US09618705B2
A receptacle connector includes a receptacle ferrule, a receptacle housing and a spacer. The receptacle ferrule has a first front end portion having a receptacle interface part In the receptacle housing, the receptacle ferrule and a plug connector having a second front end portion having a plug interface part configured to be optically coupled with the receptacle interface part are to be accommodated. The spacer has a first surface configured to contact the first front end portion, and a second surface configured to contact the second front end portion. The spacer is arranged in the receptacle housing. At a state where the first front end portion is contacted to the first surface of the spacer and the second front end portion is contacted to the second surface of the spacer, the receptacle interface part and the plug interface part face each other at a predetermined interval.
US09618703B2
Various connector housings for securing an optical cable, as well as methods of use and manufacture thereof are disclosed. A single-piece unitary connector housing body may include a first opening formed in a first end of the housing body, a second opening formed in a second end of the housing body, a bore through the housing body extending from the first opening to the second opening, and a back post surrounding the second opening. The first opening may be configured to receive a terminating optical cable and the second opening may be configured to receive a fiber optic cable. The back post may extend from the second opening in a longitudinal direction and may include a plurality of protrusions thereon. A length of the back post may have a concave shape.
US09618696B2
Embodiments of the invention describe apparatuses, systems, and methods of thermal management for photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Embodiments include a first device and a second device comprising including waveguides, wherein the first and second devices have different thermal operating conditions. A first region is adjacent to a waveguide of the first device, wherein its optical mode is to be substantially confined by the first region, and wherein the first region has a first thermal conductivity to dissipate heat based on the thermal operating condition of the first device. A second region is adjacent to a waveguide of the second device, wherein its optical mode is to be substantially confined by the second region, and wherein the second region has a second thermal conductivity to dissipate heat based on the thermal operating condition of the second device. In some embodiments, thermal cross talk is reduced without significantly affecting optical performance.
US09618694B2
A technique that does not increase the circuit size, does not make the circuit design and manufacturing difficult, and can reduce insertion loss when light enters from a slab waveguide toward an arrayed waveguide or when the light enters from the arrayed waveguide toward the slab waveguide. An optical waveguide provided with a slab waveguide in which a grating is formed therein at a distance from an end, and an arrayed waveguide whose end is connected to an end of the slab waveguide at a position where a constructive interference portion of a self-image of the grating is formed. An arrayed waveguide grating provided with a first input/output waveguide, the above-mentioned optical waveguide where an end of the slab waveguide on the opposite side of the arrayed waveguide is connected to an end of the first input/output waveguide, a second slab waveguide connected to an end of the arrayed waveguide on the opposite side of the slab waveguide, and a second input/output waveguide connected to an end of the second slab waveguide on the opposite side of the arrayed waveguide.
US09618692B2
An optical fiber having a core comprising silica and greater than 1.5 wt % chlorine and less than 0.5 wt % F, said core having a refractive index Δ1MAX, and a inner cladding region having refractive index Δ2MIN surrounding the core, where Δ1MAX>Δ2MIN.
US09618691B2
This display includes a light source portion, a first heat radiation member for radiating heat generated by the light source portion, a rear housing covering the first heat radiation member in a state in contact with the first heat radiation member, and a cover member covering a rear surface of the rear housing so that the rear surface of the rear housing is partially exposed outward. The first heat radiation member is arranged on a region corresponding to a region of the rear housing exposed outward from the cover member as viewed from the side of the rear surface.
US09618690B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device. The device includes a light guide plate, a color filter substrate, an array substrate and a light shading tape. Wherein, a side wall of the concave slot is an incline slope, an edge of the color filter substrate is supported on the incline slope of the concave slot, an edge of a plastic frame is aligned with an edge of the array substrate, and a light shading tape for relatively fixing the color filter substrate and the light guide plate. The present invention can realize a narrow frame and no frame design of the liquid crystal display device. The structure of the display panel is simplified in order to simplify the manufacturing process and reduce the production cost.
US09618688B2
A display device including a display panel, a backlight assembly to provide light to the display panel, a bottom chassis to accommodate the backlight assembly, a shield chassis connected to the bottom chassis, an insulation tape disposed between the shield chassis and the bottom chassis, the insulation tape including a bolt having grooves defined therein, and a bolt extending through the bolt area and coupling the shield chassis to the bottom chassis. The bolt area is separated into portions at the grooves by the bolt, such that the portions of the bolt area electrically insulate the bolt from the bottom chassis.
US09618683B2
A luminaire, in particular a downlight, comprises a light source and a reflector, the reflector having a light entrance end and a light exit end, the light entrance end comprising at least one light entrance aperture with an edge and the light exit end comprising a light exit aperture. A luminaire shade encompasses the reflector at least partially. A first portion of the light source light is emitted by the reflector through the light exit aperture and a second portion is emitted through the luminaire shade. The light source is an LED. The luminaire includes a light guide arranged near the light entrance aperture between the LED and light exit end so at least some LED light enters into the light guide, the light guide comprising a light-guiding area extending perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the reflector at least partially beyond the edge of the light entrance aperture.
US09618682B2
An optical sheet, a backlight unit having the optical sheet, and a display device having the backlight unit are discussed. According to an embodiment, the optical sheet includes a base film; a high refractive index layer having a plurality of prism portions on the base film; and a low refractive index layer positioned on the high refractive index layer, and covering the plurality of prism portions and having a surface parallel to the base film, each of the prism portions including an incidence surface on which incident light is refracted and a reflective surface on which the refracted light is reflected, the incidence surface including a bent for refracting the incident light towards the reflective surface.
US09618681B2
A quantum dot backlight module includes: a reflector, a light guide plate disposed above the reflector, a plurality of dot units disposed on an upper surface of the light guide plate at intervals, and a quantum dot packaged in each of the plurality of dot units, and light emitting diodes disposed on a edge side of the light guide plate. According to the present invention, the quantum dot material can be used less, which is good for reducing the production cost. Besides, heat can be effectively radiated from the light emitting diodes. Wide color gamut is realized as well.
US09618673B2
The present invention discloses a display device and a backlight module. The display device includes a display panel and a backlight module. The display panel is used for displaying images and passing light rays. The backlight module includes a light source and a light source providing board. The light source providing board is used for providing first light rays and passing second light rays. The light source providing board includes a light ray input interface, a light ray providing unit, and a light ray transmittance channel. The present invention can make a viewer see an object behind the display device.
US09618672B2
An illumination device comprising: (i) a light diffusing optical fiber having a numerical aperture of NALDF, wherein said light diffusing optical fiber has an outer surface, two ends, and a core, the fiber comprising a region with a plurality of scattering structures within said core configured to scatter guided light via said scattering structures towards the outer surface providing scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km at illumination wavelength, wherein said scatter guided light diffuses through said outer surface to provide illumination; (ii) a light source having a numerical aperture of NAS1, said light source being optically coupled to one end of said light diffusing optical fiber; NALDF−NAS1>0.05.
US09618660B2
An infrared imaging system used for infrared rays of wavelength of 5 micrometers or greater, the system including, from the object side to the image side, an aperture, a lens made of synthetic resin and an imaging element, the object side surface of the lens being convex to the object side in the paraxial area, wherein F-number of the system is 1.4 or smaller.
US09618652B2
A method of performing a fracture operation at a wellsite about a subterranean formation having a fracture network with natural fractures is provided. The wellsite is stimulated by injection of fluid into the fracture network. The method involves generating wellsite data including natural fracture parameters and obtaining measurements of microseismic events, modeling hydraulic fractures of the fracture network based on the wellsite data and defining a hydraulic fracture geometry of the hydraulic fractures, generating a stress field of the hydraulic fractures using a geomechanical model, determining shear failure parameters comprising a failure envelope and a stress state about the fracture network, determining a location of shear failure of the fracture network from the failure envelope and the stress state, and calibrating the hydraulic fracture geometry by comparing the modeled hydraulic fractures and the locations of shear failure against the measured microseismic events.
US09618644B2
This present disclosure provides a sensing cable of parallel spiral transmission line structure for distributed sensing and measuring of rock-soil mass deformation. A circular cross-section of a silicone strip is tightly wounded by two mutually-insulated wires. The two mutually-insulated wires form the spiral cable. The two mutually-insulated wires are wrapped around and covered by a silicone shroud. They constitute a sensing cable. A termination matching impedance is connected to one end of each of the two mutually-insulated wires. A time domain reflectometry measurement instrument is connected to the other end of the two mutually-insulated wires. The present disclosure implements a distributed positioning and measurement of rock-soil mass deformation.
US09618639B2
A system and method is provided for performing image-guided fault extraction from a fault-enhanced seismic image. The system divides three-dimensional fault-enhanced seismic images into a series of two-dimensional seismic image slices that can be selectively displayed and analyzed for fault surfaces. The system allows a user to select two or more fault surface points in a displayed image slice and identifies a fault path between the first fault surface point and the second fault surface that corresponds to a calculated at least cost path.
US09618633B2
A computed tomography (CT) detector apparatus includes a plurality of detectors arranged in a ring, each detector being arranged inside a Faraday cage having a plurality of voltage-biased side-electrodes arranged on a side surface of the Faraday cage. The detectors include photon-counting detectors (PCDs). A voltage applied to the voltage-biased side-electrodes decreases from the anode side of the PCD to the cathode side of the PCD.
US09618632B2
Systems and devices incorporating radiation detection, and techniques and materials for improved radiation detection are provided that involve a nano-scintillator exhibiting a linear luminescent emission response to stimulating electromagnetic radiation. The nano-scintillator can include at least one nanocrystal comprising a rare earth element, a lanthanide dopant, and a spectator dopant, wherein the nanocrystal exhibits a linear luminescent emission response to stimulating electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths less than 100 nm. As one example, the nanocrystal is [Y2-x03; Eux, Liy], where x is 0.05 to 0.1 and y is 0.1 to 0.16, and has an average nanoparticle size of 40 to 70 nm. These nanocrystals can be fabricated through a glycine combustion method.
US09618625B2
A system and method of continuous carrier wave reconstruction includes a radio navigation receiver that includes one or more processors, memory coupled to the one or more processors, and an input for receiving a signal from a transmitter. The signal has a phase. The one or more processors are configured to obtain phase lock on the received signal, extract first phase information from the received signal, detect a loss in phase lock on the received signal, and extrapolate second phase information while phase lock is lost using a model of the phase. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are further configured to reconstruct the carrier signal based on the first and second phase information. In some embodiments, the one or more processors are further configured to scale the first and second phase information from a first nominal frequency of the received signal to a different second nominal frequency.
US09618621B2
An optical tracker is provided herein. The tracker may include at least two optical tracker sensors, facing at least partially each other. Each optical tracker sensor may include: a pixel array sensor configured to generate a pixel-by-pixel stream of values representing a scene; at least one visual indicator physically coupled to said pixel array sensor; and an integrated circuit (IC) physically coupled to said at least one pixel array sensor, and configured to: receive said pixel-by-pixel stream of values; and apply a binary large object (BLOB) analysis to said stream, to yield BLOB parameters indicative of the at least one visual indicator present in the scene in a single pass of the pixels representing the scene; and a computer processor configured to receive said BLOB parameters and calculate a relative position and/or orientation, or a partial data thereof, of the at least two optical tracker sensors.
US09618612B2
An obstruction marking method includes generating a first echo curve using an electronic level gauge (ELG) coupled to a tank from a first reflected signal (echo signal) received when a material in the tank is at a first level. The ELG includes a radar-based obstruction detection algorithm stored in a memory coupled thereto. A processor implementing the obstruction detection algorithm identifies at least a first feature in the first echo curve to provide at least one suspected obstruction along with its position (first feature position). A second echo curve is generated from a second reflected signal when the material is at a second level. A third echo curve is generated from a third reflected signal when the material is at a third level. The suspected obstruction at the first feature position is stored in the memory as a verified obstruction with its first feature position.
US09618608B2
A target detection apparatus counts the number of reflection points, taking a reflection point of interest as being a target reflection point, for each detected reflection point, the reflection points being present in a target area that is set with reference to the target reflection point and each having a difference in speed from the target reflection point, the difference being not more than a preset identical speed determination threshold, and extracts a parallel-running pair that is a pair of the reflection points that meet preset parallel-running conditions. The target detection apparatus determines that the two reflection points configuring the parallel-running pair originate from an identical target, when a count value is not less than a preset size determination threshold, the count value being of at least either of the two reflection points configuring the extracted parallel-running pair and generates target information reflecting the determination results.
US09618607B2
There is provided a radar apparatus capable of extracting a peak signal obtained from a difference frequency between a transmitting signal and a receiving signal during first and second periods and deriving target information based on the extracted peak signals. A pairing unit pairs the peak signals extracted in the first and second periods. A judging unit judges whether or not the derived target is an overhead object based on the number of paired data of a stationary object existing within a predetermined range from the radar apparatus, among the paired data obtained by pairing the peak signals in the pairing unit.
US09618596B2
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging methods and apparatus for simultaneous measurement of the physical properties R1 relaxation rate, R2 relaxation rate, proton density (PD), and apparent diffusion coefficient using a single magnetic resonance acquisition using a single gradient echo acquisition type. A method includes, from an MR scanner, obtaining at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions of a common acquisition type; in a computer, interleaving the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions with a R1-sensitizing phase, a R2 sensitizing phase and a delay time; and in the computer, generating measures for R1 relaxation rate and R2 relaxation rate and PD from the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions, thereby simultaneously estimating multiple physical parameters using the single gradient echo acquisition type.
US09618588B2
Embodiments relate to coreless magnetic field current sensors, systems and methods, such as magnetoresistive sensors, systems and methods, to sense current flow in a conductor via a related magnetic field. In an embodiment, a current sensor system for sensing a current in a conductor from a magnetic field induced thereby, comprising a plurality N of magnetoresistive (MR) sensors arranged on a circle concentric to a center of the conductor and spaced apart from one another by 360 degrees/N, wherein each MR sensor has a sensitivity plane and is responsive to a projection of the magnetic field into the sensitivity plane, the sensitivity planes of the plurality of MR sensors being parallel, and wherein the plurality of MR sensors are arranged relative to the conductor such that the magnetic field has a non-vanishing component parallel to the sensitivity plane; at least one magnetic element arranged to provide a bias magnetic field on the plurality of MR sensors; and circuitry coupled to the plurality of MR sensors to determine the current in the conductor by combining signals from each of the plurality of MR sensors.
US09618561B2
A micro-electro-mechanical device includes a movable structure. The movable structure includes a test structure changing an electrical characteristic, if the movable structure is damaged. Further, a method for detecting damaging of a micro-electro-mechanical device includes detecting a change of an electrical characteristic of the electrical test structure of the movable structure. Further, the method includes indicating a deviation of the electrical characteristic from a predefined tolerable range.
US09618556B2
A positioning apparatus includes a support structure, a positioning structure, and a fixture for retaining MEMS devices. A shaft spans between the support structure and the positioning structure, and is configured to rotate about a first axis relative to the support structure in order to rotate the positioning structure and the fixture about the first axis. The positioning structure includes a pair of beams spaced apart by a third beam. Another shaft spans between the pair of beams and is configured to rotate about a second axis relative to the positioning structure in order to rotate the fixture about the second axis. Methodology entails installing the positioning apparatus into a chamber, orienting the fixture into various positions, and obtaining output signals from the MEMS devices to determine functionality of the MEMS devices.
US09618554B2
A system and method for performing radiation source analysis on a device under test (DUT) uses discrete Fourier transform on measured field components values at different sampling locations away from the DUT to derive field component values at locations on the DUT. The results of the discrete Fourier transform are multiplied by a complex phase adjustment term as a function of distance from the sampling locations to the DUT to translate the measured field component values back to the locations on the surface of the DUT.
US09618547B2
Power consumed by a digital circuit that contains multiple sub-circuits may be computed. Each sub-circuit may include more than one transistor and have at least one input. A signal transition sensor may be connected to an input to each sub-circuit and configured to count the number of signal transitions at the input or to time the duration of a signal transition at the input. Weight information may be stored that is indicative of an amount of power that is being consumed by each sub-circuit based on a count that is counted by or a time duration that is timed by each signal transition sensor that is connected to an input of that sub-circuit. The amount of power being consumed by the digital circuit may be computed based on a count that is counted by or a time duration that is timed by each signal transition sensor and the weight information.
US09618544B2
Systems and methods for verifying a reference voltage within a battery pack are disclosed. In one example, an assessment of a reference voltage is made via a band-gap voltage of a microcontroller. The system and method may be particularly useful determining whether or not the reference voltage has drifted from a desired voltage.
US09618543B2
A method and a control system for a multiphase-phase inverter system, the control system comprising an electric current detection circuit and a processor, wherein each phase of an electrical cycle is separated into a plurality of sections, inputs from the electric current detection circuit are received, each input indicating a measured phase current, and a phase current is calculated in each section, wherein the phase current calculation in at least one of the sections is determined from a changing ratio of the value of the phase current calculated from the measured values of the other phase currents in the multiphase system and the measured value of the phase.
US09618538B2
For decades, a mainstay of electrical and electronic testing has been the conventional use of the multi-meter that used a pair of probes to connect the Device Under Test to the meter. This often proves inadequate for present-day testing because more than one simultaneous or alternate reading or the connection of another testing tool and the reading of its effect on the DUT is often required. The Dual-Function Switch and Lead set (DFSL) of the present invention provides a switch and lead set interfacing two multi-meters, or one multi-meter and one test device or instrument with the DUT, while using the traditional and convenient pair of probes and a simple finger movement on the DFSL. The DFSL facilitates these tests, their safety and integrity, and reduces the time of many test procedures.
US09618520B2
Microarray compositions suitable for analysis by one or several spectrographic methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a microarray composition includes a three-dimensional solid support and a plurality of reactive microbeads positioned on the solid support in spatially distinct and addressable locations.
US09618517B2
Described and illustrated herein are systems and exemplary methods of operating an analyte measurement system having a meter and a test strip. The methods and systems describe herein allow for trapping various errors during calculation of the analyte due to variations in the structure and materials making up the test strip and ambient temperatures.
US09618513B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the detecting, treating, and empirically investigating the interaction between a subject's immune system and cancer stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for using IL-22 cytokine signaling and/or downstream targets of IL-22 cytokine signaling (e.g., STAT3, DOT1L, SUZ12, EED) in the diagnosis, treatment, and empirical investigation of cancers characterized with cancer stem cells activated through IL-22 cytokine signaling.
US09618508B2
The invention utilizes the techniques and instruments which are typically used in flow cytometry (FC) as a tool for analyzing adsorbed materials. Thus the invention provides a method for analyzing a component which is adsorbed to an insoluble metal salt, comprising steps of: (i) labelling the adsorbed component with a binding reagent; and (ii) analyzing the labelled adsorbed component by flow cytometry.
US09618501B2
Provided herein is a three-dimensional scaffold composition comprising randomly oriented fibers, wherein the fibers comprise a polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid block copolymer (PEG-PLA) and a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Also provided are methods for using the three-dimensional scaffolds described herein.
US09618487B2
Prefilled liquid cartridge for fluidically connecting to a sample separation device for separating of components of a fluidic sample by using liquid of the liquid cartridge, wherein the liquid cartridge comprises a liquid container which is prefilled with liquid and a liquid removal access provided at the liquid container, adapted to be fluidically coupled with at least one liquid conduit of the sample separation device by only inserting the liquid cartridge in a corresponding liquid cartridge accommodation of the sample separation device.
US09618481B2
In an ultrasonic transducer assembly, a conformable ultrasonic transducer has a piezoelectric layer and electrodes able to conform to curved surfaces, and a clamp for pressing the transducer into ultrasonic contact with a curved surface. Conformability is ensured with a thin, porous piezoelectric layer and suitable electrical conductors and insulators. The ultrasonic transducer may operate without further thermal shielding under harsh environments and/or at high temperatures.
US09618473B2
A gas sensor has a cylindrical housing case, a gas sensor element as a sensor component, and a filler portion. The filler portion is formed between the inner surface of the cylindrical housing case and the outer surface of the gas sensor element. The filler portion is filled with filler powder composed of talc as a layered compound. Talc is a principal ingredient of the filler powder. The space formed between the cylindrical housing case and the gas sensor element is sealed with the filler powder in the filler portion. The filler powder in the filler portion has a degree of c-axis orientation within a range of 60% to 85%, The filler powder in the filler portion has a porosity of not more than 10%.
US09618463B2
The invention relates to a method of acquiring an Energy Backscattering Pattern image of a sample in a charged particle apparatus, the sample showing a flat surface, the charged particle apparatus equipped with an electron column for producing a finely focused electron beam, a position sensitive detector for detecting EBSP patterns, and a sample holder for holding and positioning the sample, the method comprising the steps of: Positioning the sample with respect to the electron beam, Directing the electron beam to an impact point on the sample, thereby causing backscattered electrons to irradiate the detector, and Acquiring the signal from the detector while the beam is kept stationary, in which The detector is equipped to selectively detect electrons with an energy above a predefined threshold, and The signal of the electrons with an energy above said threshold is used to form an EBSP image.
