and the readout row.
US09482558B2

There is provided a method for calculating with high accuracy a multi-turn absolute rotation angle of a motor rotating shaft coupled to a motor output shaft. In a rotation angle detection device according to this invention, a rotation angle θn of an n-th rotating shaft satisfies the relationship with a rotation angle θ1 of the motor rotating shaft: θn=(−(m±1)/m)n−1×θ1. The rotation angle detection device as an embodiment of a mechanism satisfying the relationship includes a gear mechanism in which a gear having (m±1) teeth meshes with a gear having m teeth between each adjacent two of first to n-th rotating shafts. A multi-turn rotation angle of the first rotating shaft is expanded to a detected value p1 of the first rotating shaft which is a rotation angle of the first rotating shaft and R0×m0+R1×m1+ . . . Rn−2×mn−2 corresponding to the number of revolutions of the first rotating shaft, coefficients R0 to Rn−2 are obtained on the basis of detected values from angle detectors of the respective shafts, and the multi-turn rotation angle of the first rotating shaft is calculated. Detection errors generated in the angle detectors of the second and subsequent rotating shafts can be effectively reduced, and a high-accuracy multi-turn rotation angle can be calculated.
US09482554B2

A method, a filtering module, and a computer-readable medium are configured to filter measurements acquired in a sensor reference system. Filtered measurements of motion sensors and a magnetometer attached to the device may then be used to determine orientation of a device in a non-inertial reference system. The measurements are filtered in a reference system, whose position relative to the sensor system can be calculated, and in which gravity and Earth's magnetic field have substantially constant direction and magnitude during the filtering window.
US09482551B1

A system for presenting performance attributes on a display unit on an aircraft is disclosed. The system may include a communication module for receiving the RNP for the aircraft, a navigation module for determining the position of the aircraft as well as its ANP, and a processing module for generating an integrated graphical representation of these performance attributes. The processing module may generate a cross-sectional depiction of a virtual tunnel based on the RNP and the position of the aircraft, wherein the cross-sectional depiction may include a first containment limit indicator and a second containment limit indicator. The processing module may also generate an aircraft position indicator, wherein the aircraft position indicator may indicate the position of the aircraft as well as the ANP of the aircraft. The cross-sectional depiction of the tunnel and the aircraft position indicator may be displayed on a display unit in a two-dimensional manner.
US09482549B2

A system and method for determining location information using a location data point provided by a computing device is described. A location data point is received by a system from a client computing device. The system determines whether the location data point is within a predefined region from a plurality of predefined regions configured by a user of the system. If the location data point is within a predefined region, location information corresponding to the predefined region is transmitted to the client device. If the location data point is not within a predefined region, one or more third-party reverse geocoding services can be used that translates the location data point to a street address.
US09482548B2

One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for populating a map interface with a route inspection portal and/or for generating travel route video. In an example, a map interface is populated with a map canvas illustrating a travel route. The map canvas is populated with inspection markers corresponding to imagery depicting travel route portions of the travel route. Responsive to identifying a selection of an inspection marker at an inspection location, imagery depicting the inspection location may be identified. The map canvas is populated with a route inspection portal for the inspection marker. The route inspection portal is populated with the imagery (e.g., street-side imagery of an intersection along the travel route). In an example, a travel route video, comprising video frames corresponding to an ordering of the imagery (e.g., from a start location to an end location) along the travel route, may be generated and/or played.
US09482546B2

A method for providing route information is to be implemented by a system coupled to an electronic device. In the method, the system is programmed to: provide an online video-playing interface including a first frame that displays primary video media, and a second frame that displays secondary information media, which is visually recognizable and associated with the primary video media; obtain, upon receipt of a trigger signal associated with selection of the secondary information media, a current location of the electronic device and a destination location associated with the secondary information media; and plan a route from the current location to the destination location, and transmit the route to the electronic device for display.
US09482545B2

An apparatus and a method search a route using a portable terminal. A controller establishes a call connection with another party and exchanges positional information with the other party. An analyzing unit analyzes the route information using a first positional information of the portable terminal and a second positional information of the other party. A displaying unit outputs the route information analyzed by the analyzing unit. The controller provides the route information analyzed by the analyzing unit.
US09482537B2

Various implementations described herein are directed to displaying laylines. In one implementation, a method may include receiving marine electronics data at a marine electronics device disposed on a vessel. The method may also include receiving a navigational location. The method may further include calculating one or more laylines based on the navigational location and the marine electronics data. The method may additionally include displaying a vessel marker representing the vessel, a compass scale, and the one or more laylines on a display screen of the marine electronics device, where the vessel marker, the compass scale, and the one or more laylines are integrated on the display screen.
US09482530B2

Control systems and methods are provided for improved azimuthal pointing control near gimbal zenith/nadir in two-axis gimbal systems mounted to moveable platforms. The system includes a two-axis gimbal and a two-axis pointing device mounted to the two-axis gimbal. The two-axis pointing device directs a line of sight axis based upon a commanded steering direction and movement of the platform in the inertial frame of the line of sight. The two-axis gimbal follows the movement of the two-axis pointing device, keeping the two-axis pointing device from encountering its mechanical limits. In this manner, inertial pointing control is maintained in the near gimbal zenith/nadir regime.
US09482529B2

A noncontact optical three-dimensional measuring device that includes a first projector, a first camera, a second projector, and a second camera; a processor electrically coupled to the first projector, the first camera, the second projector, and the second camera; and computer readable media which, when executed by the processor, causes the first digital signal to be collected at a first time and the second digital signal to be collected at a second time different than the first time and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a first point on the surface based at least in part on the first digital signal and the first distance and determines three-dimensional coordinates of a second point on the surface based at least in part on the second digital signal and the second distance.
US09482523B2

The present invention relates to an air micrometer. The air micrometer includes a target object accommodation slot having a bottom surface and a ceiling surface to accommodate at least one portion of the target object between the bottom surface and the ceiling surface, and an air spray unit including a nozzle opened in the bottom surface or the ceiling surface to spray the air onto the target object that is accommodated between the bottom surface and the ceiling surface.
US09482511B2

A system and method for sweeping electromagnetic radiation over a first coherence length and a second length over a range of wavelengths to generate an image. Electromagnetic radiation having a first coherence length is generated and swept over a range of wavelengths. Electromagnetic radiation having a second coherence length is generated and swept over a range of wavelengths. The electromagnetic radiation is splitting through a reference path and a sample path; Electromagnetic radiation returned from the reference path and the sample path is detected, wherein the detector generates output signals corresponding to the received electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment, the output signals are processed to generate an image. The image may be interleaved with data corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation having the first coherence length and the second coherence length.
US09482507B2

A method of blasting rock at an underground blast site in which boreholes (11a, b, c) are drilled in a rock mass 10 from a drive defining face 12, each borehole is loaded with at least one charge of explosive material (13a-c, 14a-c, 15a-c), at least one detonator is placed in operative association with each charge, and a sequence of at least two initiation events is conducted to blast the rock mass, in each of which only some of the charges are initiated, by sending firing signals to only the detonators associated with said charges and in which each initiation event is a discrete user-controlled initiation event. In one of the at least two initiation events a stranded portion of the rock mass such as a pillar is created that has already been drilled and charged, and the stranded portion of the rock mass is blasted in a subsequent one or more of the at least two initiation events without personnel accessing said stranded portion. First explosive charges (13a, b, c and 15a, b, c) may be blasted in the one initiation event, leaving a pillar of stranded ore with the preloaded borehole 11b extending through it. The detonators may be wireless.
US09482506B1

Methods and apparatus for an acoustic source for directing acoustic energy to ensonify a container, a first sensor to detect acoustic energy from the acoustic source affected by an object in the container without contacting the container, a second sensor to confirm presence of the object, and a processing module to process the detected acoustic energy from the first and second sensors to identify the object in the container.
US09482499B1

The invention is an explosively formed projectile (EFP). On detonation of an explosive charge, an explosively formed projectile is formed from two separate metal elements, an open-poled dished liner and a cavitation pin. The open-poled dished liner is made of a metal more dense than a metal of the cavitation pin. The cavitation pin lies on the open-poled dished liner longitudinal axis and in contact therewith. The cavitation pin has a truncated right conical shape with a base diameter to length ratio of 0.7:1 to 1.5:1. The ratio of the open-poled dished liner diameter:cavitation pin fore portion major base diameter is 2:1 to 4:1. Upon detonation, the cavitation pin leads the explosively forged liner in the explosively formed projectile assembly. The leading pin causes cavitation in water resulting in an increase in the velocity of the explosively formed projectile.
US09482493B2

A turret includes a hollow casing provided with a gun, such as a cannon. The casing includes an upper half-shell at least partially widening towards the bottom of the casing, and a lower half-shell at least partially widening towards the top of the casing; the upper half-shell and the lower half-shell meeting and widening, in at least one edge border of the casing.
US09482492B2

A polyurea hybrid ballistic armor formed from novel cured reaction products of various diamines and polyester diols with isocyanate curing agents. The cured reaction product can absorb large amounts of energy from ballistic projectiles, and when various hard granular particles are embedded within the cured reaction product, a strike plate effect can be realized, allowing the polyurea hybrid ballistic armor to defeat ballistic projectiles. The polyurea hybrid ballistic armor can additionally be utilized to add additional layers of protection to existing armor systems.
US09482487B2

An adapter for a QD socket is disclosed. The adapter has a connection post having a plurality of tabs movable relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration defines a maximum effective outer diameter of the connection post, and the second configuration defines a minimum effective outer diameter of the connection post. A method of modifying a quick disconnect attachment is also disclosed.
US09482486B2

A sock and sling system is presented for storing a gun within the sock in a storage state and for using as a sling connected to the gun when in a sling state. The system includes a sock extending a length from a first end to a second end and having an open interior. A pair of removable sling swivels connect the sock member to the gun. When used as a sling, the length of the sock member can be adjusted in a plurality of ways including twisting the sock member, selecting one of a number of loops to attach to or by adjusting the length of a length adjusting drawstring. In this way, a system is presented that serves the dual purpose of storing a gun in a storage state and as a sling in a sling state.
US09482485B2

An upper receiver for a firearm is provided. The upper receiver having: a hand guard section integrally formed with the upper receiver; a rail section integrally formed with the hand guard section, wherein the rail section is formed of a first material and the hand guard section is formed of a second material, wherein the second material is molded about the first material.
US09482483B2

Firearms with integrated suppressors have a receiver having a forward portion defining an internal bore, a tubular body having sides defining an interior, a selected portion of the interior receiving a barrel, the barrel having a rear end removably received in the internal bore, a selected portion of the interior receiving a plurality of baffles, and wherein at least one side of the body can be disassembled into a panel to enable access to the baffles. Each of the baffles may define an aperture. The barrel may have a central bore that defines a bore axis, and the baffle apertures may be axially registered with the bore axis. At least one side of the body may have an attachment facility that removably connects an accessory to the rifle. The barrel, baffles, and body may be of monolithic or modular construction.
US09482481B2

A magazine release for installation on a carbine in place of an original sliding latch enables use of removable magazines in place of an original clamshell magazine. The magazine release features a support member having an upper portion coupled to a trigger assembly frame of the carbine in place of the original sliding latch. A lever is pivotally supported on the support member at a lower portion thereof carried beneath the trigger assembly frame. The lever is pivotal about an axis that lies transversely of a longitudinal barrel direction of the carbine, and is manually pivotable in a release direction moving a catch feature rearwardly in the longitudinal barrel direction out of a default positon into which said catch feature is biased forwardly so as to catch under a retention feature of the removable magazine. The catch feature normally retains the removable magazine in place until the lever is pivoted in the release direction.
US09482473B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a readily produced and easily handled heat storage member. The heat storage member 1 has a rectangular plane surface of, for example, 15 (cm)×20 (cm), and has a thickness of, for example, 10 to 15 mm. The heat storage member 1 includes a gelatinous latent heat storage material 12, and a large number of highly heat conductive fillers 14 dispersed in the latent heat storage material 12. The highly heat conductive fillers 14 are mixed in the latent heat storage material 12 with a bias in dispersion density. In the rectangular plane surface of the heat storage member 1, a periodic pattern is formed in combination of cellular (cell-like) regions 10, which are demarcated by, for example, hexagonal contour lines 16 and which are periodically arrayed in the vertical and horizontal directions.
US09482472B2

A liquid cooling heat exchanger module filled with a cooling liquid includes a casing (10) and a cooling structure (11), and the interior of the casing (10) is hollow, and the casing (10) has an inlet (100) and an outlet (101) interconnected to the interior, and the cooling structure (11) is installed in the casing (10), and the cooling structure (11) has a vortex generating area (110) concavely formed at a position opposite to the inlet (100), such that a cooling liquid is filled from the inlet (100) into the casing (10) and impacted in the vortex generating area (110) to form a vortex, so as to achieve the effects of extending the time for the cooling liquid to stay in the heat exchanger module (1), maximizing the cooling effect of the cooling liquid, and improving the heat dissipating efficiency.
US09482460B2

A truck includes a refrigerated compartment that is equipped with a dedicated refrigerating system, and a driver cabin. The driver cabin is equipped with a least a first heat exchanger adapted to cool an air flow directed to the cabin. The truck further includes a compartment heat exchanger located in the refrigerated compartment and adapted to cool a heat transfer liquid sent to the first heat exchanger through a heat transfer liquid connecting the first heat exchanger to the compartment heat exchanger.
US09482445B2

A heat pump water heater with a heat utilization balance processor and a heat utilization balance processor thereof relate to a fluid heater using a heat pump and an accessory thereof, the heat pump water heater comprises the heat utilization balance processor; which comprises a housing, a heat exchange pipe, a main heat exchange cavity, a sub heat exchange cavity and a steam-liquid separator. The heat utilization balance exchange is carried out for a working substance through the sub heat exchange cavity of the heat utilization balance processor during a condensing process and an evaporation process, so as to carry out the heat comprehensive utilization, thus increasing condensing effect, decreasing high pressure and exhaust temperature, decreasing the power consumption of a compressor, and increasing the energy efficient of a unit.
US09482437B2

A front frame for a cooking appliance having at least one first cooking chamber which has a loading opening and a cooking chamber door for closing the loading opening. The front frame includes at least one first front frame unit. The at least one first front frame unit substantially completely frames the loading opening of the first cooking chamber. At an outer edge region of the at least one first front frame unit, a coupling region having at least one coupling device is formed at which an additional front frame unit can be coupled.
US09482435B2

An appliance and method for variably controlling a drive signal to a light emitting device of the appliance based on a temperature value indicative of a temperature within a chamber of the appliance is provided. The light emitting device can be included in a display or disposed within a chamber of the appliance to provide illumination. The light intensity level of the light emitting device can be controlled based on the temperature value indicative of a temperature within the chamber. The temperature value indicative of a temperature within the chamber can be a value detected within the chamber, a value detected on a surface of the chamber, or a value that anticipates the temperature within the chamber. The light intensity can be controlled with a driving signal to the light emitting device. For instance, the light intensity can be controlled using pulse width modulation of the driving signal.
US09482432B2

A combustor section is provided for a gas turbine engine. The combustor section may include an outer liner panel, an inner liner panel and a bulkhead, which is arranged with the outer and the inner liner panels to form an annular combustion chamber. The combustor section may also include a swirler assembly and a combustor vane. The swirler assembly may be configured with the bulkhead. The combustor vane may extend at least partially into said combustion chamber, wherein the combustor vane is circumferentially aligned with the swirler assembly.
US09482420B2

A LED explosion-proof lamp coupling structure to couple at least two LED explosion-proof lamps includes at least two holding sets, at least two LED lighting elements, and at least one connection unit. Each holding set includes a body, a protruding connection portion located on an upper end of the body, a chamber located in the body, and at least one first coupling portion located at one end of the body and communicating with the chamber. Each first coupling portion includes a hole communicating with the chamber and a positioning seat located on chamber and abutting the hole. Each LED lighting element is connected to the protruding connection portion. The connection unit includes a connection tube connected to each first coupling portion and at least one first fastening set to fasten the connection tube to the positioning seat. Thus the holding sets can be coupled with each other.
US09482414B2

The invention relates to a lighting device comprising a light source, a light source support, and a cover that extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. Each of the first and second ends includes an opening and the light source support is adapted to be moved in part or in full through a said opening. The lighting device also has a closure member for closing at least one of the openings at the first and second ends, the closure member being movable between a closed position and an open position, and a connector (18) having a first connection member and a second connection member. In the closed position of the closure member the first and second connection members are connected together by an electrical contact, which is a butt contact inside the inside space of the cover. The invention also provides a method of taking action on such a device.
US09482410B2

A light emitting module is configured to provide substantially uniform lighting using a plurality of lighting sources. The light emitting module includes a diffusion plate disposed at a set distance from the light emitting module. A light source substrate has a substantially quadrilateral outer perimeter with at least one gap formed therein, and a plurality of light sources are disposed on the light source substrate according to a repeated quadrilateral pattern. A distance between adjacent light sources in the repeated quadrilateral pattern is selected based on the set distance h from the diffusion plate to the light emitting module, and on a greater of two diagonal distances x, y of the quadrilateral pattern. The diffusion plate diffuses light emitted by the light sources to provide substantially uniform light. Various other aspects of the light emitting module are additionally described.
US09482405B2

A present invention includes a lamp housing, a lamp lens, a first lamp unit, and a second lamp unit. The first lamp unit includes a semiconductor-type light source, and a light guide member. The light guide member has an exit surface, and a reflection surface. A plane exit surface is provided in a part of the exit surface for blocking a part of a radiated light L4 from the second lamp unit, and a plane incident surface is provided in a part of the reflection surface for blocking a part of the radiated light L4 from the second lamp unit. As a result, the present invention is able to minimize an optical loss of the radiated light L4, even when the light guide member is located at a position for blocking a part of the radiated light L4 from the second lamp unit.
US09482404B2

The automotive headlight includes one or more first light emitting diodes (LEDs) and one or more second LEDs, wherein the one or more second LEDs are positioned at about 180 degrees with respect to the one or more first LEDs, wherein the headlight optical axis is about −90 degrees with respect to a LED optical axis of the one or more first LEDs, at least one first reflector, wherein the at least one first reflector redirects light from the one or more first LEDs to an angle of about −90 degrees with respect to a LED optical axis of the one or more first LEDs and at least one second reflector, wherein the at least one second reflector redirects light from the one or more second LEDs to an angle of about −90 degrees with respect to the LED optical axis of the one or more first LEDs.
US09482401B2

A vehicular illumination lamp includes a projection lens configured to output forward, as light that is parallel with an axial line extending in a lamp front-rear direction, light emitted from a prescribed point on the axial line, and a light source disposed in the rear of the projection lens. A front surface of the projection lens is a convex free surface and a perimeter of the front surface extends approximately along a plane that is perpendicular to the axial line. A rear surface of the projection lens is a curved surface which is formed so that light emitted from the prescribed point and incident on the projection lens is output from the projection lens as light that is parallel with the axial line.
US09482394B2

A predetermined illuminated surface pattern is generated from a predetermined energy distribution pattern of an LED light source within an LED package having a light transmitting dome. An estimated optical transfer function of a lens shape of an optic is defined by the shape of an exterior and inner surface which envelopes at least in part the light transmitting dome of the LED package. An energy distribution pattern is obtained by combination of the estimated optical transfer function and the predetermined energy distribution pattern of the light source. A projection of the energy distribution pattern onto the illuminated surface is determined. The projection is compared to the predetermined illuminated surface pattern. The estimated optical transfer function is illuminated surface pattern.
US09482389B2

A fuel tank plumbing structure includes a first pipe; a second pipe coaxially connected to the first pipe; a flexible locking piece having a protruding end displaced in a radial direction of one of the first pipe or the second pipe; a locking portion formed in another of the first pipe or the second pipe to engage the locking piece; and a lock member annularly formed and fitted externally onto the one of the first pipe or the second pipe, and including an escape groove portion and a control wall portion arranged adjacent to the escape groove. The lock member is displaced in an axis line direction of the one of the first pipe or the second pipe between a first position wherein the locking piece is displaced toward the escape groove portion, and a second position wherein the locking piece abuts against the control wall portion.
US09482379B2

A coupling including female and male couplers configured to be coupled by first and second stage connections. In the first stage connection, a plurality of detents in the female coupler are urged into a detent recess in the male coupler to coupled the female and male couplers. To make the second stage connection after the first stage connection has been made, threads on the male coupler are mated with threads on a release sleeve, which causes valves disposed in the female and male couplers to move to an open position to allow fluid flow through the coupling. In this way, reduced force is employed to engage the female and male couplers while avoiding contact between the detents and the threads on the male coupler, thereby preventing the detents and threads on the male coupler from damaging one another.
US09482378B2

In various embodiments, fluid conduits such as high pressure hoses deployed in-between two sea-fairing vessels may be released during an emergency by using a rapid release emergency disconnect system as described herein, where the rapid release emergency disconnect system may engage with a hanger such as an industry standard frac hanger and be used in-line with fluid conduits such as high-pressure lines. Various skid embodiments are described which can be configured to interface with one or more of the described rapid release emergency disconnect systems.
US09482370B2

Various embodiments provide a line clamp assembly that includes a base, cradle, and clamp. The base includes wings and a body. The wings extend from the body and each includes a routing port. The body is configured to be welded to a structure. The cradle includes a generally C-shaped body that defines a channel and an opening. The channel is configured to receive the line via the opening. The cradle is configured to sit on the base. The clamp includes a body having ends that each include an attachment configured to mate with a corresponding routing port of the wings. A force is applied to the cradle to compress the cradle such that the attachments are mated with the routing ports. The force applied to the cradle is removed after the attachments are mated with the routing ports such that the cradle expands to apply pressure to the clamp.
US09482366B2

A cap for cooperating with a flow control element of a valve for a self-priming electric pump, the valve being designed to open and close a recirculation duct for the passage of the recirculating fluid from the impeller assembly to an intake duct, the cap having a tubular body and, coaxially inside the latter, a mushroom-shaped element, which divides, with its head, the cap into a first portion and a second portion to be applied at an opening of the recirculation duct outward, respectively in the overhead and underhead installation of the self-priming electric pump, the axial space occupation of the head and of the stem of the mushroom-shaped element that is extended from the head toward the second portion defining two alternative axial positions of interaction with the flow control element of the valve in the overhead and underhead installation.
US09482360B2

A solenoid valve assembly includes an armature having a longitudinal axis and an ovular cross-section, the armature being moveable along the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position, and a bobbin including a solenoid coil configured to electromagnetically move the armature when energized. The bobbin defines a recess also having an ovular cross section for receiving the armature and restricting lateral movement of the armature, thereby providing a linear actuation path for the armature along the longitudinal axis. A flux coupler and a flux bracket form a magnetic circuit with the bobbin to electromagnetically move the armature. The flux bracket has a pole piece with a commensurate ovular cross-section that limits the movement of the armature along the longitudinal axis, thereby determining a stroke length of the armature. During manufacture, the flux bracket, and therefore the pole piece, are moved relative to the flux coupler to set the stroke length.
US09482357B2

Applicant discloses a thermally actuated valve having a housing, a resilient seat, a thermally conductive piston, a spring fluid seal, and a working material. The housing defines an inlet and an outlet and has two chambers. The seat is adjacent the inlet and the piston is adapted to move towards the seat when a working fluid in the housing warms and expands and away from the seat when a working fluid in the housing cools. By moving away from the seat, fluid flow through the valve is generated. In one application, Applicant's valve acts as a freeze prevention device. In another application, Applicant's valve is used to cool a source of water.
US09482356B2

An electromagnetic solenoid having a coil wound around a bobbin between first and second flanges for generating a magnetic force is disclosed. An armature having an armature flange at a first end is within an interior portion of the tubular center section of the bobbin and is supported for axial displacement between a first position and a second position. A permanent ring magnet is placed at the first end flange with an inner radial face spaced apart from an outer radial face of the armature flange by a radial gap, with the ring magnet supported by a retainer adjacent to the first end flange and fixed against axial displacement with respect to the bobbin. The solenoid comprises an outer case having a closed bottom at a first end and an open top at a second end and a flux washer disposed in the open top adjacent to a second end of the armature.
US09482355B2

A main stage in-line pressure control cartridge. The cartridge selectively controls flow in-line in the same direction as opposed to directing flow at a 90 degree angle like other cartridges. A tubular poppet can be mounted into a body and has a sliding control sleeve that can expose radial holes in the poppet to an open position and to seal the radial holes in a closed position. The cartridge can be configured in numerous ways in order to serve many functions, such as a pressure relief valve, a counterbalance valve, and a flow control valve. The cartridge can also be configured to allow or prevent reverse flow.
US09482351B2

The present invention relates to a process for the sterile transfer of fluids, be they liquids or gases. It uses a presterilized device comprised of a body having a bore formed through at least a portion of its interior. Contained within the bore is a movable plunger. The body has a first and a second end. The first end contains a face designed to be attached to the upstream component. The second end is connected to a downstream component such as a filter, pipeline, sample bag and the like. The plunger has corresponding first and second ends. The first end of the plunger when it the closed position is in alignment with the face of the body which combined form a steamable surface and a sterile barrier against the environment to the rest of the interior of the body, the plunger and downstream components. The device is attached to an upstream component and the face and the first end of the plunger are steam sterilized in place.
US09482348B2

A cycle valve can include a valve body and a dynamic sealing spool assembly contained within the interior of the valve body. The dynamic sealing spool assembly includes a sleeve and a gate cartridge assembly which slides within the sleeve between an open and a closed position. The sleeve can include a sleeve opening while the gate cartridge assembly can include two openings, each of which includes a dynamic seat assembly. The dynamic seat assembly in one opening can be formed by upper and lower dynamic seats configured as solid blocks which seal the pathway through the valve when the gate cartridge assembly is in the closed position. The dynamic seat assembly in the other opening can be formed by upper and lower dynamic seats configured as cylinders which form the pathway through the valve when the gate cartridge assembly is in the open position.
US09482341B2