US09618462B2
An X-ray CT scanner for imaging an object is provided. The scanner includes an X-ray emitter configured to emit X-ray beams, a detector array including a plurality of detector elements, and a precollimator positioned between the X-ray emitter and the object, the precollimator configured to prevent the emitted X-ray beams from being directly incident on a first subset of the plurality of detector elements, and allow the emitted X-ray beams to be directly incident on a second subset of said plurality of detector elements. A processing device communicatively coupled to the detector array is configured to determine a signature of the object based on a first set of data acquired using the first subset of the plurality of detector elements, and tomographically reconstruct an image of the object based on a second set of data acquired using the second subset of said plurality of detector elements.
US09618460B2
The invention relates to a method of performing tomographic imaging involving repeatedly directing a charged particle beam through a sample for a series of sample tilts to acquire a corresponding set of images and mathematically combining the images to construct a composite image. The latter of which consists of, at each of a second series of sample tilts, using a spectral detector to accrue a spectral map of said sample, thus acquiring a collection of spectral maps; analyzing said spectral maps to derive compositional data of the sample; and employing said compositional data in constructing said composite image.
US09618457B2
Chemical sensor, chemical sensor module, chemical detection apparatus, and chemical detection method
A chemical sensor according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a substrate, a low refractive index layer, a high refractive index layer, and a light detection unit. The low refractive index layer is laminated on the substrate and has a second refractive index smaller than a first refractive index that is a refractive index of a detection target object. The high refractive index layer is laminated on the low refractive index layer, has a third refractive index larger than the first refractive index, and includes a holding surface on which the detection target object is held, and illumination light propagates therein. The light detection unit is provided on the substrate and detects detection target light generated from the detection target object by the illumination light.
US09618448B2
Metrology targets, optical systems and methods are provided, which enable metrology measurements of very small features, using resonance of illuminated radiation within periodical structures of the target, under appropriate illumination. Metrology targets comprise periodical structure(s) configured to resonate incident radiation and having a pitch defined by the grating equation with respect to configured parameters such as the selected diffraction order, refractive indices and the illumination's wavelength(s) and incidence angles. Possibly, the target may further comprise substructure(s) which are optically coupled with the resonating incident radiation in the periodical structure(s). The spatial organization of the periodic structures and the substructures, as well as the optical organization of illuminated and scattered radiation provide collecting phase signals from the targets at a range of parameters, such as different wavelengths, spatial angles and polarizations to enhance the metrology signal and achieve a very high sensitivity to very small target features.
US09618439B2
A thermophoretic sampler includes a sample assembly into which a removable sample cartridge can be inserted. The sample cartridge holds a substrate that, upon insertion, is exposed to a sample chamber. Thermophoresis is induced in the sample chamber, causing nanoparticles to be deposited on the substrate.
US09618438B2
A system and method for isolating and analyzing a water sample in a water processing facility are disclosed. The system uses a chamber for receiving and isolating the water sample from the main water treatment process. An optical detector views and characterizes the particles in a region of the chamber. An analyzer coupled to the optical detector compares the characterized suspended particles at a first time and at with the characterized suspended particles at a second time to produce a report showing suspended particle size as a function of time.
US09618434B2
A calculating device of the stiffness measurement device pressurizes an object to be measured with a predetermined pressure and the stiffness of the object to be measured in the squeal frequency band is calculated based on an inclination of a stress-displacement performance curve immediately after a start of depressurization after the pressurization. According to this device, there is no need to oscillate the object with a high frequency band and there is no need to enhance the stiffness of the housing of the measurement device, which leads to a downsizing of the device. Further, there is no need for measuring of acceleration speed of the object to be measured and accelerator can be eliminated to reduce the cost of the stiffness measurement device.
US09618433B2
A system and methods are provided for evaluating a bond between structures. The system includes an assembly of at least two bonded structures. The assembly has a front surface, a back surface, a thickness, and a bond disposed between the front surface and the back surface. At least one delay component is attached to the front surface of the assembly having a body having a front face, a back face, and a thickness. The system further includes a laser source capable of depositing laser energy onto a front face of the delay component, where a first portion of the laser energy is absorbed by the front face of the delay component to generate a first compression wave that propagates through the body of the delay component. A second portion of the laser energy is absorbed by the back face of the component to generate a second compression wave that reflects off of the back surface of the assembly to produce a tensile wave that stresses the bond.
US09618432B2
A pressure reactor for treating a sample fluid includes an oven, a sample line partly arranged in the oven, and a pressure line arranged in surrounding relation to the sample line and partly arranged in the oven. The sample line has an outlet opening into the pressure line. A contamination blocking apparatus is disposed in the pressure line for forming a contamination barrier which has at least one section arranged between the outlet opening and the oven and which delimits a contamination-free region in the pressure line. The outlet opening of the sample line is arranged in the contamination-free region of the pressure line.
US09618420B2
A system and method for a surface strain gauge is described which has direct application to wind turbine structures and wind turbine blades and wind turbine struts. The invention is equally applicable to other airfoil structures such as aircraft wings and aircraft fuselages. The strain gauge comprises an array of carbon fiber material integrated with one or more microcontroller modules wherein the entire array may be incorporated into the surface of the structure to be monitored during manufacture of the structure. The array comprises separate sheets of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy which are linked together and which each comprise a separately addressable element such as a microcontroller wherein the microcontrollers are connected to a power supply and to a central bus which itself links to a central system controller. Differential measurements of the resistance of separate carbon fiber reinforced epoxy sheets may be determined in real time as well as the resistance between two or more sheets. In this way real time dynamic load monitoring can be performed and compared with original values determined at time of manufacture to provide data on fatigue of the structure with time before damage and failure occurs.
US09618419B2
The present disclosure relates to a flexible tubular pipe (1) of the unbonded type and including, from the inside to the outside, an internal carcass (2), first and second polymeric sheaths (3, 4), at least one tensile armor layer (6, 7) and a polymeric sealing sheath (8) and also at each of its ends, a connecting endpiece (10) comprising i.a., a tubular sleeve (15). The tubular sleeve (15) of a first endpiece (10) includes means (30, 31, 32) for draining the gases from the gap (25) between the sheaths (3, 4) towards the outside of the pipe (1) and the tubular sleeve of the second endpiece (10) including means for draining the gases from the gap (25) between two sheaths (3, 4) towards the outside or towards the inside of the pipe (1).
US09618418B2
Disclosed is a leakage detection system (200) and a leakage detection method for detecting leakage in a gas supply system (10′) comprising a gas source (11; 12) connected to a gas delivery module (14) by a pipeline. The leakage detection system (200) comprises a flow meter (113) connectable along the pipeline remotely from an inlet of the gas delivery module (14); and a detection module (110) configured to receive signals representing a measured flow rate from the flow meter (113), and to compare the measured flow rate (115) to a stored leakage-free reference value (116) to detect an increase in flow rate in the presence of a leak. A flow resistance between the detection module (110) and an outlet of the gas delivery module (14) amplifies the increase in flow rate in the presence of a leak. The system (200) may comprise a flow rate elevation system (121) connectable between the gas source (11; 12) and the flow meter (113) for temporarily increasing the flow rate in the pipeline.
US09618407B2
Designs to package a magneto-elastic torque sensor in an automotive transmission for volume production applications are provided. A transfer case assembly includes a transfer case shaft having a magnetized region and a magnetic torque sensor, for detecting torque of the transfer case shaft, mounted on at least one bushing supporting the transfer case shaft. A drive axle assembly includes an axle housing, an input shaft having a magnetized region, and a magnetic torque sensor, for detecting torque of the input shaft, mounted to the axle housing.
US09618404B2
A transducer includes an element disposed on a substrate, where the element includes an electrode, and a connection electrode electrically connected to the electrode of the element. A conductive portion disposed on an insulating film of a flexible print circuit board is electrically connected to the connection electrode. Part of the conductive portion is exposed so as to face a surface of the substrate having the element disposed thereon. An insulation layer is disposed on part of the surface of the substrate facing the flexible print circuit board.
US09618398B2
The present invention relates to a time-temperature indicator for monitoring the quality state of a thermally sensitive article and a monitoring method. The present invention also relates to a preparation method of the time-temperature indicator and a thermally sensitive article using the time-temperature indicator. The time-temperature indicator according to the present invention comprises two laminated layers which are physically separated, i.e. a function indication layer and an adsorption function layer. The two laminated layers are stored and transported separately, and combined together in use. Therefore, the time-temperature indicator of the present invention can be stored and transported at room temperature, which reduces the usage costs of the time-temperature indicator.
US09618395B2
A temperature detecting circuit includes a first thermistor, a second thermistor, a first pull-up resistor, a second pull-up resistor, and a controller. The controller is configured to sense a temperature based on a voltage signal from the first thermistor if a temperature corresponding to a voltage signal from one of the first thermistor and the second thermistor is below a threshold temperature. The controller is configured to sense a temperature based on a voltage signal from the second thermistor if a temperature corresponding to a voltage signal from one of the first thermistor and the second thermistor is higher than or equal to the threshold temperature. A resistance Ra of the first thermistor, a resistance Rb of the second thermistor, a resistance Rc of the first pull-up resistor, and a resistance Rd of the second pull-up resistor have a relationship expressed by Ra
US09618387B2
A method and associated EUV lithography apparatus for determining the phase angle at a free interface (17) of an optical element (13) provided with a multilayer coating (16) that reflects EUV radiation and/or for determining the thickness (d) of a contamination layer (26) formed on the multilayer coating (16). The multilayer coating (16) is irradiated with EUV radiation, a photocurrent (IP) generated during the irradiation is measured, and the phase angle at the free interface (17) and/or the thickness (d) of the contamination layer (26) is determined on the basis of a predefined relationship between the phase angle and/or the thickness (d) and the measured photocurrent (IP). The measured photocurrent (IP) is generated from the entire wavelength and angle-of-incidence distribution of the EUV radiation impinging on the multilayer coating (16).
US09618377B2
A flexible storage container may have a first footprint when empty, and retracts to a second footprint when filled with a substance. A load sensing apparatus used for determining the volume of the substance in the flexible storage container can include a first set of load-sensitive sensors arranged in at least a region of the first footprint external to the second footprint, and a second set of load-sensitive sensors arranged within the second footprint. The sensor data from the load-sensitive sensors can be used to create a pressure level profile, and the volume of the substance contained in the flexible storage container can be calculated from the pressure level profile.
US09618373B2
A device for detecting at least one property of a fluid medium has at least one sensor housing introducible into the fluid medium, which sensor housing has at least one channel through which the fluid medium flows and which has at least one outlet opening. The fluid medium flows out through the outlet opening after flowing through the channel. The sensor housing has at least one housing body and at least one cover. The outlet opening is situated in the cover. The housing body has at least one collar section, which engages with the outlet opening and which forms at least one part of an edge of the outlet opening.
US09618372B2
A transit time flow sensor is configured as an insertable probe carrying a pair of transducers spaced apart along an acoustic path. The transducers are attached to respective tabs extending outwardly from the ends of a tubular member and skewed with respect to an axis of the tube so that acoustic signals from one of the transducers are reflected from an interior portion of the tube and subsequently detected by the other transducer.
US09618368B2
A position-measuring device includes a scale and a scanning unit movable relative to the scale in a measurement direction. The scale has an incremental measuring graduation and reference marks spaced apart from each other. The scale has a first marking track containing a first marking associated a reference mark and a second marking spaced apart from the first marking. The scanning unit has a first and a second detector spaced apart from each other. A distance between the detectors is greater than a length of the first marking and less than a length of the second marking. The scanning unit is configured to produce a reference pulse based on only the first detector of the two detectors generating a scanning signal, and to produce a switching signal when both the first detector and the second detector generate a scanning signal.
US09618366B2
An absolute scale configuration is provided for use in a position encoder which includes a readhead and a scale. The absolute scale configuration includes a plurality of scale loops distributed along a measuring axis to provide a position dependent signal that varies depending on a relative position between the scale loops and the readhead. At least some of the scale loops are coupled to respective impedance modulating circuits connected to receive energy from current induced in the scale loop and to provide a unique coded modulation of the scale loop impedance during a code signal generating state. The unique coded modulations as sensed by the readhead are indicative of a coarse resolution absolute position, which may be utilized in combination with the position dependent signal to determine an absolute position with a high resolution.
US09618363B2
A specimen analysis system, a specimen analyzer, and a specimen analysis method are provided by which reexamination of a specimen can be executed more quickly than in conventional technology. A specimen analyzer measures a specimen and obtains an analysis result. The specimen analyzer determines the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen, based on a specimen analysis result. Also, the specimen analyzer determines, based on the specimen analysis result, whether or not determination of the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen based on examination information by the examination information management device is necessary. If it is determined that determination of the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen based on the examination information is necessary, the specimen analyzer makes a request to determine the necessity of remeasurement of the specimen based on the examination information, to the examination information management device.
US09618360B2
A method for accessing information on an electronic version of an navigation information display is described. The method includes displaying navigation information in a first portion of a display of a device, the device incorporating a touch screen, sensing a user touch on the touch screen, determining, by the device, a selected location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred, correlating the selected location on the touch screen where the user touch has occurred with a location on the navigation information display, displaying a magnified area of a portion of the navigation information proximate the location on the touch screen where the user touch occurred, and displaying textual information related to the magnified area in a second portion of the display device.
US09618358B2
A method for identifying a result responsive to a current location of a client device includes receiving, form a client device and at a host, a search query that includes a point of interest and a current location of the client device. The method also includes automatically updating the search query as the current location of the client device changes and instructing the host to identify a potential location associated with the point of interest and located within a user-defined proximity from the current location of the client device.
US09618354B2
A method includes: providing a map database; providing a landmark database; providing at least one user-specific landmark type; determining navigation instructions based on the map database, the landmark database, and the at least one user-specific landmark type; and outputting the determined navigation instructions.
US09618352B2
An apparatus and method for controlling a navigator are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a natural voice command acquisition unit, an information acquisition unit, a speech language understanding unit, a related information extraction unit, and a dialog management control unit. The natural voice command acquisition unit obtains a natural voice command from a user. The information acquisition unit obtains vehicle data including information about the operation of the navigator and information about the state of the vehicle. The speech language understanding unit converts the natural voice command into a user intention that can be understood by a computer. The related information extraction unit extracts related information that corresponds to the user intention. The dialog management control unit generates a response to the natural voice command based on the related information, the user intention and a dialog history, and controls the navigator in accordance with the conversation response.
US09618346B2
Various embodiments can predict a user's intended driving route in order to provide the user with traffic warnings for traffic conditions along the same. A user's driving route, in at least one embodiment, is predicted by collecting travel data, such as information associated with the date, time, location, and direction for trips made within a network of roads over time. Instead of keeping the travel data anonymous, the travel data is associate or linked to the user's account or stored in a user profile in order to build a history of travel patterns for the user over time. The travel patterns can then be used to predict when a user is going to travel or make a trip and, upon identifying a context indicative of a travel pattern, traffic information for a route associated with the pattern is obtained and provided to the user's computing device.
US09618344B2
In an embodiment, an apparatus may include a circuit that has a first input to receive motion data from at least one of a motion sensor and an optical sensor and that has a second input to receive directional data corresponding to the motion data. The circuit may further include an input/output interface configured to provide data to a display and a control circuit coupled to the first input, the second input, and the input/output interface. The control circuit may be configured to determine a current position based at least in part on the motion data and the directional data and update an indicator on a digital map based on the current position determined from the motion data.
US09618337B2
An apparatus and a method for measuring an altitude of a terminal which can correct an altitude error according to temporal and spatial changes are provided. The apparatus includes an atmospheric pressure measuring unit for measuring an atmospheric pressure from a barometer included in the terminal, a position determiner for measuring position information of the terminal, and a controller for, when a reference atmospheric pressure reception period is not generated, predicting a current reference atmospheric pressure by using previously received reference atmospheric pressures and measuring a current altitude by using the predicted reference atmospheric pressure and the measured atmospheric pressure.
US09618335B2
A system and method for adjusting light emitter output for a railway track inspection system based on data feedback from one or more sensors.
US09618334B2
Systems and methods for monitoring turbine component deformation are provided. The turbine component has an exterior surface. A method includes directly measuring a strain sensor configured on the exterior surface of the turbine component along an X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis to obtain X-axis data points, Y-axis data points, and Z-axis data points. The X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis are mutually orthogonal. The method further includes assembling a three-dimensional profile of the strain sensor based on the X-axis data points, Y-axis data points and Z-axis data points.
US09618333B2
A clearance measurement device for a combustor includes: a rod part with the hollow base end side which is mounted on a first flange of the combustor while being inserted in the combustor; a support part which is mounted at the leading end of the rod part so as to be rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the axial direction of the rod part; an imaging element which is supported by the support part and images an annular clearance; an operation lever which penetrates the inside of the rod part and extends toward the support part; and a link mechanism which is provided between the operation lever and the support part and converts a forward/backward motion of the operation lever into a rotary motion of the support part around the axis.
US09618332B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of determining a position of an object with respect to incident radiation, comprising iteratively determining at least one of an object function indicating one or more characteristics of an object and a probe function indicative of one or more characteristics of incident radiation, iteratively determining the position of the object, wherein the iteratively determining the position of the object comprises cross correlating first and second estimates of the object function or the probe function, determining a location of a peak of the cross correlation, and determining a translation deviation indicative of a difference in position of the object between the first and second estimates based on the location of the peak.
US09618323B2
A method of manufacturing an optical interferometer includes a first step of forming a first semiconductor portion for a beam splitter and a second semiconductor portion for a movable mirror on a main surface of a support substrate and a first insulating layer formed on the main surface, a second step of disposing a first wall portion between a first side surface of the first semiconductor portion and a second side surface in the second semiconductor portion, and a third step of forming a mirror surface in the second semiconductor portion by forming a first metal film on the second side surface using a shadow mask. In the third step, the first side surface is masked by the mask portion and the first wall portion and the first metal film is formed in a state in which the second side portion is exposed from an opening portion.
US09618317B2
A position indicator includes a resonance circuit housed in a casing and having an inductance element and a capacitor variable in capacitance, such that the resonance circuit resonates at a predetermined frequency. The position indicator is electromagnetically coupled to a position detecting device. The capacitor includes a dielectric, an electrode disposed on one side of the dielectric, and a trimming electrode disposed on another side of the dielectric such that at least one part of a region of the trimming electrode is opposed to the electrode with the dielectric interposed in between, to form the capacitance of the capacitor. The capacitor is housed in the casing such that the at least one part can be exposed from the casing. The area of the at least one part exposed from the casing to the outside is changed so as to correspond to a resonance frequency desired for the resonance circuit.
US09618309B2
Exemplary methods and apparatus for testing an electrically fired item, e.g., a primer-only cartridge or all-up round (AUR) cartridge, in a variety of modes are provided. For example, a test system may provide a method of testing a primer-only cartridge and an apparatus to execute such method. Various parameters associated with operation of the electrically fired item, such as a primer or initiator, may be varied and measured using an embodiment including programmable selection of a pulse duration for firing control signals, a voltage of the firing control signals, and a number of pulses associated with the firing control signals. An inline resistance of the path of the control signals may also be adjusted. Test data including temperature, pressure, voltage, and/or current associated with operation of the electrically fired item may be measured during tests and displayed on a display device.
US09618305B2
A method of actuating a control surface in a munition. The method including: coupling a pair of fins to an actuation device; generating pressurized gas to selectively actuate the actuation device; and converting the actuation of the actuation device to rotation of the pair of fins. The converting can convert a linear output of the actuation device to the rotation of the pair of fins or a rotary output of the actuation device to the rotation of the pair of fins. The generated gas can be directly provided to the actuation device or the generated gas can be stored in a storage device before being provided to the actuation device. The method can further include repeating the coupling, generating and converting for a second pair of fins.
US09618300B2
A kit for fitting a handwheel to a focussing control of a rifle scope is used to enlarge a focussing ring of the control, without having to remove the focussing ring from the control. The handwheel is secured by a headed bolt to a projecting stub shaft. The handwheel has a side plate supporting an outer rim that has a plurality of peripheral indentations to assist turning of the handwheel. The side plate has a central hole and a hub that projects axially from the side plate and defines a bore for receiving the stub shaft. The outer diameter of the hub is received within an outer end portion of the focussing ring. The hub has at least one abutment that co-operates with the stub shaft to inhibit relative rotational movement. A cap bolt extends through the hole to engage the stub shaft and secure the handwheel to the control.
US09618285B2
A removable magazine for a rifle with a support and a magazine insert disposed on the support, the magazine insert having, in the direction of fire, a back side and a front side with an opening for bullets of cartridges insertable into the magazine insert. The magazine insert is mounted on the support so as to be able to pivot around a transverse axis by a pivot bearing disposed on the back side thereof.
US09618283B2
A stub connection for a heat exchanger that is arranged in a housing. The stub connection includes a first part which is fastened to the heat exchanger and a second part which has a stub shank extending through an opening in the housing and is seated in a hole of the first part. The stub connection also includes at least two seals. The first seal is an annular seal, which is seated in a groove of the stub shank and the second seal is a gasket, which is arranged between the opening, the stub shank, and the first part. The first seal is seated in the hole and seals between the stub shank and the first part.