A control apparatus for automatic-transmission provided with input-clutch through which drive force generated by engine is input to automatic-transmission, released-side frictional coupling device being placed in released state to perform shifting action of automatic-transmission, and engaged-side frictional coupling device being placed in engaged state to perform shifting action, control apparatus including: first shifting mode control means including slipping means for placing input-clutch in released state, engaging means for placing input-clutch in engaged state, and releasing/engaging switching control means for controlling shifting action of automatic-transmission being performed in first shifting mode wherein released-side frictional coupling device is brought into released state, and engaged-side frictional coupling device is brought into engaged state, while input-clutch is placed in released or slipping state under control of slipping means, and input-clutch is then brought into engaged state under control of engaging means, with a change of operating speed of engine connected to input-shaft of automatic-transmission.
US09482336B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a guide shoe that can prevent a shortage of lubricating oil and supply the lubricating oil onto a sliding surface of the shoe in a favorable manner. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a guide shoe that has a shoe surface for slidably guiding a running chain CH. A plate guide groove extending along a chain running direction D and guiding link plates L of the chain CH is provide in the shoe surface. An oil guide part having a pair of guide walls is provided in the bottom surface of the plate guide groove. The pair of guide walls are each formed such as to face a rear side in the chain running direction D and converge to each other toward a front side in the chain running direction D.
US09482325B2

An electromechanical actuator (“EMA”) comprising an actuator drive unit (“ADU”) housing and a ball screw is disclosed. The ball screw and ADU housing may interface to form a multi-row thrust bearing (MRTB). Further, the ball screw may be situated at least partially about the ADU housing, an outer surface of the ADU housing may include a first ADU raceway, and an inner surface of the ball screw may include a second inner ball screw raceway. Either or both raceways may comprise hemispherical structures. Further, the first raceway and the second raceway may interface to form a multi-row thrust bearing (“MRTB”).
US09482323B2

Construction of a friction roller reducer is achieved wherein displacement of intermediate rollers due to the change in thickness in the axial direction of loading cam apparatuses can be performed smoothly, and excellent transmission efficiency can be obtained. Long guide holes that are long in the radial direction of a sun roller and ring-shaped roller are provided in guide blocks that are fastened to a support frame for supporting the end sections of rotation shafts of intermediate rollers. The outer rings of ball bearings, of which the inner rings are fitted around and fastened to the outside of the end sections of the rotation shafts, engage with the long guide holes so as to be able to displace in the radial direction of the sun roller and the ring-shaped roller.
US09482322B2

In the field of a slide rail for tensioning and guiding an endless drive member, comprising at least one bore and a screw captively held in the bore, permitting the captive mounting of screws even in thin-walled slide rails is provided. A sleeve is mounted in the bore and the sleeve comprises engagement elements at its end facing the rail, said engagement elements being engaged with the wall of the bore, and a stop collar lying against a stop surface formed at the slide rail, and lock elements are embodied in the sleeve which engage the thread of the screw and lock the screw at least in an assembly position, wherein said slide rail is thin-walled. Furthermore, an assembly method is provided for manufacturing the slide rail with a captively held screw and to the loss prevention device per se.
US09482309B2

A vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) includes: an inertial mass body (30) that is connected to a rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) such that the inertial mass body (30) is capable of transmitting power, wherein the rotary shaft (13) of a power transmission apparatus (5) is capable of transmitting rotary power from a travel drive source (4) to a drive wheel (10) of a vehicle (2); and a switching apparatus (40) that is provided on a power transmission path between the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) and that is capable of switching between a first path (42) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other via an elastic body (41), and a second path (43) on which the rotary shaft (13) and the inertial mass body (30) are connected to each other without passing through the elastic body (41). Thus, the vehicle vibration reduction apparatus (1) can reduce vibration appropriately.
US09482303B2

A shock absorber includes damping material in a solid state and which transitions from a solid to a viscous fluid state when stressed and a plunger device including a depending blade positioned in or adjacent the damping material to be driven into the damping material when impacted transitioning the damping material to a viscous fluid state absorbing the impact.
US09482299B1

The present disclosure provides a multi-leaved core damping disk comprising an annular-shaped first disk half, an annular shaped second disk half, and a multi-leaved core axially aligned with, and disposed therebetween.
US09482298B2

A brake caliper piston actuation device comprises a caliper housing (20) including a bore (22) extending through the caliper housing (20). An end cap closes the bore (22) and has an end cap extension (28) and a fluid port (32). A piston (40) is disposed in the bore (22). An actuation member (48) has an inner surface and an outer surface and is disposed in the bore (22) and extends axially over the piston (40) to slidably support and guide the piston (40). The inner surface of the actuation member (48) and the fluid end of the piston (40) and the end cap extension (28) define a fluid chamber (54) for containing a hydraulic fluid entering from the fluid port (32). A parking brake mechanism engages the actuation member (48) for causing axial movement of the actuation member (48). The piston (40) moves in response to the hydraulic fluid entering the fluid chamber (54) and by the parking brake mechanism advancing the actuation member (48) and pushing the piston (40) axially.
US09482296B2

Some embodiments of the invention provide a navigation application that presents road signs during a navigation presentation. In presenting the road signs, the application of some embodiments differentiates the appearance of road signs at junctions that require a change of direction from road signs at junctions that do not require a change of direction. The application may perform processes that ensure that it arranges the road signs on the map in an aesthetically pleasing manner. In addition, the navigation application of some embodiments does not display too many road signs along the navigated route so that the route is not by occluded by too many road signs.
US09482294B2

A coupling and control assembly including a sensor for providing an electrical signal for electronic transmission control is provided. The assembly includes a first coupling member which supports the sensor and a locking element and a second coupling member supported for rotation about a rotational axis. The second coupling member has a coupling face oriented to face radially with respect to the axis and has a set of ferromagnetic or magnetic locking formations. An electromechanical component is also supported by the first coupling member. Both the locking element and the sensor are in close-spaced opposition to the coupling face. The sensor senses magnetic flux to produce an electrical output signal indicative of a speed of rotation of the second coupling member. A variable magnetic field is generated in response to rotation of the locking formations past the sensor.
US09482291B2

The invention relates to a prime mover arrangement comprising an internal combustion engine (1) for driving a first shaft (2) and comprising a steam engine (4) which is connected to the first shaft by means of a clutch arrangement (3) for driving a second shaft (5). Furthermore, means which interact with the clutch arrangement (3) are arranged between the first shaft (2) and the second shaft (5) in order to transmit a rotational movement of the second shaft (5) to the first shaft (2) in a first operating mode and to allow a freewheel between the first shaft (2) and the second shaft (5) in a second operating mode. The clutch arrangement (3) can be operated with positive pressure or negative pressure. Furthermore, the clutch arrangement (3) can be shifted by a fluid, and a torque transmission is provided between the first shaft (2) and the second shaft (5).
US09482284B2

A bearing includes at least an inner ring, an outer ring, and rolling bodies arranged between the inner and outer rings, one of the rings being designed to turn and the fixed, and one of the rings including an inducing element is designed to generate an inducing electromagnetic field, the other of the rings including an electrical circuit in which an induced current is generated when one of the rings turns in relation to the other of the rings, and when the inducing element generates an inducing electromagnetic field, wherein the inducing element designed to generate an inducing electromagnetic field includes a module having a piezoelectric effect and/or a module having a thermoelectric effect.
US09482281B2

A bearing cover is provided for attachment relative to a bearing assembly. The cover includes a flange and a magnet associated with the flange. The magnet is configured to removably retain the bearing cover relative to the bearing assembly.
US09482278B2

An assembly for a turbocharger and methods for creating the same are disclosed. Such assembly for a turbocharger includes a bearing housing having first and second bore ends, a housing cavity, and a bearing assembly disposed within the housing cavity. The bearing assembly includes an annular rotating journal positioned at the first bore end and first and second angular contact bearings positioned at the second bore end, where the first and second angular contact bearings resist axial loads in opposite directions. The bearing housing and bearing assembly are configured to receive a shaft and together dampen axial and radial loads in all directions from the shaft.
US09482268B2

A connecting assembly for a vehicle, with a structural component (11) having a connection area (14), a joint (7) having a bearing element (4) and an inner joint component (3) fitted and able to move in the latter and which extends outward the assembly, in an axial direction (5). The bearing element (4) together with the connection area (14) form an insert, and a cast element (9) is produced by casting around and enclosing the insert. The structural component (11) and the inner joint component (3) extend out of the cast element (9). The insert has a closing component (12) that engages with a mutual interlock with the structural component (11) to form, together with the structural component (11), a joint holder (8) that secures the bearing element (4) with an interlock, in the axial direction (5).
US09482260B1

A flexible fastening device having multiple segments, one or more of which are flexible and one or more segments that also include threads. The flexibility is created through the use of at least one helical slot formed generally in the center segment of the element. Additional flexible segments also have at least one helical slot in either the same helical rotation and pattern or in an opposite rotation and/or different pattern. An elastomeric material can fill the hollow body, extend into the slots and/or encompass the exterior. The flexible fastening device can have a hollow body, including leading and trailing edge, or can have a partially hollow body.
US09482251B2

The invention relates to a clamp with a cam, and with a removable pivot-pin, wherein the bias spring is integrated in a housing of the cam by means of a securing cassette configured to position the spring in a pre-stressed state. The cassette is provided with clip-fastening means designed to be fitted in the housing of the lever.
US09482239B2

A compressor housing of an exhaust-gas turbocharger is formed as a pressure-die-cast housing to achieve cost reduction in relation to permanent-mold-cast housings. Since it is not possible in a pressure-die-cast housing to realize round transitions of the spiral in the direction of the housing rear side because this would prevent removal from a mold, the bearing-housing-side diffuser wall is formed as a separate component.
US09482232B2

A pump includes at least one pump section. The pump section has a center line and comprises at least two pump steps. The pump steps have a center line and each pump step comprising a motor and one or more pump stages. The at least one pump section includes an outer casing enclosing one or more inner casings. The outer casing forms an enclosure round the pump section and has a larger diameter than the inner casings. The inner casings form an enclosure round the at least two pump steps. The center line of the pump section is displaced relative to the center line of the pump steps, thereby forming an annulus between the outer casing and the inner casing.
US09482221B2

A gas control apparatus includes an upper housing to which a second piezoelectric pump is joined, a lower housing to which a first piezoelectric pump is joined, and a diaphragm. The upper housing includes a discharge hole through which gas is discharged. The lower housing includes introduction holes through which gas is introduced, an opening, a first valve seat, a second valve seat, and a third valve seat. The diaphragm is sandwiched between the upper housing and the lower housing, and is fixed to the upper housing and the lower housing so that the diaphragm contacts the first valve seat, the second valve seat, and the third valve seat. The diaphragm divides an inner space of the upper housing and the lower housing to define valve chests together with the upper housing and the lower housing.
US09482207B2

The invention provides a wind turbine comprising a rotatable drive train including at least one bearing (3) and a pump (4) for supply of a lubricant to the bearing (3). The wind turbine further comprises a controller for performing closed loop control of the pump (4) to provide an amount of lubricant which varies depending on an actual state of operation.
US09482206B2

The invention is directed to a rolling bearing arrangement comprising two annular elements that are arranged mutually concentrically and at least regionally inside each other, for connection each to a respective one of two oppositely rotatable system components, and comprising a gap between said connecting elements, such that they are able to rotate in opposite directions about an imaginary axis located at the center of the annular connecting elements and extending approximately perpendicular to the ring plane, wherein at least two rows of rolling bodies are provided in the region of the gap between the connecting elements, wherein the annular connecting elements completely or partially overlap each other in the radial direction and one or more raceways for rolling bodies are arranged in radially overlapping regions of the annular connecting elements, in such a way that the contact angle which the connecting line between the centers of the points of contact of a rolling body with its two raceways makes with the ring plane is equal to or greater than 75°, and wherein the rolling bodies of at least one row have a contact angle of 15° or less.
US09482203B2

A spark plug is provided, which includes a housing, an insulation porcelain, a center electrode, a main ground electrode, a first sub ground electrode and a second sub ground electrode. The first and second sub ground electrode are arranged being opposed to each other. Requirements of Hs1
US09482201B2

In a method for testing a supply circuit for an ignition circuit having at least one energy accumulator, a first conversion circuit that raises a supply voltage to a specified voltage level and charges the at least one energy accumulator, a controllable discharging circuit that discharges the at least one energy accumulator as needed, the energy accumulator is connected via a first coupling diode to the ignition circuit, and the supply voltage is applied via a second coupling diode to the at least one ignition circuit. Following the system start-up, a state of charge of the at least one energy accumulator is ascertained and compared to the at least one specified threshold value, and as a function of the comparison, a faultless supply circuit or at least one fault is recognized.
US09482196B2

A method is disclosed for monitoring an opening of an injection valve. The injection valve includes a valve body with a cavity having a fluid outlet portion, a valve needle movable in the cavity between a closing position preventing fluid flow outlet and other positions allowing fluid flow through the outlet, and an actuator unit for actuating the valve needle. The method includes actuating the actuator unit with a predetermined voltage signal, recording a time-dependent profile of a current through the actuator unit, detecting a first gradient alteration time where the gradient of the recorded current profile changes more than a first threshold, detecting a second gradient alteration time where the gradient of the recorded current profile changes more than a second threshold, and based on the first and second gradient alteration times determining a diagnostic value usable for compensating a long-term drift of the injection valve.
US09482194B2

In a mixing valve for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the distance between pivot axes of two flaps is smaller than the diameter of the largest flap. The flaps are also connected to a single drive device. The drive device ensures a collision-free coupling of the movements of the flaps.
US09482193B2

A system for rotationally securely plugging a sensor into a through-passage of a flow channel, the sensor including a sensor housing, the through-passage having an inner wall delimiting the through-passage and first and second inside diameters extending respectively along a first axis and a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis, the first inside diameter being greater than the second inside diameter, a plug-in direction of the sensor housing into the through-passage defining a third axis essentially perpendicular to the first and second axis, the sensor housing having a longitudinal extension area along the third axis and being insertable into the through-passage. To ensure rotationally secure assembly of the sensor in its setpoint angular position, at least one protrusion is provided so that the sensor housing, in a plugged-in state, is rotatable in the through-passage by no more than 0.5° about the third axis.
US09482188B2

A control device executes a feedback control operation of an electric motor such that a sensed opening degree of a valve approaches a target opening degree, which is set for a time of fully closing the valve. The control device stops the energization of the electric motor after reaching of the sensed opening degree of the valve to an energization stop opening degree, which is set on a valve opening side of a full closing degree of the valve in a valve opening direction of the valve. A return spring urges the valve in a valve closing direction of the valve. The target opening degree is set on a valve closing side of the energization stop opening degree in the valve closing direction.
US09482184B2

An injection head including an annular distribution cavity for distributing a propellant upstream from an injection plate supporting injectors. The cavity includes a multiply-perforated distribution grid distributing the propellant, which grid is coaxial with the distribution cavity and of a concave shape that projects into the distribution cavity, the grid being fastened to a dome of the cavity.
US09482177B2

An object of this invention is to accurately detect a sensitivity abnormality of an in-cylinder pressure sensor over a wide operating range without using other sensor outputs or the like. Based on only the output of an in-cylinder pressure sensor 44, an ECU 50 acquires a first parameter that is affected by an output sensitivity of the sensor, and a second parameter that is not affected by the output sensitivity. Specifically, the ECU 50 acquires a heat release quantity PVκ as the first parameter, and acquires an indicated torque ratio (A2/A1) as a second parameter. The ECU 50 also calculates a determination coefficient α that is a ratio between the first and second parameters, and determines that the output sensitivity of the in-cylinder pressure sensor 44 is abnormal when the determination coefficient α deviates from an allowable range. Thus, even without utilizing another sensor output or the like in an auxiliary manner or previously preparing a large amount of data or the like, a sensitivity abnormality of the in-cylinder pressure sensor 44 can be easily detected over a wide operating range.
US09482174B2

A method for controlling an internal combustion engine based on the amount of un-burned fuel dissolved in the engine oil, and returned into the manifold through the PCV valve as the engine oil temperature rises via adjusting fuel injection into a cylinder from a fuel injector, in a fuel delivery system. The fuel dilution in engine oil and the amount of fuel entering the intake manifold through the PCV valve can be determined based on one or more of oil volume, fuel composition (e.g., ethanol content), oil temperature, engine temperature, engine speed, engine load, engine run time, injected fuel mass, and exhaust gas composition.
US09482172B2

Embodiments for diagnosing a humidity sensor are provided. One example method comprises adjusting an engine operating parameter based on humidity of a first gas flow measured by a humidity sensor, and indicating degradation of the humidity sensor if a humidity of a second gas flow measured by the humidity sensor is different than an expected humidity. In this way, degradation of the humidity sensor may be indicated if the humidity of the second gas flow measured by the humidity sensor is different than expected.
US09482170B2

A deceleration control system in a vehicle comprises; a deceleration start detector; a memory for storing a normal state rule and a deceleration state rule to control a driving power, and a controller for controlling the driving power; wherein in the deceleration state rule, the driving power is changed based on the detection by a driving state detector, and a driving power decided in accordance with the deceleration state rule is greater than a driving power decided in accordance with the normal state rule according to the same driving state: and wherein the controller switches the normal state rule to the deceleration state rule and controls the driving power in accordance with the deceleration state rule, based on the detection by the driving state detector, when the deceleration start detector detects that the deceleration has started.
US09482158B2

A turbomachine seal includes, among other things, a sealing member configured to be influenced by both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces when providing a seal.
US09482157B2

A bifurcation assembly for a gas turbine engine is disclosed and includes a housing defining an inner cavity. A first partition and a second partition extend across the inner cavity and define a buffer area therebetween. Openings through the first and second partitions define passageway for supply conduits. A control device governs the flow of a purge gas into the buffer area for blocking the spread of fire. The purge gas provides a barrier to the spread of fire and heat through the bifurcation assembly.
US09482152B2

A vehicle propulsion system and method of operation are presented. As one example, cylinder deactivation and transitioning from four to two strokes is coordinated with transmission shifting to improve vehicle response. Additionally, it is possible to reduce transitions in operating modes to improve drive feel.
US09482149B2

A method of and apparatus for operating a supercharger for an automotive engine is disclosed. The supercharger has: an input shaft for coupling to an engine crankshaft, and coupled to the rotor of a first electrical machine and a first component of an epicyclic gear train; and an output shaft connected to a compressor and a second component of the epicyclic gear train; wherein the third component of the epicyclic gear train is connected to the rotor of a second electrical machine. The first electrical machine is selectively operable to supply electrical energy to the second electrical machine. The method includes the steps of: (a) calculating a required speed of the second electrical machine that would give rise to a required pressure at an outlet of the compressor; and (b) setting the speed of the second electrical machine to the calculated required speed.
US09482142B2

A cooling system for thermal management of an electric vehicle having a range extender. The temperature of the components of the electric drive system of the electric vehicle and at least that of the internal combustion engine of an internal combustion engine/generator unit of the range extender are controlled by separate cooling circuits. The cooling circuit of the electric drive and the cooling circuit of the internal combustion engine are coupled to one another thermally by a heat exchanger.
US09482139B2

A dump truck includes: a main frame; an engine installed in the main frame; and an exhaust aftertreatment device that purifies exhaust gas from the engine. The main frame includes a vertical member in a portal shape which projects in a vehicle height direction of the dump truck and extends in a vehicle width direction of the dump truck. The exhaust aftertreatment device is supported by the vertical member. With this arrangement, maintenance of the engine can be conducted while the exhaust aftertreatment device is kept attached to the vertical member.
US09482137B2

A system includes an internal combustion engine providing exhaust gases to an exhaust conduit, an aftertreatment system having an SCR catalyst component and disposed in the exhaust conduit. The system further includes a first NH3 sensing element preferentially sensitive to NH3 and a second NH3 sensing element preferentially sensitive to NO2 in the exhaust conduit. Both NH3 sensing elements are positioned downstream of the SCR catalyst component. The system includes a controller having a test conditions module that determines whether an NO2 concentration downstream of the SCR catalyst component is below a threshold value, an NH3 diagnostic module that provides a detection comparison value in response to the NO2 concentration, a first signal from the first NH3 sensing element, and a second signal from the second NH3 sensing element. The controller includes a sensor condition module that provides an NH3 sensor condition value in response to the detection comparison value.
US09482132B2

Systems and devices for delivering a fluid to an exhaust system. An inlet is configured for receiving the fluid, and a conduit includes openings for expelling the fluid into the exhaust system. A compact gaseous delivery system may include a first conduit in fluid communication with a fluid source, a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, and a plurality of additional conduits in fluid communication with the second conduit and including a plurality of openings for expelling the fluid into the exhaust system. The first conduit, second conduit, and plurality of additional conduits may have axes that are substantially coplanar to form the compact gaseous delivery system that may be disposed within the exhaust system. Implementations may include openings with varying diameters. Other implementations may include a volute conduit with openings.
US09482124B2

A method is provided for detecting abnormally frequent diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration. The method includes measuring a pressure drop across the DPF and using the measured pressure drop to calculate a pressure drop based soot load estimate, calculating soot output from an engine model and using the calculated soot output to calculate an emissions based soot load estimate, comparing the pressure drop based soot load estimate with the emissions based soot load estimate, and providing a warning if a difference between the pressure drop based soot load estimate and the emissions based soot load estimate exceeds a predetermined.
US09482119B2

A switching roller finger follower including: a housing including first and second walls; a first secondary arm pivotably connected to the housing and including a first groove; a second secondary arm pivotably connected to the housing and including a second groove; and a roller disposed between the first and second walls and including an axle passing through the walls and having a first end disposed in the first groove and a second end disposed in the second groove. A method of fabricating a switching roller finger follower, including: disposing a roller between first and second walls for a housing; passing an axle through the roller and the walls; pivotably connecting first and second secondary arms to the housing; disposing a first end of the axle in a first groove in the first arm; and disposing a second end of the axle in a second groove in the second arm.
US09482116B2

Various embodiments of the invention include systems for controlling cold-reheat extraction in a turbomachine system. Some embodiments include a system having: a high-pressure (HP) turbine section including an exhaust; a reheater conduit fluidly connected with the exhaust of the HP turbine and a reheater, the reheater conduit for passing HP exhaust steam from the HP turbine section to the reheater; a cold-reheat extraction conduit fluidly connected with the reheater conduit upstream of the reheater and downstream of the HP turbine section exhaust; and a control system coupled with the HP turbine section and the cold-reheat extraction conduit, the control system configured to: obtain data about a temperature of the HP exhaust steam; and provide instructions to modify a flow rate of the HP exhaust steam to the reheater in response to the temperature of the HP exhaust steam exceeding a threshold.
US09482113B2

A mounting system for a fire detection system for a turbofan engine propulsion system is provided to mount fire detection sensors on the inner fixed structure (IFS) of the nacelle. The mounting system mounts to an inner, engine facing surface of the IFS. Two IFS halves cooperate to form a substantially enclosed space around an engine core. The mounting system includes part of a fastening system mounted to the IFS, and an orientation clip mounted to a thermal blanket. Brackets for mounting the fire detection system sensing wires are positioned on the orientation clip, and the fastening system fixes the bracket to the IFS and traps the thermal blanket therebetween.
US09482112B2

A turbine has a first and second inner wall, an inner casing and a shield element. The first and second inner walls are mounted to the inner casing such that an inner volume for working fluid is separated from an outer volume for cooling fluid. The first and second inner walls and inner casing are arranged to form a cavity in outer volume. The shield element is arranged inside cavity to separate cavity in an inner and outer region in a radially outer position to the inner region. A gap is formed between the first and second inner walls for working fluid between the inner volume and inner region. The shield element is arranged in cavity to form a fluid inlet for injecting cooling fluid from outer region to inner region for generating a predefined recirculation of working fluid and cooling fluid inside inner region.
US09482109B2

A compressed gas energy storage and release (CGESR) system and method. The system has a gas compressor, a container for storing compressed gas, a pressure engine, and an underground high temperature region. Conduits connect the gas compressor, the container and the pressure engine. The compressed gas drives the pressure engine. An electrical power generating means is operatively connected to said pressure engine to generate electricity. The system further comprises a means to heat at least a portion of one of the conduits utilizing heat from the underground high temperature region to heat the compressed gas therein prior to driving the pressure engine.
US09482101B2

A gas turbine engine component includes an airfoil extending radially from a root section to a tip section and having a trailing edge cooling passageway and first, second and third flow dividers in the cooling passageway. The first, second and third flow dividers have longitudinal axes that are angled based upon a position of the flow divider relative to the tip section of the airfoil.
US09482099B2

The invention relates to a blade (2) of a turbomachine, in particular a rotor blade of a gas turbine, which has a variable transition radius (Rv1) in the vicinity of at least one platform overhang (16), and to a turbomachine having at least one such blade (2).
US09482097B2

An airfoil for a turbine engine includes pressure and suction sides that extend in a radial direction from a 0% span position at an inner flow path location to a 100% span position at an airfoil tip. The airfoil has a relationship between a stacking offset and a span position that is at least a third order polynomial curve that includes at least one positive and negative slope. The positive slope leans aftward and the negative slope leans forward relative to an engine axis. The positive slope crosses an initial axial stacking offset corresponding to the 0% span position at a zero-crossing position. A first axial stacking offset X1 is provided from the zero-crossing position to a negative-most value on the curve. A second axial stacking offset X2 is provided from the zero-crossing position to a positive-most value on the curve. A ratio of the second to first axial stacking offset X2/X1 is less than 2.0.
US09482091B2

A face equipment for mechanical extraction in longwall mining, in particular in the underground hard coal mining industry, includes a face conveyor (17) arranged along the mining wall, an extraction device (18) that can be moved along the face conveyor (17), and shield support frames (10) supported on the face conveyor (17) at an angle thereto. In order to determine the height of the face opening, a flexible hose level (21) with a liquid-filled hose (22) placed between the face conveyor (17) and at least one main component of the shield support frame (10) is installed in the area of the face conveyor (17). A pressure sensor (23, 24, 28) is arranged on at least one end of the hose (22). An inclination measuring device (25, 26) is arranged on the face conveyor (17) and on the main component of the shield support frame (10).
US09482090B2

A mining machine includes a boom, a cutter head, a valve, and an actuator. The boom defines an internal chamber and includes a first end coupled to a frame, a second end, and an opening in fluid communication with the internal chamber. The cutter head includes a plurality of cutting bits and is supported on the second end of the boom. The valve is coupled to the boom and is movable between a closed position in which the opening is covered and an open position in which the opening is at least partially uncovered. The actuator is coupled to the valve to selectively move the valve between the closed position and the opened position.
US09482086B2

A well site remote monitoring system comprises a monitoring station, a number of recording devices, a number of sensors, a processor, and a power source. The monitoring station supports the recording devices, processor, and power source thereon and is positioned at a strategic location at a well site so that the recording devices can create video, audio, or other recordings of points of interest of the well site. The processor controls the recording devices and uploads the recordings to a remote server computer for storage and so that an operator can manage and view the recordings on a remote monitoring computer.
US09482085B2

A system and method are provided for providing electromagnetic (EM) measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry capabilities using an existing mud-pulse MWD tool. An EM tool intercepts the output from the mud-pulse tool and generates an EM signal that mimics a mud-pulse pressure signal. The EM signal is intercepted at the surface by a receiver module that conditions the signal and inputs the signal into the existing pulse tool receiver. Since the EM signal mimics a mud-pulse signal, the pulse tool receiver does not require software or hardware modifications in order to process an EM telemetry mode. The EM tool can be adapted to also provide dual telemetry by incorporating a conventional pressure pulser that would normally be used with the pulse tool.
US09482084B2

Integrated methods and systems for optimizing drilling related operations include recording data, parsing the data into intervals and analyzing the intervals to determine if the performance data in each time interval is of sufficient quality for using the interval data in a performance optimization process. The quality assessment may involve evaluating the data against a set of determined standards or ranges. The performance optimization process may utilize data mapping and/or modeling to make performance optimization process recommendations.
US09482079B2

The present disclosure relates to determining acid injection treatment parameters. One example method includes identifying one or more characteristics of a rock structure; and determining one or more parameters of an acid injection treatment to produce a specified flow structure in the rock structure when the acid injection treatment is applied, the one or more parameters of the acid injection treatment determined based on the one or more characteristics of the rock structure and including at least one of an injection flow velocity or a characteristic of an acid to be used in the acid injection treatment.
US09482078B2

A pump includes one or more stages, each stage including a tubular housing and a mandrel disposed in the housing. The mandrel includes a rotor rotatable relative to the housing and having: an impeller, a shaft, and one or more helicoidal blades on an outer surface of the impeller. The mandrel further includes a diffuser: connected to the housing, having the rotor shaft extending therethrough and having a plurality of vanes on an outer surface thereof. Each vane has an arcuate portion and a longitudinal portion. The diffuser further has a channel formed between an adjacent pair of vanes. The pump further includes a fluid passage formed between the housing and the mandrel.
US09482077B2

In one aspect, a method is provided for controlling fluid flow in a wellbore containing a plurality of production devices, wherein the method includes the steps of defining a first setting of each production device in the plurality of production devices, defining a change in a parameter relating to fluid flow in the wellbore and using a model to determine a second setting for at least one of the plurality of production devices based on the change in the parameter. The method also includes the step of generating a script corresponding to the second setting, wherein the script is configured to be implemented without modification, and storing the script in a suitable storage medium.
US09482069B2

A packer or plug for use in a wellbore includes: a tubular mandrel made from a composite material including a pyrotechnic composition; an expandable seal disposed on an outer surface of the mandrel; and an igniter operable to initiate combustion of the mandrel.
US09482066B2

An apparatus for use in controlling first and second downhole tools includes a first cyclical indexing mechanism associated with a first downhole tool, and a second cyclical indexing mechanism associated with a second downhole tool, wherein the first indexing mechanism defines at least three sequential indexing positions within a cycle and the second indexing mechanism defines at least two sequential indexing positions within a cycle. The apparatus includes at least one actuator for actuating the first and second indexing mechanisms in response to a common stimulus to cause said first and second indexing mechanisms to advance between respective indexing positions so as to permit co-ordination of the operational states of the associated first and second downhole tools. The apparatus may be used for controlling first and second under reamers or for controlling an under reamer and a corresponding stabilizer.
US09482064B2

A drum unit for an intervention string for a well includes a drum with a drum axis and with a radius, arranged in a structural frame and rotatable by a motor and a tension compensator. The tension compensator includes a guide arch displaceable in a direction generally along the intervention string, orthogonal to the drum axis, using a first force device connected to the structural frame for keeping the intervention string in tension. At least a first end of the guide arch is laterally displaceable in a direction generally orthogonal to the intervention string, parallel with the drum axis. The intervention string runs between the guide arch to or from the first end to the drum. The intervention string runs via a second, opposite end of the guide arch via a second, fixed guide at the structural frame, directly or indirectly to or from the well.
US09482054B2

A bottomhole assembly (BHA) coupled to a drill string includes one or more controllers, and a hole enlargement device that selectively enlarges the diameter of the wellbore formed by the drill bit. The hole enlargement device includes an actuation unit that may move extendable cutting elements of the hole enlargement device between a radially extended position and a radially retracted position. The actuation unit may be responsive to a signal that is transmitted from a downhole and/or a surface location. The hole enlargement device may also include one or more position sensors that transmit a position signal indicative of a radial position of the cutting elements. In an illustrative operating mode, one or more operating parameters of the hole enlargement device may be adjusted based on one or more measured parameters. This adjustment may be done in a closed-loop or automated fashion and/or by human personnel.
US09482050B2

A shade lock assembly for a shade assembly is provided. The shade lock assembly may include a spool rotatably attached to a housing, with the housing defining a pull cord channel. A pull cord may be provided that extends through the pull cord channel and wraps at least partially around the spool. The pull cord channel may include a roller wheel configured to interact with the pull cord and a second wall of the pull cord channel such that it may move between a locked and an unlocked position based at least in part by the angle at which the pull cord is held relative to a plane defined the shade assembly.
US09482049B2

A curtain body locating mechanism of a curtain with no cord mainly utilizes two separation and reunion units to control the locating effect when a curtain body is being spread or folded. The separation and reunion unit comprises an axle, two braking blocks, a separation and reunion wheel and two planetary gears. The two braking blocks are spaced apart and connected to the periphery of the axle so that a rolling groove is formed between the two braking blocks. The separation and reunion wheel is nested onto the axle and has an inner ring gear surrounding the two braking blocks. Each of the planetary gears is disposed within one of the rolling grooves and engaged with the inner ring gear of the separation and reunion wheel.
US09482040B2

A fitting (1) for suspending a sliding door leaf (D) is provided. Said fitting (1) comprises a base plate (2) having means (8, 9) for attaching said base plate (2) to a door leaf (D), support means (3) attached to said base plate (2) for allowing said fitting (1) to be guided by a rail (R) along a sliding path (P), and a shank (5) having a part (5b, 5d) extending from a lateral end of said base plate (2) at an angle (α, β) relative a plane of the base plate. Said fitting (1) further comprises an anti-lifting device (4) attached to said shank (5) and being moveable between an idle position and a locked position by a rotational movement of the anti-lifting device (4) about an axis (A) being substantially perpendicular to a plane of said shank part (5b, 5d).
US09482039B1

A hinge for a tonneau cover includes a first hinge member and a second hinge member oriented in an opposite direction as the first hinge member. Each of the hinge members includes a hook-shaped rail having a flat portion and a hooked end directed in a direction toward a body of the hinge member. The hooked end is positioned near a same side of the hinge member as a top surface of the body. The hinge body includes an edge positioned near a base of the hook-shaped rail. The hinge includes a hinge junction having a first curved lip and a second curved lip extending from a top surface of the hinge junction. The top surface is positioned opposite a base of the hinge junction. The curved lips are configured to pivotably receive the hook-shaped rails of the first and second hinge members.
US09482036B2

A vehicle door includes an outer panel and an inner frame defining a cavity, wherein a portion of the outer panel defines a generally downward outer surface. A trim member is attached to the outer surface, wherein the trim member and the outer surface define a cylinder receptacle in communication with the cavity. A keyed cylinder is disposed within the cylinder receptacle, wherein a longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder is substantially normal to the outer surface, and the keyed cylinder slopes downward toward an outward surface of the trim member. The vehicle door also includes an internal locking mechanism and a key aperture of the keyed cylinder, wherein the internal locking mechanism includes a drain channel that slopes toward the key aperture and the cylinder receptacle, and wherein the drain channel is positioned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the keyed cylinder.
US09482014B2

A vertically-adjustable support structure (10) for supporting paving slabs or the like includes a base plate (20) on which four wedge-like support blocks (30) are provided. Each support block (30) has an inclined surface defining a series of teeth/steps, and a horizontal top surface. A chock (40) is placed on top of each support block (30) to support a corner of a paving slab. Each chock includes an upper support surface (70) for supporting the paving slab, and a sloped underside (280) which defines teeth (290) which engage the teeth of the support block and secures each chock against displacement towards the base plate. Moving the chock up or down the inclined surface adjusts the height of the support structure. Additional height adjustment is provided by adjusting the height of the chocks themselves. In particular, each chock includes wings (320) which are hinged to the sides of the chock. In one orientation with the side elements disposed on opposed sides of the chock the chock has a first height. In a second orientation, the side elements (320) are rotated about hinges (330) through 180° so that the surface which was uppermost in the first orientation is located on top of the upper surface of the chock, with the height of the chock increased by the depth of the side elements. The side elements preferably include means (340, 350; 360, 370, 380, 390) to lock them together and/or to the upper surface of the chock in the second orientation.
US09482010B2

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for cornerbead or corneraide for finishing the junction between two or more walls. Embodiments include at least one generally central web portion with at least a portion thereof extending and/or deformed away from a person viewing that web portion as assembled in the finished assembly.
US09482004B2

A method for producing a panel sandwich (2, 17, 40) for use as a wall, ceiling or floor panel (1, 16) comprising at least the following steps: providing a base panel (7, 20, 31) made of wood-based material, arranging a sound-insulating layer (9, 18) above the base panel (7, 20, 31), arranging a cover panel (11, 22, 38) above the base panel (7, 20, 31), pressing the sandwich, wherein an elastic plastic material is used to produce the sound-insulating layer (9, 18), wherein according to a first alternative of the invention, a closed-cell foam (9a) is arranged as the elastic plastic material, wherein the plastic material before being introduced into the sandwich panel has an elasticity modulus under pressure of 0.25 MPa to 1.5 MPa, according to a second alternative of the invention, the elastic plastic material applied is a self-adhesive plastic material (18c) which connects the base panel (20) to the cover panel (22), is elastic when set, has an elasticity modulus under pressure of 0.25 MPa to 1.5 MPa and has a minimum thickness of 0.3 mm.
US09482002B2

A multi-use block (170) including a block body (172) having at least a first leg (192). The blocks (170) can be placed in different orientations with respect to each other to form multiple interlocking structures. The block (170) can be of a variety of materials, including concrete. It is used for making walls and columns. Methods of making and methods of use of the block (170) are provided.
US09482000B2

Hanger devices for a ceiling tile grid suspension system including a plurality of rigid, elongated seismic joists interposed between opposing walls of a room, spaced selected distances apart along a horizontal support plane, and hangers suspended from the respective joists to support a grid from the respective lower ends thereof.
US09481997B2

An insulating panel structure has an inner surface for attachment to a building exterior and an outer surface for attachment to cladding material. The panel structure has external stringers for attachment of the cladding, connectors extending perpendicularly from the inner surface to the external stringers to transmit compressive forces from the cladding to the building, lateral connectors that run diagonally upward from the external stringers to the inner surface to transmit tensile forces from the weight of the cladding to the building, and insulating foam embedded between the panel inner and outer surfaces. A panel application method includes providing panels with tubular connectors and providing expansible fingers insertable into the tubular connectors and mounted on a movable frame, inserting the fingers into the tubular connectors, expanding them to grip the tubes and panels, moving the frame with expanded fingers and panel to a job site, attaching the panel to a building while being held with the expanded fingers, and contracting and retracting the fingers from the attached panel.
US09481995B2

Methods of applying a foam composition to a cavity in a building structure are provided. The methods include introducing a foam composition into a cavity defined by a wall, a plurality of structural members, and a plastic membrane affixed to one or more faces of the structural members and one or more sides of the structural members defining the cavity.
US09481994B2

The invention relates to a thermal insulation device comprising at least one panel (100) defining a gas-tight chamber (104) containing at least two flexible films (150, 160) suitable for being selectively switched between two states: one of thermal conduction wherein said flexible films (150, 160) are at least partially in mutual contact, and the other of thermal insulation wherein the flexible films (150, 160) are separated, under the influence of pressure variations in said gas-tight chamber (104), applied by fluid control means (170), characterized in that, in the thermal insulation state, the distance separating the flexible films (150, 160) is shorter than the average free path of the gas molecules in the space (158) defined between said flexible films (150, 160). The invention also relates to a method.
US09481989B2

A rigid piston assembly for use in a conventional flush valve includes a rigid piston and a solenoid configured to fixedly engage within the valve body. A flush valve for a plumbing fixture as well as a method of retrofitting a piston valve into a diaphragm flush valve body includes a rigid piston and solenoid configuration.
US09481971B2

The present invention provides a water control system with the reservoir level versatility of a weir stack and the relatively easy drainage of a water control gate. Multiple stack beams constrained between two opposed guide channels create a fluid reservoir having an incrementally adjustable fluid level. Increasing or decreasing the reservoir level is a matter of adding or removing one or more stack beams. To create an opening for draining fluid from any level of the reservoir, a picker mechanism captures at least one of the stack beams. By lifting the captured stack beam, and any stack beams atop the captured stack beam, the picker mechanism opens a gate at any level of the reservoir through which fluid may flow.
US09481967B2

A method for repairing asphalt pavement involves passing an emitter over a surface of a damaged asphalt pavement comprising aged asphalt, wherein the emitter comprises a birefringent material through which the electromagnetic radiation generated by the emitter passes, wherein the emitter generates electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from about 2 microns to 1 millimeter, the radiation penetrating into the pavement to a depth of at least 2 inches, wherein a temperature differential throughout a top two inches of pavement is 100° F. or less, wherein a highest temperature in the top two inches of pavement does not exceed 300° F., and wherein a minimum temperature in the top two inches of pavement is at least 200° F.
US09481964B1

A system for controlling a paving system includes a plurality of supply machines, a paving machine, and a plant. A first controller determines the position of each supply machine. A second controller determines the rate at which paving material is being applied to a work surface and transmits the rate at which the paving material is being applied. A temperature sensor is associated with one of the plurality of supply machines and the paving machine for determining a temperature of paving material at the paving machine. The plant is configured to produce a batch of paving material and a third controller determines a batch temperature, and generates instructions indicative of a desired route for each supply machine between the plant and the paving machine based upon the position of each supply machine, traffic information data, the batch temperature, and the temperature of paving material at the paving machine.
US09481957B2

A method for optimizing a rinsing phase in a washing machine includes introducing rinsing liquid in a last step of the rinsing phase into an outer tub of the washing machine. A sensor detects a presence of fabric softener in the rinsing liquid to produce a signal which is compared with a reference signal to determine the presence of fabric softener in the rinsing liquid. Rinsing is executed with water only in the absence of fabric softener, or with water and fabric softener in the presence of fabric softener, with a washing kinetics reduced by at least 15% when rinsing involves water and fabric softener and including a switch-on time, duration of a reversing cycle, and rotational speed of a drum of the outer tub. Switch-on time and rotational speed are hereby each reduced by at least 20% whereas duration of the reversing cycle is increased by at least 20%.
US09481947B2

A method for monitoring contact of a rotating component of a textile machine, in particular of a clothing roller of a card, for example a card cylinder, with a further component of the textile machine. The two components are connected to an electrical power source, but are normally electrically isolated from each other, and only in the case of a contact between the two components, a short-circuit is generated, which is detected by the monitoring device. The duration of individual short-circuits per time unit (T) is detected and summed up so as to form a total duration (t) of all short-circuits per time unit (T).
US09481938B2

The embodiments described herein pertain generally to an electrochemical reduction method of carbon dioxide under a solution condition containing potassium sulfate.
US09481931B2

A method and arrangement for manufacturing objects by solid freeform fabrication, especially titanium and titanium alloy objects, wherein the deposition rate is increased by supplying the metallic feed material in the form of a wire and employing two gas transferred arcs, one plasma transferred arc for heating the deposition area on the base material and one plasma transferred arc for heating and melting the feed wire.
US09481921B2

Disclosed herein are zirconium alloy compositions having a low hydrogen pick-up rate and high hydrogen embrittlement resistance. This zirconium alloy composition can be usefully used as a nuclear fuel components in a nuclear power plant because it has a very low hydrogen pick-up rate and high hydrogen embrittlement resistance under operation environments of nuclear power plant.
US09481920B2

Disclosed is an aluminum alloy forging for use in automotive suspension parts and the like, and a method of manufacture for same. The aluminum alloy forging contains Si 0.4-1.5 wt %, Fe greater than 0.4 wt % and equal to or less than 1.0 wt %, Cu equal to or less than 0.40 wt %, Mg 0.8-1.3 wt % and Ti 0.01-0.1 wt %; Zn is restricted to equal to or less than 0.05 wt %; and the aluminum alloy forging contains at least one selected from among the following group comprising: Mn 0.01-1.0 wt % and Cr 0.1-0.4%; and Zr 0.05-0.2 wt %. Hydrogen content is restricted to 0.25 ml or less per 100 g of Al, and the remainder is composed of unavoidable impurities and Al. The average grain size is 50 μm or less, the crystallized area ratio is 3% or less, and the average crystallized grain size is 8 μm or less.
US09481911B2

[Problem] The present invention aims to elucidate a polynucleotide as a novel responsible gene for cancer and aims to thus provide a method for detecting the polynucleotide and a polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide and a detection kit, a probe set, and a primer set for the detection. The present invention also aims to provide a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer.[Means for Solution] The method detects a fusion gene composed of a portion of an FGFR3 gene and a portion of a TACC3 gene or a fusion protein encoded by the fusion gene. The primer set, the probe set, or the detection kit comprises a sense primer and a probe set designed from the portion encoding FGFR3 and an antisense primer and a probe set designed from the portion encoding TACC3. Since an inhibitor of the polypeptide exhibits antitumor effect, a pharmaceutical composition for treating cancer which is positive for either the fusion gene or the polypeptide is provided.
US09481907B2

A two-step multiplex amplification reaction includes a first step which truncates the standard initial multiplex amplification round to “boost” the sample copy number by only a 100-1000 fold increase in the target. Following the first step the product is divided into optimized secondary single amplification reactions, each containing one of the primer sets that were used previously in the first or multiplexed booster step. The booster step can occur using an aqueous target nucleic acid or using a solid phase archived nucleic acid. In particular, nucleic acid sequences that uniquely identify E. Coli were identified using the multiplex amplification method.
US09481905B2

A method of using Neutrilized DNA (N-DNA) as a surface probe for a high throughput detection platform is disclosed. FET and SPRi are used as high throughput detection platforms to demonstrate that the N-DNA surface probe produces good results and enhances detection sensitivity. The N-DNA modifies the charged oxygen ions (O−) on the phosphate backbone through methylation, ethylation, propylation, or alkylation, so that the backbone is not charged after this modification to increase the hybridization efficiency, sensitivity and to make the signal more clear.
US09481903B2

Systems and methods for detecting and/or identifying target cells (e.g., bacteria) using engineered transduction particles are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes mixing a quantity of transduction particles within a sample. The transduction particles are associated with a target cell. The transduction particles are non-replicative, and are engineered to include a nucleic acid molecule formulated to cause the target cell to produce a series of reporter molecules. The sample and the transduction particles are maintained to express the series of the reporter molecules when target cell is present in the sample. A signal associated with a quantity of the reporter molecules is received. In some embodiments, a magnitude of the signal is independent from a quantity of the transduction particle above a predetermined quantity.
US09481901B2

The present invention relates to methods of upregulating the high mannose glycoform content of a recombinant protein during a mammalian cell culture by manipulating the mannose to total hexose ratio in the cell culture media formulation.
US09481892B2

The invention relates to nucleic acids, vector constructs which allow the controlled activation and inhibition of retrotransposition of non-LTR retrotransposons. The methods of this invention are useful for preparing said nucleic acids and vector constructs and introducing them into cells.
US09481888B2

The present invention provides a recombinant bacterium and methods of using the recombinant bacterium to induce an immune response.
US09481882B2

A method for analyzing biomolecular interactions, which method can be carried out without performing affinity selection using an immobilized bait, is provided. mRNA portions of assignment molecules that interacted with each other are linked together by annealing via a DNA linker for linking mRNA portions of assignment molecules together, the DNA linker comprising, at the 5′-end, an mRNA-complementary region complementary to a sequence at the 5′-end of each mRNA portion, and, at the 3′-end, a self-complementary region complementary between molecules of the DNA linker, the DNA linker being phosphorylated at the 5′-end.
US09481881B2

The present invention provides eluent for ion-exchange chromatography, wherein the eluent allows separation and detection of a target nucleic acid such as a PCR-amplified product, a restriction enzyme fragment of the PCR-amplified product, or a restriction enzyme fragment of a nucleic acid in a short time with high separation performance. The present invention also provides a method of analyzing nucleic acid chains by ion-exchange chromatography using the eluent. The present invention provides an eluent for ion-exchange chromatography comprising a guanidine salt derived from guanidine represented by the following formula (1):
US09481878B2

The present invention concerns methods and compositions for forming immunotoxin complexes having a high efficacy and low systemic toxicity. In preferred embodiments, the toxin moiety is a ranpirnase (Rap), such as Rap(Q). In more preferred embodiments, the immunotoxin is made using dock-and-lock (DNL) technology. The immunotoxin exhibits improved pharmacokinetics, with a longer serum half-life and significantly greater efficacy compared to toxin alone, antibody alone, unconjugated toxin plus antibody or even other types of toxin-antibody constructs. In a most preferred embodiment the construct comprises an anti-Trop-2 antibody conjugated to Rap, although other combinations of antibodies, antibody fragments and toxins may be used to form the subject immunotoxins. The immunotoxins are of use to treat a variety of diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune disease or immune dysfunction.
US09481877B2

Methods and compositions relating to the engineering of an improved protein with methionine-γ-lyase enzyme activity are described. For example, in certain aspects there may be disclosed a modified cystathionine-γ-lyase (CGL) comprising one or more amino acid substitutions and capable of degrading methionine. Furthermore, certain aspects of the invention provide compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer with methionine depletion using the disclosed proteins or nucleic acids.
US09481875B2

The present invention relates to the provision of immunogens comprising an antigenic PCSK9 peptide linked to an immunogenic carrier for the prevention, treatment or alleviation of PCSK9-mediated disorders. The invention further relates to methods for production of these medicaments, immunogenic compositions and pharmaceutical compositing thereof and their use in medicine.
US09481874B2

The present invention relates to protein engineering, and concerns especially family G/11 xylanases, and genes encoding said enzymes. In specific, the invention concerns Trichoderma reesei XYNII gene, which codes for endo-1,4-β-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8). The invention describes how site-directed mutagenesis can be used to improve the properties of an enzyme to match the industrial conditions where it is used. Protein engineering can be used to improve thermoactivity and thermostability of xylanases, as well as to broaden their pH range.
US09481870B2

A method for efficiently producing an optically active amino compound useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical preparations, agricultural chemicals, or the like, from a ketone compound is provided. Specifically, a polypeptide having high resistance to a water-soluble organic solvent and novel transaminase activity for generating (S)-1-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with high optical purity of 93% or more, a gene encoding the same, and a transformant expressing the gene at a high level are also provided herein.
US09481869B2

The present invention is directed generally to host cells with artificial endosymbionts, wherein the artificial endosymbiont and the host cell communicate with each other to alter a phenotype of the host cell. In some embodiments, the communication comprises the secretion of a polypeptide from the artificial endosymbiont into the host cell. The secreted polypeptide can be a selectable marker, a reporter protein, a transcription factor, a signal pathway protein, a receptor, a growth factor, a cytokine, an effector molecule or other factors that can produce a phenotype in the host cell.
US09481855B2

An aqueous cleaning composition and method for post-CMP cleaning of a semiconductor device which contains a copper interconnect wherein the cleaning composition contains (A) N,N,N′-trimethyl-N′-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine; and (B) at least one corrosion inhibitor selected from the group consisting essentially of uric acid, xanthine, theophyline, paraxanthine, theobromine, caffeine, guanine, hypoxanthine, adenine, and combinations thereof.
US09481853B2

A method for degumming and/or refining crude oil containing impurities involving mixing the crude oil with degumming agents, i.e., water or acid, and subjecting the mixture to flow-through, hydrodynamic cavitation processing. The cavitational processing transfers impurities in the crude oil to a water phase for easier separation. The water phase may be separated from the oil phase by commonly available separation methods.
US09481850B2

This disclosed invention relates to a maleinated ester derivative derived from an unsaturated linear aliphatic carboxylic acid methyl ester, maleic anhydride, and a monohydric alcohol. Lubricants and functional fluids containing the maleinated esters are disclosed.
US09481849B2

The present invention describes a polymer useful as viscosity index improver comprising units derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (I), where R is hydrogen or methyl, R1 means a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl residue with 1-6 carbon atoms, R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen or a group of the formula —COOR′, where R′ means hydrogen or a alkyl group with 1-6 carbon atoms, units of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (II), where R is hydrogen or methyl, R4 means a 2-alkyl branched alkyl residue with 12-18 carbon atoms, R5 and R6 independently are hydrogen or a group of the formula —COOR″, where R″ means hydrogen or an alkyl group with 12-18 carbon atoms, and units of one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (III), where R is hydrogen or methyl, R7 means a linear alkyl residue with 12-24 carbon atoms, R8 and R9 independently are hydrogen or a group of the formula —COOR″, where R″ means hydrogen or an alkyl group with 12-24 carbon atoms wherein said polymer comprises at least 10% by weight units derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (I), based on the total weight of the polymer, said polymer comprises at least 10% by weight units derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (II), based on the total weight of the polymer, and said polymer comprises at least 10% by weight units derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated ester compounds of formula (III), based on the total weight of the polymer.
US09481848B2

The present invention provides a compound comprising the reaction product of a hydrcarbyl substituted amine with an itaconate, such as an N-substituted 4-carboxypyrrolidin-2-one, and methods of employing the same in lubricating compositions. The lubricating compositions containing the N-substituted 4-carboxypyrrolidin-2-one are preferably intended to be employed in a method for lubricating a mechanical device, such as an automatic or manual transmission. However, it is envisioned that the compound can be employed in engine oil lubricants and any other type of functional fluid.
US09481845B2

The invention relates to the use, in a hydrocarbon distillate with a boiling temperature of between 150 and 450° C. and a crystallization onset temperature as measured by Differential Calorimetric Analysis of greater than or equal to −50° C., preferably of −5° C. to +10° C., of a homopolymer obtained from an olefinic ester of carboxylic acid of 3 to 12 carbon atoms and from a fatty alcohol containing a chain of more than 16 carbon atoms and optionally an olefinic double bond, as a compound for revealing the efficiency of filterability additives based on copolymer and/or terpolymers of ethylene and of vinyl ester of a carboxylic acid of 3 to 12 carbon atoms, and of a monoalcohol containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms. The invention is also directed to an additive composition comprising a conventional hydrocarbon filterability additive in combination with an efficiency reveal additive, and also to the combustion fuels, motor fuel and oil fuel that comprise these additive combinations.
US09481840B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure include one-step synthesis to prepare a hypergolic green Fuel (HGF) propellant from 2-Hydroxyethylhydrazine (HEH) via a “one-step synthesis method”. In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure include fully nitrated HGF and partially nitrated HGF and formulations containing Hydroxyethylhydrazinium Nitrate (HEHN) and acetone, where the HEHN is produced independently.
US09481839B2