US09618281B2
A heat exchanger having a heat exchange surface comprising a plurality of tubes, a pair of tanks, an end plate, and a shroud disposed to cover the heat exchange surface, wherein, the shroud provides a first hook and a second hook at it's a vertical wall, and the end plate is held in place either between the first hook and the second hook, or between the second hook and the vertical wall. With the above structure, the fan shroud assembly can hold two types of heat exchangers having different thickness.
US09618264B1
A device and method for dehydrating products, through gasifying the humidity in the air or on any wet element through the application of air, heat and magnetic fields. Such a process would be useful for the drying of clothing, grain, food and other industrial uses. In a separate implementation, measure addition of moisture to the air or gas in the system could be used to generate hydrogen and/or oxygen via a gas separator, such as the membrane units in use today. The magnetic fields used may be built using electromagnetic and/or permanent magnets.
US09618262B2
A column deluge suppression system for suppressing a hazard occurring in a grain dryer includes a plurality of vertical column sections and a segmented, annular manifold. The manifold is positioned around the upper section of the grain dryer in proximity to the grain columns. The manifold includes a plurality of elongated deluge drops that extend toward the grain column openings and permit water to drench the grain columns.
US09618261B2
The present techniques are directed to a system and method for generating power and producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). The system includes a power plant configured to generate power, wherein an exhaust gas from the power plant provides a gas mixture including nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The system also includes a dehydration system configured to dehydrate the gas mixture to generate a nitrogen refrigerant stream and a refrigeration system configured to produce LNG from a natural gas stream using the nitrogen refrigerant stream.
US09618258B2
A refrigerator includes an ice making unit. The refrigerator also includes a refrigeration cycle including a refrigerant pipe to supply cooling energy to an ice making compartment, and a fixing member to fix a first portion of the refrigerant pipe, at least a second portion of the refrigerant pipe supported by and inserted into the ice making compartment.
US09618256B2
An automatically adjustable swing seal for a rack-aisle freezing and chilling system extends, for example, from the top horizontal frame member of a racking structure and defines an intake opening along with side seals and a bottom seal. The swing seal is positioned at a height such that a product stack having a top edge positioned at any point along the face of the swing seat creates a seal between the intake opening and the stack via the swing seal, the side seals, and the bottom seal. Thus, stacks of varying heights may automatically be accommodated. Further, the bottom edge of the swing seal may be beveled, such that if a product stack is not evenly stacked a portion of the uneven stacking will not catch against the swing seal when the stack is pulled away from the opening.
US09618254B2
A refrigerator as disclosed herein may include a refrigerator body having a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment, a cooling circuit including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator to cool the freezing compartment and the refrigeration compartment using a first refrigerant, and a thermosyphon that includes a pipe for a second refrigerant to flow. The pipe may have a first section having a first prescribed shape for condensing refrigerant and a second section having a second prescribed shape for vaporizing refrigerant. A valve may be provided at the pipe to operate the thermosyphon. The cooling circuit and the thermosyphon may be operated independently. The thermosyphon may provide auxiliary cooling for the refrigeration chamber when the cooling circuit is not operational.
US09618249B2
A voltage-command correction-value computation unit outputs a correction value for correcting a voltage command value according to a bus voltage. A multiplier calculates a voltage command value acquired by correcting the voltage command value based on the correction value. A voltage-command generation unit generates and outputs three-phase voltage command values based on the corrected voltage command value calculated by the multiplier and a phase. A PWM-signal generation unit generates six drive signals corresponding to switching elements of an inverter based on the three-phase voltage command values outputted by the voltage-command generation unit and a carrier signal. The PWM-signal generation unit outputs the generated drive signals to the corresponding switching elements of the three-phase inverter, to cause the inerter to generate a high-frequency AC voltage.
US09618248B2
A refrigerant recovery and recharge device and a method to recharge oil to refrigeration equipment is disclosed. The refrigerant recovery and recharge device comprises a valve block which is adapted to establish fluid communication between the device and refrigeration equipment and a recharge path adapted to recharge oil to the refrigeration equipment through an outlet in the valve block. The device further comprises at least a first oil container and a second oil container and the valve block comprises a valve with a first inlet and a second inlet. The first oil container is in fluid communication with the first inlet and the second oil container is in fluid communication with the second inlet to recharge oil to the refrigeration equipment. The method for recharging oil recharges oil either from the first oil container or the second oil container in dependence of the type of fuel used in the vehicle.
US09618244B2
An exemplary evaporating unit for cooling a heat emitting device includes a cooling circuit having a stack of evaporating units arranged alternately with heat emitting devices. Each evaporating unit is connected to a condenser and includes a first inlet channel, a first plurality of evaporation channels, and a first outlet channel. The evaporating unit is designed for pre-heating the cooling fluid flowing therein.
US09618241B2
An air-conditioning apparatus controls that a discharge temperature does not become too high with a refrigerant whose compressor discharge temperature readily rises, and thus suppress degradation of the refrigerant and a refrigerating machine oil. An injection pipe that injects a heat source side refrigerant into a compressor is installed, connected a pipe between a backflow prevention device and an opening and closing device installed on a branching pipe, and an aperture unit in the compressor.
US09618236B2
A heat pump system includes a heat source unit, a usage-side unit, and a usage-side controller. The heat source unit has a heat source-side compressor for compressing a heat source-side refrigerant, and a heat source-side heat exchanger capable of functioning as an evaporator of the heat source-side refrigerant. The usage-side unit is connected to the heat source unit and has a capacity-variable-type usage-side compressor for compressing a usage-side refrigerant, a usage-side heat exchanger capable of functioning as a radiator of the heat source-side refrigerant and functioning as an evaporator of the usage-side refrigerant, and a refrigerant-water heat exchanger capable of functioning as a radiator of the usage-side refrigerant and heating an aqueous medium. The usage-side controller performs usage-side capacity variation control for incrementally varying the operating capacity of the usage-side compressor during a usual operation.
US09618235B2
Condensation occurs on an indoor fan. In an air conditioner of the present invention, an indoor heat exchanger includes an auxiliary heat exchanger 20 and a main heat exchanger 21 disposed leeward from the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. The auxiliary heat exchanger 20 is disposed forward of a front heat exchanger 21a of the main heat exchanger 21. In an operation in a predetermined dehumidification operation mode, a liquid refrigerant supplied to the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 all evaporates midway in the auxiliary heat exchanger 20. Then, the refrigerant having flowed through a superheat region of the auxiliary heat exchanger 20 flows through a portion of the front heat exchanger 21a which portion is located leeward from an evaporation region of the auxiliary heat exchanger 20.
US09618234B2
A refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes: a main refrigerant circuit (21) having a compressor (1), a radiator (2), a first expansion mechanism (5), a second expansion mechanism (6), and an evaporator (4); an injection passage (22) for supplying an intermediate-pressure refrigerant to an injection port 1c of the compressor 1; and a water circuit (30) through which water to be heated in the radiator (2) flows. The refrigeration cycle apparatus (50) includes a sub heat exchanger (3) for cooling the water in the water circuit (30) by exchanging heat between the refrigerant in the injection passage (22) and the water to be heated in the radiator (2).
US09618232B2
Modifications convert an existing single-pass boiler to operate with a multi-pass combustion gas flow through the flue passages of the heat exchanger of the boiler. A diverting target wall is arranged partway along the length of the original combustion chamber, and an upper draft diverter is arranged in a flue collector chamber above the flue passages, to divert some or all of the combustion gas into a multi-pass flow pattern through several flue passages of the heat exchanger in series. The modifications may further include changing the nozzle oil delivery rate and cone angle, the oil supply pressure, the draft conditions, and others. Heat extraction from the hot combustion gas to the boiler water is increased, exhaust gas temperature is decreased, and overall efficiency is increased, to result in a fuel and cost savings.
US09618228B2
An improved airflow delivery system (1) comprising an air moving element (3) configured to move air in a flow path, a chamber (19) in the flow path configured to receive product (9), an air transfer chamber (11) comprising an inlet (10) of a selected area for receiving air in the flow path in a first direction (x-x) and an outlet (14) of a selected area greater than the area of the inlet for discharging air in the flow path in a second direction (y-y) different from the first direction, an airflow divider (33) extending across the air transfer outlet and configured to divide airflow in the flow path, an airflow directional (15) extending across the flow path downstream of the airflow divider and upstream of the chamber, the airflow directional having an upstream inlet face (28a) and a downstream outlet face (29c) and configured to receive airflow at the inlet face and split the airflow into multiple separated sub-paths (27) within the flow path and to discharge the airflow from the downstream outlet face substantially parallel to the flow path and without substantial reduction in static pressure.
US09618225B2
A thermostat includes a controller for controlling the thermostat, a battery supplying power for the thermostat, and a wireless transceiver for receiving control information from a remote device and for transmitting information to the remote device. The controller sets a default time schedule for enabling the wireless transceiver.
US09618223B2
An Electronically-Controlled Register vent (ECRV) that can be easily installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The ECRV can be used to convert a non-zoned HVAC system into a zoned system. The ECRV can also be used in connection with a conventional zoned HVAC system to provide additional control and additional zones not provided by the conventional zoned HVAC system. In one embodiment, the ECRV is configured have a size and form-factor that conforms to a standard manually-controlled register vent. In one embodiment, a zone thermostat is configured to provide thermostat information to the ECRV. In one embodiment, the zone thermostat communicates with a central monitoring system that coordinates operation of the heating and cooling zones.
US09618216B2
An air conditioning apparatus includes a casing having intake and blow-out ports, a partition member dividing an interior of the casing, a heat exchanger, and a centrifugal fan. The blow-out port is at least partially disposed adjacent to a blow-out port nearby lateral part of the casing along an opening direction of a fan entrance and the blow-out port. A fan downwind space is located on a downwind side of a bladed wheel within a fan compartment, and has a blow-out port opposed space and a blow-out port non-opposed space. A first guide member directs air existing in the blow-out port non-opposed space toward the blow-out port opposed space, and is mounted in a boundary region located astride of regions located on forward and rearward sides in a rotary direction within the blow-out port non-opposed and blow-out port opposed spaces, respectively.
US09618215B2
The present invention relates to energy supply systems which comprise an energy storage unit and an energy production unit. Control methods according to the invention advantageously allow to calculate an operational cost of the energy supply system based on the energy flux that can be supplied by the system and the energy flux that is demanded externally from the system. The operational cost can be calculated for all possible values of the above parameters in advance. The calculated parameters can be stored in an array in a device implementing methods of the invention. Methods of the invention allow to operate an energy supply system so as to guarantee that at any instant a predetermined (nonzero) amount of energy flux can be supplied by the energy storage unit.
US09618214B2
A system and method for heating water are provided. The system includes a first subcooler for receiving a first water flow, a second subcooler for receiving a second water flow, a first condenser in fluid communication with the first subcooler and the second subcooler for receiving water from both subcoolers, and a second condenser in fluid communication with the first condenser. The method involves receiving a flow of water, and transferring heat to the water using the system.
US09618205B2
A gas flow controller for use in a gas fired apparatus includes an actuator, a pilot valve operably connected to the actuator, a main burner valve, and a flow controller valve operably connected to the actuator. The pilot valve is moveable from a closed position to an open position by actuation of the actuator to provide selective fluid communication between a gas inlet and a first fluid chamber. The main burner valve provides selective fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and a main burner outlet. The flow controller valve is moveable from a closed position to an open position by actuation of the actuator to provide selective fluid communication between the gas inlet and a back side of the main burner valve to maintain the main burner valve in a closed position when the pilot valve is in the open position.
US09618200B2
The invention relates to a heat recuperator (R) for a radiating tube burner having a burner pipe and an exhaust pipe (1), the recuperator being placed at the outlet of the exhaust pipe (1) and including a heat exchanger (E) that comprises: an outgoing section (5) for directing the air to be preheated to a ferrule (6), placed on the end of the recuperator, from the fume intake side, and a return section (7) opening towards a pipe (8) for supplying air from the burner, the assembly being provided such that part of the fumes are led through, and mix with, the combustion air; the heat exchanger (E) occupies only part of the cross-section of the exhaust pipe (1), the other part (1a) of the cross-section remaining free for the fumes; the combustion air is heated by the fumes in the outgoing section (5) and in the return section (7), being radially shifted outside the outgoing section (5) and immersed in the fumes.
US09618198B2
A burner includes a generally cylindrical reactor chamber (1) including a housing (1′) having a proximal end (1p) and a distal end (1d). In the distal end of the reactor chamber (1) there is provided a catalyst (4). A fuel inlet (7) is provided in the proximal end of the reactor chamber. There are also a plurality of air inlets (22, 23; 24) arranged in the reactor wall at the proximal end. The inlets are configured to provide a rotating flow of the air injected into the reactor chamber. There is also provided a flow homogenizer (8; 30) extending over the cross-section of the reactor chamber at a position between the fuel inlet (7) and the catalyst (4).
US09618192B2
A small-spacing LED screen is provided, comprising a bottom case, an HUB board arranged on one side of the bottom case, and a small module arranged on the other side and electrically connected with the HUB board. The small module includes a module main body and a drive control unit which is electrically connected with the module main body to drive and control the module main body. An adaptor plate is also arranged between the small module and the HUB board. The HUB board is electrically connected with the adaptor plate. The drive control unit is arranged on the adaptor plate. The LED screen has the smallest spacing, and the reject ratio of the small module is greatly reduced.
US09618178B1
A grow light system for producing a deep penetrating light source including a hood light fixture with an outer wall structure and an inner reflective panel configured to reflective light toward a light opening, the inner reflective panel having a first inner light reflecting panel and a second inner light reflecting panel and the first and second inner light reflective panels being on either side of a light fixture axis, the fixture including a first light source fixed relative to the first inner light reflecting panel and a second light source fixed relative to the second inner light reflecting panel, the first and second light inner light reflecting panels and the light opening having a generally triangular cross-section configuration transverse to the fixture axis wherein the first and second light reflective panels are oriented at a grow light angle from one another between 40 and 80 degrees.
US09618172B1
The track lighting assembly includes a rail that may be positioned proximate the ceiling light fixture. A socket is coupled to the rail. The socket is selectively operationally coupled to the ceiling light fixture. The rail is retained on the ceiling light fixture. A rail contact is coupled to the rail. The rail contact is operationally coupled to the socket. A light support is operationally coupled to the rail. The light support is selectively movable along the rail. The light support is operationally coupled to the contact. The light support is in communication with the socket. A fixture is operationally coupled to the light support. The fixture is in communication with the contact. A light emitter is operationally coupled to the fixture. The light emitter selectively emits light.
US09618166B2
An end cap for LED tube lamp along with the LED tube lamp adopting thereof is disclosed. LED tube lamp includes a lamp tube. One end of the lamp tube is attached to the end cap; a LED light bar is disposed inside the lamp tube. The end cap includes an insulating tubular part, sleeved with the end of the lamp tube and a magnetic object disposed between an inner circumferential surface of the insulating tubular part and the end of the lamp tube. The magnetic object being of a magnetic metal member and the lamp tube are adhesively bonded by a hot melt adhesive. An inner circumferential surface of the magnetic metal member can be fully covered by the hot melt adhesive. Magnetic metal member can be in the structure of a circular or oval ring, with at least one opening, and has indentation structure on a surface thereof.
US09618163B2
A LED lamp comprises an enclosure containing a reflective surface and an optically transmissive exit surface and a base. A LED assembly is mounted on a submount, is located in the enclosure and is operable to emit light when energized through an electrical path from the base. The submount comprises a connector portion having a first electrical contact that is in the electrical path. A first spring contact is electrically coupled to lamp electronics where the lamp electronics and the first spring contact are in the electrical path. A heat sink comprises a heat dissipating portion that is at least partially exposed to the ambient environment and a heat conducting portion that is thermally coupled to the LED assembly. The connector portion is inserted into the heat sink such that the first electrical contact creates an electrical contact coupling with the first spring contact.
US09618160B2
The disclosure describes a pressure vessel having a first end with a first boss and a cylindrical portion. The vessel includes a liner, a composite shell disposed over the liner, and a first longitudinal vent disposed between the liner and the composite shell. The first longitudinal vent includes an elongated vent defining element and extends at least from the cylindrical portion of the vessel to the first boss.
US09618158B2
A method and apparatus for compressing gases and supplying fuel to a gaseous fuel consuming device, such as a gaseous fueled vehicle or the like. One embodiment includes a gas compressor for compressing the gaseous fuel to an array of tanks having predetermined initial set points which are increasing for tanks in the array. One embodiment provides a selecting valve having first and second families of ports wherein the valve can be operated to select a plurality of ports from the first family to be fluidly connected with a plurality of ports with the second family, and such fluid connections can be changed by operation of the valve.
US09618151B2
An acoustic silencer for dampening unwanted resonant and pressure pulses in a pipe or duct work and includes an expansion chamber having an enclosed volume through which a pipe or duct work extends, thereby defining an annular volume within the enclosed volume between the process pipe and the expansion chamber. An insert disposed within the annular volume extends along the length of the process pipe and forms an acoustic volume within the annular volume and defines a resonant passage length that is of a length so as to dampen one or more frequencies of the process pipe. An opening is formed through the process pipe along the length of the process pipe that extends through the expansion chamber and is in fluidic communication with the acoustic volume.
US09618149B2
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.
US09618145B2
A duct includes a polymeric duct wall that circumscribes a fluid-conveyance passage. The polymeric duct wall includes, relative to the fluid-conveyance passage, an inner surface and an outer surface. An electrically conductive coating is disposed on at least one of the outer surface and the inner surface.
US09618126B1
Described herein is an improved ball valve assembly for use in a tank or a tank-like container. This improved ball valve assembly prevents leakage of a liquid with corrosive and abrasive contaminants within the tank or a tank like container. This improved ball valve assembly is especially useful in a railroad tank car that contains a liquid commodity in whenever a tank is mobile and subjected to wide temperature variations. The improved ball valve assembly contains a ball component made of a ceramic material. A ceramic wiper (i) mechanically seals against the ball component and (ii) prevents contaminants from embedding within, or otherwise abrading, top and bottom seats within the ball valve assembly. Also contained in the preferred embodiment of this invention is an improved drive coupling that (i) eliminates the previously existing need for custom square drive tool (ii) pre-attached to the ball valve assembly. The current invention also includes an improved stem packing assembly that reduces the number of annular components along the stem of the ball valve assembly.
US09618123B2
A seal comprising a generally acorn shaped cross-sectional profile is described herein. The seal may be configured for use between two generally adjoining and/or nearly adjoining surfaces. The seal may be used to eliminate a gap or rubbing between a plurality of surfaces. The seal may have a non-circular cross-sectional interior profile.
US09618106B2
An assembly adapted to replace an automobile differential's spider gears, locking the axles together. The present invention comprises a pair of outer drive flange members that are adapted to engage with a pair of wedge locking members within the carrier of an automobile differential, replacing the differential's stock planetary or spider gears. The present assembly locks the rotation of the rear axles together, applying power equally to both wheels and enhancing the performance of the automobile during competitive drag racing events, without requiring expensive custom installation from a specialist.
US09618105B2
A torque converter includes a torque converter body, a lock-up device, and a dynamic damper. The lock-up device includes an output plate coupled to a turbine. The dynamic damper is fixed to the output plate of the lock-up device, and is configured to attenuate variation in speed of rotation from the engine. The dynamic damper includes a base plate, an inertia unit, and an elastic unit. The base plate is fixed to the output plate. The inertia unit is movable relative to the base plate in a rotational direction. The elastic unit exerts nonlinear torsional characteristics, and elastically couples the base plate and the inertia unit in the rotational direction.
US09618096B2
A tensioner comprising a piston slidably received within a piston bore of the housing having a plurality of grooves formed on an outer circumference, the piston forming a first pressure chamber with the piston bore. The tensioner uses a mechanism to remove a sliding pawl or expandable clip from engaging the grooves on the piston, such that the piston can move towards the housing and reduce chain load when fluid pressure is reduced in the first pressure chamber during engine shutdown, but not so much as to leave the chain uncontrolled during engine restart. The mechanism may for example be a fluid biased spool piston which engages the expandable clip or a pawl piston that engages a sliding pawl.
US09618092B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include: an input shaft receiving torque of an engine; an output shaft outputting changed torque; a first planetary gear set including a first rotation element, a second rotation element, and a third rotation element; a second planetary gear set including a fourth rotation element, a fifth rotation element, and a sixth rotation element; a third planetary gear set including a seventh rotation element, an eighth rotation element, and a ninth rotation element; and a fourth planetary gear set including a tenth rotation element, an eleventh rotation element, and a twelfth rotation element.