A hot oxygen nozzle and uses thereof in a gasifier, the hot oxygen nozzle comprising an outer-ring spout, a middle-ring spout, an inner-ring spout, and a central spout all sequentially and coaxially disposed, and a cooling system; the gasifier is an entrained-flow gasifier provided with one or more nozzles on a certain plane or a plurality of planes at the top or on the periphery of the gasifier body. The nozzle has a simple structure and is easy to make and maintain. A fuel gas passage is disposed inside the nozzle. Oxygen can be heated by a combustion of fuel gas; and high-temperature and high-speed oxygen can directly ignite carbonaceous materials such as coal-water slurry and coke-oven gas. The present invention can be applied in a gasifier and then in the final process of synthesis gas preparation.
US09481831B2

The invention relates to flame retardant mixtures comprising flame retardant and aluminum phosphites, to processes for preparation thereof and to the use thereof.
US09481828B2

A liquid crystal compound containing cyclobutyl and a linking group difluoromethyleneoxy, and a preparation method and use thereof are disclosed. The compound is as shown in Formula I. The liquid crystal compound containing cyclobutyl as a terminal group and difluoromethyleneoxy (—CF2O—) as a linking group in the molecular structure of Formula I according to the present invention, has not only a high dielectric anisotropy, but also importantly an extremely fast response speed and a high clearing point, which are of great significance for the formulation of a liquid crystal mixture.
US09481826B2

Organic electroluminescent devices comprising metal complexes according to the formula (1) and metal complexes for use in organic electroluminescent devices.
US09481823B2

Two intermediates that have known separate efficacy for preventing scales such as calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and barite (barium sulfate) were discovered to have a synergistic effect for preventing or inhibiting silicate scaling when used together. Each of these intermediates is ineffective at preventing silicate scaling when used alone; however, when used in combination, they have a synergistic benefit. In one non-limiting embodiment the components include a polyamine phosphonate and a lysine tetra(alkylene)phosphonate.
US09481808B2

Coating compositions comprising: (i) a water reducible monomer modified alkyd obtained by the acidolysis of a polyalkylene terephthalate or polyalkylene napthanate and subsequent monomer modification and (ii) a latex having an average particle size greater than 200 nm and (iii) a small particle size latex having an average particle size less than 110 nm.
US09481793B2

A bio-modifier for asphalt is provided that comprises non-wood bio-char. In some embodiments, the bio-char comprises pyrolyzed biomass from a bio-fuel crop and/or comprises pyrolyzed grass. The asphalt modifier can improve the performance of asphalt compositions such as asphalt binder compositions and compositions comprising asphalt binder and aggregate. For example, the bio-modifier can improve the temperature susceptibility of asphalt binder compositions and increase the rutting resistance, moisture and cracking resistance of hot mix asphalt compositions. In addition, methods of preparing the bio-modifier composition, methods of preparing modified asphalts comprising the bio-modifier, and modified asphalt compositions are provided.
US09481789B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing a prepreg which contains reinforcing fibers and a matrix resin composition with the weight per square meter of the reinforcing fibers being 250-2,000 g/m2. The production method comprises the following steps (1)-(3): (1) a matrix resin composition blending step for obtaining a matrix resin composition by mixing an epoxy resin, a radically polymerizable unsaturated compound, an epoxy resin curing agent and a polymerization initiator that generates radicals, in said step the content of the radically polymerizable unsaturated compound relative to 100% by mass of the total of the epoxy resin and the radically polymerizable unsaturated compound being 10-25% by mass; (2) a matrix resin composition impregnating step; and (3) a surface viscosity increasing step.
US09481787B2

A latent curing agent formed by holding an imidazole compound in porous resin particles is produced by emulsifying an oil phase obtained by dissolving a polyfunctional isocyanate compound in an organic solvent in an amount of 1.5 to 5 times by mass the amount of polyfunctional isocyanate compound in an aqueous phase obtained by dissolving a water-soluble polypeptide and a surfactant in water, then subjecting the emulsion to interfacial polymerization, adding a proteolytic enzyme to carry out an enzyme degradation treatment, then recovering the porous resin particles, and making an imidazole compound solution permeate into the recovered porous resin particles.
US09481785B2

A finely divided, cationic or amphoteric, aqueous polymer dispersion which is obtainable by emulsion polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers in the presence of a cationic or amphoteric protective colloid, wherein first the cationic or amphoteric protective colloid is prepared by polymerizing a monomer blend in the presence of at least one first polymerization initiator in an organic solvent, and is carried out in a pressurized reactor at a pressure of at least 1720 kPa and at a temperature of at least 150° C., which monomer blend comprises at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying an amine group, to provide a resin, then combining the resin, with an acid and water, to form the cationic or amphoteric protective colloid, thereafter carrying out an emulsion polymerization by introducing a monomer mixture into an aqueous medium containing said cationic or amphoteric protective colloid and at least one second polymerization initiator, wherein said monomer mixture comprises at least one ethylenically unsaturated water insoluble monomer. The composition is useful as a sizing agent for paper.
US09481773B2

(Semi-)continuous etching method for a fluoropolymer substrate (10) comprising steps of feeding (22) said substrate (10) in the form of a continuous ribbon wherein said substrate defines a primary surface (12), subjecting to at least one etching operations (2) a part of the primary surface (12) by means of an adhesion-promoting solution comprising a complex of an alkali metal in naphthalene, washing (4) the primary surface (12) wetted by the adhesion-promoting solution by means of a washing solution (42) comprising aqueous acetic acid/formic acid, and selectively separating a concentrated solution (24) of acetic acid/formic acid from the washing solution (42) by means of inverse osmosis operations (6, 8) at ▪ increasing pressures, and re-introducing at least a portion of the concentrated solution (24) of acetic acid/formic acid in the washing solution (42) to create a recirculation. The invention further relates to an etching plant.
US09481758B2

The invention relates to a polyisocyanurate comprising isocyanurate rings linked by linker groups coupled to the nitrogen atoms of said rings. The polyisocyanurate may be microporous or mesoporous or both microporous and mesoporous.
US09481755B2

An anionic polymerization initiator of formula: in which: Met, which can be borne by the ortho, meta or para position, denotes an alkali metal, R1 and R2, and also R3 and R4, which can be borne by the ortho, meta or para position, denote a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl group, and R5 denotes an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or arylalkyl group or a protective group for the alkyne functional group. The use of such a polymerization initiator makes possible the synthesis of a diene elastomer bearing, at one or each of its chain ends, a group comprising an alkyne functional group with a high degree of functionalization.
US09481748B2

The various embodiments of the invention provide, a magnesium titanium polymerization procatalyst, methods for making and using the same.
US09481741B2

A method for making a solid catalyst component for use in a Ziegler-Natta catalyst includes combining in a hydrocarbon solvent a porous particulate support with a hydrocarbon soluble organomagnesium compound to form a suspension. The organomagnesium compound is halogenated followed by addition of an alcohol and the mixture is then reacted with a titanium compound followed by a reaction with at least one diether compound to form the solid catalyst component. Afterwards the reaction product is extracted with a mixture of a titanium compound and a hydrocarbon solvent. The solid catalyst component recovered is combined with an aluminum cocatalyst to form a Ziegler-Natta catalyst system for the polymerization of olefins. In particular, the catalyst system including a diether internal electron donor may have an activity and hydrogen response suitable for the production of propylene polymers having a molecular weight distribution (PI(GPC)) in the range from about 5.75 to about 9.
US09481735B2

Proteins that bind IL-17 and/or IL-17F are described along with their use in compositions and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing IL-17 related diseases and for detecting IL-17 in cells, tissues, samples, and compositions.
US09481732B2

The present invention relates to therapeutic immunoconjugates comprising SN-38 attached to an antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment. The antibody may bind to EGP-1 (TROP-2), CEACAM5, CEACAM6, CD74, CD19, CD20, CD22, CSAp, HLA-DR, AFP or MUC5ac and the immunoconjugate may be administered at a dosage of between 4 mg/kg and 24 mg/kg, preferably 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 16 or 18 mg/kg. When administered at specified dosages and schedules, the immunoconjugate can reduce solid tumors in size, reduce or eliminate metastases and is effective to treat cancers resistant to standard therapies, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
US09481731B2

Toll Like Receptor 3 (TLR3) antibody antagonists, polynucleotides encoding TLR3 antibody antagonists or fragments thereof, and methods of making and using the foregoing are disclosed.
US09481725B2

The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for HGF. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the VH, VL and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-HGF antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-HGF antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-HGF antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with HGF.
US09481722B2

Newly identified mammalian taste-cell-specific G protein-coupled receptors, and the genes and cDNA encoding said receptors are described. Specifically, T1R G protein-coupled receptors active in taste signaling, and the genes and cDNA encoding the same, are described, along with methods for isolating such genes and for isolating and expressing such receptors. Methods for representing taste perception of a particular taste stimulus in a mammal are also described, as are methods for generating novel molecules or combinations of molecules that elicit a predetermined taste perception in a mammal, and methods for simulating one or more tastes. Further, methods for stimulating or blocking taste perception in a mammal are also disclosed.
US09481718B2

Described herein relates to methods and compositions for extracting hirudin from a plurality of leeches in vivo. The method may include contacting leeches with inducing membranes containing an inducing agent for a first predetermined time period. The inducing membranes may be removed from the leeches, and the leeches may be contacted with a regurgitation agent for a second predetermined time period in a container such that the leeches are induced to regurgitate regurgitation contents. The regurgitation contents may be collected and purified to obtain the hirudin.
US09481716B2

The present invention relates to oral immunotherapy for the desensitization of patients who are hypersensitive to peanut allergen. The immunotherapy comprises increasing the oral dose daily dose of peanut protein administered to the patient at intervals of at least 2 weeks in a series of increments from an initial dose to a maximum dose, the series of dose increments including 2 mg, 5 mg, 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg and 800 mg; administering a daily oral dose of the maximum dose of peanut protein for at least 2 years and then administering a weekly oral dose of the maximum dose of peanut protein for at least 2 years.
US09481715B2

The present invention relates to a peptide capable of forming a covalent complex consisting either of the Jo peptide, a derivative or a fragment thereof, or of the In peptide, a derivative or a fragment thereof. The present invention relates to the various uses thereof.
US09481713B2

The invention relates to a novel class of self-assembling peptides, compositions thereof, methods for the preparation thereof and methods of use thereof. The invention also encompasses methods for tissue regeneration, increasing the production of extracellular matrix proteins, and methods of treatment comprising administering self-assembling peptides.
US09481710B2

Disclosed is an evaluation peptide for evaluating the efficiency of a pretreatment in the quantification of a protein using a mass spectrometer, having high reliability and high general versatility. Also disclosed is an artificial standard protein comprising the evaluation peptide. Further disclosed is a method for quantifying a protein utilizing the artificial standard protein. Specifically disclosed is a method for selecting a peptide which consists of an amino acid sequence not agreeing with that in a naturally occurring protein and a variant thereof and capable of being detected by mass spectrometry and which has an amino acid that can be recognized by a protein-digesting enzyme, and using the peptide as an evaluation peptide for use in the quantification of a protein by a mass spectrometer.
US09481709B2

Novel compounds, particularly derivatives of boroarginine, boroornithine and borolysine that selectively modulate, regulate, and/or inhibit enteropeptidase. Compositions, particularly pharmaceutical compositions, as well as methods to treat excess weight, obesity and diseases associated with an abnormal fat metabolism.
US09481705B2

A modular chemical production system includes multiple modules for performing a chemical reaction, particularly of radiochemical compounds, from a remote location. One embodiment comprises a reaction vessel including a moveable heat source with the position thereof relative to the reaction vessel being controllable from a remote position. Alternatively the heat source may be fixed in location and the reaction vial is moveable into and out of the heat source. The reaction vessel has one or more sealing plugs, the positioning of which in relationship to the reaction vessel is controllable from a remote position. Also the one or more reaction vessel sealing plugs can include one or more conduits there through for delivery of reactants, gases at atmospheric or an elevated pressure, inert gases, drawing a vacuum and removal of reaction end products to and from the reaction vial, the reaction vial with sealing plug in position being operable at elevated pressures. The modular chemical production system is assembled from modules which can each include operating condition sensors and controllers configured for monitoring and controlling the individual modules and the assembled system from a remote position. Other modules include, but are not limited to a Reagent Storage and Delivery Module, a Cartridge Purification Module, a Microwave Reaction Module, an External QC/Analysis/Purification Interface Module, an Aliquotting Module, an F-18 Drying Module, a Concentration Module, a Radiation Counting Module, and a Capillary Reactor Module.
US09481703B2

The invention provides compounds of the formula: wherein B is a nucleobase selected from the groups (a) to (d): and the other variables are as defined in the claims, which are of use in the treatment or prophylaxis of hepatitis C virus infection, and related aspects.
US09481698B2

The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing ceftaroline fosamil as well as to intermediates of this process.
US09481685B2

The present invention concerns in vivo imaging and in particular in vivo imaging of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR). A tetracyclic indole in vivo imaging agent is provided that binds with high affinity to PBR, has good uptake into the brain following administration, and which preferentially binds to tissues expressing higher levels of PBR. The present invention also provides a precursor compound useful in the synthesis of the in vivo imaging agent of the invention, as well as a method for synthesis of said in vivo imaging agent comprising use of said precursor compound, and a kit for carrying out said method. A cassette for the automated synthesis of the in vivo imaging agent is also provided. In addition, the invention provides a radiopharmaceutical composition comprising the in vivo imaging agent of the invention, as well as methods for the use of said in vivo imaging agent.
US09481684B2

Disclosed are a gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor antagonist and a pharmaceutical composition including the same, which can be useful in preventing or treating a sex hormone-related disease such as endometriosis, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, uterine myoma, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian disease, lupus erythematous, hypertrichosis, precocious puberty, short stature, acne, alopecia, gonadal steroid-dependent neoplasms, gonadotropin-producing pituitary adenoma, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, premenstrual syndrome, benign prostatic hyperplasia, contraception, and infertility, as well as Alzheimer disease.
US09481677B2

This invention is directed to biaryl ether sulfonamides, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof, for the treatment and/or prevention of sodium channel-mediated diseases or conditions, such as pain.
US09481675B2

Novel gyrase inhibitors and related compositions and methods are useful for impeding bacterial growth. Compounds of Formula I are disclosed: wherein Y is N or CH; Z is N or CR5; R5 is H, a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbyl residue (1-3C) containing 0-2 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N, or is an inorganic residue; L is O, S, NR7, or CR8R9; R7 is H or C1-3 alkyl; R8 and R9 are each independently H or C1-3 alkyl; R2 is H, a hydrocarbyl residue (1-40C) containing 0-10 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N optionally substituted with an inorganic residue; R4 is H, an inorganic residue, or a hydrocarbyl residue (1-30C) containing 0-12 heteroatoms selected from O, S and N and containing 0-10 inorganic residues, wherein R5 and R4 together may join to form a fused ring; and R6 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-5 alkyl, C2-5 alkenyl, C2-5 alkynyl, halo C1-5 alkyl, halo C2-5 alkenyl, halo C2-5 alkynyl, C1-5 hydroxyalkyl, C1-5 alkyl chloride, C2-5 alkenyl chloride, and C2-5 alkynyl chloride; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, ester, or prodrug thereof.
US09481672B2

The present application relates to novel bicyclically substituted uracil derivatives, to processes for preparation thereof, to the use thereof alone or in combinations for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and to the use thereof for production of medicaments for treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases.
US09481648B2

There are provided compounds of formula I, wherein R1A to R1E, R2 to R5, L and X1 to X3 have meanings given in the description, which compounds have antiinflammatory activity (e.g. through inhibition of one or more of members of: the family of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase enzymes; Syk kinase; and members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases) and have use in therapy, including in pharmaceutical combinations, especially in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory diseases of the lung, eye and intestines.
US09481637B2

The present application relates to novel compounds comprising a moiety that leads to the metabolic production of ketones bonded to a ketone-potentiated anti-epileptic drug, compositions comprising these compounds, and their use, for example for the treatment of epilepsy, and other CNS diseases, disorders or conditions. In particular, the present application includes compounds of Formula I, and compositions and uses thereof:
US09481632B1

Butters are a specific class of cosmetic triglycerides that provide a unique feel on skin. There are very few such materials in nature. In order for a butter to be of interest to the personal care market, it must be (1) soft at room temperature; (2) must not “crack” when handled; (3) must be able to be applied to the skin at ambient temperature by rubbing; (4) must liquefy upon rubbing, (5) must be free of rancidity and (6) must be free of trans acids that are the result of partial hydrogenation. For unsaturated oils to be made into butters, partial hydrogenation is the most common approach. This results in the formation of trans acids which are highly undesirable.The present invention discloses a series of non-hydrogenated butters made by a process referred to as totally randomized triglycerides. The butters are made using a very specific range of very specific types and ratios of fatty acids to glycerin to provide the highly desirable cosmetic butters meeting the requirements 1-5 above.
US09481628B2

Embodiments of an invention disclosed herein relate to methods to produce terephthalate esters, the methods include esterifying at least one C6-C13 alcohol with dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) in the presence of a catalyst to produce the terephthalate esters.
US09481626B2

Processes for producing formic acid from a carbohydrate-containing material include hydrolyzing a carbohydrate-containing material (e.g., cellulose) in the presence of a mineral acid to form an intermediate hydrolysate comprising one or more sugars, and hydrolyzing the intermediate hydrolysate to form a hydrolysate product including formic acid.
US09481618B2

A cyclopolyarylene compound represented by Formula (1): wherein k is the same or different, and each represents 0, 1 or 2; m is the same or different, and each represents 1, 2 or 3; and n represents 3, 4, 5 or 6.
US09481616B2

Methods for converting a carbon-containing feedstock into a fluid transportation fuel are described. The methods may include converting the carbon-containing feedstock into a producer gas comprising H2, CO, CO2, and N2, and reacting the producer gas with a substrate catalyst to produce a combination of Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) products, the F-T products including the fluid transportation fuel. A portion of the F-T products may be catalytically cracked to produce additional amounts of the fluid transportation fuel. A portion of the F-T products may also be hydrogenated to produce additional amounts of the fluid transportation fuel. Apparatuses are also described for converting a carbon-containing feedstock into a fluid transportation fuel. The apparatuses may include a producer gas reactor, a Fischer-Tropsch reactor, a cracking reactor, and a hydrogenation reactor.
US09481609B2

A heteromorphic granule comprising lysine free base and a lysine salt is disclosed. A fertilizer composition is set forth having cores containing an acid salt of a basic amino acid and effective amounts of first and second layer coatings coated sequentially to the surface of each core. A method for using the heteromorphic granule as a fertilizer and/or an animal feed is provided.
US09481608B2

A method of fabricating a processing chamber component comprises forming a processing chamber component having a structural body with surface regions having microcracks, and directing a laser beam onto the microcracks of the surface regions of the structural body for a sufficient time to heal and close off the microcracks by themselves.
US09481604B2

The present invention contemplates a cementitious additive that contains electric-arc furnace dust (EAFD) and a precursor as a replacement for up to about 30% of the cement in concrete. The additive includes about 50% by weight EAFD and about 50 wgt. % of precursor. The precursor includes about 55 wgt. % silica, about 10 to 20 wgt. % lime, about 2 to 5 wgt. % soda, about 5 to 15 wgt. % potash, about 2 to 6 wgt. % alumina and about 1 to 3 wgt. % magnesia. The method also contemplates the step of homogenizing the electric-arc furnace dust (EAFD) and precursor to produce engineered dust (ED) and then replacing up to 30% of the cement with a mixture referred to as ED i.e. homogenized EAFD and precursor.
US09481601B2

A barrier rib paste includes a low-softening point glass powder which contains silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, an alkali metal oxide, and 24 to 37 mol % of boron oxide, and also contains an organic component, wherein the content of an alkali earth metal oxide is 4 mol % or less and the content of zinc oxide is 10 mol % or less.
US09481598B2

Methods for cutting strengthened glass are disclosed. The methods can include using a laser. The strengthened glass can include chemically strengthened, heat strengthened, and heat tempered glass. Strengthened glass with edges showing indicia of a laser cutting process are also disclosed. The strengthened glass can include an electrochromic film.
US09481597B2

The invention relates to a method for producing synthetic quartz glass by vaporizing a polyalkylsiloxane as a liquid SiO2 feedstock (105), converting the vaporized SiO2 feedstock (107) into SiO2 particles, separating the SiO2 particles, forming a soot body (200) and vitrifying the soot body (200). According to the invention, the vaporizing of the heated SiO2 feedstock (105) comprises an injection phase in an expansion chamber (125), in which the SiO2 feedstock (105) is atomized into fine droplets, wherein the droplets have an average diameter of less than 5 pm, and wherein the atomizing of the droplets takes place in a preheated carrier gas stream which has a temperature of more than 180° C.
US09481596B2

The present invention provides an optical element manufacturing method including a first step of fixing an optical material by exerting a first weight different from a self weight of an upper die on the optical material positioned in a cavity between the upper die and a lower die, a second step of thereafter heating and softening the optical material by introducing a heated gas to an inside of the cavity, and a third step of thereafter molding an optical element by exerting a second weight larger than the first weight on the optical material within the cavity.
US09481595B2

Provided is a method of producing an optical element forming mold, the method including forming a ta-C film 12 on a mold matrix 10 for an optical element forming mold by an FCVA process, in which the mold matrix 10 is kept at a floating potential, a voltage is applied to a mold matrix-holding member 2 for holding the mold matrix via insulating members (3a,3b), and a magnet 4 internally provided in the mold matrix forms a magnetic field for applying a magnetic force in a normal direction of a transfer surface of the mold matrix so as to follow a magnetic force applied by a filter coil 22, thereby homogenizing the film quality.
US09481594B2

The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a refractory product, comprising the following successive steps: a) mixing of raw materials so as to form a suitable feedstock so that the block obtained in step d) comprises more than 85% of ZrO2, b) melting of said feedstock until a molten material is obtained, c) optionally, casting said molten material, d) cooling of the molten material to solidification in the form of a block, e) optionally, heat treatment, process comprising a compression operation in which a compression pressure of greater than 0.2 MPa is applied to at least one portion of the outer surface of the block obtained in step d), the compression operation beginning at a temperature above the temperature at which, in said block, tetragonal zirconia is converted to monoclinic zirconia or “phase transformation temperature”, and ending at a temperature below said phase transformation temperature.
US09481588B2

Dual-field electric and magnetic probes create and apply electromagnetic fields to liquids, such as water, to treat unwanted material in the liquid.
US09481574B2

An apparatus for synthesizing hydrogen chloride from chlorine and hydrogen or from chlorine and hydrocarbons with integrated heat recovery. The combustion chamber and the heat exchanger are arranged in the steam drum of a shell boiler that works according to the waste heat boiler principle.
US09481573B2

A novel steam reformer unit design, a novel hydrogen PSA unit design, a novel hydrogen/nitrogen enrichment unit design, and novel processing scheme application are presented.
US09481572B2

An optical electronic device and method that forms cavities through an interposer wafer after bonding the interposer wafer to a window wafer. The cavities are etched into the bonded interposer/window wafer pair using the anti-reflective coating of the window wafer as an etch stop. After formation of the cavities, the bonded interposer/window wafer pair is bonded peripherally of die areas to the MEMS device wafer, with die area micromechanical elements sealed within respectively corresponding ones of the cavities.
US09481561B2

Described is a dispensing device for a liquid product filling machine comprising a plurality of the dispensing devices. Each dispensing device comprises a dispensing conduit having a product outlet opening, a shutter for the outlet opening, an actuating unit adapted to move the shutter from a closed position to an open position of the outlet opening and vice versa, a flexible membrane which separates the dispensing conduit from the actuating unit, a product presence detector, indicating when the flexible membrane is broken and connected to a control unit which each dispensing device is equipped with in such a way as to stop dispensing the product from the dispensing device whose flexible membrane is broken.
US09481551B2

The invention relates to a transparent balustrade (12) of an escalator (1) or of a moving walk, comprising a balustrade skirt (13), at least one glass panel (33), and a handrail guide (15) with a handrail (14). The at-least one glass panel (33) has an upper edge (9) and a lower end (6) and, at its lower end (6), is gripped in a mounting (18) in the balustrade skirt (13) in locationally fixed manner. The transparent balustrade (12) contains at least one support (20), which is tightly joined to the balustrade skirt (13). The glass panel (33) is deformable perpendicular to its planar extent and therefore in lateral direction. Through its elastic deformability, to absorb lateral forces (F) the glass panel (33) displays lateral displaceability within a permissible deformation play (s), lateral displaceability within the permissible deformation play (s) being limited by the support (20).
US09481549B2

A regenerative electric power storage control system for elevators, including: a converter that converts AC electric power to DC electric power; an inverter that converts the DC electric power to the AC electric power, and drives an electric motor that ascends and descends a car; an electric power storage apparatus provided, via an electric power charge and discharge unit, across DC buses located between the converter and the inverter; an electric power charge and discharge control unit to which DC electric power is supplied from an electric power charge and discharge control power supply and that controls the charge and discharge unit. The charge and discharge control unit calculates on a time zone basis electrical energy stored in and electrical energy discharged from the energy storage apparatus during a predetermined period, and based on the calculation result, determines a discharge operation for each time zone posterior to the predetermined period.
US09481547B2

An exemplary method of controlling an elevator system includes determining that a temporary heavy traffic condition exists that includes a plurality of passengers requiring elevator service from an originating floor in the building that is distinct from a lobby floor. At least one elevator car out of a plurality of elevator cars within the building is temporarily dedicated to carry the passengers from the originating floor. A peak travel scheduling strategy is temporarily used for controlling the dedicated elevator car or cars for a selected period of time.
US09481545B2

A filament-fusing apparatus includes a first body, a first-heating element, a second body and a second-heating element. The first body includes a first surface and a first-filament groove disposed thereon. The first-heating element disposed on the first surface has a first-connecting groove and a first-overflow groove. Two opposite sides of the first-connecting groove connect the first-filament groove. An axial side of the first-connecting groove connects the first-overflow groove. The second body includes a second surface and a second-filament groove disposed thereon. The second-heating element disposed on the second surface has a second-connecting groove and a second-overflow groove. Two opposite sides of the second-connecting groove connect the second-filament groove. An axial side of the second-connecting groove connects the second-overflow groove. The second body is pivotally connected to the first body to rotate till contacting the first body, such that the second-heating element contacts the first-heating element.
US09481544B2

In a cable guide for fibers, particularly carbon fibers, which are combined into cables and extend in a transport direction in a transport plane, characterized in that the cable guide comprises a plurality of individual pins for separating said cables consisting of fibers, it is provided that the pins relative to the transport direction of the cables are inclined in the transport direction and together with the transport plane include an angle from 20° to 70°.
US09481538B2

A paper discharge device including discharge rollers that discharge a paper sheet and a paper discharge tray on which discharged paper sheets are stacked further includes a control unit that controls the discharge angle of a paper sheet according to at least the stacked amount of paper sheets that are stacked on the paper discharge tray so that the position at which the front end of a paper sheet to be discharged begins to come into contact with the stacked paper sheets on the paper discharge tray is within a specified range from the front end of the stacked paper sheets.
US09481529B2

A tilt-tray sorting installation for articles and a tilt-tray conveying carriage for use in a tilt-tray sorting installation. The tilt-tray conveying carriage has a basic carriage, which is configured for displacement in the tilt-tray sorting installation, a carrying tray, which can be pivoted about a tilting axis relative to the basic carriage, and a tilting drive. A drive device of the tilting drive is fixed in relation to the basic carriage. A traction device is operatively connected to the drive device and the carrying tray. In order to render the devices suitable for heavy articles, the tilt-tray conveying carriage is provided with a traction-device guide which is arranged in a rotatably fixed manner on the carrying tray, against which the traction device abuts, at least in part, and which deflects the traction device.
US09481523B2

A spiral conveyor for positively driving a conveyor belt (20) along a helical path. The spiral conveyor includes a rotating cylindrical tower (10) with parallel drive members (14) extending from the bottom to the top of the tower on its periphery. Each drive member includes an outwardly protruding ridge (28) that varies in height from the bottom to the top of the tower. The variations in height facilitate the belt's entry onto and exit from the tower and robust, positive driving engagement with the inside edge of the belt along the majority of its path along the tower. In another version, a conveyor belt has teeth (62) with guide surfaces (78, 79) at the inside edge of the belt. The teeth guide the drive members between belt rows into driving engagement with drive faces at the inside edge of the belt.
US09481522B2

A belt for a conveyor comprises at least one elongate strip (1) and at least one slat (2) which forms a part of a conveyor surface upon which a load to be transported can be located. The slat is secured to the strip by a connector (7), optionally through a sliding dovetail joint, the connector comprising the tail part (5) of the joint and the underside of the slat being provided with a groove defining a socket part (3) of the sliding dovetail joint. The connector may pass through a hole (6) in the strip, or may embrace a relatively narrow section (523) of the strip. In an alternative, a belt for a conveyor comprises a plurality of interconnected slats which may support material to be transported and forming a conveyor surface, in which pairs of adjacent slats of the belt are connected together by means of co-operating slots and tabs.
US09481521B2

A multi-directional roller assembly for directing articles in a conveying system. The multi-directional roller assembly has a rotatable roller frame housing at least one set of mutually-actuating rollers. The multi-directional roller assembly directs an article supported by the assembly along a trajectory determined by the orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly relative to an input force. The orientation of the multi-directional roller assembly may be changed to change the trajectory. A conveyor system may include an array of multi-directional roller assemblies. An actuator controls the orientation of the multi-directional roller assemblies individually and may also control an array of multi-directional roller assemblies as a group.
US09481520B2

A foldable and disposable chute trough and base blanks wherein said base can be folded to provide an angled support for said trough and wherein said trough detachably secures to said base at a single pivot point and can thus be replaced once soiled.
US09481513B2

The present invention is generally applicable to a container. More specifically, the invention is applicable to a waste container for the collection, storage and transport of waste and refuse material. The waste containers of the present invention are particularly useful for the collection, storage and transporting of organic waste material.
US09481511B2

A silo de-bridging device (100), comprising: a rotary shaft (11) and at least one de-bridging unit (10) connected to the rotary shaft (11); each de-bridging unit (10) includes a fixed sleeve (101), a movable sleeve (102) and at least one de-bridging arm (103) connected to the movable sleeve (102), and a cam structure is formed between two end surfaces of the movable sleeve (102) and the fixed sleeve (101) adjoining each other. The silo de-bridging device can de-bridge the materiel in the silo effectively.
US09481507B2

Capsule designed in particular for the preparation of a beverage in a centrifugal brewing device by feeding liquid in the capsule and rotating the capsule along a central axis to produce centrifugal forces on the liquid traversing the capsule thereby forcing the beverage out of the capsule by such centrifugal forces, wherein the capsule comprises:—a body comprising containment walls, a main cavity of central axis,—a lid connected or connectable to said body and arranged for covering said cavity;—an annular flange peripherally bordering and protruding outwards beyond the said cavity, wherein the flange is configured to ensure one passage or a plurality of passages for providing flow of the centrifuged beverage in multiple radial directions from the cavity and through the flange or above the flange as a result of the centrifugation forces exerted when the capsule is rotated along said central axis.
US09481505B2

An Aerosol Sodium Chloride Mixture Agent with Trigger Sprayer that can be easily held in one hand. The Sodium Chloride Mixture Agent is in a bag inside a can and under pressure from air nitrogen, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, Difluoroethane, Petroleum Hydrocarbon, CO2, HFC1234ze, individually or mixture thereof and can only be initially opened and released by pulling the tab of the trigger sprayer. The Trigger Assembly cannot be sprayed until the tab is pulled. The Can is cylindrical canister housing and has a Dip Tube that goes to the bag of the can to the Sodium Chloride Mixture Agent. There is Propellant composed of air nitrogen, 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane, Difluoroethane, Petroleum Hydrocarbon, CO2, HFC1234ze, individually or mixture thereof in the can that pushes on the bag holding the Sodium Chloride Mixture Agent up through the Dip Tube to the Valve Operative and then to the Actuator Stem up through the Trigger SprayerInitially pulling the tab of the Trigger Assembly allows the Trigger to be pressed and be moved. Once the Tab is pulled it does not ever need to be pulled again for future uses and allows the Trigger Pivoting Member of the Trigger Assembly to press down on the Actuator Stem which then exerts pressure on the Valve Operative which allows the Propellant in the Can to exert pressure on the bag and force the Sodium Chloride Mixture Agent in the bag through the Dip Tube up the Valve Operative through the Chamber Hole into the Direction Chamber with pressure up through the Nozzle out the Opening toward the area to be treated. The user then holds down the trigger and sprays the area to be treated with the Sodium Chloride Mixture Agent which comes out as a mist in a spray cone.
US09481498B2

An apparatus for permitting inspection of container processing includes a one-piece elastic peripheral lip seal that seals a transition between a window and a mounting frame. In its un-deformed state, the lip-seal, which has first and second strip-shaped lip-sections, has an at least partially sickle-shaped cross-section in its un-deformed state. Both lip sections extend outward toward respective first and second edges, the second edge being a sealing edge. A thickness of the second lip-section decreases towards the sealing edge. The lip sections curve around an axis oriented along a longitudinal direction of the lip seal. The first lip-section defines a concave curve along a first surface of the lip seal, and the second lip-section defines a convex curve along the first surface.
US09481497B1

A solution storage and application system includes a bottle and an applicator assembly constructed to mutually engage for safe storage and transport of any desired solution within the bottle. The applicator assembly includes a handle by which the applicator assembly is to be manipulated, the handle extending from a free end to a circular flange that serves as a cap for closure of the interior of the bottle when the applicator assembly engages the bottle. A ferrule extends from the flange away from the handle and retains an applicator that extends from the ferrule away from the handle such that longitudinal ends of the handle and applicator serve as longitudinal ends of the applicator assembly.
US09481491B1

A containing device includes a first container, a second container and a lid. The first container is provided for containing a powder or particulate substance and includes a first leading-out opening and a second leading-out opening. The lid is combined to an upper end or a lower end of the first container upper end or lower end for sealing and resisting moisture of the content of the first container. The second container is movably pivoted in the first container and includes a fixed number of receiving grooves, and the receiving groove has a leading-in opening, a release outlet and a separating board. When the leading-in opening of the second container is displaced to a position corresponsive to the first leading-out opening of the first container, the release outlet is sealed, so that a fixed quantity of content of the first container enters into the second container. When the release outlet is displaced to a position corresponsive to the second leading-out opening of the first container, the first leading-out opening of the first container is sealed by the separating board, so that a fixed quantity of the content of the second container is discharged smoothly to provide a simple, easy, convenient and quick application.
US09481473B2

A system for controlling operation of an aircraft engine includes a master controller, a control node coupled to a component of the aircraft engine and to the master controller, wherein the control node includes a computing device for performing diagnosis of the component. The computing device is configured to assess performance of the component during operation of the aircraft, determine whether the component is performing within specification, and if not performing within specification, indicate that the component is out of specification.
US09481470B2

An intermediate structure of an aircraft configured to mechanically attach an engine core and an engine fan module to each other and to the aircraft. The intermediate structure may have a ring-shaped portion and/or an elongated mount beam extending substantially perpendicularly from the ring-shaped portion. The ring-shaped portion may have a forward edge and an aft edge opposite of the forward edge, and may include a first attachment portion for attaching to a flange of the engine core, a second attachment portion for attaching to a flange of the engine fan module, and a mounting portion configured for mounting directly to a pylon or airframe of an aircraft. The engine core and/or the engine fan module may independently mechanically attach to and detach from the intermediate structure. The intermediate structure may have a gearbox mounted thereto for interfacing with rotary components of the engine core and the engine fan module.
US09481469B2

The invention relates to a valve for controlling the internal pressure in a cabin of an aircraft. First and second flaps supported in a frame control a fluid flow between the environment and the cabin through an opening of the valve. The first flap is supported at a distance from a front edge of the frame and the second flap is supported on a rear edge of the frame. A closing device closes an outflow opening (56) in an inflow position of the flaps, which outflow opening is bounded by the flaps. The closing device is pivotably supported on one of the flaps, and interacts with the locking device in such a way that the closing device closes the outflow opening in the event of a pivoting motion of the flaps.
US09481462B2

Elongate passenger service unit (PSU) assemblies are comprised of a plurality of modular passenger service units, and a plurality of variable-length modular spacer units. The modular spacer units are positioned between the modular passenger service units in an end-to-end manner so as to provide a desired lengthwise array of the passenger service units along the PSU assembly. Transport category vehicles, e.g., aircraft, may thus be provided with inboard and outboard PSU assemblies. The passenger seats may be arranged in a latitudinally side-by-side arrangement and/or may be arranged in a longitudinally staggered arrangement. By providing variable length modular spacer units, therefore, the individual passenger service units may be arranged directly overhead of each passenger seat.
US09481456B2

Embodiments are directed to obtaining data from a plurality of sensors located on a rotorcraft, wherein a first plurality of the sensors is associated with a hub of the rotorcraft and a second plurality of the sensors is associated with blades of the rotorcraft, processing the data to isolate blade dynamics using the data from the sensors associated with the blade from rotorcraft maneuvering dynamics using the data from the sensors associated with the hub, obtaining at least one parameter associated with the blade dynamics based on the processing, and analyzing the at least one parameter to control at least one of the rotorcraft and the blades.
US09481455B2

A dual series damper includes a fluid damper portion and a elastomeric damper portion. The fluid damper portion includes a first housing, a first connection member, and a piston coupled to the first connection member. The piston divides an interior of the first housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston has a fluid passage in the piston, the fluid passage being configured to provide fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber. The elastomeric damper portion includes a second housing, a second connection member coupled to the second housing, and an elastomer between the first housing and the second housing. When a lead/lag force is introduced to the dual series damper, the fluid damper portion behaves rigidly so that the elastomeric damper portion dampens the lead/lag oscillation.
US09481447B2

An aircraft wing includes a leading element; a trailing element positioned behind the leading element relative to a direction of movement of the aircraft and an actuation system for moving one of the elements between a retracted position and an extended position in which there is an air gap between a lower surface of the leading element and a surface of the trailing element. Two or more elongate stiffening ridges extend downwards from the lower surface of the leading element, and each adjacent pair of ridges is separated by a channel. The leading element is shaped to provide an improved air gap, preferably one which is parallel or convergent in all positions. Typically the volume of at least one of the ridges is less than the 50% of the volume of a channel defined by that ridge.
US09481442B2

A first reinforcing fiber layer is formed of reinforcing fibers which are wound around an outer periphery of a mandrel. The reinforcing fibers are aligned in parallel to a direction (+θ direction) in which the reinforcing fibers intersect with an annular direction (0° direction) of the mandrel, and seamlessly continue in the annular direction of the mandrel by an amount of at least one rotation.
US09481441B2

A method and a system for controlling a marine vessel having first and second trim deflectors is disclosed. The first and second trim deflectors have a first surface having a first area and a second surface having a second area, wherein the second planar surface is coupled to the first surface. The method and system control the first and second trim deflectors to induce any of a net yawing force, a net rolling force, and a net trimming force to the marine vessel without inducing any other substantial forces to the marine vessel by controlling the first and second trim deflectors.
US09481438B1

A cowl assembly for an outboard motor includes first and second cowl members. A fastening assembly includes a latch coupled to one of the cowl members, and a retaining mechanism coupled to the other of the cowl members. The latch and the retaining mechanism engage one another to fasten the first and second cowl members together. A seal is configured to form a fluid tight joint between the cowl members. A shape memory alloy wire is coupled to at least one of the latch and the seal. A switch is configured to selectively provide electrical current to the shape memory alloy wire to activate the shape memory alloy wire. Activation of the shape memory alloy wire causes at least one of disengagement of the latch from the retaining mechanism and disengagement of the seal from one of the first and second cowl members, enabling separation of the cowl members.
US09481435B1

An assembly is provided for mounting an outboard motor to a transom of a marine vessel. A support structure is configured to be coupled to the transom by a plurality of fasteners that extend through the support structure and through a set of holes that have been drilled in the transom. A steering head is coupled to the support structure and configured to support an outboard motor thereupon for rotation about a generally vertical steering axis. The set of holes is divided by a generally vertical fore-aft central plane, and the outboard motor extends along a generally vertical fore-aft central plane. The support structure and the steering head are coupled to one another such that the central plane of the outboard motor is capable of being laterally offset from the central plane of the set of holes. An assembly for mounting two or more outboard motors is also provided.
US09481434B1

A midsection housing for an outboard motor includes a driveshaft housing having an oil sump provided therein. An adapter plate is coupled to a top of the driveshaft housing. The adapter plate has an inner surface along which oil from an engine mounted on the adapter plate drains into the oil sump. First and second pockets are formed in an outer surface of the adapter plate on first and second generally opposite sides thereof, the first and second pockets configured to receive first and second mounts therein. A water jacket is formed between the inner and outer surfaces of the adapter plate. The water jacket extends at least partway between the inner surface of the adapter plate and each of the first and second pockets, respectively. A method for cooling a mount is also provided.
US09481432B2

Sails for sailboat wind propulsion comprising shape memory systems containing shape memory elements are described. The shape memory systems are arranged in correspondence to the sail battens, extending along them and operably connected to the sail opposite faces or directly to the battens so as to face the opposite faces of the sail. A control apparatus and method of said sails is also described.
US09481426B2

There is provided a swing arm for a motorcycle. A base section is connected to a chassis framework via a pivot member. A pair of rear-arm sections extend rearwards from the base section. A pair of bracket sections are respectively provided at rear end portions of the rear-arm sections to rotatably support a rear wheel. Each of the bracket sections is formed into a shape including a hole through which an axle of the rear wheel passes, an engaging plane formed at a region surrounding the hole, and a peripheral formation plane positioned to connect with the outer periphery of the rear-arm sections. An inner surface of the peripheral formation plane in the width direction is formed so as to be inclined outwards in the width direction from a side of formation region of the hole towards a front side as viewed from the top.
US09481420B2

A saddle adjustment assembly comprising an adjustable height saddle post, the adjustable height saddle post comprising a first support and a second support, the second support configured to slidably move relative to the first support between at least a raised position and a lowered position, the first support configured to attach to a bicycle frame; a saddle angle adjustment mechanism coupled to the second support, the saddle angle adjustment mechanism comprising a rotatably coupled saddle support configured to couple to a bicycle saddle; wherein the saddle angle adjustment mechanism is configured to enable rotation of the saddle support relative to the second support as a result of the first support moving relative to the second support.
US09481412B2

A crawler belt and a master link for use in the crawler belt enable easy connection and disconnection of the crawler belt. The crawler belt has a track chain in which a plurality of regular links are pivotally connected at their ends, the master link for connecting the of the track chain to form the crawler belt into a loop, and track shoes attached to the regular links and the master link respectively. The crawler belt has a slit aperture which leads only to a pin insertion hole formed at the other end of the master link and is configured such that a clamping force, generated by tightening a master bolt that imparts a tightening force to the master link to narrow the slit aperture, is allowed to work on only the regular pin inserted into a pin insertion hole leading to the slit aperture.
US09481410B2

A system comprising a self-propelled device and an accessory device. The self-propelled device includes a spherical housing, and a drive system provided within the spherical housing to cause the self-propelled device to roll. When the self-propelled device rolls, the self-propelled device and the accessory device magnetically interact to maintain the accessory device in contact with a top position of the spherical housing relative to an underlying surface on which the spherical housing is rolling on.
US09481405B2

A detachable surface flow enhancement device is provided, comprising: an aerodynamic structure configured to deflect moving air incident upon the aerodynamic structure; and an attaching element configured to attach the aerodynamic structure to a surface of a vehicle and to detach the aerodynamic structure from the surface of the vehicle without altering the surface of the vehicle.
US09481399B2

A structure for mounting a hood hinge for a vehicle includes a front pillar outer panel bonded to each of rear portions of fender apron upper members, which extend in a length direction of the vehicle, and mounted to left and right sides of the vehicle. A cowl upper panel extends in a width direction of the vehicle and is bonded to the front pillar outer panel and each of the rear portions of the fender apron upper members. A cowl side outer panel is connected to the fender apron upper member, the front pillar outer panel, and the cowl upper panel. The hood hinge is mounted on the connection portion of the cowl side outer panel and the fender apron upper member.
US09481385B2

A method for predicting failure of a crossing warning system is disclosed. The method includes monitoring an electrical characteristic of a first route when an electric current is injected into the first route. The first route has a crossing intersection with a second route and a crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The electrical characteristic is monitored to detect when a vehicle is approaching the crossing intersection on the first route and to determine when to activate the crossing signal at the crossing intersection. The method also includes identifying one or more changes in the electrical characteristic of the first route, and, based on the one or more changes that are identified, predicting a failure mode of the first route that interferes with detection of the vehicle approaching the crossing intersection.
US09481381B2

E-type and F-type yokes improve the ability of the yokes to be constructed having lighter weight yet function to handle loads from car coupling assembly components, such as, for example, a coupler mounted on the yoke. The E-type and F-type yokes have straps and openings provided in the straps, and are constructed from austempered ductile iron. Embodiments may be constructed with a tail or butt portion that includes sloped walls that form cavities in the butt portion of the yoke, where a supporting structure spans between the yoke rear wall and the draft gear seat wall.
US09481379B2

A railway axlebox assembly including a bearing including an inner ring adapted to be mounted on a shaft with an axial preload and an outer ring adapted to be mounted in a housing, a backing ring delivering axial support of the inner ring on an inner end portion of the shaft is provided. The assembly includes a seal that is disposed between the backing ring and the inner end portion of the housing. The sealing includes an elastomeric sealing lip bearing with a frictional contact on a sealing surface provided on the backing ring.
US09481378B2

A light strip, lighting fixture or lamp band for installation in an interior passenger compartment of a rail vehicle includes a plurality of elongate light covers that can be connected to each other in the longitudinal direction thereof to form the light strip. A double-walled intermediate cover is provided between at least two successive light covers in the longitudinal direction of the light strip. The inner wall of the light strip protrudes opposite the outer wall in the longitudinal direction of the light strip so that a gap resulting between the intermediate cover and the adjacent light cover is concealed.
US09481373B2

The behavior-based driving record management program is designed to assist drivers that have received driving penalties or “demerit points” to improve their behavior and “rehabilitate” to recover their driving privileges. Telematics are used to monitor the driving behavior over time and provide feedback to the driver. The system can also be used to implement graduated licensing programs to ensure that only qualified young drivers are graduating from one level to another demonstrating actual driver behavior and driving experience while reducing fraud.
US09481370B2

A method of operating a vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine. The method including determining if the engine is to be operated at idle and determining a current mode of operation of the vehicle. The current mode of operation is any one of a plurality of modes of operation including at least a first mode and a second mode. The method includes, if the engine is to be operated at idle, operating the engine at a first idle speed if the current mode of operation of the vehicle is the first mode of operation; and operating the engine at a second idle speed if the current mode of operation of the vehicle is the second mode of operation. The first idle speed is greater than the second idle speed.
US09481369B2

In a cruise control system installed in a vehicle, a monitoring unit monitors a region predetermined in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is located on a lane of a road. An instruction input unit is configured to allow a driver of the vehicle to input an instruction indicative of driver's recognized information in front of the vehicle. A target determining unit executes determination of a target for adjusting an interval with respect thereto based on a result of the monitor and on the instruction when the instruction is input from the instruction input unit thereto.
US09481361B2

A control apparatus for a vehicle provided with an engine, an electric motor, and a damper disposed in a power transmitting path between said engine and said electric motor, wherein said engine is started with its speed being raised by a drive force of said electric motor, wherein said damper has characteristics of generating a larger hysteresis torque during its torsion in a negative direction of transmission of the drive force from said electric motor toward said engine, than a hysteresis torque generated during its torsion in a positive direction of transmission of a drive force from said engine toward said electric motor, said control apparatus comprising a hybrid control portion configured to ignite said engine by igniting said engine in the process of a rise of the speed of said engine while said damper is subjected to the torsion in the negative direction by said electric motor.
US09481360B1

A vehicle includes an electric machine, a torque converter and damper, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the electric machine to apply a regenerative torque according to a deflection of the damper and a difference between a speed of the electric machine and an output speed of the torque converter.
US09481339B2

The present invention provides a gas generator, including a cylindrical housing having therein an ignition device chamber and a pressurized gas chamber, a closing member in a circular shape having a fragile portion provided on one surface and closing between the chambers, a piston being disposed inside the ignition device chamber and having a base plate and a rod that extends in the axial direction from one surface of the base plate to abut against or face the closing member, the fragile portion being a groove formed with a curve extending from a start point A on Y1 to an end point E through a first intermediate point B on Y2, a second intermediate point C on Y1, and a third intermediate point D on Y2, where Y1 and Y2 are two straight lines drawn to be orthogonal to each other and to pass through a crossing point X2 on one surface of the closing member, the groove formed so that distances from the crossing point X2 to the respective points satisfy the following relationship: the distance to the start point A
US09481335B2

An apparatus (50) detects a pedestrian/vehicle impact, the apparatus including a plurality of sensors (62, 64, 66) mounted near a forward location of a vehicle (52), each sensor providing an associated signal indicative of an impact event. A metric determining device (80) determines metric values for each of the sensor signals. A controller (80) determines if any of said determined metric values indicates the occurrence of a misuse event. The controller also determines if a pedestrian/vehicle impact event is occurring by comparing the metric value of at least one sensor signal against a selectable threshold. An actuation signal is provided in response to the comparison. The selectable threshold is selected in response to the determined occurrence of a misuse event. An actuatable pedestrian impact mitigation device (84) is attached to the vehicle and is actuated in responsive to the actuation signal from said controller.
US09481332B1

A power system for an aircraft is disclosed. The power system comprises a power panel, at least one power rail coupled to the power panel, wherein the power rail is integrated with a mounting rail for the passenger service unit, and at least one universal serial bus (USB) port coupled to the power panel and mounted in the passenger service unit.
US09481331B1

A system for implementing strobing of existing vehicle hazard lights including an interface to a vehicle wiring harness configured to receive input to an existing vehicle flasher module, and a strobing circuit that responds to an activation signal from the vehicle wiring harness that is indicative of a hazard flasher deployment event by producing an electrical output through the interface to the vehicle wiring harness that causes a strobing of existing vehicle hazard lamps.
US09481329B2

A grommet includes: a grommet body including a lip portion which contacts a water stopped surface defining an accommodation recess portion in a state in which the grommet body is attached to the accommodation recess portion; an outer which presses the lip portion toward the water stopped surface in a state in which the grommet body is sandwiched between the outer and the water stopped surface; and a rigid body portion which is interposed between the outer and the lip portion with respect to a pressing direction of the outer and which has rigidity higher than that of the lip portion. At least a part of the lip portion is placed in a pressed region pressed by the outer.
US09481316B2

A storage box system for a motor vehicle includes a folding storage box and a sliding rail assembly for translating the folding storage box between a hidden storage position below a cargo bay of the motor vehicle and a deployed position extending from a rear portion of the motor vehicle. The storage box includes at least a back and opposed sides being connected to a floor for transitioning between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. Structures are provided for retaining the opposed sides and back in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to a plane defined by the floor when the folding storage box is in the unfolded configuration. The sliding rail assembly includes one or more sliding rails associated with the folding storage box floor and one or more cooperating sleeves disposed below the cargo bay for slidingly receiving the sliding rails therein.
US09481314B2

A safety railing for attachment to a vehicle roof mounted rack to reduce the likelihood of fall injuries to workers who have mounted to roof of the vehicle has a pair of side railings joined by a front railing and supported by balusters that pivotally attach to the roof rack. A crank operated mechanism is provided for shifting the balusters between an erect, vertical orientation and a collapsed orientation where the safety railing lies flat against the roof rack.
US09481306B2

An automotive communication system for a vehicle includes a multi-pixel reconfigurable display device disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle. Data is wirelessly communicated to and is received by electronic circuitry of the vehicle from a mobile accessory that is a personal accessory of an occupant of the vehicle. The data is at least in part customized to the geographic location of the vehicle as determined by a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location. Information derived at least in part from the data is displayed by the display device and is viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The automotive communication system includes voice input and the automotive communication system includes voice generation. The data is from a data provider located external of and remote from the vehicle.
US09481301B2