US09618090B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first rotation shaft selectively connected to a transmission housing, a second rotation shaft, a third rotation shaft selectively connected to the transmission housing, a fourth rotation shaft, a fifth rotation shaft directly connected to the input shaft, a sixth rotation shaft selectively connected to the fourth rotation shaft or the fifth rotation shaft, a seventh rotation shaft selectively connected to the fourth rotation shaft, and an eighth rotation shaft directly connected to the output shaft, and selectively connected to the seventh rotation shaft.
US09618089B2
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission of a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set including a first sun gear, a first planet carrier, and a first ring gear, a second planetary gear set including a second sun gear, a second planet carrier, and a second ring gear, a third planetary gear set including a third sun gear, a third planet carrier, and a third ring gear, a fourth planetary gear set including a fourth sun gear, a fourth planet carrier, and a fourth ring gear, a first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft, a third rotation shaft, a fourth rotation shaft, a fifth rotation shaft, a sixth rotation shaft, a seventh rotation shaft, and an eighth rotation shaft.
US09618085B2
A dual-clutch seven speed transmission arrangement and method for use with a transverse engine arrangement in a hybrid vehicle are provided. The dual-clutch seven speed transmission arrangement includes a dual-clutch gearbox comprising an input shaft for odd drive gears and an input shaft for even drive gears, respectively arranged in connection to a first clutch and a second clutch. The input shaft for even drive gears is a hollow shaft enclosing the input shaft for odd drive gears and the input shaft for odd drive gears is arranged to host four odd drive gears. The input shaft for even drive gears is arranged to host three even drive gears and a reverse drive gear. An electric motor is connected to the input shaft for even drive gears.
US09618077B2
Embodiments of isolators, such as three parameter isolators, including a main spring linear guide system are provided. In one embodiment, the isolator includes first and second opposing end portions, a main spring mechanically coupled between the first and second end portions, and a linear guide system extending from the first end portion, across the main spring, and toward the second end portion. The linear guide system expands and contracts in conjunction with deflection of the main spring along the working axis, while restricting displacement and rotation of the main spring along first and second axes orthogonal to the working axis.
US09618057B2
A driven disc assembly is provided wherein a clutch disc has enlarged holes for connection of opposing backing plates. The backing plates have semi-pierced sections that are insertable within mounting holes of the clutch disc. The thickness of the backing plates are enlarged from their normal thickness causing a top surface of the backing plates to axially clear heads of conventional rivets. The thickness of the friction buttons on the backing plates can then be reduced to their minimal effective use thickness.
US09618056B2
The power transmission member includes a connecting member, an intermediate member, and an engagement member. The connecting member has an annular portion. The outer peripheral surface of the annular portion is provided with arc-like portions, and the inner peripheral surface of the annular portion is provided with concave-convex portions. The engagement member includes protrusions and a shaft insertion hole. The arc-like portions of the connecting member are in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the roller body, and the connecting member and the roller body are also secured together by securing means. The intermediate member engages with the concave-convex portions and the protrusions, the shaft insertion hole of the engagement member is maintained at the center of the roller body, and a power unit engages with the shaft insertion hole.
US09618051B2
A mounting device for coaxially anchoring a machine element upon a rotary shaft is provided. The device fits between the interior bore of the machine element and the cylindrical surface of the shaft and is effective to position the element at any desired position longitudinally of the shaft and at any angular position circumferentially of the shaft. The device has inner and outer sleeves, the mating surfaces of which are similarly tapered so that relative axial displacement of the sleeves affects expansion and contraction of the interior bore and external surface of the combined elements. Rotation of a threaded nut at one end of the device effects the relative axial displacement of the inner and outer sleeves to afford expansion and contraction of the sleeves without excessively straining the material of the sleeves or the nut.
US09618049B2
An apparatus for preloading a bearing includes an attaching member, a frame, a plurality of extensions, and an adjustment mechanism. The attaching member is releasably attachable to a threaded shaft of an axle or spindle of a wheel hub assembly. The frame is axially separated from, and coupled to, the attaching member to allow the frame to move relative to the attaching member in an axial direction along the longitudinal axis. The plurality of extensions is configured to contact at least one of a wheel hub or a bearing of the wheel hub assembly when the attaching member is attached to the threaded shaft. The adjustment mechanism is configured to move the frame and the plurality of extensions axially towards the wheel hub assembly to apply a preload to a bearing within the wheel hub assembly.
US09618047B2
A bearing support point with at least one axial bearing, in which at least one bearing washer of the axial bearing is held at a structural element, with the bearing washer being formed separately from the structural element and comprising at least one axially aligned track for the axial bearing as well as being fastened at the structural element such that the bearing washer is inserted in an opening of the structural element and is encompassed by the structural element at least at an exterior area and with the bearing washer being supported via the area inside the opening, aligned in the radial direction.
US09618046B2
An oil discharging system for a main shaft bearing of a wind turbine generator, includes: a main shaft bearing, a bearing seal, a bearing end cover, a waste oil through hole, at least one thumb wheel; the bearing seal is sleeved to an end of the main shaft bearing, the bearing end cover is engaged with the bearing seal to encircle the outside of the bearing seal; the waste oil through hole is provided on the bearing end cover; the at least one thumb wheel is provided on the bearing seal, enables the waste oil been discharged from the waste oil through hole after the thumb wheel acts upon. Since the thumb wheel rotates with the main shaft bearing, so that the waste oil discharge from the waste oil through hole effectively, thus pollutions to the wind turbine generator and surroundings thereof are reduced.
US09618045B1
A strut bearing including an improved seal configuration is disclosed. The strut bearing includes an upper carrier including a first outer axially extending rim and a first inner axially extending rim, and a lower carrier including a second outer axially extending rim and a second inner axially extending rim. The first outer axially extending rim at least partially surrounds the second outer axially extending rim. A rolling bearing is supported between the upper and lower carriers. A seal includes at least one sealing lip and a reinforcement rim, and the at least one sealing lip is molded on to the reinforcement rim. The seal extends between the first outer axially extending rim of the upper carrier and the second outer axially extending rim of the lower carrier.
US09618044B2
An outer ring for a roller bearing includes a raceway produced from a bearing steel. The outer ring is made of a metal strip wound to form a raceway tube and a cladding tube which is connected thereto and which surrounds the raceway tube on the outer side.
US09618042B2
A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a shaft member having an outer ring, having a first bearing raceway, and an inner ring, having a second bearing raceway. The raceways are opposingly spaced relative to each other. The inner ring includes a plurality of tang members extending in a cantilevered configuration from at least one end of the inner ring having slots formed therebetween. Bearing members are positioned in a space between and in engagement with the first and second bearing raceways. An undercut groove extends circumferentially along an inner surface of the inner ring generally adjacent the plurality of tang members. The undercut groove is operable to increase an effective cantilever distance of the plurality of tang members. The assembly further includes a locking member engaging the plurality of tang members and exerting a compressing force upon the plurality of tang members to couple the inner ring to the shaft.
US09618036B2
A tilting-pad bearing for rotatably supporting a rotor includes: a casing; and a plurality of bearing pads each mounted to the casing pivotably about a pivot. Each of the plurality of bearing pads has a bearing pad surface facing the rotor, the bearing pad surface including a first region disposed on an upstream side in a rotational direction of the rotor and having a first curvature radius, and a second region disposed on a downstream side of the first region in the rotational direction and having a second curvature radius smaller than the first curvature radius.
US09618035B2
A sliding bearing includes: an upper casing; a synthetic resin-made lower casing which is superposed on the upper casing so as to be rotatable about an axis in a circumferential direction relative to the upper casing; a synthetic resin-made sliding bearing piece disposed in an annular space between the upper casing and the lower casing; and a synthetic resin-made seal member for sealing respective other annular end portions, communicating with the outside, of a gap on an inner peripheral side and a gap on an outer peripheral side in a radial direction between the upper casing and the lower casing, the gap and the gap respectively communicating with the annular space at their one annular end portions.
US09618031B2
A barrel washer comprising a convex portion, a concave portion, the concave portion configured to mate with the convex portion, such that the convex portion is only capable of rocking along a single axis within the concave portion. The barrel washer may be configured to prevent a bolt from rotating within the barrel washer. The barrel washer may be configured to relieve bending stress on the bolt as well as extraction of the bolt from the barrel washer. A surface of the concave portion may be coated with a lubricant. A surface of the convex portion may be coated in a lubricant. The barrel washer may be configured to couple a bolt to a flange that is couple to another flange. The convex portion may comprise a rocker. The barrel washer may be configured relieve bending stress on the bolt as a first flange moves relative to a second flange.
US09618028B2
For indicating rotational displacement between an Allen bolt having a bolt head (34) provided with a central recess (36) for engagement by a fastening/unfastening tool, namely an Allen key, and a substrate to which the bolt is fastened, thereby to indicate whether the bolt has loosened, a safety indicating device is provided comprising a body (10) having a bore formed with splines (12) for engagement over the bolt head (34). The body (10) also has an end closure (14) formed with a plug (16) projecting inwardly of the bore for snug engagement into the central recess (36) of the bolt head. An indicator is also provided on the body (10). This is typically a pointer (18) mounted or formed on the body and projecting laterally, but it could be an indicator which is merely marked or formed on the body without projecting outwards. The plug (16) may itself be formed with the recess (26) which may be used for insertion of a different tool to effect rotational adjustment of the position of the device upon the bolt head (34).
US09618026B2
A semi-circular male alignment feature elastic averaging alignment system utilizing a plurality of semi-circular male alignment features which interface by elastic averaging with a plurality of female alignment features, wherein semi-circular male alignment features of a first component are received during a mating process by respective female alignment features formed in a second component, whereby precise alignment of the first and second components and stiffness are provided by elastic averaging of the male and female alignment features.
US09618024B2
There is disclosed a clip attaching structure of a vehicle seat. The seat frame includes an attaching hole and an expanded hole which expands a hole thereof from the attaching hole in a radial direction. The clip includes a fitting portion inserted into the attaching hole to fit in an inner periphery of the attaching hole, and an extending portion which extends a shape thereof from the fitting portion in the radial direction to be inserted into the expanded hole. A tip of the extending portion extends beyond the fitting portion in an inserting direction. On a tip surface of the extending portion in the inserting direction, a guide surface is formed to abut on a peripheral edge portion of the expanded hole when an inserting position of the fitting portion shifts from the attaching hole in the radial direction, thereby guiding the fitting portion toward the attaching hole.
US09618008B2
A diffuser of a compressor of centrifugal or mixed type includes two end plates which enclose a plurality of regularly distributed circumferential blades, and at least one transverse upstream passage produced in lower or upper surfaces of the blades. An injection/withdrawal coupling is achieved by a recirculation of a stream in an air passage of the diffuser on the basis of injection of air from at least one point in a leading edge zone of an upstream side of the diffuser. Blowing of air is then effected in at least one groove formed along a lateral flank of each blade by withdrawal of the air stream in a region of a trailing edge. Thereby, effectively separation of the air in a boundary layer in a gas turbine compressor diffuser is realized by re-energizing the boundary layer with air at a higher pressure by a suction/re-injection coupling.
US09618004B2
A compressor control apparatus, and a compressor control method. The compressor may be operated in an operation mode in which commercial power applied to the compressor does not pass through an alternating current capacitor when the load is in an overload state, thereby preventing the loss of a drive and effectively reducing the copper and core loss of the compressor.
US09618001B2
A turbocharger 1 includes a compressor housing 2 and a bearing housing 3. The compressor housing 2 has a shroud surface 221 and a diffuser surface 222. The bearing housing 3 has an opposite surface 311 facing the diffuser surface 222. An adhesion preventing part 4 is provided on at least one of the diffuser surface 222 and the opposite surface 311. The turbocharger 1 is configured so that compressed air spouts out from the adhesion preventing part 4 to the diffuser passage 15 by an ejector effect caused when compressed air passes through the diffuser passage 15.
US09617998B2
The disclosure concerns a Roots-type blower comprising a housing defining first and second transversely overlapping cylindrical chambers and at least one inlet port and an outlet port; first and second meshed, lobed rotors, each lobe having a top land sealingly cooperating with the cylindrical chambers; a plurality of control volumes for transfer of fluid, each control volume being defined by a pair of adjacent lobes on one of the rotors, and at least one of the cylindrical chambers; and blowholes formed within the cylindrical chambers in connection with meshing of the lobes of the first and second rotors. The blower further comprises at least one backflow slot extending through the housing wall of each cylindrical chamber for effecting a leakage of fluid from downstream the at least one outlet port into a control volume.
US09617995B2
A rotary piston pump with at least two double- or multi-lobe rotary pistons rotating in opposite directions, the drive shafts whereof include seals, wherein the seals are constituted as slip ring seals or lip seals or stuffing-box seals, which in each case are disposed on the shaft shoulder belonging to the respective rotary piston, and one slip ring per seal is provided with a locking device, which includes a large number of fixing positions. The seals are pushed onto a tubular shoulder of the rotary piston, the rotary piston is introduced into the pump housing, the securing element is connected to the slip ring seal in a form-fit manner by rotation of the rotary piston and the shaft shoulder is then rigidly connected to the drive shaft.
US09617990B2
A system for supplementing the electric power needed by a pump jack electric motor, thereby reducing the electric power purchased from the local utility or power supplier. The system comprises a solar photovoltaic system, or other forms of renewable energy, and regenerated power from the electric motor or drive. The system can be both “on-grid” and “off-grid.” Battery banks and capacitor banks may be used to store energy.
US09617988B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a system, method and computer program product for reducing the hold-up volume of a pump. More particularly, embodiments of the invention can determine, prior to dispensing a fluid, a position for a diaphragm in a chamber to reduce a hold-up volume at a dispense pump and/or a feed pump. This variable home position of the diaphragm can be determined based on a set of factors affecting a dispense operation. Example factors may include a dispense volume and an error volume. The home position for the diaphragm can be selected such that the volume of the chamber at the dispense pump and/or feed pump contains sufficient fluid to perform the various steps of a dispense cycle while minimizing the hold-up volume. Additionally, the home position of the diaphragm can be selected to optimize the effective range of positive displacement.
US09617983B2
Systems and methods for collecting, storing, and conveying aqueous thermal energy are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a floating film retains solar energy in a volume of water located under the film. A series of curtains hanging from a bottom surface of the film define a passage between a periphery of the film and a center of the film to direct the heated water at the center of the film. The heated water is circulated to deliver the heat to a dissociation reactor and/or donor substance. The donor is conveyed to the reactor and dissociated.
US09617957B2
Provided are a resin molding mold enabling an intake manifold made of a resin to be manufactured at low cost, an intake manifold, and a method for molding a resin for an intake manifold. The resin molding mold for an intake manifold includes a slide mold provided at an end of a surge tank and a plurality of combination-type core molds molding an inner surface of the surge tank. The core molds include a first core member capable of a relative movement in advance of another core member after resin molding, and a second core member capable of moving with utilizing an inner space formed by the relative movement of the first core member. The first core member and the second core member are configured to be extractable through a space inwardly of a resin-molded flange.
US09617954B2
The invention relates to a primary cowl for a turbofan comprising a primary body generating a primary stream to be ejected through a primary nozzle, and a secondary body generating a secondary stream to be ejected through a secondary nozzle, the primary cowl being shaped so as to be positioned downstream from the primary body and to define, on the inside of the turbofan, the path followed by the primary stream downstream from the primary nozzle and, on the outside, the path followed by the secondary stream downstream from the secondary nozzle. The primary cowl comprises a coupling to a system for supplying a pressurized gas and at least one perforation for injecting the pressurized gas, through the perforation, into the secondary stream. The primary cowl preferably comprises a ring which has perforations and which is rotated about the axis of rotation of the turbofan.
US09617953B2
A gas turbine engine variable area exhaust nozzle has a plurality of first and second movable members arranged circumferentially around a fan casing extending in downstream. The first and second movable members alternate around the variable area nozzle. During cruise conditions the first and second movable members are in un-actuated positions. At take off conditions the first movable members are in an actuated position and the second movable members are in the un-actuated position. At top of climb conditions the first movable members are in the un-actuated position and the second movable members are in an actuated position. The first movable members move radially outwardly from the un-actuated position to the actuated position and the second movable members move radially inwardly from the un-actuated position to the actuated position.
US09617950B2
A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine is configured to be operated with fuel, such as gaseous or liquid fuel, to provide a more complete combustion of the fuel/air mixture. The cylinder head has at least one fuel guiding section, which includes a fuel inlet valve casing for accommodating a fuel inlet valve configured to control a fuel flow rate, a fuel/air mixing chamber for mixing the fuel with air, and a fuel guiding portion connecting the fuel inlet valve casing to the fuel/air mixture chamber. The fuel guiding portion is integrally formed with the cylinder head and defines at least a first fuel feeding passage and at least a second fuel feeding passage. The first fuel feeding passage and the second fuel feeding passage extend from the fuel inlet valve casing to the fuel/air mixing chamber.
US09617949B2
A cylinder head for an engine may include an adiabatic coating layer having a polyamideimide resin and an aerogel dispersed in the polyamideimide resin with thermal conductivity of 0.60 W/m or less formed on a surface of a combustion chamber.
US09617948B2
Internal combustion engine optimization in which individual adjustment processes to be carried out to achieve optimal cooperation between the sensors, actuators, control device and internal combustion engine are started and carried out on the basis of the quality achieved for each of the individual adjustment processes in relation to one another, the ambient conditions of the internal combustion engine and the system states of the internal combustion engine in connection with a control program.
US09617943B2
A control apparatus for an engine introduces purge gas containing fuel gas evaporated from a fuel tank into an intake system includes an air-fuel ratio calculation unit that calculates an air-fuel ratio (AF) of the engine, and a purge rate calculation unit that calculates a purge rate (RPRG) corresponding to an introduction rate of the purge gas. The control apparatus further includes a concentration calculation unit that calculates a concentration (KAF_PRG) of the purge gas based on the air-fuel ratio (AF) calculated by the air-fuel ratio calculation unit and the purge rate (RPRG) calculated by the purge rate calculation unit. A decision unit permits or inhibits the concentration calculation unit to calculate the concentration (KAF_PRG) based on the purge rate (RPRG) calculated by the purge rate calculation unit. The estimation accuracy of the concentration (KAF_PRG) of purge gas is improved.
US09617941B2
A method for controlling a cooling system in a vehicle, may include an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) use determination step of determining whether to use EGR, a first coolant temperature management step of controlling a coolant temperature using a first coolant temperature map based on an output value reflecting engine operating conditions when driving the vehicle using the EGR, and a second coolant temperature management step of controlling the coolant temperature using a second coolant temperature map in which a coolant temperature of the second coolant temperature map may be set to be higher than a coolant temperature of the first coolant temperature map in a same engine operation region when driving the vehicle not using the EGR.
US09617940B2
A method involves controlling a fuel injector to inject a first quantity of a fuel into a cylinder from a plurality of cylinders, of an engine and detecting a first value of a parameter associated with the engine. The method further involves controlling the fuel injector to inject a second quantity of the fuel different from the first quantity of the fuel, into the cylinder of the engine and detecting a second value of the parameter associated with the engine. The method also involves comparing the first value with the second value and detecting a hardware anomaly associated with the engine based on the comparison of the first value with the second value.
US09617935B2
An engine ignition control method and system for controlling ignition timing that computes a predicted crankshaft angular velocity based on prior computed and verified crankshaft angular velocity and acceleration and determines a capture window of the next crankshaft position sensor pickup signal for the verification of the predicted crankshaft angular velocity. The ignition control system also utilizes both crankshaft position pickup signals and the intake manifold air pressure measurements for determining the stroke of the combustion cycle in turn providing more accurately timed signals for the fuel injection and ignition systems. During engine starts, the engine ignition control system performs a series of continuous spark-triggering, determines if each spark-triggering being at the correct or incorrect point in the combustion cycle by detecting if there is any engine acceleration and adjusts the generation of the signal for the next spark-triggering accordingly.
US09617931B2
A method to control a supercharged internal combustion engine by means of a turbocharger provided with a turbine and a compressor which compresses the air taken in; the control method includes the steps of determining the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger; and calculating the average power delivered by the turbine as a function of the absolute value of the j-th harmonic component of the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger and of the instantaneous rotation speed of the turbocharger; and controlling the supercharged internal combustion engine as a function of the average power delivered by the turbine.
US09617919B2
A valve includes a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a longitudinal axis defined through the valve housing. The valve also includes a toggle mechanism configured and adapted to cycle flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through a plurality of different flow rates in response to repeated impulses. The toggle mechanism is also configured to hold flow rate steady between impulses.
US09617918B2
An active vibration control actuator mount including at least one actuator bracket having an actuator interface member configured to hold one or more active vibration element thereon in one or more predetermined orientations, and an engine mounting structure interface member connected to the actuator interface member, the engine mounting structure interface member being configured to couple the at least one actuator bracket to an engine mounting structure, wherein the at least one actuator bracket is configured for the installation and removal of a respective active vibration element to and from the actuator interface member while a respective one of the at least one actuator bracket remains coupled to the engine mounting structure.