A vehicular vision system includes an image sensor and an image processor. The image sensor is disposed at a vehicle and has an exterior field of view. The image sensor is operable to capture image data. The image processor is operable to process captured image data. The vision system is operable to automatically synchronize the image sensor to an ECU reference timing. The vision system may power on the image sensor synchronous to the ECU reference timing, and the vision system may regulate the timing of the image sensor synchronous to the ECU reference timing. The vision system may regulate the timing of the image sensor between a fast mode and a slow mode to synchronize the timing of the image sensor to the ECU reference timing.
US09481295B2

Improved vehicle emergency lighting control may be implemented in a vehicle computer. Data may be collected related to a pursuit of a second vehicle. The collected data can be used to determine at least one of an action of the first vehicle and an action of the second vehicle. An emergency light in the first vehicle can be controlled based on the at least one determined action.
US09481291B2

A vehicle lamp includes a light source, a projection lens through which at least a portion of light emitted from the light source passes, and an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a reference position of an optical axis of the projection lens. The adjustment mechanism includes a first member having a movement axis, a second member holding the first member, a first screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a first direction, and a second screw arranged to adjust the reference position in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The first member is arranged such that the movement axis is positioned on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis and including a focal point of the projection lens. An action by a rotation of the first screw and an action by a rotation of the second screw are applied to one of the first and second members.
US09481286B1

A cargo support device comprises an inner tube and an outer tube enclosing the inner tube. The inner tube can partially stretch out from the outer tube. A handle is hinged on the outer tube. There is a strip-shaped groove designed on the inner tube in the axial direction. A long toothed rack is embedded into the groove. There is a ratchet at the end of the handle, which meshes with the teeth on long toothed rack. The cargo support device can also comprise a locator which can lock the handle when the ratchet meshes with the teeth. The teeth on the cargo support device are not directly punched on the inner tube, but set on a separate long toothed rack embedded in the groove of the inner groove. This will properly increase the depth of the teeth.
US09481285B2

A protective hook cover configured for use in association with a hook member having a base and a leg joined together about a bend region so as to define a retention channel therebetween. The protective hook cover comprises a base region cover portion, a leg region cover portion and a connecting cover portion therebetween. The connecting cover portion including a plurality of nub bumper members extending outwardly from the outer base surface. A combination protective hook cover and hook member is also disclosed, as is the inclusion of a strap member.
US09481280B2

A seat back suspension assembly for a vehicle, disposed in a seat back frame inside a vehicle seat, may include a main wire including side wires extending in a vertical direction at left and right side thereof; at least one first support wire extending in a horizontal direction between the side wires at both sides thereof to allow both ends thereof to contact the side wires; at least one second support wire disposed to be spaced from the first support wire and extending in a horizontal direction between the side wires at both sides thereof to allow both ends thereof to contact the side wires; and a side guide injection-molded to cover the side wire and end portions of the first and second support wires contacting the side wire.
US09481279B2

A seat hack frame (100) for a vehicle made of a fiber-reinforced composite material containing a thermoplastic resin matrix and a reinforcing fiber, the seat back frame (100) including a seat back frame body (1), a metal plate (3) welded to the seat back frame body (1) at a reclining device (2) attaching position, and a metal reclining device (2) weld joined to the metal plate (3).
US09481276B2

A vehicle armrest assembly for a door and console includes a linear actuator extending vertically through at least a portion of an armrest substrate and having a pin at an upper end, a support plate positioned above the armrest substrate and having a slot, wherein the pin slidably engages the slot to allow the support plate to operate laterally along the slot and rotationally about the pin between a plurality of lateral and rotational positions, respectively. The linear actuator vertically operates the support plate between a plurality of vertical positions and a cover member is disposed over the support plate.
US09481270B2

A vehicle seat fitting has a fitting parts (11, 12) have a sprocket (17) and guide segments (14), a bar (16) guided by the guide segments between a locked and unlocked state that interact with the sprocket. The bar has bar cams (16a, 16b). An eccentric (27) is rotatably mounted around a rotation axis (A) and in a transition from unlocked to the locked, engages the bar with a force for clamping the bar against the sprocket. The eccentric has eccentric cams (28, 128) interacting with the bar cams. The first eccentric cam has a cam section (28.2) which runs in the peripheral direction concentrically around the axis. The cam section is arranged upstream in the closing direction of a further cam section (28.4) that has a cam contour running radially outwards downstream in the closing direction relative to the concentrically peripheral contour for clamping the bar against the sprocket.
US09481258B2

A vehicle (3, 3A) is provided with: a power receiving coil (3a) that is provided so as to face a ground power supply coil (2a) and that receives electric power from the ground power supply coil (2a); a storage battery (3d) that stores the electric power received by the power receiving coil (3a); and a power supply coil (3f) that supplies the electric power received by the power receiving coil (3a) to the outside. A transporting system is provided with: a plurality of travel tracks (1A, 1B) along which the plurality of vehicles (3, 3A) travel; and power transfer areas (Ka, Kb) where a vehicle (3, 3A) traveling along a travel track (1A) and a vehicle (3, 3A) traveling along another travel track (1B) are able to mutually transfer electric power to each other.
US09481255B2

A method for controlling an on-board charger (OBC) of an eco-friendly vehicle can widen the range of an AC input power frequency at which the charging operation of the OBC is possible without increasing the capacity of a power factor correction (PFC) capacitor. According to the method, an increase in output voltage ripple of the PFC capacitor is suppressed by sensing an AC input voltage frequency and then performing variable control of decreasing output power of the OBC based on the sensed frequency, i.e., a variable control of decreasing the output power of the OBC as the AC input voltage frequency decreases, so that the range of the AC input power frequency at which the charging operation of the OBC is possible can be extended without increasing the capacity of a PFC power element.
US09481248B2

An embodiment provides a method, including: receiving input via a sensor positioned within a vehicle; determining, using the sensor input, a passenger is within the vehicle; and analyzing the input received via the sensor to selectively disable a feature of an information handling device within the vehicle. In some embodiments, different sets of instruments or features thereof may be selectively disabled depending on the presence of a driver and/or passenger. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09481239B2

A misfuelling prevention apparatus for vehicles can prevent a diesel vehicle from being filled with a wrong fuel. The apparatus for vehicles may include an upper housing at an entrance of a filler neck, an internal housing located at a bottom of the upper housing while being supported by an interior of the filler neck, a stopper and a stopper spring, and a flapper and a flapper spring. The stopper may be at one side of the internal housing to be rotated around a pin by a contact with an oil gun. One end of the flapper may be rotatably installed in a pin structure at an opposite side of the internal housing with respect to the stopper and the other end of the flapper may be caught in a recess of the stopper. The flapper is to be pushed and selectively opened by the oil gun.
US09481237B2

A system for controlling an air flow in a vehicle may include a front air introduction apparatus mounted in front of an engine, a condenser provided to the front air introduction apparatus, an intercooler provided behind the condenser, a radiator provided between the intercooler and the engine, an active air flap for controlling air flow being introduced to the front air introduction apparatus, a side air introduction apparatus mounted to a side of an engine compartment for forwarding air to the engine, a connection line connected between the side air introduction apparatus and the front air introduction apparatus, a control valve for controlling air flow through the connection line, a plurality of sensors for measuring an operation state of the vehicle, and a control unit for determining an operation state of the vehicle based on a plurality of sensor signals, and controlling operation of the control valve.
US09481233B2

A sheet winding apparatus has a sheet, a winding axis to which one end of the sheet is fixed and having a cylindrical shape, a spring that is arranged in the winding axis and gives a biasing force to the winding axis in an opposite direction of drawing-out direction of the sheet, and a soundproof tube that is arranged between an outer periphery of the spring and inside the winding axis. The soundproof tube has first projected portions projecting outward from an outer periphery of the soundproof tube.
US09481221B2

A hydraulic actuator includes a shock absorber and a control system that is separate from the shock absorber and which generates damping loads for the hydraulic actuator. The control system generates the damping load by using a pair of variable valves, a pair of check valves, an accumulator, a pump/motor and a flow controller. The forces are generated in all four quadrants of compression/rebound and active/passive. A device which recuperates the energy generated by the hydraulic actuator can be incorporated into the hydraulic actuator to generate energy in the form of electrical energy.
US09481207B2

A caster device includes a base attachable to a supported item, one or more rolling elements that interface with the base to facilitate rolling of the supported item along a support surface, and an external sleeve coupled to the base for adjustable vertical positioning of the external sleeve relative to the base. The external sleeve can be placed in a first vertical position relative to the base where the rolling element(s) do not contact the support surface, and in a second vertical position relative to the base where the rolling elements do contact the support surface. A rimguard may be rotatively coupled with the external sleeve so that as the external sleeve is rotated to the first vertical position, the bottom rim of the external sleeve rotates relative to a rimguard inner surface and a rimguard outer surface does not rotate relative to the support surface.
US09481205B2

The present invention provides a racing wheel with an improved beadlock to securely capture the bead of an attached tire, a decreased rotational movement of inertia, a stiffer inner and outer radial deflection of the inner and outer rings, a stiffer bearing load, a reduced lateral radial and/or combined run-out, a reduced number of leak paths and/or a reduction in the wheel weight.
US09481202B2

A bicycle wheel is disclosed having a spoke, a nipple coupled to the spoke, and a rim coupled to the nipple and having an annular panel with inner and outer surfaces and an access hole. A plug is positioned over the access hole and includes a cap that is larger than the access hole, a leg extending from the cap and through the access hole, and a barb protruding radially from the leg to at least partially engage the inner surface of the annular panel. The plug can further include a resilient member compressed between the cap and the outer surface of the annular panel. On some rims, the annular panel has a non-planar contour. For these rims, the resilient member and/or the cap can be shaped to match the non-planar contour of the annular panel.
US09481199B2

A new design for a dry-erase board allows for writing on a clear top surface or a second surface under the clear top surface. The dry-erase board includes an insert positioned between the clear top surface and a second surface, the insert being protected by the clear top surface
US09481193B2

An image forming apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a first image forming section configured to form an image on a recording medium with a non-erasable material, and a second image forming section configured to form an image on the recording medium with an erasable material. The image forming apparatus further comprises a control section configured to separate image data according to attributes of the image data into first image data to be printed on the recording medium in the first image forming section and second image data to be printed on the recording medium in the second image forming section.
US09481190B2

The present invention provides a technique that simplifies operations for making appropriate print settings. Accordingly, a terminal apparatus serving as an information processing apparatus according to the present invention acquires, from a printing apparatus, information indicating the sheet type and size of the sheets set in each paper feed tray. Then, the terminal apparatus determines whether the acquired information includes a sheet type that matches a sheet type suitable for an attribute of information selected by a user as a print target. If it is determined that the information includes a sheet type that matches the suitable sheet type, the terminal apparatus generates print data including information designating a paper feed tray containing sheets of the matching sheet type, and transmits the generated print data to the printing apparatus.
US09481188B2

A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus executes multi-pass recording constituted of N scan passes including a scan pass for an outward path and a scan pass for a return path (N being an integer of 2 or more). When a proportion of executions of dot recording using a first liquid in each scan pass is made a first recording ratio, and a proportion of executions of dot recording using a second liquid in each pass is made a second recording ratio, the first recording ratio and the second recording ratio are set such that, in a first half of the N scan passes, a total ratio of the first recording ratio is larger than a total ratio of the second recording ratio, and in a second half of the N scan passes, a total ratio of the second recording ratio is larger than a total ratio of the first recording ratio.
US09481183B2

Provided is a printer in which the rotating shaft of a ribbon roller can be connected to its driving unit with high accuracy by using a mechanism simple in structure, while preventing breakage that may occur when connecting the rotating shaft to the driving unit. The printer (1) includes a cabinet (7), a drawer unit (11) which can be drawn out of the cabinet, a ribbon roller (4A, 4B) on which a belt-like ink ribbon used for transferring to a recording sheet is wound, a driving unit (31A, 31B) which drives the ribbon roller for rotation by being connected to a rotating shaft (14A, 14B) of the ribbon roller when the drawer unit is loaded in the cabinet, and a disengaging member (40) which is provided on the cabinet and which disengages the driving unit from the rotating shaft when the drawer unit is drawn out of the cabinet.
US09481182B2

A liquid supplying device includes a liquid cartridge and a cartridge mounting unit having a liquid extraction tube. The liquid cartridge includes a liquid chamber, a valve chamber extending in a first direction away from the liquid chamber, first and second air channels, a seal member having a through-hole, a valve element having a closing part, first and second sealing parts and a liquid channel. A third sealing part is provided on the closing part or the liquid extraction tube. The liquid extraction tube entering into the valve chamber through the through-hole contacts the closing part, moving the valve element in a second direction opposite to the first direction from a first state where the closing part closes the through-hole, to a second state where the third sealing part closes the through-hole, and to a third state where the valve chamber is communicated with inside of the liquid extraction tube.
US09481180B2

A liquid container is mountable on a mount portion in a state of being engaged into a first engaging portion with respect to a supporting portion. The liquid container includes a first wall including a first section mountable on the mount portion; a second wall facing the first wall; a third wall intersecting with the first wall and the second wall; a fourth wall which faces the third wall, and intersects with the first wall and the second wall; and a first engaged portion capable of being engaged into the first engaging portion, in which when a direction from the first wall to the second wall is defined as a Z-axis direction, the first engaged portion is projected to the side opposite to the second wall side from the first wall, and is capable of coming in contact with the first engaging portion in the Z-axis direction.
US09481174B2

A method of manufacturing an ink jet printhead includes: providing a silicon substrate including active ejecting elements; providing a hydraulic structure layer; providing a silicon orifice plate having a plurality of nozzles for ejection of said ink; and assembling the silicon substrate with said hydraulic structure layer and said silicon orifice plate. Providing the silicon orifice plate comprises: providing a silicon wafer having a substantially planar extension delimited by a first and a second surfaces; performing a thinning step at the second surface so as to remove a central portion having a preset height; and forming in the silicon wafer a plurality of through holes, each defining a respective nozzle for ejection of the ink.
US09481167B2

In a liquid ejecting head, a vibration plate includes an effective displacement portion provided for each pressure chamber and an island-shaped part which is provided in the effective displacement portion at a position on the opposite side to the pressure chamber and to which one end portion of a piezoelectric vibrator is bonded; the piezoelectric vibrator has a laminate structure in which electrodes and piezoelectric material are alternately laminated; a layer at an end of one side of the piezoelectric vibrator in the laminating direction is formed of an external electrode, while a layer at an end of the other side thereof in the same direction is formed of a piezoelectric material; and the piezoelectric vibrator is disposed so as to be shifted toward the other side in the laminating direction with respect to the effective displacement portion.
US09481162B2

A three-dimensional shaped article manufacturing method with which a three-dimensional shaped article having a glossy texture can be manufactured stably and efficiently is provided. A three-dimensional shaped article manufacturing method for manufacturing a three-dimensional shaped article by laminating layers formed by discharging and curing inks including a curable resin, the method including: applying a substantive section-forming ink to a region that forms the three-dimensional shaped article, and applying a sacrificial layer-forming ink for forming a sacrificial layer to a region that is adjacent to a region that forms an outermost layer of the three-dimensional shaped article and on a surface side of the outermost layer, a viscoelasticity of the sacrificial layer-forming ink during curing of the substantive section-forming ink being not less than a viscoelasticity of the substantive section-forming ink during curing of the substantive section-forming ink.
US09481160B2

The present disclosure generally describes techniques suitable for use in the construction or recycling of composite materials. An article may comprise a thermoplastic coupled to a bonding interface layer, with a coating layer applied to the surface of the bonding interface layer. A bonding interface layer may comprise catalytic nanoparticles embedded within and/or encapsulated by one or more radiatively unstable polymers. Application of ionizing radiation to the article may release a catalyst at the bonding interface. Application of heat and/or stress to the article may enhance catalytic degradation of the remaining bonding interface and uncoupling of the thermoplastic from the coating layer. Embodiments of methods, compositions, articles and/or systems may be disclosed and claimed.
US09481154B2

A method for producing a laminate for configuring an image display device is provided, capable of realizing simultaneously unevenness followability and anti-bubble reliability. A method for producing a laminate for configuring an image display device is proposed, comprising the following steps (1) and (2):(1) The step of forming an adhesive composition into the form of a monolayer or a multilayer sheet, and by UV-crosslinking, primary-curing this thereby forming a pre-secondary curing transparent double-sided adhesive sheet.(2) The step of layering two image display device-constituting members via the pre-secondary curing transparent double-sided adhesive sheet and then irradiating ultraviolet light from at least a first image display device-constituting member side, UV-crosslinking through this member and secondary-curing the pre-secondary curing transparent double-sided adhesive sheet.
US09481153B2

The invention relates to a method for producing leather parts (18), which can be processed using saddler technology, from prefabricated final leather (12) for the automotive field. The final leather is split in a splitting process (13) with the formation of a contiguous and closed thin leather hide (14) with a proportional thickness in relation to the final leather of from 15 to 50% and a split leather hide (15) with a proportional thickness of from 50 to 85%. The thin leather hide (14) is then cut to size in a die-cutting process with the formation of predefined thin leather blanks and is lined over the full area of its rear side with a complementary lining blank made from a textile, fibrous and/or foam material which is lighter in mass than leather. In principle, the split leather hide can also be trimmed, cut to size and optionally split to a desired thickness and lined with the formation of split leather parts (19) which can be processed using saddler technology.
US09481151B2

The present invention relates generally to a method of producing an electrostatic field generating plate. More specifically, the method enables an electrostatic field generating plate to be produced made from PVC for a water purification system wherein the plate generates an electric field.
US09481146B2

A crosslinked polyolefin resin foam, wherein a C4-12 α-olefin-copolymerized, linear, low-density polyethylene resin (Y) and a low-density polyethylene resin (X) other than the resin (Y), the content of the resin (X) is lower than that of the resin (Y); the sum of (X) and (Y) is 50% or more and 100% or less based on 100% of all components; 50% compressive hardness is 70 kPa or less; when the foam is divided in the thickness direction into equal four layers (A), (B), (C) and (D) in this order from one face side of the foam, and 50% compressive hardnesses of layers (A) and (D) are “compressive hardness (a)” and “compressive hardness (d),” respectively, the ratio of (a) to (d) is 1/20 to 1/2; and air permeability in the thickness direction is less than 0.9 L/min.
US09481145B2

The present invention relates to a sheet-form prepreg which comprises a plurality of carbon fibers and a matrix resin with which the plurality of carbon fibers are impregnated. This matrix resin contains a thermosetting resin, a curing agent, conductive particles of 1 μm or smaller in diameter, conductive particles of 5 μm or larger in diameter and thermoplastic resin particles, and the conductive particles of 1 μm or smaller in diameter, the conductive particles of 5 μm or larger in diameter and the thermoplastic resin particles are each disproportionately distributed in a specific part of the prepreg.By the present invention, a prepreg from which a carbon fiber-reinforced composite material having both excellent impact resistance and good conductivity in the lamination direction can be produced is provided.
US09481131B2

A 5D printer, which additively manufactures an object, includes an extruder that can move linearly along three orthogonal axes and rotationally around at least one of the axes with respect to the object while depositing a material. A gantry is movable along X, Y and Z axes, and a trunnion table movable about A and B axes is mounted on the gantry. A platen is mounted on the trunnion table, and the extruder deposits the material on the platen while moving the gantry and trunnion table. A model of the object is analyzed to produce a stress tensor for the object, and the depositing is according to the stress tensor.
US09481128B2

A package bag sealing machine includes a first clamping unit and a second clamping unit respectively connected to a first bracket and a second bracket and movable relative to each other to clamp a package bag therebetween, a first sealing unit, a second sealing unit connected to the second bracket, and a first drive connecting the first sealing unit to the first bracket and controllable to move the first sealing unit toward the second sealing unit for sealing a package bag between the first sealing unit and the second sealing unit. After the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit clamp the package bag to be sealed, they are immovable, preventing stretching the package bag during the sealing operation and increasing the packaging yield.
US09481127B2

A method for joining together constructional parts which are made of a composite material and extend transversely to one another, such as a flange and a web of a profile, includes the steps of: placing the constructional parts in the desired position with respect to one another so as to form a connecting region in which one of the constructional parts abuts against or in proximity to the other constructional part, causing a thermoplastic material to flow out into the connecting region, fusing together the constructional parts under the influence of heat and pressure.
US09481126B2

A method for producing an electrical insulation material includes the steps: providing a liquid-crystalline polymer; shaping the liquid-crystalline polymer to give an insulation film in such a manner that the mesophase of the liquid-crystalline polymer is present in the insulation film, whereby the molecules of the polymer are aligned in a preferred direction in the insulation film; laminating a plurality of insulation films to give a layer complex forming the electrical insulation material, wherein the layer complex has at least one insulation film which differs in the preferred direction of the molecules thereof from the preferred direction of the molecules of another insulation film.
US09481124B2

The present invention describes methods for creating single-piece or multi-piece Rigid Inserts that may be included in an Ophthalmic Lenses or may comprise the Ophthalmic Lens, wherein the Rigid Insert may be formed through the processing of thin sheet material by thermoforming. Single piece annular Rigid Inserts may perform the function of providing a template for printed patterns to be included in Ophthalmic Lenses. Single piece full Rigid Inserts may perform the function of polarizing light or filtering light based on the properties of materials used to form the insert. Multi-piece Rigid Inserts may incorporate activation and energization elements. The present invention also includes apparatus for implementing such methods, as well as Ophthalmic Lenses and inserts formed with the Rigid Insert pieces that have been thermoformed.
US09481120B2

A device for producing a high density compact livestock feed from a loose granular material according to various embodiment can include a source for supplying a loose granular material to be treated and moving the treated material through a series of successive treatment zones. Rotatable screws are provided within an extruder to compress and transport the treated material a die. The treated material is pressed through the die while a two-dimensional cross-section compression is applied to the treated material.
US09481113B2

A plant for making continuous yarns (30) made of silicon material comprises at least an extrusion station (12), into which the material is introduced in an amorphous condition, and extrusion means (15) which cause the material to exit from the extrusion station (12) along an extrusion axis (D). The plant also comprises a vulcanization station (16), located downstream of the extrusion station (12), at a determinate distance (“L”) therefrom, in which the continuous yarn (30) is vulcanized in a direction of treatment (T). The plant also comprises a drawing unit (18), disposed downstream of the vulcanization station (16).
US09481107B2

A dual spiral mixing fin assembly adapted to mix and guide material contained in a rotatable mixing drum of a type used in a transit concrete vehicle mixing system, the assembly includes dual spiral mixing fins extending transversely along a drum mixing space attachable to the inner surface of a mixing drum. The fins are provided with a plurality of spaced large openings for allowing mixed concrete and charged ingredient materials to migrate along a drum mixing space through the openings in both a forward and rearward direction. The fins also have a plurality of spaced small openings that accommodate the passage of cleanout materials along a drum mixing space. A plurality of strut members are attached to forward portions of the mixing fins and adapted to be fixed to the front interior surface of a mixing drum.
US09481099B2

A blade cover may include a cover body defining an interior volume, the cover body being configured to receive a cutting implement within the interior volume, a recess is disposed in the cover body, and a slot is disposed through the recess, the slot defining an opening into the interior volume, wherein the slot is configured to receive at least a portion of a blade of the cutting implement and the recess is configured to expose at least a portion of the blade of the cutting implement.
US09481095B2

A robot according to an embodiment includes a lower arm, an upper arm, a wrist, and an actuator that rotationally drives the wrist. The upper arm is connected to the lower arm rotatably about a first rotation axis. The wrist is connected to the upper arm rotatably about a second rotation axis perpendicular to the first rotation axis. The actuator is disposed so that a rotation axis of the actuator is perpendicular to the second rotation axis and is attached to the upper arm so as to extend in a direction of the first rotation axis.
US09481092B2

A device which prevents a gear from ending up being damaged while enabling the gear to be more easily and suitably gripped is provided. A gear gripping device 10 comprises a pawl which is provided to be able to move so as to approach a circumference of a gear G and which can engage with a gear groove which is formed at the circumference of the gear, a first drive part 18 which drives the pawl to abut against the circumference of the gear G, a second drive part 20 which makes the gear G rotate in the circumferential direction of the gear G, and an engagement detection part 50 which detects if the pawl has engaged with the gear groove.
US09481078B2

A nailer is provided for securing planks to a subfloor in tight places with fasteners. A fastener ejection channel made in the nailer is formed in between a pair of first and second guide plates spacedly mounted parallel to one another. The first guide plate defines a planar inner end portion having an ovoidal slot and an outer end portion defining a transverse arcuate first flange. The second guide plate defines an arcuate second flange extending away from the first guide plate and generally parallel to the first flange. An elongated straight push rod is mounted partially nested at an inner end in the ovoidal slot. The bottom portion of the push rod is movable along the fastener ejection channel between first and second limit positions. A lengthwise notch extends along the second guide plate intermediate section and opens into the second flange and is sized and shaped to accommodate transverse passage of an outer end portion of the push rod, wherein the push rod moves rectilinearly between the first and an intermediate position thereof but the push rod outer end portion tilts laterally away from the first guide plate when moving in non-rectilinear fashion between the intermediate and second limit positions thereof.
US09481075B2

A hand operated hydraulic press pliers tool is provided comprising an upper stationary handle having a fixed serrated upper jaw portion forming the front end of the stationary handle and a tubular portion forming the rear end of the stationary handle. A serrated lower jaw is pivotally attached to the stationary handle and disposed opposing the upper jaw portion. A hydraulic cylinder assembly is centrally disposed within the upper stationary handle and pivotally attached at one end within the tubular portion of the upper stationary handle near the rear of the handle, and the front end of the cylinder assembly pivotally attached to the lower serrated jaw between the lower jaw pivot handle attachment point and the serrated portion of the jaw. A lower tool handle is pivotally attached to the cylinder assembly yoke that is the front end of the pump assembly. A pivotally attached lower tool handle provides a pump lever disposed to engage a concentrically disposed hydraulic pump assembly within the cylinder assembly wherein depressing the top of the hydraulic pump assembly forces fluid into the cylinder assembly expanding the length of the cylinder assembly when the handles are squeezed together by a user. The longitudinal expansion pivots the lower serrated jaw towards the upper serrated jaw gripping a work piece disposed by a user between the jaws. Repeated cycles of squeezing and releasing the handles of the tool effectuate an incremental closure of the jaws onto a work piece with increasing pressure with each squeezing cycle.
US09481057B2

A method for hardfacing a drill bit includes applying a hardfacing material to a matrix metal forming the substrate of the drill bit. The hardfacing material is applied using a plasma arc welding process. A metallurgical bond is formed between the matrix metal and the hardfacing material. The matrix metal may include tungsten carbide and a braze filler metal.
US09481054B2

A method for manufacturing an air-intake structure for a turbojet-engine nacelle includes two component parts, i.e. one air-intake lip structure and one outer cowl for the air-intake structure. In particular, the method includes the following steps: separately manufacturing the component parts such that each integrates one overlapping portion with a part to which is to be attached. The overlapping portion is configured such that an outer surface of the outer overlapping portion provides continuity with an outer surface of the outer cowl associated with the inner overlapping portion. To secure the overlapping portions, glue or a fastener may be used.
US09481049B2

A method of cutting a cut member out of an original sheet by means of thermal cutting and machining, and includes a hole-cutting process, a finishing process, and an outer periphery-cutting process. During the hole-cutting process, a hole is created in the original sheet by means of thermal cutting while leaving a machining allowance in addition to the finished size of the hole. During the finishing process, a cutting tool is inserted into the hole which has been created through the hole-cutting process, and the cutting tool is guided along the inner circumference of the hole so as to cut the thermally-cut end surface in order to machine the hole to the finished size. During the outer periphery-cutting process, the outer periphery of the cut member is cut by means of thermal cutting to take the cut member out of the original sheet.
US09481047B2

A conductor tube for use in an arc welding apparatus is disclosed that diffuses gas from an aperture in the conductor tube. The conductor tube has an internal passageway and a distal end portion. In one form of the present disclosure, proximate to the distal end portion there is at least one aperture disposed wherein the gas flowing through the internal passageway is at least partially dispersed through the at least one aperture.
US09481044B2

A method for milling a threading of a screw or tapped hole. The threading has a cross section in the shape of a triangle with a truncated crest. The method includes milling a first flank (V1) of at least one spire of the thread by a first comb (A) of a milling tool (F). The teeth of the first comb (A) are spaced in relation to one another by a first pitch (P1). Then milling a second flank (V2) of at least one other spire of the thread by a second comb (B) of the milling tool (F), wherein the teeth of the second comb (B) are spaced in relation to one another by a second pitch (P2) equal to the first pitch (P1) and offset from the teeth of the first comb (A) by a phase displacement (DP). Then milling a truncated portion (V3) of the crest by a third comb (C) of the milling tool (F).
US09481042B2

The disclosure relates to a ring-shaped tool for processing a work piece, wherein the tool has a fastening area for fastening onto a rotatable drive shaft, wherein the fastening area is centered with relation to the ring-shape of the tool, wherein the tool further has sprockets arranged around the circumference of the tool, wherein the sprockets are arranged on the head end of the tool, wherein the sprockets have an arc-shape seen in axial direction of the ring, the arc-shape having a summit, wherein the sprockets are formed in a mirror-symmetric manner relative to the ring surface of the tool which is cutting through the summit.
US09481036B2

A method for fabricating porous metal constructs (such as porous Ti constructs) which may be used as implants in bone repair is disclosed. The method employs a new saltbath sintering process coupled with conventional powder metallurgy technology which is capable of fabricating porous metal constructs with controlled porosity and pore size having a lower production cost than conventional powder metallurgy methods.
US09481022B2

A container, such as a beverage or food can is provided, which includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom portion extending between the first and second sidewalls. The material of the bottom portion is stretched relative to the first sidewall and the second sidewall to form a thinned preselected profile, such as a dome. The material of the container at or about the dome has a substantially uniform thickness. The container is formed from a blank of material, which has a base gauge prior to being formed. After being formed, the material of the container at or about the dome has a thickness less than the base gauge. Tooling and a method for selectively forming a blank of material into a container, are also disclosed.
US09481021B2

A load-applying device of a press-forming die includes a rod which includes a first end, a second end, and a flange, a lamination coned disc spring in which a plurality of coned disc springs having a center hole, to which the first end of the rod is inserted, are laminated, a first plate which includes a first through hole to which the first end of the rod is inserted and abuts the lamination coned disc spring, a second plate which includes a second through hole to which the second end of the rod is inserted and abuts the flange; and a gap fixing member which is detachably provided between the first plate and the second plate and fixes a gap between the first plate and the second plate so as to maintain the gap by which the lamination coned disc spring biases the flange to the second plate. The second end and the first plate relatively move in a mutually approaching direction during press-forming, and the lamination coned disc spring is compressed.
US09481020B2

Bending members having slanted faces to engage folded edge portions of a housing panel, wherein the relative sliding movement between the folded edge portions and the bending members cause bending of each of the folded edge portions to an inwardly slanted angle.
US09481011B2

An apparatus including an air blower; a rotary airlock; a receptacle having an inner chamber supplied with a plurality of colorant particles; a water supply; and a mixing chamber. The air blower blows air into a bottom section of the rotary airlock, and the rotary airlock receives colorant particles from an output of the receptacle. A rotor shaft of the rotary airlock rotates to cause colorant particles to be transported to the bottom section of the rotary airlock. Air blown into the bottom section of the rotary airlock mixes with colorant particles transported into the bottom section of the rotary airlock to form an air and colorant particles mixture, which is blown out of a first output of the rotary airlock and combined with water to form a water, air, and colorant particles mixture, which is mixed with material in a mixing chamber. The material may be natural mulch.
US09481002B2

A device for manually painting a large surface using a spray gun connected to a paint feed line for the supply of an enamel paint and to a pressure line for the provision of compressed air. After the manual actuation of an operating switch arranged on a handle piece, the spray gun sprays the enamel paint by compressed air via a spray head to apply the enamel paint onto the surface. The spray gun includes means such that it can be moved manually along the surface. The means include an extension rod, at one end of which the spray gun is attached by the handle piece and which is configured such that, when held by an operator on an arm holder configured at the opposite end, it extends from the elbow along the forearm of the operator and beyond the distal end of the forearm.
US09480995B2

A method of dispensing different concentrations of chemical concentrate from a concentrate container at different flow rates. The method includes providing a stream of water and a chemical concentrate adapted to be diluted in the stream of water between an inlet of a body member and an outlet of the body member to provide a fluid concentration dispensable from the outlet at one of a plurality of flow rates, rotating at least a portion of an eductor to vary one of a volume of chemical concentrate and the flow rate, sliding the eductor to vary the other of the volume of chemical concentrate and the flow rate, and selectively dispensing the fluid concentration through the outlet.
US09480988B2

The invention relates to a shredder/document shredder for sheet-shaped material, such as paper and material of the like or similar data storage media, having a thickness sensor which protrudes at least partially into a receiving slot. According to the invention, the thickness sensor does not change its position if too much material to be shredded (for example, paper) passes into the receiving slot, but rather pivots about its rotational axis as a result of the friction with the material. A switch is actuated by way of the pivoting movement, as a result of which the electric drive of the shredder is interrupted.
US09480971B2

A method for preparing a catalyst comprising (i) preparing a calcined shaped calcium aluminate catalyst support, (ii) treating the calcined shaped calcium aluminate support with water, and then drying the support, (iii) impregnating the dried support with a solution containing one or more metal compounds and drying the impregnated support, (iv) calcining the dried impregnated support, to form metal oxide on the surface of the support and (v) optionally repeating steps (ii), (iii) and (iv) on the metal oxide coated support. The method provides an eggshell catalyst in which the metal oxide is concentrated in an outer layer on the support.
US09480969B2

A new adsorbent CO2-ONE for removal of acidic gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide was developed from hydrothermal reaction of natural limestone with natural kaolin via sodium hydroxide. Several synthesis conditions were employed such as initial concentration of NaOH, weight ratio of limestone to kaolin, reaction temperature and pressure. The produced Ca—Na—SiO2-Al2O3 samples were characterized using XRD and EDS and showed that a mixture of Gehlenite Ca2Al(Al1.22Si0.78O6.78)OH0.22 and Stilbite Na5.76Ca4.96(Al15.68Si56.32O144) with percentage of 43 and 57 was successfully produced, respectively. Another produced sample showed the presence of Gehlenite Ca2Al(Al1.22Si0.78O6.78)OH0.22, Stilbite Na5.76Ca4.96(Al15.68Si56.32O144) and Lawsonite CaAl2Si2O7OH2(H2O) with percentage of 4.1 and 7.4 and 88, respectively.
US09480964B2

A device and a method for producing suspensions or wet pastes of nanoparticles or ultra-fine particles. The method comprises: introducing a flow of particles of nanometric or submicronic size into a first compartment of a chamber having a bulk density between 15 and 100 g/L; forming, in the first compartment, a spray of droplets between 1 and 10 micrometers in size, by injecting a solvent in liquid or gas form into a second compartment of the device and passing said solvent through the filtering means, the solvent being chosen from the solvents which are liquid at ambient temperature and at atmospheric pressure; stopping the formation of the spray when the entire quantity of particles contained in the first compartment forms, as required, with the solvent, a suspension comprising between 80 and 99.9% solvent, if the solvent is introduced into the second compartment in liquid form, or a wet paste comprising between 1 and 10% solvent, if the solvent is introduced into the second compartment in gas form; recovering the suspension or wet paste formed.
US09480960B2

A process for preparing a phase change microcapsule having a thermally conductive shell is introduced. The thermal conductivity of the encapsulation materials for the phase change microcapsules is increased by adding thermally conductive nano-materials. The vinylsilane compound is polymerized with the acrylic monomer to form the copolymer first, and then the thermally conductive inorganic material is added. Thereafter, the phase change microcapsule having the phase change material as the core and the thermally conductive material-containing copolymer as the shell is prepared. The polar functional groups on the surface of the thermally conductive inorganic material condense with the vinylsilane compound to form chemical bonding, thereby substantially increasing the compatibility between the thermally conductive inorganic material and the copolymer. Therefore, the thermally conductive material can be dispersed stably during the encapsulation of the microcapsules, and the phase change microcapsule having the thermally conductive shell can be obtained successfully.
US09480959B2

A process for hydrogenating chlorosilanes in a reactor, wherein at least two reactant gas streams are introduced separately from one another into a reaction zone, wherein the first reactant gas stream comprising silicon tetrachloride is conducted via a first heat exchanger unit in which it is heated and is then conducted through a heating unit which heats it to a first temperature before the first reactant gas stream reaches the reaction zone, and wherein the second reactant gas stream comprising hydrogen is heated by a second heat exchanger unit to a second temperature, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, and then introduced into the reaction zone, such that the mixing temperature of the two reactant gas streams in the reaction zone is between 850° C. and 1300° C., and said reactant gas streams react to give product gases comprising trichlorosilane and hydrogen chloride, wherein the product gases obtained in the reaction are conducted through said at least two heat exchanger units and preheat the reactant gas streams of the reaction by the countercurrent principle, wherein the flow passes first through the first heat exchanger unit and then through the second heat exchanger unit. A reactor for hydrogenating chlorosilanes, comprising two gas inlet devices through which reactant gases can be introduced separately from one another into the reactor, and at least one gas outlet device through which a product gas stream can be conducted, at least two heat exchanger units which are connected to one another and which are suitable for heating reactant gases separately from one another by means of the product gases conducted through the heat exchanger units, and a heating zone which is arranged between a first heat exchanger unit and a reaction zone and in which there is at least one heating element.
US09480956B2

An object is to provide a hydrogen sulfide gas production plant that can recover discharged waste hydrogen sulfide gas and efficiently supply the gas to a process plant where processing is conducted by using hydrogen sulfide gas, and also provide a method for recovering and using the waste hydrogen sulfide gas by the hydrogen sulfide gas production plant. In the present invention, the hydrogen sulfide gas production plant is provided with a pipe that recovers the waste hydrogen sulfide gas discharged from the hydrogen sulfide gas production plant and that has one end connected to the process plant where the hydrogen sulfide gas is used, and the discharged waste hydrogen sulfide gas is recovered and the recovered waste hydrogen sulfide gas is supplied to the process plant through the pipe.
US09480955B2

A system for bone cement includes a vial holder configured for receiving a vial and including a holding structure for maintaining the vial in the vial holder. The vial includes a monomer component for bone cement. A holder chamber is configured to receive and secure the vial holder. The vial holder is advanced toward a vial-breaking device for breaking the vial and releasing its contents into the holder chamber past the elastomeric seal. Once the vial holder is advanced further the elastomeric seal is deformed to form a seal and prevent fumes produced from escaping from the device.
US09480953B2

The present invention provides a composite filter media for use in a fuel stream wherein the composite media provides significantly improved resistance to water penetration as indicated by the FWWPP normalized for fuel IFT and a reduced resistance to flow of the fuel stream as indicated by the Ratio of Resistances.
US09480949B2

A process for desorbing CO2 gas from an ion-rich aqueous mixture comprising bicarbonate and hydrogen ions, includes providing micro-particles in the ion-rich aqueous mixture; and feeding the ion-rich aqueous mixture into a desorption reactor; the micro-particles comprising a support material and biocatalysts supported and stabilized by the support material and being sized and provided in a concentration in the desorption reactor such that the micro-particles are carried with the ion-rich aqueous mixture to promote transformation of the bicarbonate and hydrogen ions into CO2 gas and water, thereby producing a CO2 gas stream and an ion-depleted solution.
US09480946B2

A transition metal carboxylate scavenger may be used to scavenge contaminants from systems from mixed production and/or gas, either dry or wet hydrocarbon gas. The contaminants scavenged or otherwise removed may include, but are not necessarily limited to, H2S, mercaptans, sulfides, and combinations thereof. Suitable transition metal carboxylates in the scavenger include, but are not limited to, zinc octoate, zinc dodecanoate, zinc naphthenate, and combinations thereof.
US09480926B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a game server that employs a notification system associated with purchase of an item in a game and is capable of promoting the purchase of the item. Specifically, a game server includes: a notification means, when receiving a request for provision of a first item from a communication terminal, for sending a notification that the first item is provided to the communication terminal to a communication terminal; and an item providing means, when sending the notification from the notification means to the communication terminal that the first item is provided, for providing a second item, in addition to the first item, to at least one of the communication terminal and the communication terminal that sends the request for provision of the first item.
US09480919B2

Virtual entities are displayed alongside real world entities in a wearable reality overlay device worn by the user. Information related to an environment proximate to the wearable device is determined. For example, a position of the wearable device may be determined, a camera may capture an image of the environment, etc. Virtual entity image information representative of an entity desired to be virtually displayed is processed based on the determined information. An image of the entity is generated based on the processed image information as a non-transparent region of a lens of the wearable device, enabling the entity to appear to be present in the environment to the user. The image of the entity may conceal a real world entity that would otherwise be visible to the user through the wearable device. Other real world entities may be visible to the user through the wearable device.
US09480916B2

A method and system to host a computer-implemented multiplayer game includes functionality to identify and resolve conflicts resulting from asynchronous game play. Client system game state information that changes responsive to in-game actions performed on a client system is intermittently synchronized with authoritative game state information, during which the in-game actions may be validated. Actions that fail a prerequisite check based on the authoritative game state information are analyzed in automated fashion to determine whether they are redundant actions that fail the prerequisite check owing to their having been performed with respect to outdated client system game state information. One or more remedial actions are performed for respective redundant actions, e.g., by allowing the redundant action and modifying the game state, by restoring spent resources to affected players, or by disallowing both the redundant action and an associated preempting action.
US09480909B1

This disclosure relates to a system and methodology for dynamically adjusting a game based on predictions made during game account creation in accordance with one or more implementations. The system may be configured to receive user information included in platform level accounts which were previously created by users on an online platform. The system may be configured such that creation of a first game level account for a first user of an online game includes receiving user information from a first platform level user account which was previously created by the first user on an online platform and using this user information to determine in-game customizations predicted to be desirable for a user.
US09480901B2

A trunk lift assessment device includes a tower extending upwardly from a base; an arm extending outwardly from the tower, a gauge disposed at the tower, and an indicator coupled to the first end of the arm so that the indicator moves relative to the gauge when the arm is pivoted relative to the tower. The arm is configured to remain fixed relative to the tower when no external force is applied to the second end of the arm. The arm also is configured to pivot relative to the tower when an external force is applied to the second end of the arm.
US09480900B2

Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting.
US09480899B2

Embodiments provide a ball throwing machine including a motor coupled to a rotary wheel and configured to rotate the rotary wheel at a rotational speed to throw a ball forward toward an athlete. A speed control module may be coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the rotary wheel, via the motor, at a first rotational speed during a fastball setting and a second rotational speed during a changeup setting. The speed control module may determine the second rotational speed based on the first rotational speed so that a ball thrown by the ball throwing machine will arrive in a target zone when the ball throwing machine is in the fastball setting and the changeup setting. In some embodiments, the speed control module may utilize resistive braking to transition the rotary wheel from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed.
US09480898B2

Provided is a multipurpose putting practice device for enabling straight putting and distance practice by situation, which: enables short-distance or middle- and long-distance putting practice on flat, uphill, and downhill environments; enables a golf ball to be collected at the same place where putting is carried out through an upwardly protruding putting line during putting;improves positioning by checking whether a golf ball has gone into the hole by sound and with the naked eye so as to hit the golf ball to a target spot in a fixed direction; and forms correct putting postures, and digitizes and visualizes a plurality of green speeds such that a user can compare and figure out the plurality of green speeds and practice distance adjustment on a desired field.
US09480892B2

A golf bag including a body defining a housing adapted to receive one or more golf clubs, and extending between a bottom portion and a top portion. The golf bag includes a fastener coupled to the body. The fastener includes a first end coupled to the body, a second end opposite the first end, and a locking member. The golf bag also includes a first gripping member coupled to the body and a second gripping member coupled to the fastener. The first gripping member and the second gripping member are configured to receive a cart strap therebetween.
US09480887B2

An improved striking face of a golf club head and a method of manufacturing thereof is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved method of stamped forging variable face geometry onto the rear surface of a striking face from a frontal portion of the striking face; wherein the improved process allows for more precise finished parts with less need for complicated machining. The resulting striking face of a golf club head comprises of a substantially planar frontal surface and a substantially non-planar rear surface, wherein the substantially non-planar rear surface is created via a stamped forging process while the substantially planar frontal surface is created via a machining process.
US09480882B2

A golf ball including a core having an inner core having an outer surface and a geometric center; and an outer core layer. The outer core layer has an outer surface and includes a soft transition region. An outer cover layer is formed over the core. The soft transition region has a thickness of up to 4 mm, has about 5 to 15 percent trans-polybutadiene isomer, and has a negative hardness gradient of up to about 10 Shore C. The core has an overall positive hardness gradient of about 5 Shore C to 15 Shore C and has a gradient quotient, GQ, defined by the equation: 1 ≤ G + T 10 × COR ≤ 4 where G is the overall positive hardness gradient in Shore C, T is the percent of trans-polybutadiene isomer at the core outer surface, and COR is the coefficient of restitution measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s.
US09480881B2

A golf ball includes a unitary core having an outer surface, a geometric center, and a soft transition region adjacent to the outer surface. The core is formed from a substantially homogenous composition. An outer cover layer is formed over the core. The soft transition region has a thickness of up to 4 mm, includes about 15 to 30 percent trans-polybutadiene isomer, and has a negative hardness gradient of up to about 10 Shore C. The unitary core has an overall positive hardness gradient of about 15 to 22 Shore C and has a gradient quotient, GQ, defined by the equation: 5 ≤ G + T 10 ⁢ ⁢ x ⁢ ⁢ COR ≤ 6 where G is the overall positive hardness gradient in Shore C, T is the percent of trans-polybutadiene isomer at the core outer surface, and COR is the coefficient of restitution measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s.
US09480871B2

Systems and methods are presented for performing exercises to strengthen the transversus abdominis and related muscles. The systems and methods may involve one or more independent belts, allowing a full range of continuous motion. The systems and methods may further use a resistance-control mechanism that allows a user to adjust the force required to move the one or more belts, thereby controlling the rate of motion in the forward and/or backward directions. The systems and methods may further use a unidirectional resistance mechanism that allows the user to increase the resistance of the one or more belts in one direction, while allowing the one or more belts to move freely in the other direction.
US09480869B1

Exercise equipment comprises a weight stack configured to oppose a given exercise motion through a cable and pulley system and an elongated connector connecting the cable to a weight stack. The elongated connector comprises a first threaded portion located proximate to the weight stack and a second portion located distal from the weight stack. The first threaded portion is engaged with the weight stack and has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the second portion such that an operator can visually determine whether the connector is fully engaged with a threaded receptacle in the weight stack.
US09480867B2

A compressed air foam delivery system includes a control unit to monitor and/or adjust components within the system so as to deliver a compressed air foam agent mixture with a desired agent:air ratio at a desired flow rate to one or more active discharges. In one embodiment, the control unit can be equipped to control one or more of a pump engine, water pump, foam delivery unit and air compressor so as to deliver and maintain the desired ratio of agent mixture at the desired flow rate.
US09480866B2

A line connector for a personal fall protection system includes a carabiner having a loop portion that at least partially defines an opening. The opening is configured to receive a mating component of the personal fall protection system. The line connector also includes at least one sensor. Each at least one sensor includes a coil disposed around the loop portion of the carabiner. The line connector further includes a control unit coupled to the at least one sensor. The control unit is operable to send an excitation signal to the at least one sensor and determine whether the line connector is coupled to the mating component based on a response signal received from the at least one sensor.
US09480865B2

A fall arrest system adapted for use in construction projects with wall studs of various spacing. The fall arrest system comprises a wall attachment bracket and a retractable harness line system, which provides extension, retraction, and storage of a harness line. The harness line is connected to a user-worn harness to protect the user from falling.
US09480855B2

The use of red or near infrared light upon neurons of the lumbar plexus that are in distress due to retraction-induced ischemia. The surgeon may protect nerves made ischemic in the surgery by: a) making an incision in a patient, b) inserting an access device into the patient through the incision to at least partially create a path to a spine of the patient, and c) irradiating nervous tissue adjacent the path with an amount of NIR or red light effective to provide neuroprotection.
US09480853B2

A system for managing care of a person receiving emergency cardiac assistance is disclosed that includes one or more capacitors for delivering a defibrillating shock to a patient; one or more electronic ports for receiving signals from sensors for obtaining indications of an electrocardiogram (ECG) for the patient; and a patient treatment module executable on one or more computer processors using code stored in non-transitory media and to provide a determination of a likelihood of success from delivering a future defibrillating shock to the person with the one or more capacitors, using (a) a mathematical transform from a time domain to a frequency domain applied to the indication of the ECG, and (b) a tapered window for identifying the portion of the indications of the ECG on which the transform is performed.
US09480851B2

A multi-modal electrotherapy apparatus including circuitry for administering defibrillation therapy and for administering medium voltage therapy (MVT). A combined-use capacitor bank of at least one capacitor stores energy to be administered as defibrillation therapy and MVT. Combined-use discharge circuitry electrically is coupled between the combined-use capacitor bank and patient terminals for selectively administering energy from the capacitor bank according to a plurality of controllable waveforms as either defibrillation therapy or MVT. A controller is configured to cause the discharge circuitry to apply the MVT from the capacitor bank while the capacitor bank undergoes charging in preparation for administration of the defibrillation therapy.
US09480850B2

A retrieval device and an associated implantable cardiac pacing device. The retrieval device includes a grasping mechanism configured to capture a docking member of the implantable cardiac pacing device to draw the implantable cardiac pacing device into the lumen of a retrieval catheter. The grasping mechanism is expandable from a first position to a second position and is biased toward the first position in an equilibrium condition. The grasping mechanism is configured to surround and pass over a head portion of the docking member in the second position, and be contracted toward the first position to capture the docking member with the grasping mechanism.
US09480846B2

Provided is a portable controller and associated method that provides a patient or caregiver the ability to recharge and alter the parameters of an implanted medical device, while allowing the patient substantially unobstructed mobility. To enable mobility, the controller may be worn on a belt or clothing. The controller also allows the patient to turn device stimulation on and off, check battery status, and to vary stimulation parameters within ranges that may be predefined and programmed by a clinician. The controller communicates with the medical device to retrieve information and make parameter adjustments using wireless telemetry, and it can send and receive information from several feet away from the implanted medical device. Charging of a battery contained in the implanted medical device is achieved via an inductive radio frequency link using a charge coil placed in close proximity to the medical device.
US09480842B2

A spinal cord modulation system is disclosed. While in one embodiment the system is used for the treatment of pain, other embodiments are also provided. In particular embodiments, the spinal cord modulation system generates and delivers an electrical therapy signal at a frequency of 10 kHz to address pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. The system may further include various signal delivery devices to deliver the therapy signal to a patient's spinal cord region.
US09480841B2

An electrical neuromodulation system and method of meeting a therapeutic goal for a patient using a neuromodulation device. A modulation parameter value is varied by a step size. The neurostimulation device instructs the neuromodulation device to deliver electrical energy to at least one electrode in accordance with the varied modulation parameter value. A therapeutic feedback indicator is compared to a threshold in response to the delivery of the electrical energy. Whether the therapeutic goal has been met is determined based on the comparison, and the previous steps are repeated to determine the modulation parameter value at the resolution of the step size that minimizes energy consumption of the neuromodulation device required to meet the therapeutic goal when delivering the electrical energy to the electrode(s) in accordance with the varied modulation parameter value.
US09480831B2

An access port, wherein the access port may include a body having an exterior surface and a chamber defined therein, a bore defined in the body providing fluid communication between the chamber and the exterior surface, a needle in fluid communication with the chamber, a passage defined in the body providing communication between the chamber and the exterior surface, a seal secured within the passage, and an actuator in communication with the needle, configured to move the needle relative to the passage or move the passage relative to the needle.
US09480825B2

A system for anchoring a distal end of a catheter at a treatment site includes an elongated catheter shaft that is formed with a lumen and two cone shaped balloon membranes. For the system, the proximal and distal ends of the balloon membranes are affixed to an outer surface of the shaft to establish balloons having inflation chambers between the membranes and the shaft. A first membrane portion of a first balloon membrane extends from the distal end of the membrane end to a balloon membrane midsection and a second membrane portion extends from the midsection to the proximal membrane end. To establish the proper shape for the inflated balloon, the second membrane portion is configured to establish a cone angle, α, (relative to a proximally directed portion of the longitudinal axis) that is less than or equal to ninety degrees (α≦90 degrees).
US09480824B2

A medical device having an elongate support structure and an inflatable balloon including a first-end portion secured to the support structure at a first location, a second-end portion secured to the support structure at a second location distal to the first location, and a middle-body portion. The first-end portion has a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the middle-body portion; the balloon defines a sealed interior through which the support structure extends. The balloon being stretch-mounted to the support structure in tension relative to the support structure; the balloon is formed in a diamond-like configuration that transitions to a substantially spherical configuration when the balloon is inflated to a inflation pressure that is at least about ten percent greater than atmospheric pressure, such that when inflated to the inflation pressure and anchored in an anatomical body region, resists movement of the support structure relative to the balloon.
US09480823B2