US09617908B2
A nozzle for a prechamber assembly of an engine includes a nozzle body which is hollow and includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and an orifice surface. The outer surface defines an outer orifice opening, and the inner surface defines an interior chamber and an inner orifice opening. The orifice surface defines an orifice passage extending between, and in communication with, the outer orifice opening and the inner orifice opening. The orifice passage is in communication with the interior chamber via the inner orifice opening. The nozzle body includes a coolant surface which defines a coolant passage within the nozzle body. The coolant surface includes an orifice interface portion disposed adjacent the orifice surface such that the orifice surface and the orifice interface portion of the coolant surface are in heat-transferring relationship with each other.
US09617907B2
A system for controlling a flow rate of air into a vehicle engine compartment, may include a radiator cooling a coolant; a coolant inflow tank provided to one side of the radiator and temporarily storing the coolant that cools an engine; and a coolant exhaust tank provided to another side of the radiator and temporarily storing the coolant circulating past a cooling fin of the radiator from the coolant inflow tank.
US09617906B2
A coolant control valve of an engine may include a cylindrical valve in which a space is formed along a length directional center axis thereof, a first inlet through which a coolant flows being formed at one end of the cylindrical valve, an outlet being formed at an outer surface of the cylindrical valve in the space, a first convex surface and a second convex surface and a second inlet through which the coolant flows into the space being formed at the outer surface corresponding to a recess portion formed between the first convex surface and the second convex surface, a valve housing, a first inflow pipe transmitting the coolant to the space through the first inlet, a second inflow pipe transmitting the coolant to the space through the second inlet, and a driver provided at one side of the valve housing to rotate the cylindrical valve.
US09617892B2
An exhaust after-treatment system for mitigating deposition of urea utilizing selective catalytic reduction (SCR) in exhaust receiving communication with an exhaust gas stream produced by an engine system, including an exhaust passage including a mixing duct through which the exhaust gas stream flows. A fluid reservoir contains a urea solution and a fluid pump is fluidly connected to the fluid reservoir to draw the urea solution from within the fluid reservoir. A fluid injector is configured to receive the urea solution from the fluid pump and deliver the urea solution into the mixing duct and at least one vibration mechanism is mechanically coupled to one or both of the fluid injector and the mixing duct to generate and convey vibrations thereto to mitigate the deposition of urea.
US09617884B2
A liquid cooled reduction unit includes a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) injection valve. The valve includes an end portion extending to a distal end. The valve is configured to receive a DEF and force the DEF to exit at the distal end such that the DEF is then directed and applied to an exhaust stream of a vehicle engine. A coolant jacket is selectively filled with a coolant and has an outer side and an inner side. The inner side of the jacket faces a length of the end portion and is separated from the length of the end portion by an air gap.
US09617876B2
The present invention relates to an adjustable camshaft for the valve gear of an internal combustion engine having an outer shaft, on which at least one first cam is arranged which is connected fixedly to said outer shaft so as to rotate with it, and having an inner shaft which extends through the outer shaft and to which at least one second cam is connected fixedly so as to rotate with it and is mounted rotatably on the outer shaft, and it being possible for oil to be conducted from a gap between the outer shaft and the inner shaft through an oil duct in the outer shaft into the region between the second cam and the outer shaft. According to the invention, the second cam is sealed at least partially against the outer shaft by means of at least one sealing element.
US09617872B2
A hanger system for connecting components in a gas turbine engine has a first spaced component, a second spaced component arranged a desired distance from the first spaced component, and a plurality of spacers arranged between the first spaced component and the second spaced component. A T-bar having a shaft portion and a crossbar is arranged between the components. The shaft portion of the T-bar passes through an aperture in the first spaced component and the crossbar portion of the T-bar is arranged adjacent to the second spaced component. A bracket is coupled to the second spaced component and substantially encapsulates the crossbar portion of the T-bar.
US09617868B2
A variable geometry mechanism suitable for use in a gas turbine engine is disclosed in which movable vane segments which are coupled to a rotatable ring, or rings, are used to change an aerodynamic property of a working fluid flowing through the gas turbine engine. The movable vane segments can be rotated through the ring, or rings, between a first position associated with the first vane and a second position associated with a second vane to place the movable vane segments in proximity to one or the other of the first and second vanes of the gas turbine engine. The movable vane segments can be used to alter, among other things, camber, exit flow area, and can be used to influence and/or accommodate such properties as incidence angle, and swirl angle.
US09617864B2
The present disclosure relates generally to a guide vane assembly including a first airfoil, including a first airfoil trailing edge, a second airfoil, including a second airfoil leading edge, positioned aft the first airfoil to create a gap therebetween, and a seal assembly disposed within the gap to engage the first airfoil trailing edge and the second airfoil leading edge.
US09617860B2
A light weight fan blade for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The disclosed fan blade has an increased chord length at a transition section between the inner edge or single tooth attachment portion of the fan blade that connects to the rotor disk and the airfoil. Increasing the chord length at the transition section substantially reduces the stress concentration when the fan blade is operated under normal operating conditions. Reducing the stress concentration enables engineers to design lighter fan blades and larger fan blades for larger gas turbine engines. By increasing the size of gas turbine engines, additional thrust can be provided without adding additional engines to the aircraft.
US09617859B2
The present application provides a turbine component for use in a hot gas path of a gas turbine. The turbine component may include an outer surface, an internal cooling circuit, a number of cooling pathways in communication with the internal cooling circuit and extending through the outer surface, and a number of adaptive cooling pathways in communication with the internal cooling circuit and extending through the outer surface. The adaptive cooling pathways may include a high temperature compound therein.
US09617856B2
An Ni base forged alloy is easy to make hot forging and miniaturization of crystal grains while excellent high-temperature strength and segregation property are compatible. The Ni base forged alloy has solid solution temperature of a precipitation strengthening phase lower than or equal to 970° C., difference in the solid solution temperature between a δ-phase and the precipitation strength phase larger than or equal to 50° C., Al of 0.5 to 1.0%, Cr of 17 to 21%, Fe of 17 to 19%, Nb of 4.5 to 5.5%, Ti of 0.8 to 1.3%, W of 3.0 to 6.0%, B of 0.001 to 0.03%, C of 0.001 to 0.1% and Mo of 1.0% or less in mass percentage [%] and remainder made of Ni and inevitable impurities.
US09617847B2
An illustrative distributed sensing system includes a fiberoptic cable, a transmitter module, and a receiver module. The transmitter module is coupled to the fiberoptic cable to communicate light in each of multiple independent paths to each of multiple positions along the cable, The receiver module is coupled to the fiberoptic cable to receive backscattered light from said multiple positions along the cable via the multiple independent paths. The receiver module includes at least one receiver for each of said multiple independent paths to obtain simultaneous measurements for each of said multiple positions. The multiple independent paths may be provided by wave division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, spatial mode division multiplexing, multicore fiber, and/or multiple fibers.
US09617837B2
A hydraulic oil well pumping arrangement employs a compensating type hydraulic pump, a directional valving arrangement and a proportioning valving arrangement. When the directional valve is energized, oil is directed to the rod end of the hydraulic cylinder. In one embodiment, a time delay halts the movement of the sucker rod or pumping string to allow accumulation of oil in a slow following well. In another embodiment, the pumping string rapidly falls to the bottom of the stroke in order to shake or jar debris from the string.
US09617820B2
A hanger assembly for supporting a tubular member within an outer well member includes a slip bowl that is moveable between an expanded condition with an enlarged diameter and a contracted condition with a reduced diameter, and has a downward facing slip bowl shoulder on an outer diameter of the slip bowl. Slips with teeth on an inner diameter surface are carried by the slip bowl. The slips are moveable between a retracted position, and an extended position where the teeth protrude radially inward from the inner diameter of the slip bowl. A false bowl has a lower upward facing false bowl shoulder located on an inner diameter and is sized to selectively engage the downward facing slip bowl shoulder. The false bowl also has a downward facing landing shoulder located on an outer diameter that is sized to selectively engage a support shoulder of the outer well member.
US09617819B2
A subsea connection system for connecting to a hub has a body with an interior passageway suitable for allowing fluids to flow therethrough, a collet having a plurality of collet segments that are movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, an outer sleeve overlying the collet, and a translator cooperative at the outer sleeve so as to move the outer sleeve between a first position and a second position. The plurality of collet segments are in the unlocked position when the outer sleeve is in the first position. The plurality of collet segments are in the locked position when the outer sleeve is in the second position. The locked position is adapted to secure the body in connection with the hub.
US09617812B2
A drillstring valve has an inlet mountable to a drillstring, an outlet and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet in a predetermined operating condition. The drillstring valve comprises a stop element adapted for receiving a valve element wherein the stop element comprises at least two protrusions extending into a passageway portion of the passageway to thereby retain the valve element. The at least two protrusions are spaced in a circumferential direction of the passageway portion and may be spaced from an inlet edge having a continuously reduced diameter in a downstream direction.
US09617807B2
An injector head unit includes one or more drive chains revolving within a common plane mounted on an upper drive sprocket and a lower drive sprocket, wherein at least one of the upper and lower drive sprockets are configured to move vertically to tension the drive chains, and at least one fixed reference point proximate to at least one of the upper and lower drive sprockets, wherein relative positioning of one of the movable upper and lower drive sprockets with the fixed reference point indicates to a user an amount of elongation of the drive chains after a certain period of time.
US09617803B2
An enhanced riser control system may employ electrical tensioners coupled to a drilling riser by wires. The electrical tensioners may provide quick response to a tension controller to handle positioning of the drilling riser. The electrical tensioners of the enhanced riser control system may be combined with hydro-pneumatic tensioners in a riser hybrid tensioning system. A controller within the enhanced riser control system may be configured to distribute tension to electrical tensioners and to control electrical tensioners to adjust the length of the first and second wires. The electrical tensioners may be used, for example, to suppress vortex-induced-vibration (VIV) and control drilling riser recoil.
US09617802B2
An expandable downhole tool for use in an oil well, including a flexible member rolled into a helix and comprising first and second lateral edges on opposing lateral ends of the member. The flexible member is selectively changeable between a compressed configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a first diameter, and an expanded configuration wherein the transverse cross-section of the flexible member has a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter.
US09617801B2
A drill pipe protector assembly comprising at least one protector sleeve (23) adapted to be mounted to the drill pipe string (7) through a fluid bearing (25) so as to be co-axially rotatable with respect to the drill pipe string (7). A retainer arrangement (21, 35) axially fixes the protector sleeve (23) with respect to the drill pipe string (7). The fluid bearing (25) is constructed according to the principles of a hydrostatic fluid bearing. At least one fluid channel (53) connects the fluid bearing (25) to a fluid path of pressurized drilling fluid flowing within an inner space (51) of the drill pipe string (7).
US09617800B2
The invention provides a connector assembly for interconnecting tubular elements. The connector assembly comprises at least one pin member, at least one box member, and for each box member a respective coating layer. Each pin member has a threaded outer surface and each box member has a threaded inner surface allowing the pin member and the box member to be screwed together. Herein the respective coating layer is positioned between the threaded surfaces of the pin member and the box member. Each coating layer is of a softer material than said threaded surfaces. The connector assembly further comprises means for removing excess coating material during make up of the pin member and the box member.
US09617797B2
A coupling adapter is insertable in at least one joint of a drill string as the drill string is extended from a drill rig. The coupling adapter includes an arrangement for receiving a data signal that is generated by an inground tool and for electromagnetically coupling the data signal onto at least a portion of the drill string that extends from the adapter to the drill rig such that at least some of the drill pipe sections cooperate as an electrical conductor for carrying the data signal to the drill rig. In another feature, a current transformer is resiliently supported to isolate the current transformer from mechanical shock and vibration that is produced by an inground operation that is performed using the drill string. In another feature, a drill string repeater is described.
US09617791B2
A steerable drill bit may be used to drill a lateral borehole from a primary wellbore. The steerable drill bit may be part of a bottomhole assembly that also includes a directional control system. A deflection member, such as a whipstock, may be anchored in the primary wellbore. When the bottomhole assembly approaches the deflection member, the directional control system may steer the steerable drill bit to reduce and potentially eliminate contact between the steerable drill bit and a ramped surface of the deflection member. By restricting contact between the deflection member and the steerable drill bit, cutting elements of the steerable drill bit may obtain an increase in cutting efficiency and/or effective life.
US09617782B2
A hinge for coupling a movable element to a frame that defines an opening that receives the movable element. The hinge includes a frame interface assembly adapted to attach to the frame at one or more attachment points. The frame interface assembly includes a frame leaf and a sealing member, the frame leaf defines a mounting face adapted to abut an exterior surface of the frame and a plurality of spaced apart knuckles. The sealing member defines an attachment point liquid barrier sealing face abutting an interior surface of the frame opposite the mounting face. The hinge further includes a sash leaf adapted to attach to the window sash, with the sash leaf defining one or more knuckles, and a pin assembly including a hinge pin extending through the knuckles of the frame leaf and the knuckles of the sash leaf to couple the frame leaf and the sash leaf.
US09617772B1
A hinge assemblage includes a leaf mechanism, an actuating unit and a damping unit. The leaf mechanism includes a first leaf, and a second leaf pivotable relative to the first leaf such that the hinge assemblage is convertible between first and second states. The actuating unit is mounted to the leaf mechanism, and generates an actuating force during the conversion of the hinge assemblage. The damping unit is mounted to the leaf mechanism for generating a damping force. The damping force generated by the damping unit during the conversion of the hinge assemblage toward the first state is different from the damping force generated by the damping unit during the conversion of the hinge assemblage toward the second state.
US09617771B2
An adjustable panel connector (100, 300) for interconnecting two mesh panels (105) of a barricade and/or guarding system. The adjustable panel connector (100, 300) comprises a first body element (102, 302) including at least one first panel fastening arrangement (106, 108, 311); a second body element (104, 304) including at least one second panel fastening arrangement (106, 108, 311), the first body element (102, 302) and the second body element (104, 304) being interconnected along and about a connection axis (X-X, Y-Y); and a pivot locking arrangement (110, 301) configured to lock the first body element (102, 302) at a selected angle relative to the second body element (104, 304) about the connection axis (X-X, Y-Y).
US09617767B1
An aircraft latch mechanism has a latch body having a front end and a rear end and a longitudinal slot extending along a portion of the length of the body. A pair of first cam members flanks the latch body. A handle is pivotally attached to the first cam members. The first cam members are also attached to a pair of over-center links. A mounting bushing extends through the longitudinal slot at the pivot where the first cam members and over-center links attach. Movement of the handle causes a corresponding movement of the first cam members, over-center links, and the connecting structure extending through the slot.
US09617766B2
Latch assembly including a latch arm, having first and second length edges and first and second width edges. The latch arm includes a latch pawl, a pivot connector, and a stabilizing member, positioned in a plane. The latch pawl connected to the first width edge and providing spring force resisting deflection non-parallel to the plane. The pivot connector and stabilizing member formed within an area of the latch arm. The stabilizing member extending distally relative to the second width edge to the pivot connector, and providing spring force resisting deflection parallel to the plane. The component and latch assembly including a component having first and second faces being adjacent and perpendicular. The latch arm rotatably mounted on the second face between latched and unlatched positions. Assembly including an embossment positioned to deflect the latch pawl during latching so the latch arm sits raised upon the embossment in the latched position.
US09617761B2
The disclosure relates to a motor vehicle door lock, having a locking mechanism that includes a rotary latch and at least one pawl. A drive for acting on the locking mechanism is also provided. A blocking element which interacts with the pawl has at least one pawl arm which holds the pawl in a latching position. Finally, a stop arm is realized on the blocking element and/or on the pawl and/or on a release element, the stop arm acting as a stop for the drive. The blocking element is arranged on an edge which is averted from the rotary latch and also so as to laterally overlap the pawl.
US09617760B2
The invention relates to a lock for a motor vehicle or a building, said lock being equipped with a rotary latch (2) rotatably supported in the lock housing (10) about a locking bolt (3), wherein the lock housing (10) has a slotted guide (8) for the locking bolt (3), said slotted guide having at least one spring lip (15) on the insertion side, which spring lip reaches into the slotted guide and cushions the locking bolt (3), said spring lip having creaking protection (17) that partially covers the surface (16) of the spring lip, wherein the spring lip (15) has a bounding bead (20) at the free end (18) and wherein the creaking protection (17) is designed as a sheet metal clamp (21) that can be attached to the spring lip (15) in front of the bounding bead with a preload.
US09617751B2
It includes at least one platform defining a plane, first and second sets of complementary coupling elements associated with the tower section and the platform respectively, and arranged in levels. In a first relative position of the sets of coupling elements, the platform is allowed to pass, in a substantially horizontal position, through different levels of sets of coupling elements and in a second relative position of the sets of coupling elements, the platform rests with its second set of coupling elements on a first set of coupling elements of one given level. A device for moving the platform may be provided for fitting it inside the tower section. The first or the second set of coupling elements in different levels are aligned along a longitudinal direction inside the tower section.
US09617749B1
A chain type vehicle conveying device is used in stereo garages. The vehicle conveying device includes two conveyor assemblies moving in synchronous circulating motion. Each conveyor assembly includes two parallel chains with attached plates. Parallel crossbeams are affixed to the two chains of each conveyor assembly to support a vehicle. The chains with attached plates each include an upper portion and a lower portion at any point during a moving cycle of the chains. The upper portion slides on a corresponding sliding rail mounted to a frame. The lower portion slides on a corresponding sliding pallet matching the crossbeams and mounted to the frame. Each conveyor assembly is moved by a pair of driving sprockets meshing with the two chains of the conveyor assembly and a pair of tension pulleys. A power transmission gear of the vehicle conveying device transmits power to the driving sprockets.
US09617745B2
A recess former is disclosed for use with anchors which are to be cast into a concrete slab. The recess former preferably includes a removable plug and preferably rectangular lugs which engage with corresponding apertures in the attachment head of the lifting anchor and prevent the ingress of cement during casting of the slab. In addition, flaps are preferably provided on the recess former to prevent the sides of the attachment head from being encased in the concrete. Preferably the former is pivoted between open and closed positions and has a slightly V-shaped base which when abutted against a mould or formwork, urges the recess former into the closed position. Furthermore, a recess former is disclosed which stays behind after the casting and remains embedded in the concrete in order to provide a waterproof membrane between the recess and adjacent reinforcing rods thereby preventing corrosion of the reinforcing rods.
US09617743B2
Implementations of the present invention relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for constructing and installing architectural walls that are secured to a floor and/or a ceiling and include one or more leveling mechanisms. The leveling mechanisms may allow the architectural wall to be selectively adjusted vertically relative to the floor and/or ceiling so that a horizontal positioning of the wall may be achieved. The leveling mechanisms may also allow the architectural wall to fit securely to a floor and/or ceiling.
US09617737B2
A waterproof decorative sheath system for walls of moist environments, including at least one layer of waterproofing material applicable on the wall surface of the moist environment, a first layer of specific adhesive material applied on the layer of waterproofing material, a layer of glass fiber tissue, applied on the first layer of specific adhesive material, having the final decorative aspect to be given to the walls, a second layer of specific adhesive material applied on the layer of glass fiber tissue, a substantially transparent first protective finishing layer, applied on the second layer of specific adhesive material, suitable for giving the layer of glass fiber tissue a partly translucent aspect, and a second substantially transparent scratch-resistant protective finishing layer, applied on the first protective finishing layer, to obtain a finished system that does not require the application of further additional decorative elements to obtain the desired final aspect.
US09617736B2
The present invention relates to a clamping system for mounting glass balustrade, which includes a base with a U-shaped channel, an adjusting component A and an adjusting component B. The adjusting component A comprising: an L-shaped Plate with an arc groove inside, fitting for an arc panel; an arc panel with longer arc-length than that of the arc groove in the L-shaped Plate. The adjusting component B comprising: a supporting plate with a trapezoid groove inside; a wedge A, a wedge B and an adjusting bolt; a hole channel on the middle top of the supporting plate, reaching through the trapezoid groove with a locating element in the middle; both the wedge A and the wedge B, with one plane side and another bevel side, as single-side wedge structure; a threaded hole in the middle of the wedge A, which has internal thread matching with the adjusting bolt; the adjusting bolt, with top part screwing through the threaded hole of the wedge A, with the bottom part connecting with the wedge B; an embossing belt A on the two bevel surfaces of the trapezoid groove, paralleling to the center line of the trapezoid groove, symmetrical about the center line. The present invention can be easily dismounted, as well as allowing the angle of the glass changeable.
US09617732B2
A wall panel system including a plurality of wall panels that can be positioned adjacent to each other. Each of the individual wall panels includes an attachment slot that is positioned between upper and lower panel sections. The attachment slot allows external components to be mounted to the wall panel. Each individual wall panel includes a height adjustment mechanism having a support block positioned within an open interior of a bottom cross support rail. The support block receives an adjustment rod that is rotatable to adjust the height of the wall panel. The support block of the height adjustment mechanism includes support flanges that support the weight of the wall panel. The top cross support rail includes an attachment slot that receives a door track for supporting a sliding door. The attachment slot that receives the door track corresponds to the attachment slot positioned between upper and lower panel sections.