A system includes an elongate catheter having a self-expanding frame disposed at the distal end of the catheter. The frame includes a plurality of longitudinal struts defined by parallel slots. The frame may be constrained into a radially compressed configuration for delivery to a treatment site. A helical balloon is mounted about the frame. Upon release from the constraining mechanism, the frame returns to a heat-set radially expanded configuration to initiate dilation of a treatment site in a patient. Inflating the balloon around the expanded frame further expands the initial radial dilation of the site. Proximal and distal ends of the slots are unobstructed by the balloon to permit flow of a fluid through the slots and through a lumen defined by an interior surface of the balloon when the frame is in the radially expanded configuration.
US09480821B2

An anchoring system for securing a catheter to a patient includes an anchor pad and a retainer. The retainer is supported by the anchor pad and includes a base and a cover. A groove upon the base is arranged to receive a branching site of a catheter where the lumens merge distal to the insertion site. One or more posts also protrude from the base to the cover at a position which will be disposed between the two distal branches of the catheter. The cover closes over the base, securing the branching site between the groove and the posts. The contact between the retainer and catheter thereby inhibits inadvertent motion of the catheter upon the patient. A latch mechanism is disposed upon the retainer to maintain the cover in a closed position over the branching site of the catheter on the base.
US09480815B2

A flushable medical device for short term use, such as a urinary catheter, is disclosed, and also a method for producing such a medical device. The medical device comprises at least an elongate shaft made of a degradable material, the degradability being such that the material becomes essentially totally dissolved if maintained in turbulent water at room temperature for at least 6 hours, but retains its structural integrity in water for at least 5 minutes, and preferably at least 10 minutes. Hereby, the medical device can be used for the intended short term use, and then be flushed in an ordinary toilet after use.The degradable material preferably comprises at least one of monosaccharide, disaccharide, oligosaccharide and polysaccharide. In a preferred embodiment, the degradable material primarily comprises water, at least one of sugar and starch and gelatin.
US09480806B2

The invention relates to a laryngeal mask airway device to facilitate lung ventilation in a patient, comprising an airway tube extending from a proximal end to a distal end and opening, at the distal end, into the interior of a hollow mask portion shaped to fit readily in use into the actual and potential space behind the larynx and to seal around the circumference of the laryngeal inlet without penetrating into the interior of the larynx, wherein the device comprises a conduit adapted to direct a liquid substance through the glottic opening. The invention further relates to a kit comprising the laryngeal mask airway device and a method for using the laryngeal mask airway device.
US09480804B2

A delivery device for delivery of a medicament to a user including a container defining a reservoir storing the medicament, a body in which the container is received, a spray nozzle arranged on one of the body and the container for receiving medicament expelled from the container, and a pusher actuatable for pushing the medicament from the container reservoir through the nozzle, said pusher being movable from a rest position to a fully activated position relative to said body in response to an actuating force. The assembly is particularly applicable to nasal syringes where it is desirable to deliver the medicament in the form of a spray.
US09480801B2

A pre-filled syringe assembly having a tamper evident tip cap is provided for indicating if the contents of the syringe assembly have been compromised. The syringe barrel has an interior chamber which defines a pressure therein and is sealed at the proximal and distal ends by a first and second seal, respectively, to maintain this pressure. The second seal is formed of a deformable material and a tip cap is located about the second seal and distal end of the syringe barrel. This tip cap includes a viewable indicator representing a change in state of the syringe contents. The indicator has a portion positioned in contact with the second seal such that the first distinguishing feature is viewable through a portion of the cap. Tampering of the contents within the interior chamber causes a change in pressure and movement of the indicator indicating tampering of the syringe assembly.
US09480799B2

An injection device including a barrel, a hollow plunger having a portion structured and arranged to move within the barrel, a needle unit, and a safety system that one of automatically causes the needle unit to retract into the plunger when the plunger reaches a substantially fully depressed position. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US09480795B2

A system for use with a drug delivery device includes a sensor unit and a deactivation unit operatively coupled to an output of the sensor unit and to a drug-retaining region of the drug delivery device, wherein the drug-retaining region contains a drug. The sensor unit is configured to detect a characteristic of a local environment and generate an output corresponding to a value of the detected characteristic. The deactivation unit is configured to render the drug ineffective when the output of the sensor unit satisfies a predetermined condition.
US09480788B2

A control module for a medical injection system generates an injection control signal based on sensed internal pressure of a user activated control device, for example, in response to an applied external force that causes the sensed internal pressure to increase from a baseline pressure, and continues to sense the internal pressure of the device, following release of the applied external force, so that, if the sensed internal pressure drops below the baseline pressure, the control module may generate a notification. Thus, an operator of the system may monitor internal pressure of the control device for a drop below the baseline pressure, and then, if such a drop is detected, inspect the control device for leaks and reconnect, replace or repair the control device, or simply reconnect or replace the control device.
US09480783B2

A breast pump system (1) comprises a breast pump arranged to extract milk from a user; and a breathing guidance means configured to provide a suggested breathing pattern to the user. The breathing guidance means may be produced by a motorized breast pump unit (10), or may be a series of stimuli at a stimuli frequency, which are perceivable by the user. The system (1) may include a heart rate monitor for measuring the heart rate of the user, and the suggested breathing pattern may be coupled to the measured heart rate.
US09480771B2

A hemostatic device, method of making, and method of using for internal and external applications to wounds in the body of a patient to induce hemostasis at an anatomical site.
US09480770B2

A medical dressing containing an antimicrobial agent is disclosed. The medical dressing comprises a layered fabric comprising an inner layer of substantially hydrophilic material, an outer layer of substantially hydrophobic material on both sides of the inner layer; and an antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial agent may be releasably impregnated into the fabric, coated on said fabric or a combination thereof. The antimicrobial agent may be a biguanide, such as polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB). The fabric inner layer material may be substantially a cellulose fiber, preferably substantially rayon, and the fabric outer layer material may be substantially polyester, e.g., a combination of textile matrix grade polyester fiber and amorphous binder grade polyester fiber. The fabric is preferably treated with an aqueous solution of surfactant and PHMB to have about 1500-3500 ppm of extractable PHMB.
US09480769B2

A modular, integrated, combination air purification and aroma diffuser includes a UV and catalytic oxidation germicidal cell and multiple filtrations as pre-treatment of air diffusing essential oils or other liquids as ultra-fine droplets entrained in airflow into enclosed, habitable spaces. Liquid microbicide, insecticide, fumigant, or aroma therapy is kept cleaner by eradication of microbes. Comparatively larger droplets are separated out and recycled to the reservoir after initial atomization. An electrical module, between a purifier and filters upstream and a diffuser downstream, includes a pump, a fan, and a controller for both. Staged, double-eduction, triple-separation processes include a micro-cyclone for quiet, well diffused flow of ultra-fine droplets.
US09480767B1

An air treatment appliance is provided which includes an appliance housing and a removable cartridge received therein. The removable cartridge includes a receptacle containing a liquid compound to be aerosolized within an interior thereof and a cap assembly coupled to the receptacle. The cap assembly includes a cap, a venturi insert, and a base attached together without welds or separate fasteners to define an air inlet chamber on one side of the venturi insert, a venturi outlet passage on the other side of the venturi insert in fluid communication with the interior of the receptacle, and an aerosol outlet chamber partitioned from the interior of the receptacle by the base and in fluid communication with an outlet of the cap through which aerosolized compound generated by the venturi insert is discharged during operation.
US09480764B2

A method of metering of hydrogen peroxide gas into an evacuated sterilization chamber is disclosed. The method includes the steps of continuously monitoring a pressure in the sterilization chamber; connecting a passage of known volume to the evacuated chamber for evacuating the passage; sealing the passage; connecting the evacuated passage to a supply of hydrogen peroxide solution for a time sufficient to draw the hydrogen peroxide solution into and fill the passage; sealing the passage; and repeating those steps until a preselected pressure increase in the sterilization chamber is detected. The pressure increase is preferably 19 Torr. The known volume of the metering passage is preferably between 75 μL and 15 μL to control unwanted condensation of hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization chamber. Expensive peroxide concentration measurement systems are replaced with an economical low cost pressure sensor for control of the hydrogen peroxide concentration.
US09480760B2

Light-activated antimicrobial devices and articles are disclosed. The devices include a light source and a light-activated antimicrobial article comprising a photosensitizer and a viscoelastic material such as a pressure sensitive adhesive adapted to receive light from the light source. The viscoelastic material may be adapted to transport light by total internal reflection. The photosensitizer may comprise a dye, a metal oxide or a composition that comprises anions that oxidize or react to form a gas. Upon activation of the light source, the photosensitizer absorbs light from the light source such that antimicrobial activity is exhibited. The photosensitizer may be included in the light-activated antimicrobial article or it may be provided as a topical composition that is separate from the article. The light-activated antimicrobial articles and devices may have constructions similar to those of wound dressings.
US09480759B2

Tin-117m somatoostatin analogs or antagonist are used to treat tumors and symptoms associated with these tumors which express somatostatin receptors, such as gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The tin-117m somatostatin receptor binding compounds can be administered at a dosage which is effectively apoptotic and not necrotic. Also, if desired, it can be administered at a dose that is necrotic and/or induces necrosis, but only to cells within 290 microns of the tin-117m atom. A novel somatostatin analog is also disclosed, as well as novel methods to produce the tin labeled analogs and antagonists.
US09480758B2

The invention relates to aryl-sulphonamido compounds endowed with affinity against metallo proteases MMP, having formula (I) below wherein R, R1, R2, R3, G and n have the meanings reported in the specification, properly labelled with diagnostic imaging moieties or even radiotherapeutic moieties. The invention also refers to the process for their preparation, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and to their use as diagnostic imaging agents or radiotherapeutic agents.
US09480757B2

Novel modulators, including antibodies and derivatives thereof, and methods of using such modulators to treat proliferative disorders are provided.
US09480754B2

The present invention is directed to therapeutic compounds capable of targeting cancer cells and cancer stem cells. The present invention is further directed to compositions comprising these therapeutic compounds and methods of treating cancer comprising administering these therapeutic compounds.
US09480749B1

A method of synthesizing a nanocomposite film including starch nanofibers includes preparing nanofibers from starch, mixing the starch nanofibers with a drug to form a first mixture, adding water to the mixture to provide an aqueous solution, adding hydrochloric acid (HCl) and glycerol to the aqueous solution to provide a second mixture, maintaining the second mixture in a water bath, and drying the second mixture to form a nanocomposite film including starch nanofibers. The drug can be a drug including carboxylic groups. The drug can be acetyl salicylic acid (AsA). The film can be a nano starch/AsA composite film or nanocomposite film. The nanocomposite film can be used as a drug carrier and, thereby, improve drug delivery.
US09480746B2

Provided is a means for stably storing a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound represented by the General Formula (I) below and/or a salt thereof, and for providing the pharmaceutical composition to the market. A resin container colored with a color having a hue (H) within the range of 7.0Y to 9.99Y or 7.0YR to 9.99YR, value (V) within the range of 1.0 to 6.0, and chroma (C) within the range of 0.5 to 7.5, according to Munsell color coordinates, is filled with a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound represented by the General Formula (I) and/or a salt thereof, to store the pharmaceutical composition. (wherein, in the formula, R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom)
US09480744B2

Methods of inhibiting melanoma tumor growth, methods of treating melanoma and metastatic melanoma, and methods of reducing the frequency of tumor initiating cells (or cancer stem cells) in melanoma tumors are described. The methods described comprise administering a DLL4 antagonist (e.g., an antibody that specifically binds the extracellular domain of human DLL4) to a subject. Related polypeptides and polynucleotides, compositions comprising the DLL4 antagonists, and methods of making the DLL4 antagonists are also described.
US09480735B2

The present invention is directed to a polypeptide which comprises: (i) an Rv2386c protein sequence; (ii) a variant of an Rv2386c protein sequence; of (iii) an immunogenic fragment of an Rv2386c protein sequence. In other aspects the invention is directed to associated polynucleotides, fusion proteins and methods for the treatment or prevention of tuberculosis.
US09480731B2

The invention relates to the use of an animal-protein-free botulinum toxin composition to treat a disease, disorder or condition in a patient in need thereof whereby the animal-protein-free botulinum toxin composition exhibits a longer lasting effect in the patient compared to an animal-protein-containing botulinum toxin composition.
US09480718B2

Cells present in adipose tissue are used to treat patients, including patients with PVD and related diseases or disorders. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Accordingly, in a preferred method, cells present in adipose tissue are placed directly into a recipient along with such additives necessary to promote, engender or support a therapeutic benefit.
US09480697B2

The disclosure relates to an edible energy composition that includes a methylated xanthine, a choline derivative and a flavorant.
US09480693B2

The present invention provides a compound of formula I; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are defined herein. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the compounds of the invention, and its therapeutic uses. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical composition of the compounds of the invention and a combination of pharmacologically active agents and a compound of the invention.
US09480691B1

A liquid medicament for use on skin, epithelium, epidermis, body surface and so on containing a refined peanut oil and, for example, at least one agent which minimizes cell growth, inflammation or both.
US09480687B2

The present invention relates to pyrazine derivatives such as those represented by Formulas I and II below. X1 to X4 of the compounds of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron withdrawing groups. In contrast, Y1 to Y4 of the compounds of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron donating groups. Pyrazine derivatives of the present invention may be utilized in assessing renal function. In particular, an effective amount of a pyrazine derivative of the invention may be administered into a body of a patient. The pyrazine derivative that is in the body may be exposed to visible and/or infrared light to cause spectral energy to emanate from the pyrazine derivative. This emanating spectral energy may be detected and utilized to determine renal function of the patient.
US09480685B2

Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level above that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid.
US09480684B2

The invention provides a method of treating anxiety or a compulsive disorder in a subject comprising administering to the subject a compound having formula 2: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and X are as defined in the specification.
US09480683B2

The present invention includes a method of reducing or inhibiting the kinase activity of C-KIT mutant tyrosine kinase activity in a cell or a subject, and the use of such compound for treating mutant C-KIT driven cell proliferative disorder(s) in a subject related to using a compound of the present invention: or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US09480680B2

The present disclosure provides ready-to-use, oil/water emulsion compositions with mean droplet size (intensity-average, m) of 100-500 nm, wherein the oil phase comprises clopidogrel free base dispersed in pharmaceutical acceptable oil(s). The emulsion uses clopidogrel free base or premix of clopidogrel free base in oil(s) as the starting materials and may also contain one or more excipients such as surfactant and or co-surfactant, osmotic agent, pH adjustment agent, antioxidant, preservative, sweetener, and/or suspending agent, etc. The emulsion formulations and method of manufacturing significantly improves the stability of clopidogrel over other aqueous based formulations (such as cyclodextrin-based formulations and emulsion made using clopidogrel salt as the starting materials) with respect to chiral degradation, hydrolytic, and thermal degradation. Ready-to-use emulsion compositions, which can be administered orally or parentally as a single high dose with up to 300 mg of clopidogrel dose, can be prepared and stored at room temperature for at least 19 weeks or at refrigeration temperature for at least 1 year. The compositions will provide rapid therapeutic action as anti-platelet agent for patient under emergence and intense care or who cannot swallow tablet dosage form.
US09480668B2

The present invention provides a blood flow promoting agent containing citrulline or a salt thereof and capsaicin or capsaicinoids as active ingredients, which is safe even by long-term administration, a food with health claims and a functional food affording such action, particularly, a blood flow promoting agent exhibiting an effective vasodilatory action of capsaicin at a low dose free of irritant property, which can be applied to improvement of athletic performance exhibited in relation to peripheral vasodilatation, suppression of fat accumulation, improvement of skin quality, as well as securing blood circulation in ischemic disease and the like, relaxation of blood vessel biased to coarctation due to advancing age, lifestyle-related diseases and the like, prophylaxis of arteriosclerosis, and prophylaxis of stiff neck, feeling of cold, erectile dysfunction, thrombosis and the like due to blood flow disorder.
US09480659B2

The present invention provides a process for purifying a monoterpene or sesquiterpene having a purity greater than about 98.5% (w/w). The process comprises the steps of derivatizing the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) to produce a monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) derivative, separating the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) derivative, and releasing the monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) from the derivative. Also encompassed by the scope of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) having a purity greater than about 98.5% (w/w). The purified monoterpene can be used to treat a disease such as cancer. The present monoterpene (or sesquiterpene) may be administered alone, or may be co-administered with radiation or other therapeutic agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents.
US09480639B2

The present invention relates to a method for extracting phenolic compounds with low molecular weights from olive fruit water; the invention also relates to compositions enriched with phenolic compounds including at least 40% of dry matter, said dry matter consisting of at least 30% hydroxytyrosol; the invention also relates to a method for drying said compositions by spraying using grape polyphenol extracts as a drying medium as well as to powders titrated with phenolic compounds of olives and grapes obtained after drying.
US09480634B2

A cosmetic composition comprising a safe and effective amount of a skin care active; a safe and effective amount of a skin lightening agent; a safe and effective amount of bisabolol; and a safe and effective amount of a glycerol ether of aliphatic alcohol, wherein the ratio of bisabolol to glycerol ether of aliphatic alcohol is from 2:1 to 1:15.
US09480622B1

The present invention provides a medical safety device for holding a container. The medical safety device is used to hold the container while extracting liquid by a syringe from the container. The medical safety device includes a main body having an opening for an interior. The interior has a retention space configured for retaining a container. In addition, the main body includes a plunger having a retention surface configured for contacting and retaining a container in the retention space. The plunger slides up and down within the retention space. Two handles are affixed to opposing sides of the main body. The plunger and retention surface applies force to the container positioned within the retention space sufficient to hold the container in place within the retention space. The plunger may be biased down into the retention space by a spring attached to the plunger.
US09480621B2

A medical instrument configured to cover at least a mouth section of a medical container that includes a container body with the mouth section at a distal end and a sealing member that seals the mouth section, includes: a cap comprising a cylindrical body; an adapter; and a proximal-end side structure body. The medical device is configured such that, when screw-engagement between a second cap-side screw-engaged portion and a proximal-end side screw-engaged portion is released by rotating the cap around a center axis, the adapter moves in the proximal-end direction while being prevented from rotating by a guide portion, thereby allowing an adapter-side screw-engaged portion to be detached from a first cap-side screw-engaged portion, and further allowing a hollow needle to penetrate the sealing member so that an inside of the container body communicates with an outside via the hollow needle.
US09480620B2

The apparatus for immobilizing and treating a subject includes a suitable apparatus for performing mechanical CPR secured to an immobilization casing. The airtight flexible casing is secured to the apparatus for performing CPR, the casing having variable rigidity which varies as a function of the amount of air within the casing. Two or more slots through the casing permit passage of one or more elements of the CPR apparatus to pass through the casing. One or more incompressible windows may be included in the casing to optimize the performance of mechanical CPR by permitting one or more elements of the subject's skeleton to contact the CPR apparatus. A device for evacuating the air from within the flexible casing to control the rigidity of the casing is included within the CPR apparatus.
US09480619B2

A walking assistance device configured to permit the independent movement of an individual via simulated weight reduction is described. The device is configured to partially suspend a portion of a user's weight via a seat-lifting system, facilitating the movement of a user with experiencing difficulty walking without assistance. The system of the device preferably employs a seat, a hydraulic or electric seat-lift mechanism, a seat restraint, a frame, wheels, a brake system, and a power source. The seat-lift mechanism is configured to rise and lower the seat, enabling the user to control the percentage of weight lifted, while the feet of the user remain in partial contact with the floor. The frame forms the structure and support of the device, and is configured to move laterally via wheels on the bottom of the frame of the device.
US09480615B2

A transport carriage for transport for transport of a patient support and/or an operating table column of an operating table includes a chassis which is connectable with the patient support and/or with the operating table column. The chassis includes a first longitudinal beam and a second longitudinal beam arranged at a distance thereto. The first and second longitudinal beams form a fork-shaped opening. At least one castor which is pivotable about a swiveling axis is arranged at each longitudinal beam forming the fork-shaped opening. The transport carriage includes at least one delimiting unit for delimiting the swiveling movement of at least one of the castors about its swiveling axis. This delimitation can be automatically revoked upon lifting the base of the operating table.
US09480611B2

A method of manufacturing an absorbent article including a fastening system having a primary fastening system and a secondary fastening system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can include providing an absorbent assembly, providing a web of primary second fastening component material, and providing a carrier web including a secondary first fastening component material. The method can further include coupling the carrier web to the web of primary second fastening component material to form a composite web, cutting the composite web to form a discrete composite web component, and coupling the discrete composite web component to the outer cover of the absorbent assembly, with the discrete composite web component forming the primary second fastening component of the primary fastening system and the at least one secondary first fastening component of the secondary fastening system.
US09480610B2

In an absorbent part of an absorbent product, super absorbent materials located between two sheets in an absorbent area swell by absorption of moisture of excrement, and spaces extending in a longitudinal direction from an opening, which is formed at a portion of upper absorbent layer facing the crotch region of a wearer, are formed between a non-absorbent area where the super absorbent materials do not exist and the upper absorbent layer and between the non-absorbent area and a lower absorbent layer. In the absorbent product, through the spaces, moisture of excrement in the second excretion and later can be quickly diffused over a wide area along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent part, and the moisture of excrement can be absorbed in a wide area of the absorbent part. As a result, it is possible to maintain high absorbing ability in multiple excretions in the absorbent product.
US09480604B2

A protective eyewear device features a frame for supporting the protective eyewear on a user's head in a position placing one or more transparent or translucent viewing lenses of the eyewear device in front of the user's eyes, and one or more deposits of a radiation-reactive material located at or adjacent the one or more lenses and responsive to ionizing radiation exposure to produce a visual indication of said exposure to the user within a normally used field of vision of said user.
US09480597B2

Described is an apparatus for intraocular injection comprising a body adapted to accommodate a syringe having a needle, an outer sleeve telescopically coupled to the body, and at least two arms hingedly coupled to the outer sleeve. Each of the arms comprises a medial portion adapted to encase at least a portion of the needle. When the body moves distally relative 10 to said outer sleeve, the body engages the arms separating the medial portions.
US09480595B2

A female urination aid to enable a female to urinate from a standing position. The invention, in one embodiment, has a disposable funnel, typically made of paper or similar material, which fits into a reusable holder, which enables the funnel to be held against the body. The funnel may include an attached pad of wiping paper. In a second, reusable or multi-use embodiment, the funnel portion of the apparatus is of a reusable material such as plastic. A fluid container for holding a cleaning solution conveniently snaps onto the funnel, forming an easy to carry kit. Wiping paper may be attached to the funnel, so as to form a readily usable kit.
US09480590B2

Endoluminal sleeve device (1) for internally lining a section of the GI tract, comprising a sleeve (2) configured for deployment inside a GI tract, the sleeve (2) having walls of a flexible material defining a sleeve lumen (3), a proximal end (4) defining a proximal lumen opening (5), and a distal end (6) defining a distal lumen opening (7), a tubular anchoring portion (8) forming said proximal lumen end (4) and defining anchoring seats (9) delimited each one by an annular collar (11) forming an opening through which adjacent tissue portions (12) can be pulled into the anchoring seats (9), expansion means adapted to act on the tissue portions (12) arranged in the anchoring seats (9) such that the tissue portions (12) expand to a dimension greater than the opening of the annular collar (11).
US09480586B2

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for manufacturing a stent are disclosed. The stent is a non-metallic stent having a furled small-diameter state and an expanded large-diameter state where the stent, in the furled small-diameter state, includes a plurality of central lobes arranged at spaced-apart intervals and extending longitudinally defining a stent axis, the plurality of central lobes defining a cylindrical plane of the stent. The stent also includes at least one peripheral lobe formed on at least one of the plurality of central lobes, the peripheral lobe oriented along the cylindrical plane.
US09480583B2

A direct neural interface system comprised of electrodes for acquiring electrophysiological signals representative of a neuronal activity of a subject's brain; a pre-processor for conditioning, digitizing and preprocessing the electrophysiological signals; a processor for processing the digitized and preprocessed electrophysiological signals and generating command signals; and an output for outputting said command signals; wherein the processor is adapted for: representing the electrophysiological signals acquired over an observation time window in the form of a N-way data tensor, N being greater or equal to three; and generating command signals corresponding to the observation time window by applying a multi-way regression model over the data tensor. A method of calibrating the direct neural interface system.
US09480579B2

An implant for therapeutically separating bones of a joint has two endplates each having an opening through the endplate, and at least one ramped surface on a side opposite a bone engaging side. A frame is slideably connected to the endplates to enable the endplates to move relative to each other at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the implant, in sliding connection with the frame. An actuator screw is rotatably connected to the frame. A carriage forms an open area aligned with the openings in the endplates. The openings in the endplates pass through the carriage to form an unimpeded passage from bone to bone of the joint. The carriage has ramps which mate with the ramped surfaces of the endplates, wherein when the carriage is moved by rotation of the actuator screw, the endplates move closer or farther apart.
US09480577B2

A retaining mechanism is disclosed, which comprises a plate including a first surface adapted to engage with an implant and a second opposing surface, the plate having mechanically-weakened areas, such that the plate is compressible from a first dimension to a second reduced dimension via the weakened areas, wherein the plate includes at least one ledge adapted to engage with a recess in the implant to prevent a fixation member inserted into the implant from backing out. A tool is also disclosed for compressing and inserting the retaining mechanism into engagement with the implant, as are respective methods of compression and insertion of the retaining mechanism into engagement with the implant.
US09480566B2

A tool for implanting an inflatable penile prosthetic cylinder includes a barrel having a solid central portion and a groove formed in an exterior side surface of the barrel between a first convex curved exterior surface and a second convex curved exterior surface of the barrel. The groove extends to and forms an opening at the distal end of the barrel and forms a cavity extending into the barrel from the exterior side surface toward the solid central portion. The cavity has a first gap dimension measured at the exterior side surface that is smaller than a second gap dimension measured inboard relative to the exterior side surface of the barrel.
US09480555B2

An IOL injection device comprises a tubular housing with a plunger longitudinally disposed within the tubular housing. The device is configured so that when the plunger is translated towards the front of the device, its tip engages an intraocular lens insertion cartridge mounted at or near the front end of the housing. The IOL injection device further comprises a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to perform the steps of advancing the plunger to a critical point at which an axial compressive force on the lens suddenly increases, retracting the plunger from the critical point to a sufficient distance for material of the intraocular lens to relax, pausing to allow the material of the intraocular lens to relax, advancing the plunger to the critical point a second time, and continuing to advance the plunger beyond the critical point to implant the intraocular lens.
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