US09617724B2
A plurality of panel subassemblies are used to erect a building on a footing or foundation. Each panel subassembly includes at least one column formed of a thermally-insulating material, and a concrete portion at least partially attached to the at least one column. The concrete portion may be formed as a single precast unit. The panel subassemblies are secured together and to the foundation, and may be secured to a floor element of the building to at least partially support the floor element.
US09617713B2
A control device of an electric actuator adapted to perform a forward-reverse movement includes a control unit adapted to be operated in a forward direction or a reverse direction in accordance with the forward-reverse movement of the electric actuator. It also includes a pilot circuit, which is connected to the control unit and which generates a forward pilot pressure or a reverse pilot pressure in accordance with the forward operation or the reverse operation of the control unit. The control device has a differential pressure acquiring unit that acquires a differential pressure between a pilot pressure corresponding to an operation direction of the control unit and a pilot pressure, in a direction opposite to the operation direction, and it has a control command generator that generates a control command for controlling the electric actuator based on the differential pressure acquired by the differential pressure acquiring unit. The control device includes a drive controller for controlling a drive of the electric actuator based on the generated control command.
US09617710B2
A work vehicle includes a vehicle body, a blade supported on the vehicle body, a pair of first hydraulic cylinders for moving the blade upward and downward, a pair of second hydraulic cylinders for tilting the blade forward, backward, leftward, and rightward, a pair of stroke sensors for detecting stroke amounts of the pair of first hydraulic cylinders, and a controller for controlling a position of the blade based on a difference in the stroke amounts of the pair of first hydraulic cylinders when, in a state where one second hydraulic cylinder is at the one stroke end or the other stroke end, the other second hydraulic cylinder is driven from one stroke end to the other stroke end.
US09617707B2
A snubber for a machine is provided. The snubber includes a frame that is mounted on an implement of the machine, a shaft that is operatively coupled to a movable component of the implement and a housing that is coupled to the shaft and rotatably received within the frame. The housing defines a cavity that is configured to store a fluid therein in a sealed manner. The snubber also includes at least one brake disc disposed within the housing and configured to rotate with the shaft and at least one brake pad disposed within the housing and configured to frictionally engage with the at least one brake disc to oppose rotational movement of the housing relative to the frame. The fluid is configured to at least partly remove heat generated due to the frictional engagement between the at least one brake disc and the at least one brake pad.
US09617698B1
A permeable paver and modular light system for making a parking space or a traffic lane using at least one replaceable lighting module or a plurality of replaceable lighting modules, wherein the replaceable lighting module or the plurality of replaceable modules have at least one power supply and at least one light source. The permeable paver and modular light system have a controller configured to turn on and off the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group, change a color of the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group, illuminate a configuration of the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group based on a stored configuration, and change the illuminated configuration of the replaceable lighting module individually or as a group. The permeable paver and modular light system have a plurality of permeable pavers to form a surface for supporting a load of a vehicle.
US09617695B2
The present invention is a vertical drier which dries the asphalt road upper structural members like aggregate and like asphalt coating which is desired to be recycled (RAP) and which takes the humidity of said asphalt road upper structural members; and which has a vertical body having an end through which said members are discharged and having another end which is opened to an accumulation compartment; and where the hot air, heated by a heat source, is transferred inside said body. Said drier is characterized by comprising at least one drying box which has a chamber form where the poured members are accumulated in the inner part thereof and which extends orthogonally to the flow direction inside the body; in order to keep the members, which pour inside said body from an inlet part, for certain duration and in order to transfer said members from the outlet part to the accumulation compartment step by step.
US09617688B2
A rail assembly including one or more rail bodies formed for supporting rolling engagement of a train wheel thereover, the rolling engagement generating vibrations in the rail body. The rail assembly includes one or more boots formed for attachment to the rail body to substantially electrically isolate the rail body relative to ground material. The boot includes a chamber wall for at least partially defining a chamber between the rail body and the chamber wall when the boot is attached to the rail body. The rail assembly also includes one or more inserts positionable in the chamber, at least a part of the vibrations being transmittable to the insert when the insert is positioned in the chamber, for dissipation of at least a proportion of the part of the vibrations in the insert.
US09617687B2
A particle or particles of cellulosic wood pulp fibers having a top and bottom face and a hexagonal perimeter, and methods of using it.
US09617681B2
A method is provided for operating a clothes drying appliance, wherein a moisture content of clothes is determined by measuring a current running through the clothes and wherein the determining takes into account a salt content of the moisture. The clothes drying appliance is adapted to perform the method.
US09617677B2
A laundry machine may include a casing (2) with a panel (3) having a laundry loading/unloading opening (4), a door (5) hinged to the casing (2) for opening/closing the laundry loading/unloading opening (4), a hinge (6) adapted to pivotably support the door (5) to the casing (2), and one or more apertures (7) in the door frame (8) on the hinge side allowing the rotation of the door (5) with respect to the hinge (6) when opening/closing. The laundry machine (1) may further include at least one closure element (9) for at least partially closing the one or more apertures (7) when the door (5) is in a closed position in which it closes the loading/unloading opening (4).
US09617673B1
A hook and bobbin locator apparatus and method consisting of a mounting plate and more than one hook and bobbin combination. Each of the more than one hook and bobbin combinations is connected with a stepper motor and each of the more than one hook and bobbin combinations are removably connected with the mounting plate. A stepper motor is also connected with the mounting plate and a controller is connected with the mounting plate stepper motor and the hook and bobbin combination stepper motors such that movement of the mounting plate and the hook and bobbin combinations are controlled by the controller.
US09617669B2
A polyimide fiber assembly of the present invention includes polyimide fibers having curved shapes with an average fiber diameter falling within a range of greater than 1 μm to not greater than 100 μm, the polyimide fiber assembly having a bulk density falling within a range of not less than 1 kg/m3 to not greater than 30 kg/m3. This makes it possible to realize a polyimide fiber assembly that is both excellent in thermal insulation performance and sound absorbency and light in weight. The polyimide fiber assembly of the present invention can be obtained by a production method comprising the steps of: (i) discharging a polymeric resin solution obtained by dissolving polyamic acid or polyimide in an organic solvent; and (ii) using external force to cause the polymeric resin solution thus discharged to fly in a direction of the external force, the external force being external force of gas from a direction intersecting with a discharge direction in which the polymeric resin solution is discharged, and then forming a polymeric resin into fibers by spinning while vaporizing the organic solvent contained in the polymeric resin solution.
US09617662B2
A metal cord has an M+N construction with two concentric layers. An internal first layer or core includes M wire(s) of diameter d1, M having a value from 1 to 4. An external second layer includes N wires of diameter d2 and is positioned around the core, the N wires being wound in a helix. Between the wires of the two layers are gaps, some or all of which include a filling rubber based on an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer. The filling rubber may be, for example, based on an SBS or an SIS block copolymer. When used in a molten state, the thermoplastic elastomer presents no problem due to unwanted stickiness if the filling rubber overspills outside the cord after manufacture. The unsaturated and therefore (co)vulcanizable nature of the thermoplastic elastomer makes it compatible with diene rubber matrices used as calendering rubber in metal fabrics intended for reinforcing tires.
US09617661B2
A method of manufacturing a metal cord with two concentric layers of wires is provided. The cord includes an internal layer of M wires, M having a value from 1 to 4, and an external layer of N wires. The cord is rubberized from within in situ. That is, during manufacture of the cord, the cord is rubberized from inside. According to the method, the internal layer is sheathed with rubber or a rubber compound by passing the internal layer through an extrusion head, and the N wires of the external layer are assembled around the sheathed internal layer to form a two-layer cord rubberized from the inside. The rubber is an unsaturated thermoplastic elastomer that is extruded in a molten state, and preferably is a thermoplastic styrene (TPS) type of thermoplastic elastomer, such as an SBS or an SIS block copolymer, for example.
US09617656B2
A method of making an aluminum nitride (AlN) buffer layer over a silicon wafer for a light emitting diode (LED) includes preflowing a first amount of ammonia that is sufficient to deposit nitrogen atoms on the surface of a silicon wafer without forming SiNx, before flowing trimethylaluminum and then a subsequent amount of ammonia through the chamber.
US09617652B2
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and apparatus for promoting bubble-free circulation of processing fluids in a recirculation system. Certain disclosed techniques involve passive, mechanical valve designs that promote variable resistance to flow in a drain. Other techniques involve automated flow control schemes that utilize feedback from flow meters, level sensors, etc. to achieve a balanced and bubble-free flow. The disclosed embodiments greatly reduce the incorporation of gas into a processing fluid, in particular as the processing fluid returns from a processing cell to a reservoir.
US09617648B2
Prior to electrodeposition of copper onto a nickel-containing or a cobalt-containing seed layer, a semiconductor wafer is pretreated by contacting the seed layer with a pre-wetting liquid comprising cupric ions at a concentration of at least about 10 g/L, more preferably of at least about 30 g/L, and an electroplating suppressor, such as a compound from the class of polyalkylene glycols. This pre-treatment is particularly useful for wafers having one or more large recessed features, such as through silicon vias (TSVs). The pre-wetting liquid is preferably degassed prior to contact with the wafer substrate. The pretreatment is preferably performed under subatmospheric pressure to prevent bubble formation within the recessed features. After the wafer is pretreated, copper is electrodeposited from an electroplating solution (such as an acidic electroplating solution) to fill the recessed features on the wafer. The described pretreatment minimizes corrosion of seed layer during electroplating and reduces plating defects.
US09617642B1
A method for forming an article, comprises providing a stannous alkoxide-containing pattern on a substrate. This stannous alkoxide-containing pattern is obtained from a non-aqueous stannous alkoxide composition that comprises component (a) comprising a water-insoluble stannous alkoxide complex comprising stannous ions, in an amount of at least 1 weight %, and a photocurable component (b), non-photocurable water-insoluble polymer component (c) having a molecular weight of at least 10,000, or both the photocurable component (b) and the non-photocurable water-insoluble polymer component (c). When photocurable component (b) is present, the water-insoluble stannous alkoxide composition further comprises photosensitizer component (d) that is different from all of components (a) through (c). The reducible silver ions can be chemically reduced to silver(0) particles as “seed” catalysts for electroless plating to form an electrically-conductive pattern corresponding to the water-insoluble stannous alkoxide-containing pattern.
US09617639B2
A surface-tensioned sapphire plate and a corresponding manufacturing process. The plate may include a planar sapphire substrate and at least one layer disposed on the surface of the substrate for tensing the substrate. The layer may include at least 50 wt.-% of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The manufacturing process for producing of a sapphire plate may include providing a planar sapphire substrate, and coating at least one surface of the substrate with a layer tensing the substrate. The layer may include at least 50 wt.-% of aluminum oxide (Al2O3).
US09617636B2
A vapor deposition system and its wafer and thin-film temperature control method are disclosed. A susceptor carries a plurality of wafer holders with each bearing a wafer. The susceptor makes revolution around a center axle and each wafer holder rotates around its own axis. A carrier gas approaches a first surface of the wafer and is heated to form a thin film to be deposited on the first surface. An isothermal plate is placed at a second surface of the wafer and the second surface is opposite to the first surface. One or more remote temperature-measuring elements measure a temperature of a rear surface of the isothermal plate and the rear surface is opposite to the wafer, and a wafer-side temperature is calculated by the measured rear surface temperature of the isothermal plate.
US09617634B2
In a sputter device (1), power of a DC power source (20) is sequentially distributed and supplied in a time division pulse state to a plurality of sputter evaporation sources (4). A power source (10) provided to each of the sputter evaporation sources (4) supplies continuous power to each of the sputter evaporation sources (4). The sputter device (1) having the configuration requires no DC pulse power source to be provided to each of the sputter evaporation sources (4), which reduces the device cost.
US09617631B2
A method for regeneration of internal conduit surfaces by thermal projection of metals, includes inserting a device including a vehicle having a rolling assembly to permit rolling of the vehicle and carrying a thermal projection system, through a manhole in a conduit installation, including the steps of inserting the device in a conduit with the rolling assembly in a retracted position, and expanding the rolling assembly inside the conduit until the device is centered in the conduit; inserting electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic conduits and conduits for supplying metal to be thermally projected, through the manhole, such that the conduits are connected with the vehicle; positioning a regeneration device including the thermal projection system connected with the vehicle by a remote-control pulling system in a particular position to be regenerated; thermally projecting metal from the regeneration device; advancing the vehicle and connected regeneration device to a new regeneration position.
US09617630B2
A high-strength galvanized steel sheet having excellent formability and crashworthiness, including a component composition containing 0.03% to 0.13% C, 1.0% to 2.0% Si, 2.4% to 3.5% Mn, 0.001% to 0.05% P, 0.0001% to 0.01% S, 0.001% to 0.1% Al, 0.0005% to 0.01% N, and 0.0003% to 0.01% B on a mass basis, the remainder being Fe and unavoidable impurities, and a microstructure containing a tempered martensitic phase and a bainitic phase such that the sum of an area fraction of the tempered martensitic phase and an area fraction of the bainitic phase is 30% or more (the area fraction of the martensitic phase is 30% or more in the absence of the bainitic phase), wherein a distance of closest approach of the tempered martensitic phase is 10 μm or less and the contents of C, Mn, and B satisfy (1): (% Mn)+1000×(% B)≧35×(% C) (1).
US09617624B2
A steel sheet for a hot stamping member contains, as a chemical composition, 0.10 mass % to 0.35 mass % of C; 0.01 mass % to 1.0 mass % of Si; 0.3 mass % to 2.3 mass % of Mn; 0.01 mass % to 0.5 mass % of Al; limited to 0.03 mass % or less of P; limited to 0.02 mass % or less of S; limited to 0.1 mass % or less of N; and a balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities, in which a standard deviation of diameters of iron carbides which are contained in a region from a surface to a ¼ thickness position of the steel sheet is less than or equal to 0.8 μm.
US09617623B2
Aluminum alloy including iron-manganese complete solid solution and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are an aluminum alloy including an iron-manganese complete solid solution and a method of manufacturing the same. According to an embodiment of the present invention, iron-manganese alloy powder is provided. The iron-manganese alloy powder is introduced into an aluminum melt. An aluminum alloy including an iron-manganese complete solid solution is manufactured by die casting the aluminum melt.
US09617620B2
An alumina- or magnesia-reducing process in which a greenhouse gas or substance harmful to the human body is not emitted, which can achieve improved energy efficiency in comparison with the Hall-Heroult or Pidgeon methods. The process includes: introducing an alumina or magnesia powder with a carrier gas to the upstream side of a throat provided on a reducing unit; pressure-transferring the powder and carrier gas to the throat by an operative gas introduced to the upstream side of the throat; irradiating the throat with a laser beam to convert the alumina or magnesia into a plasma state and dissociate the alumina or magnesia thermally; jetting the thermally dissociated product through a nozzle provided on the downstream side of the throat at a supersonic speed to form a frozen flow; and isolating aluminum or magnesium. Hydrogen may be added to the operative gas to accelerate the reduction of alumina or magnesia.
US09617612B2
Structures and methods of manufacturing utilizing direction of force loading or shock induced deformation of structures including microstructures produced in accordance with embodiments of the invention are provided. In one example, a method of manufacturing and structure including providing a metallic plate; forming said plate such that an original longitudinal direction of rolling the plate is perpendicular to a long direction of the plate, thus a force load on the plate would then be distributed over the longitudinal direction.
US09617611B2
A process for quenching heat treated metal parts using a liquid quenchant and high pressure is disclosed. In general, the process includes the steps of providing a load of heat treated metal parts in a pressure vessel wherein the load is at an elevated temperature after being heat treated. In a subsequent step, a liquid quenchant is injected into the pressure vessel such that a vapor of the liquid quenchant forms rapidly in the pressure vessel and cools the metal parts. The step of injecting the liquid quenchant into the pressure vessel is continued for a time sufficient to establish a desired peak vapor pressure in the pressure vessel. An apparatus for carrying out the disclosed process is also described.
US09617608B2
A sugar composition comprising at least 40% dissolved solids in an aqueous solution having a viscosity at least 10% lower than a 42 DE (Dextrose Equivalents) reference solution with a same dissolved solids concentration at a given temperature. Another sugar composition comprising at least 30% glucose relative to total sugars, at least 10% mannose relative to total sugars, at least 5% xylose relative to total sugars, and less than 0.25% ash. Another sugar composition comprising at least 30% glucose relative to total sugars at least 10% mannose relative to total sugars, at least 5% xylose relative to total sugars, and at least 2% total furfurals.
US09617607B2
Provided are methods of diagnosing a viral disease such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Castleman's disease, a lymphoma, a thymoma or a sarcoma in a patient by identifying one or more virus-specific elements such as a nucleic acid or a viral protein or a patient antibody to a virus-specific element, as well as to kits for diagnosing the viral disease in a patient. Further provided are methods of monitoring disease progression and/or the efficacy of therapy by measuring the levels of a virus-specific element in a sample from a patient, and methods of identifying therapeutic agents that show efficacy in reducing levels of virus-specific agents in vitro. Still further provided are methods of treating idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lymphoproliferative disease and cancer, as well as methods of preventing viral infection, including Herpesvirus saimiri infection.
US09617606B2
The present invention provides an oligonucleotide for HIV detection including a base sequence which is at least 80% identical to a base sequence composed of 10 or more continuous bases in a base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO. 1 or 6, and an HIV detection kit and an HIV detection method that uses the oligonucleotide for HIV detection.
US09617596B2
The present invention provides a method for treating a human subject afflicted with multiple sclerosis or a single clinical attack consistent with multiple sclerosis with a pharmaceutical composition comprising glatiramer acetate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, comprising the steps of: a) determining whether the human subject is a glatiramer acetate responder by evaluating expression of a biomarker selected from the group consisting of ERAP2, SIGLEC1, AAK1, KIAA1671, PLEKHA2, LOC730974, IFIT3, RWDD3, MYO6 SCARA3 and IFI44L, or a combination thereof, in human subject; and b) administering the pharmaceutical composition comprising glatiramer acetate and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to the human subject only if the human subject is identified as a glatiramer acetate responder.
US09617595B2
Techniques for assembling a lipid bilayer on a substantially planar solid surface are described herein. In one example, a lipid material such as a lipid suspension is deposited on a substantially planar solid surface, a bubble filled with fast diffusing gas molecules is formed on the solid surface, and the gas molecules are allowed to diffuse out of the bubble to form a lipid bilayer on the solid surface.
US09617593B2
The present invention relates to a method of using nanopores to obtain sequence information of sample DNAs in ss test DNAs. The method comprises using speed bumps to stall the ss test DNAs in the nanopores at random positions of the ss test DNAs to obtain sequence information of each and every nucleotides of the sample DNAs, and to construct the whole sequences of the sample DNAs. The present invention also relates to identification and/or isolation of test DNAs having desired sequence(s) using nanopore detectors facilitated by speed bump.
US09617586B2
The invention is in general directed to the rapid exponential amplification of short DNA or RNA sequences at a constant temperature.
US09617581B2
A method of generating a gene expression profile of noncoding regulatory RNA (ncRNA; e.g. a microRNA) in a cell in vivo, is carried out by: (a) partitioning from a cell at least one mRNA-protein (RNP) complex, the RNP complex comprising: (i) an RNA binding protein (RNABP) or RNA associated protein, (ii) at least one mRNA bound to or associated with said protein, and (iii) at least one ncRNA bound to or associated with said protein, and then (b) identifying at least one ncRNA in-at least one RNP complex, thereby to produce a gene expression profile comprising the identity of an ncRNA in an RNP complex.
US09617580B2
A method for quantitative assessment of base excision repair (BER) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) DNA capacities of one or more cellular extracts using supercoiled plasmid DNA by characterizing lesions on the plasmids relative to a control.
US09617579B2
Described herein are methods for diagnosing melanoma or basal cell carcinoma based on mutations in the DDR2 gene. Further, a distinct subgroup of BRAF-mutated melanomas have somatic mutations in the DDR2 gene as well. Applications of this finding to routine diagnostics include the molecular stratification of melanoma, and the tissue identification of targetable DDR2 kinase mutations in routine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections. Described herein are methods, compositions and kits related to the discovery that DDR2 mutations may be markers for melanoma generally, and BRAF-mediated melanoma in particular, opening up the possibility of dual therapy for melanoma by targeting both DDR2 and BRAF.
US09617577B2
The present invention relates to a novel Bacillus pumilus bilirubin oxidase, to the method for preparing same and also to the use thereof in particular for assaying bilirubin and for using enzymatic biofuel cells.
US09617571B2
Methods of increasing the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotes, accomplished by modifying the activity of peroxisome biogenesis factor (Pex) proteins. Disruptions of a chromosomal Pex3 gene, Pex10p gene or Pex16p gene in a PUFA-producing, oleaginous eukaryotic strain resulted in an increased amount of PUFAs, as a percent of total fatty acids and as a percent of dry cell weight, in the total lipid fraction and in the oil fraction of the strain, as compared to the parental strain whose native Pex protein was not disrupted.
US09617570B2
Saccharomyces cerevisiae having acid resistance at a pH of about 2.0 to about 5.0, a method of preparing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and a method of producing lactate.
US09617564B2
Described is a method for generating conjugated dienes through a biological process. More specifically, the application describes a method for producing conjugated dienes (for example butadiene, isoprene or dimethylbutadiene) from light alkenols via enzymatic dehydration, in particular by making use of an alkenol dehydratase.
US09617563B2
To provide a series of techniques for obtaining β-phellandrene with high purity and in a large quantity.Provided is a recombinant cell capable of producing β-phellandrene, prepared by introducing at least one nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of a nucleic acid encoding geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP) synthase and a nucleic acid encoding neryl pyrophosphate (NPP) synthase, and a nucleic acid encoding β-phellandrene synthase into a host cell in such a manner that these nucleic acids are expressed in the host cell. Also provided is a method for producing β-phellandrene by culturing the recombinant cell to produce β-phellandrene in the recombinant cell.
US09617562B2
The embodiments herein provide a nanoparticle system for targeted gene delivery or a drug delivery and a method of synthesizing the same. The nanoparticle composition for targeted gene transfer and drug delivery comprises a protein, a chitosan and a lipid. A method of synthesizing the nanoparticles involves preparing a gelatine and chitosan gel. A milky colloid solution is prepared with the gelatine, chitosan solution and a phosphatidylcholine. The milky colloid is homogenized for the self assembly of the nanoparticles. The milky colloid is subjected to high speed and high pressure homogenizer. The CHO cells are transfected with nanoparticles and lipofectamine 2000 for comparing the transfection efficiency. The nanoparticles deliver DNA, RNA, ribozyme and nucleotide sequences. The nanoparticles deliver lipophylic and hydrophilic drugs. The transfection efficiency of gene and drug is higher when the target cells are transferred with nanoparticles, compared to the cells transferred with lipofectamine 2000.
US09617543B2
A sugar chain-containing polymer that enables targeting to the lesion area of liver fibrosis and is useful for imaging, diagnosis and therapy of liver fibrosis; and a sugar chain-containing polymer complex comprising the polymer as a carrier for an anionic substance useful fix therapy and the like; are provided. The polymer is a sugar chain-containing polymer which is a cationic polymer comprising an amine, which polymer comprises N-acetylglucosamine bound thereto. The polymer preferably has a disulfide bond. The polymer preferably has a structure in which polyethyleneimine is linked via a disulfide bond.
US09617533B2
According to the present invention, a composition possessing cell-free protein synthesis activity with reduced contaminating lipopolysaccharide, and a method for producing a protein using the same are provided. When ribosome display is performed using the composition and method for protein production of the present invention, the background that is caused by non-specific binding is reduced, so that a nucleic acid that encodes the desired polypeptide can be selected with high accuracy and high efficiency.
US09617532B2
The present invention relates to a lysis, binding and/or wash reagent for isolating and/or purifying nucleic acids and a method for isolating and/or purifying nucleic acids.
US09617525B2
The instant invention provides methods and related compositions for identifying polypeptides with improved stability and/or enzymatic activity in comparison to native forms, wherein the identified polypeptides comprise one or more non-natural amino acids. In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to novel phosphotriesterase enzymes comprising one or more non-natural amino acids. In a particular embodiment, the instant invention provides novel phosphotriesterase enzymes with greater stability and/or enhanced activity in comparison to native forms of the enzyme. The present invention also relates to compositions comprising novel phophotriesterase enzymes, such as prophylactics, decontaminants, animal feedstocks, and assay kits.
US09617521B2
Methods for mimicking a tumor microenvironment in vitro are provided. The methods comprise indirectly applying a shear stress upon at least one tumor cell type plated on a surface within a cell culture container. Methods for mimicking tumor metastasis and methods for testing drugs or compounds in such systems are also provided.
US09617518B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods of treating diabetes and other glucose regulation disorders. In one embodiment, the method comprises removing L-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the L-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived L-cells (SCDLC). An amount of the SCDLC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food. In another embodiment, the method comprises removing K-cells from a donor, obtaining stem cells from a patient, and culturing the K-cells in the presence of the stem cells under conditions such that the stem cells differentiate into stem cell-derived K-cells (SCDKC). An amount of the SCDKC is introduced into the patient sufficient to cause a lowering of the patient's blood glucose level after ingestion of food.
US09617516B2
The present invention describes methods involving the use of muscle derived cells (MDCs), preferably obtained from skeletal muscle, to support the innervation and repair of damaged tissues and organs, particularly associated with nerve damage or neuropathy. The invention relates to MDCs for use in methods for promoting or enhancing innervation of nerve cells, particularly in the peripheral nervous system, and their ability to contribute to the development of neuronal tissue when MDCs are introduced at or near a tissue or organ site in need of repair due to injury, damage, disease, or dysfunction. Such methods are useful for the treatment of central and peripheral nervous system disorders and to alleviate, abate, or eliminate the symptoms of neurologic or neurodegenerative diseases in animals, particularly mammals, including humans. The methods are also useful for treating both nerve and muscle tissue following injury, damage, or dysfunction to these tissue types.
US09617515B2
Human non-embryonic adult totipotent and pluripotent stem cells are isolated in a simplified serum-free and feeder cell-free process. Most remarkably, certain stem cells, and especially BLSCs, are extremely small, fail to exclude trypan blue, but are nevertheless able to proliferate from even high dilutions. Therefore, so obtained stem cells can be used to prepare true monoclonal stem cell populations, which are useful in numerous uses, including therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, and research uses.
US09617511B2
In some aspects, this invention provides a method of making a bone marrow-derived tissue-specific stem cell proliferation, expansion, isolation and rejuvenation extracellular matrix. In other aspects, this invention provides a method of making a tissue-specific fibroblast-derived stem cell differentiation extracellular matrix. Also provided are methods of using such a cell-derived preservation or differentiation matrices to induce tissue-specific differentiation of pluripotent cells, repair damaged tissue, and treat a subject having a physiologic deficiency using the same.
US09617507B2
An apparatus that provides synchronized chronic electrical stimulation and chronic stretch to a cell culture or tissue. The apparatus includes a programmable controller which synchronizes stretch and electrical stimulation applied to a deformable culture container, such as a silicone rubber culture dish. The apparatus is used to treat cells and retard de-differentiation or promote differentiation and maturation in some applications.
US09617496B2
A sulfurized alkaline earth metal (e.g., calcium) dodecylphenate is prepared by reacting (i) dodecylphenol with (ii) calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide in an amount of about 0.3 to about 0.7 moles per mole of dodecylphenol charged and (iii) an alkylene glycol in an amount of about 0.13 to about 0.6 moles per mole of dodecylphenol charged; and reacting the product of the first step with sulfur in an amount of about 1.6 to about 3 moles per mole of dodecylphenol charged; and thereafter optionally reacting the product with additional calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide and with carbon dioxide so as to form an overbased phenate. The product thus prepared has reduced levels of monomeric dodecylphenol.
US09617493B2
The invention provides a composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity and an N-substituted malimide. The invention further relates to the use of the lubricating composition in an internal combustion engine.
US09617492B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricant which has excellent lubrication performance and is able to exhibit excellent lubrication performance even when under extreme pressure conditions. The present invention relates to a complex polyester composition containing polyester obtained by condensing polyhydric alcohol having at least two hydroxyl groups, a dicarboxylic acid having 44 carbon atoms, and monohydric alcohol. Further, the present invention relates to a lubricant composition containing the complex polyester composition, and a lubricant and a production method for a complex polyester composition.
US09617491B2
A coal deactivation treatment device for deactivating of coal by means of a treatment gas that is a mixture of air and nitrogen gas is provided with, among other things: a treatment column inside of which coal flows from the top to the bottom; treatment gas feed means, and the like, for feeding treatment gas to the inside of the treatment column; humidifying heaters for heating and humidifying the treatment gas such that the treatment gas fed to the inside of the treatment column can maintain a relative humidity of 35% or greater, even at 95° C.; a temperature sensor and a control device for adjusting the temperature inside the treatment column such that the inside of the treatment column is maintained at a relative humidity of 35% or greater and a temperature of 95° C. or lower.
US09617490B2
Catalyst compositions suitable for use in the exhaust gas recycle stream of an internal combustion engine are provided. Such catalyst compositions typically provide significant amounts of methane in addition to syngas. A reformer incorporating such a catalyst for use in an exhaust gas recycle portion of an internal combustion engine powertrain is described. A powertrain incorporating such a reformer, a method of increasing the octane rating of an exhaust gas recycle stream, and a method of operating an internal combustion engine using methane-assisted combustion are also described.
US09617488B1
A process for making high density fuels, pure terpene dimers, and byproducts from mixed terpene feedstocks and the resulting high density fuel products. The fuels produced by the process includes, dimerizing at least one terpene feedstock by mixing at least one terpene with at least one heterogeneous acidic catalyst and at least one solvent used to control the reaction temperature for a desired time and temperature to produce a crude terpene dimer (C20H32 mixture) in about 65% to about 95% chemical yield, hydrogenating the crude terpene dimer (C20H32 mixture) with at least one hydrogenation catalyst under a hydrogen atmosphere and removing the hydrogenating catalyst(s) to produce about 65% by weight to about 95% by weight of hydrogenated terpene dimer mixture, and utilizing a separation method against the hydrogenated terpene dimer mixture to produce byproducts, where the process generates a hydrocarbon mixture with a viscosity of between about 20 and 50 cSt at 40° C.
US09617483B2
A quenching medium is delivered directly to selected regions or locations within a catalyst bed in a hydroprocessing reactor vessel in order to control the reactivity of a hydroprocess occurring in the selected regions or locations separately from other regions or locations. Temperature sensors for providing temperature indications and conduits for delivering the quench medium are distributed throughout the catalyst bed. One or more conduits can be selected for delivery of the quenching medium to selected regions or locations so that separate control of the level of reactivity in each of various regions or locations throughout the bed can be achieved.
US09617482B2
A method for treating an emulsion of a hydrocarbon is disclosed. The method includes providing an emulsion of a crude hydrocarbon, and adding an additive to the emulsion to obtain a treated hydrocarbon.
US09617481B2
Compositions of biodegradable surfactants useful for optimizing the separation of impurities typical of hydrocarbons, and designed to intervene and stabilize the molecular structure of crude oil, with no significant alterations of the crude's intrinsic composition are disclosed. The biodegradable surfactants compositions coexist with a non-ionic surfactant and an organic mix in emulsion form with the purpose of isolating crude from the pipeline, reduce friction to improve crude flow and to enter the crude macromolecule to modify the hydrocarbon chain to reduce its density and thus its viscosity; including compositions of biodegradable surfactants that comprise sodium hydroxide 1N, potassium chloride, sulphonic acid, dodecanoic acid, nonylphenol, terpene-1 and water, preferably hard water.
US09617480B2
This invention relates to a process of preparing a catalyst from zeolite and peptized alumina. The invention comprises adding a yttrium compound to the zeolite, either prior to, during, or after its combination with the peptized alumina. The yttrium compound can be added to the zeolite via exchange of yttrium onto the zeolite prior to addition of peptized alumina, or the yttrium can be added as a soluble salt during the combination of the zeolite and peptized alumina. In either embodiment, the zeolite catalyst is then formed from the zeolite, yttrium and peptized alumina, optionally containing other inorganic oxide. This invention is suitable for preparing fluid cracking catalysts.
US09617478B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatus and methods for converting carbon dioxide and/or methane into higher alkanes and hydrogen gas in a single reaction chamber using a catalyst and microwave radiation.
US09617473B2
The present invention relates to a switch element, which is thermoresponsive and which switches between a less transmissive state for radiant energy and a more transmissive state for radiant energy, and which comprises a liquid-crystalline medium. The invention furthermore relates to the use of the switch element for the regulation of radiant energy flow between interior spaces and the environment and for the regulation of the temperature of interior spaces. The invention furthermore relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, characterised in that it comprises 5-95% of a compound of the formula (I), in particular for use in the switch elements according to the invention.
US09617466B2
A microencapsulation process is improved by adding a stabilizing agent that contains one or more catalytic organo-metal oxide materials, such as metal soaps. This functions as a crosslinker by causing unsaturated bonds in the microcapsule walls to react, thereby stabilizing the microcapsules against the effects of additives to coatings that, otherwise, degrade the functionality of thermochromic or photochromic materials at the microcapsule core.
US09617463B2
A fracturing fluid, gravel pack fluid and/or frac pack fluid containing particles such as proppants, gravel and/.or sand, may contain an effective amount of a nano-sized particulate additive to fixate or reduce fines migration, where the particulate additive is an alkaline earth metal oxide, alkaline earth metal hydroxide, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides transition metal oxides, transition metal hydroxides, post-transition metal oxides, post-transition metal hydroxides piezoelectric crystals and pyroelectric crystals. The nano-sized particulate additive is optionally bound to the particles with a coating agent such as an oil, alcohol, glycol, glycol ethers, ketones, terpenes, etc. The particle size of the magnesium oxide or other agent may be nanometer scale but may be a larger scale than nanometer but still relatively small, which scale may provide unique particle charges that help fixate the formation fines. The carrier fluid used in the treating fluid may be aqueous, brine, alcoholic or hydrocarbon-based.
US09617461B2
Well-cementing compositions for use in high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) wells usually contain a complex array of cement additives, including retarders, dispersants and fluid-loss additives. Under these extreme conditions additive degradation, reactions between additives, reactions between additives and the cement, or combinations thereof may occur—causing slurry gelation, premature setting or both. Incorporation of organoamine compounds in the cement compositions may help prevent or reduce the severity of slurry gelation, setting-time reduction or both.
US09617439B2
An ink composition contains (a) a pigment represented by chemical formula 1a or chemical formula 1b, (b) a polymer having a structure unit having a diphosphonic acid group and represented by Chemical formula 2, (c) a hydrosoluble solvent, and (d) water.
US09617437B2
An aqueous ink composition including water; an optional co-solvent; an optional colorant; and a composite comprising a sulfonated polyester matrix having a plurality of silver nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix. A process including incorporating the aqueous ink into an ink jet printing apparatus; ejecting droplets of ink in an imagewise pattern onto an intermediate transfer member or directly onto a final image receiving substrate; optionally, heating the image to partially or completely remove solvents; and optionally, when an intermediate transfer member is used, transferring the ink in the imagewise pattern from the intermediate transfer member to a final recording substrate.
US09617434B2
This invention relates to amphiphilic hydrogel particles for antifouling paint, which are environmentally friendly and in which anti-corrosion and antifouling effects can be maximized through a single coating process. The amphiphilic hydrogel particles are fabricated by encapsulating conducting polymer particles having anti-corrosion functionality with functional nanoparticles having antifouling functionality and then immobilizing the functional nanoparticles on a hydrogel matrix, whereby the conducting polymer particles contained in the functional nanoparticles are slowly and continuously released or the release rate thereof can be controlled so as to release the corresponding particles in a specific environment, ultimately maintaining long-term functionality. The conducting polymer particles contained in the amphiphilic functional nanoparticles can exhibit anti-corrosion functionality, thus maximizing anti-corrosion and antifouling effects through a single coating process.
US09617427B2
In some examples, one or more metal-containing catalysts and one or more waxes can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce an encapsulated catalyst composition. The wax can be at least partially coated on the metal-containing catalyst. A mixture of water and the wax can be agitated or otherwise mixed, and the metal-containing catalyst can be added to or otherwise combined with the water and wax mixture to produce a wax emulsified catalyst. A plurality of lignocellulose substrates, one or more oxidants, and the encapsulated catalyst composition can be mixed or otherwise combined to produce a lignocellulose binder mixture. The lignocellulose binder mixture can be heated to produce a composite product.
US09617422B2
Provided is a polycarbonate-based resin composition, including, with respect to 100 parts by mass of (A) a resin mixture formed of 30 to 100 mass % of a polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer (A-1) having a structural unit represented by the general formula (I) and a structural unit represented by the general formula (II), and having an average number of repetitions n of an organosiloxane constituent unit in the general formula (II) of 50 to 500, and 0 to 70 mass % of an aromatic polycarbonate (A-2) except the copolymer (A-1), 1 to 5.5 parts by mass of (B) a polyorganosiloxane-acrylic composite rubber, the composition having a viscosity-average molecular weight of 17,000 to 23,000. Also provided is a molded article thereof.
US09617421B2
The present invention relates to the use of additives in processes to form polymeric fibers. These fibers can be formed into membranes with improved middle and/or higher molecular weight solute removal.
US09617417B2
The present invention relates to polycarbonate compositions comprising A) from 10 to 99 parts by weight, in each case based on the sum of components A+B+C, of aromatic polycarbonate and/or aromatic polyester carbonate, B) from 1 to 35 parts by weight, in each case based on the sum of components A+B+C, of rubber-modified graft polymer of B.1 from 5 to 95 wt. % of at least one vinyl monomer on B.2 from 95 to 5 wt. % of one or more graft bases having a glass transition temperature <10° C., C) from 0 to 40 parts by weight, in each case based on the sum of components A+B+C, of vinyl (co)polymer and/or polyalkylene terephthalate, D) from 0 to 50 parts by weight, in each case based on the sum of components A+B+C, of phosphorus-containing flameproofing agent, E) from 0 to 1.0 part by weight, in each case based on the sum of components A+B+C, of acidic additives, and F) from 0 to 50 parts by weight, in each case based on the sum of components A+B+C, of additives, wherein component B is obtainable by reacting component B.1 with the graft base B.2 by means of emulsion polymerization, with the proviso that in those compositions that are free of components D) and E), the graft polymer dispersion in the spray drying or in the precipitation has a pH value of less than 7, characterized in that there are used in the graft reaction from 0.1 to 5 parts by weight (based on the sum of the parts by weight of the monomers B.1 and of the graft base B.2 that are used=100 parts by weight) of at least one emulsifier selected from the group consisting of alkali, alkaline earth, ammonium and phosphonium salts of a saturated fatty acid having from 10 to 50 carbon atoms, wherein the emulsifier or emulsifiers remains or remain in component B, and also to a process for the preparation of these polycarbonate compositions and to the use of the polycarbonate compositions in the production of molded bodies, and to the molded bodies themselves.
US09617414B2
The invention is directed to a polymer composition including a polyolefin and a polyester containing first repeating units of general structure wherein Rx is an organic group having a chain length of at least 8 atoms, n1 is the number of first repeating units in the polyester. Such polymer composition is homogeneous and may be used as an alternative for pure polyolefin showing improved printability and oxygen permeability.
US09617403B2
A putty material primarily used as a toy which is solid and capable of flowing for forming, preferably by manual manipulation, onto various pleasing shapes. This putty material is used primarily by children as an amusement device. The putty material is formed from a homogeneous mixture of primarily water, polyvinyl alcohol, gum, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a small amount of borax wherein the ratio by weight of borax to polyvinyl alcohol is preferably in the range of between 1:12 to 1:22. The toy modeling composition can be formed opaque or translucent and can be dyed, particularly when clear, to create various overall artistic effects, and glitter can be applied on the paste to create unusual aesthetic effects, particularly when using white glitter. Coloration can be applied to the materials with translucent ink or with a marker.
US09617401B2
The present application provides a polymer composite comprising at least one polymer and a reclaimed pyrolyzed carbon black (pCB), wherein the pCB comprises less than about 10 μg/g of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Also provided are polymer composite and consumer-ready formulations of the low PAH pCB and methods of manufacturing such composites and formulations.
US09617397B2
Methods for improving the degradability of synthetic resins and/or synthetic resin mixtures and reducing the toxicity associated with the degradation process are disclosed herein with one such method involving the determination of a desired product lifespan and based on such lifespan, producing a mixture of a compatible degradation salt with a first compatible resin based on an algorithm, pre-mixing the compatible degradation inducing salt with the first synthetic resin to create a pre-mixed batch, and adding the pre-mixed batch to a second synthetic resin to create a master batch from which products may be manufactured with a known degradation timeline.
US09617392B2
The invention provides compositions and methods relating to self-assembly of structures of various size and shape complexity. The composition include synthetic single-stranded polymers having a backbone and pre-determined linear arrangement of monomers.
US09617382B2
In an embodiment, a process of purifying a polycarbonate from an interfacial polymerization product mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase comprising a first organic solvent, the polycarbonate, a catalyst, and ions, the process comprises: separating the aqueous phase and the organic phase to form a separated aqueous feed stream and a separated organic stream; extracting the catalyst and the ions from the separated organic stream to form a purified polycarbonate stream and an extracted aqueous feed stream, wherein at least one of the separated aqueous feed stream and the extracted aqueous feed stream comprise an organic portion and an aqueous portion; purifying an aqueous stream comprising one or both of the separated aqueous feed stream and the extracted aqueous feed stream by adjusting a viscosity of the organic portion to be less than or equal to 40 centipoise by adding a second organic solvent to the aqueous stream to form a combined stream; optionally, adjusting a ratio of the aqueous portion to the organic portion to 1.0 to 20.0 by adding an aqueous solution to the aqueous stream; and separating the combined stream to form a purified aqueous stream, wherein less than or equal to 3 vol % of the purified aqueous stream is the organic portion.
US09617374B2
The invention provides a high-molecular liquid crystal material for a frame of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), which is prepared by cross-linking and polymerizing a group which includes terephthalic acid and an alcohol which includes carbon-carbon double bonds, wherein, the group which includes terephthalic acid is any one of terephthalic acid, ortho-alkyl-terephthalic acid or meta-alkyl-terephthalic acid; the alcohol which includes carbon-carbon double bonds is any one of vinyl alcohol, vinyl alcohol with alkyl, or conjugated vinyl alcohol. The high-molecular liquid crystal material improves the steric hindrance among the molecules, and prevents from reacting with the liquid crystal small molecules to form a coordination complex; the high-molecular liquid crystal material has high stability, and cannot form a solid state under a certain molecular weight, thus improving the flexibility and being beneficial for the coating process.
US09617359B2
Perfluoro-t-butoxyallyl ether and perfluoro-t-butoxypropargyl ether and methods for their synthesis are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for making polymers from the perfluoro-t-butoxyallyl ether and perfluoro-t-butoxypropargyl ether.
US09617346B2
Antibodies and molecules derived therefrom that bind to novel STEAP-1 protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein STEAP-1 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, STEAP-1 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The STEAP-1 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with STEAP-1 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US09617340B2
Isolated antibodies that specifically binds to an extracellular conserved ligand binding region of a human Notch receptor and inhibits growth of a tumor are described. Also described are methods of treating cancer, the method comprising administering an anti-Notch antibody in an amount effective to inhibit tumor growth.
US09617337B2
Novel antibodies and antigen binding fragments that specifically binds to Siglec-15 are described herein. In some embodiments, the antibodies or antigen binding fragments may block the biological activity of Siglec-15 and are useful in composition for the treatment of bone loss, more particularly in bone diseases that have increased cell surface expression of Siglec-15, such as conditions where there is an increase in the bone degradative activity of osteoclasts. The invention also relates to cells expressing the antibodies or antigen binding fragments such as monoclonal, humanized or chimeric antibodies. Additionally, methods of detecting and treating bone loss, bone-related diseases or cancer using the antibodies and fragments are also disclosed.
US09617331B2
A method of treating an angiogenesis related disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent which regulates an amount of apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and/or an ability of ApoB to transcriptionally control vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1).
US09617327B2
The present invention relates to a fermented infant formulae comprising non digestible oligosaccharides for improving intestinal tract health by decreasing protein digestive effort, by decreasing the amount of endogenously formed proteases concomitant with an increased protein digestion, and a reduced protein fermentation.
US09617319B2
In certain aspects, the present invention provides compositions and methods for inducing utrophin expression in muscle with an ActRIIB protein as therapy for muscular dystrophy. The present invention also provides methods of screening compounds that modulate activity of an ActRIIB protein and/or an ActRIIB ligand.
US09617318B2
A cDNA, including the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2. A cDNA, including a nucleotide sequence encoding a complete protein, a protein fragment, a protein analog, or a protein derivative each including the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. A cDNA, including the nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1.
US09617316B2
Described are mutant Nav1.7 sodium channel alpha-subunits and nucleic acid sequences encoding such mutants. Further described are methods for characterizing a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a Nav1.7 sodium channel alpha-subunit, methods for determining a Nav1.7 haplotype, methods for determining a subject's predisposition to a neurologic disorder associated with a sodium channel mutation, and methods of identifying a compound that modulates mutant Nav1.7 sodium channels. Other materials, compositions, articles, devices, and methods relating to mutant Nav1.7 sodium channels are also described herein.
US09617315B2
An artificial polypeptide fiber of the present invention is an artificial fiber containing a polypeptide as a main component, and has a stress of 350 MPa or more and a toughness of 138 MJ/m3 or more. A method for producing an artificial polypeptide fiber of the present invention is a method for producing the artificial polypeptide fiber obtained by spinning a spinning solution (6) containing a polypeptide derived from natural spider silk proteins and performing drawing of at least two stages. The drawing of at least two stages includes a first-stage drawing (3) in wet heat and a second-stage drawing (4) in dry heat. Thereby, the present invention provides high-toughness artificial polypeptide fibers having favorable stress and rupture elongation, and a method for producing the same.
US09617313B2
A process of purifying copolymer peptides such as COP-1 polypeptides by ultrafiltration can be improved by treating the polypeptide solution with an acid before, or during the early stages of, the ultrafiltration. By adding the acid and/or forming an acid addition salts of the polypeptide before ultrafiltration is conducted permits for faster ultrafiltration. Likewise, adding the acid in the ultrafiltration process but before polypeptide precipitation or clogging occurs can also improve the efficiency/convenience of the ultrafiltration step.
US09617308B2
β-Hairpin peptidomimetics of the general formula cyclo(-Tyr1-His2-Xaa3-Cys4-Ser5-Xaa6-DPro7-Xaa8-Arg9-Tyr10-Cys11-Tyr12-Xaa13-Xaa14-Xaa15-Pro16-), disulfide bond between Cys4 and Cys11, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, with Xaa3, Xaa6, Xaa8 Xaa13, Xaa14 and Xaa15 being amino acid residues of certain types which are defined in the description and the claims, have favorable pharmacological properties and can be used for preventing HIV infections in healthy individuals or for slowing and halting viral progression in infected patients; or where cancer is mediated or resulting from CXCR4 receptor activity; or where immunological diseases are mediated or resulting from CXCR4 receptor activity; or for treating immunosuppression; or during apheresis collections of peripheral blood stem cells and/or as agents to induce mobilization of stem cells to regulate tissue repair. These peptidomimetics can be manufactured by a process which is based on a mixed solid-and solution phase synthetic strategy.
US09617302B2
The invention relates to a peptide compound and its pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting platelet aggregation and preventing/treating thrombogenic diseases. The invention develops pentapeptides and hexapeptides derived from snake venom C-type lectin-like proteins (CLPs) fragments, which can inhibit platelet aggregation and have antithrombotic activity without hemorrhagic tendency. Accordingly, they can be used as potential agents for the prevention and therapy of thrombogenic diseases.
US09617291B2
Tetradentate and octahedral metal complexes suitable for use as phosphorescent or delayed fluorescent and phosphorescent emitters in display and lighting applications.
US09617290B2
Bisphosphites having an outer naphthyl-phenyl unit.
US09617288B2
A method of preparing racemic or optically active D or L-α-glycerophosphorylcholine in large amounts by subjecting choline phosphate or a salt thereof, and racemic or optically highly pure (S) or (R)-3-halo-1,2-propanediol to a substitution reaction in a medium at high temperature in the presence of an inorganic base which increases the activity of the reaction. The method is cost-effective because of the use of starting materials which are inexpensive compared to those in a conventional method. Moreover, the method is simple and convenient because it is performed via a one-pot reaction without a separate purification process. In addition, it enables a large amount of racemic or optically active D or L-α-glycerophosphorylcholine, or a salt thereof, to be quantitatively produced in a medium without side reactions by using the inorganic base which increases the reaction activity.
US09617287B2
Mercaptosilanes are disclosed of the formula I wherein R1 is an alkyl polyether group —O—(R5—O)m—R6. They are prepared by a procedure in which a silane of the formula II is subjected to a catalyzed reaction with an alkyl polyether R1—H, R7—OH being split off, the molar ratio of the alkyl polyethers R1—H to the silane of the formula II is at least 0.5 and R7—OH is separated off from the reaction mixture continuously or discontinuously. They can be used in shaped articles.
US09617282B2
Provided are compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein i.a. Ring A is phenylene or 5- to 6-membered heteroarylene; Ring B is phenylene, 5- to 6-membered heterocycloalkylene or 5- to 6-membered heteroarylen; R4 is absent, heteroarylene, arylene, C1-3 alkylene, or R4 and R3 taken together with the nitrogen to which they are bound form a 3- to 7-membered heterocycloalkyl ring; R5 is absent, C(O)NR51, NR52 or O; R6 is C2-10 alkylene or alkenylene, wherein one or two of the carbon atoms in the alkylene chain is optionally replaced by an O, S, SO, SO2 or NR61, and wherein two of the carbon atoms in the alkylene chain are optionally connected by a two or three carbon atom alkylene chain to form a 5- to 7-membered ring; R7 is absent, NR71 or O. The compounds are IRAK4 inhibitors useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
US09617281B2
The present invention relates to new imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives having a great affinity for sigma receptors, especially sigma-1 receptors, as well as to the process for the preparation thereof, to compositions comprising them, and to their use as medicaments.
US09617278B2
Provided are compounds which are useful for controlling microorganisms in aqueous or water-containing systems or in systems which are exposed to moisture, including at elevated temperature. The antimicrobial compounds are of the formula I: wherein n, R1, R2, R3, and X are as defined herein.
US09617272B2
Presently provided are inhibitors of IDO and TDO and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, useful for modulating an activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase and tryptophan 2,3 dioxygenase; treating immunosuppression; treating a medical conditions that benefit from the inhibition of tryptophan degradation; enhancing the effectiveness of an anti-cancer treatment comprising administering an anti-cancer agent; treating tumor-specific immunosuppression associated with cancer; and treating immunosuppression associated with an infectious disease.
US09617265B2
Stable noribogaine salt ansolvates are useful for preparing pharmaceutical compositions and for alleviating nociceptive pain in a patient. Such ansolvates can be prepared by slurrying solvated forms, preferably MeOH solvated noribogaine hydrochloride in EtOH/water.
US09617259B2
Provided are certain histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors of Formula I, compositions thereof, and methods of their use.
US09617243B2
The present invention relates to novel aminopyridyloxypyrazole compounds that inhibit the activity of transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFβR1), pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and methods of using the compounds to treat cancer, preferably colon cancer, melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, renal cancer, glioblastoma, pancreatic cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome, lung cancer, and gastric cancer, and/or fibrosis, preferably liver fibrosis and chronic kidney disease.
US09617241B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of (2R,3R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(4-methylene-1-piperidinyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanol (Efinaconazole) and intermediates used in such process.
US09617240B2
Provided are a compound expressed by formula (I) or a pharmacologically permissible salt thereof, as well as a drug or drug composition that contains this compound as an active ingredient, having a xanthine oxidase inhibiting effect that is very useful for treating or preventing diseases that are contributed to by xanthine oxidase, such as gout, hyperuricemia, tumor lysis syndrome, urinary tract stones, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, cardiovascular disease such as heart failure and arterial sclerosis, renal disease such as diabetic near opacity and the like, respiratory disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and the like, autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, and the like. [In the formula, A, X, Y, Z, R, and R1 have the meaning set forth in claim 1].
US09617237B2
The invention provides tricyclic compounds and their use in treating medical disorders, such as obesity. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of making various tricyclic compounds are provided. The compounds are contemplated to have activity against methionyl aminopeptidase 2.
US09617227B2
A concise, efficient and cost- and time-saving process for the preparation of a quinazoline derivative of formula A given below: which is an intermediate for making gefitinib or gefitinib itself, comprising reacting a compound of Formula B: with 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline (VI) in the presence of a N,N-dialkyl formamide acetal, a Bronsted acid catalyst, and a solvent in a one-pot reaction.
US09617225B2
Novel 4,6-disubstituted aminopyrimidine derivatives with the following structure (I) have anti-HIV activity.
US09617220B2
The present invention pertains to a novel process for the preparation of Fluoroalkylpyrazole- or Bisperfluoroalkypyrazole carboxylates comprising a cyclization of Perfluoroalkyl ketoesters with hydrazines.
US09617214B2
The invention provides compounds that inhibit ROCK activity. In certain embodiments the compounds of the invention enhance cognitive function. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions that comprise ROCK inhibitors and to methods enhance cognitive function and reducing and/or treat cognitive function decline.
US09617206B2
A modular system and method for producing urea from stranded natural gas includes removal of foreign particulate matter to obtain a substantially homogeneous gas. The gas is processed by controlling the quality of the stranded natural gas to maintain a substantially homogenous mixture The resultant gas stream is further cleaned and compressed to a high pressure of about 3,000 psi. The resultant ammonia stream is processed in a bypass recycling loop system at 30% conversion rate at a high pressure of about 6,000 to 7,000 psi. The equipment associated with each of the process steps may be skid mounted for portability and/or contained within the footprint of a standard 48-foot flatbed trailer.
US09617194B2
A shaped charge liner comprises a powder, and the powder comprises a blend of particles. The particles comprise a core material, a first reactant material in intimate contact with the core material, and a second reactant material in intimate contact with the first reactant, where the core material has a density greater than 10 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cc).
US09617189B2
An apparatus for materials processing utilizing a rotating magnetic field comprises a platform for supporting a specimen, and a plurality of magnets underlying the platform. The plurality of magnets are configured for rotation about an axis of rotation intersecting the platform. A heat source is disposed above the platform for heating the specimen during the rotation of the plurality of magnets. A method for materials processing utilizing a rotating magnetic field comprises providing a specimen on a platform overlying a plurality of magnets; rotating the plurality of magnets about an axis of rotation intersecting the platform, thereby applying a rotating magnetic field to the specimen; and, while rotating the plurality of magnets, heating the specimen to a desired temperature.
US09617181B2
The invention relates to a method of heating a glass sheet for tempering. It comprises conveying the glass sheet on top of rollers in a roller-hearth furnace, heating the glass sheet in the roller-hearth furnace to a transfer temperature at which the glass sheet is transferred into an air support furnace. The glass sheet, while resting on an air cushion, is carried on an air support table and the glass sheet is heated in the air support furnace to a tempering temperature. The transfer temperature is not lower than 620° C. and not higher than 675° C. and the tempering temperature is not lower than 650° C. and not higher than 720° C.
US09617180B2
Methods of fabricating formed glass articles are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a formed glass article may include forming a glass ribbon, forming a parison, and shaping the parison to form a glass article. The glass article may be attached to the glass ribbon at an attachment region defining an edge of the glass article. The process may also include contacting the attachment region with a focal line of a laser beam and separating the glass article from the glass ribbon at the attachment region. The attachment region may be perforated by the laser beam and the focal line may be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the glass ribbon.
US09617178B2
The present invention provides a process for the treatment of sewage sludge with enzymes, which process comprises treating a sewage sludge resulting from the treatment of municipal or industrial waste water with a composition comprising a fermentation supernatant product from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture and a non-ionic surfactant, wherein said fermentation supernatant product is free of active enzymes, at conditions suitable for generating said active enzymes from said sewage sludge in situ.
US09617177B2
A water treatment device and methods of treating water such as cooling tower water, agricultural water, water used in the production of oil and/or gas, swimming pool water, and hot tub or spa water, are described. The water treatment device utilizes ultraviolet radiation, a magnetic field, and ozone fortified air to treat the water, typically resulting in reduced microbial contamination and reduced alkalinity in cooling tower water. Cooling tower water may consequently be run at higher cycles of concentration while reducing or eliminating deposition of minerals on cooling tower components. Swimming pool water and hot tub water treated with the water treatment device typically requires less chlorine, and chlorine levels are typically more stable than without the device.
US09617176B2
Described herein are compounds and compositions useful for removing contaminants from water, as well as methods for making and using the compounds and compositions. In one aspect, the compositions contain a source of gallium ions and a polysaccharide such as chitosan, which are inexpensive and safe for the environment.
US09617174B2
A hydrophobic porous silica aerogel composite membrane for a vacuum membrane distillation device and a vacuum distillation method are disclosed. The vacuum membrane distillation device has a case and the hydrophobic porous silica aerogel composite membrane accommodated in the case to divide a chamber defined by the case into a feed part configured to feed a first fluid containing water molecules and a permeate part configured to collect a second fluid containing the water molecules. The hydrophobic porous silica aerogel composite membrane includes a porous aluminum oxide membrane that has a plurality of first pores with average pore diameter larger than 50 nm and a porous silica aerogel membrane that has a plurality of second pores of 2 to 50 nm and is formed on at least one side of the porous aluminum oxide membrane facing the feed part by methylmethoxysilane as a precursor and a sol-gel synthetic process.
US09617167B2
A system for distributed utilities including electrical power and water. A generation device is provided for converting an available resource to a desired utility; the resource may be water, in which case the generator is a purifier for purifying untreated water, or, alternatively, the generator may convert a fuel to electrical power. In either case, an input sensor is provided for measuring input to the generation device, while an output sensor is provided for measuring consumption of output from the generation device. The monitoring system has a controller for concatenating measured input and consumption of output on the basis of the input and output sensors. Measured parameters are telemetered to a remote site where utility generation and use are monitored and may also be controlled. At least a portion of the electrical power capacity of the electric generation unit may power a water purification unit such as a vapor compression distillation unit, and heat output of the electric generation unit may supply heat to the water purification unit.
US09617165B1
A method for making a new crystalline molecular sieve designated SSZ-105 is disclosed. SSZ-105 is synthesized using N,N-dimethylpiperidinium cations as a structure directing agent. SSZ-105 is a disordered aluminosilicate molecular sieve comprising at least one intergrown phase of an ERI framework type molecular sieve and an LEV framework type molecular sieve.
US09617162B2
Disclosed herein is a continuous process for preparing a silica product, comprising: (a) continuously feeding an acidulating agent and an alkali metal silicate into a loop reaction zone comprising a stream of liquid medium; wherein at least a portion of the acidulating agent and the alkali metal silicate react to form a silica product in the liquid medium of the loop reaction zone; (b) continuously recirculating the liquid medium through the loop reaction zone; and (c) continuously discharging from the loop reaction zone a portion of the liquid medium comprising the silica product. Silica products and dentifrice compositions comprising the silica products are also disclosed. A continuous loop reactor is also disclosed.
US09617160B2
Cover flux devices and methods are shown. Methods and devices are shown such that, as a solidification front moves from a cooling surface of a mold towards a surface of molten silicon substantially opposite the cooling surface, impurities are driven out of the solid silicon and into the liquid to react with a flux layer on the silicon.
US09617140B2
Supply chain systems and methods are disclosed for monitoring fluid levels in liquid containers, such as kegs. Embodiments include sensors that fit within a keg's false bottom, measure the weight of the keg, and transmit the weight information to a computer database via a wireless network. Other embodiments include an RFID device with information about a characteristic of the liquid within a keg (such as brand and/or type of beer) that may be attached to the keg and paired with the sensor so the sensor can transmit information about the characteristic of the liquid in the keg. In alternate embodiments, the sensor's transmitter is short range and an uplink/gateway is used to receive information from the sensor and relay that sensor's information to a broader wireless network. Multiple containers in close proximity may each be fitted with an RFID device and sensor and communicate their individual information to the database.
US09617136B2
Only a bottle properly preliminarily heated is sterilized by hydrogen peroxide. Temperature inspection to the bottle is performed while travelling the bottle. During the inspection, a bottle of which temperature does not reach a predetermined temperature is removed and a bottle of which temperature reaches the predetermined temperature is continuously traveled, hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α is blown toward a mouth portion 1a of the bottle by a spray tube 59 disposed at a predetermined position, and hot air is blown into the bottle from the nozzle while the nozzle 64 following the mouth portion of the bottle. According to such operation, only the bottle properly heated can be sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide, Thereafter, beverage fills the bottle, which is then sealed.
US09617134B2
A de-centralized operational indicator system comprises a communication module and an output module. The communication module includes a vehicle interface that communicates with electronics of a materials handling vehicle. The communication module also includes an information system interface, and a controller that is connected to the vehicle interface and the information system interface. The output module is coupled to the information system interface of the communication module, and includes a first output device, and a second output device. The first output device is oriented in a first direction that is detectable by an operator of the materials handling vehicle when the operator is within an operating compartment of the materials handling vehicle. The second output device is oriented in a second direction that is detectable outside of materials handling vehicle.
US09617133B2
A portable support platform system and method for assembling the system are provided. The portable support platform system includes a support platform configured to receive theatrical devices and an orientation member attached to the support platform. The orientation member includes an arcuate surface configured to receive a flexible member. The flexible member is fixably attached to the orientation member at one or more locations along the arcuate surface to permit orientation and movement of the support platform when the flexible members are deployed or retracted.
US09617131B2
A single drive three pivot fork lift truck includes a steering bridge, a steering motor that drives the steering bridge, and at least one rear wheel that is connected to the steering bridge. The forklift truck also includes a first sensor that senses rotational position of a steering wheel, a second sensor that senses rotation of the steering motor, and a controller that receives signals from the first sensor and second sensor and controls the steering motor. The forklift truck also includes a battery carried by the truck frame in a battery compartment located at the rear of the forklift truck, which can take the place of counterweight blocks.
US09617130B2
A scissor lift incorporating a trolley; lateral and oppositely lateral rollers; axles positioning the rollers at lateral and oppositely lateral sides of the trolley; torque cancelling “C” brackets mounted upon the trolley's lateral and oppositely lateral sides; a jack screw actuator connected operatively to the trolley for alternatively longitudinally and oppositely longitudinally moving the trolley; lateral and oppositely lateral roller tracks having longitudinal edges, each of the tracks supporting one of the rollers and each of the “C” brackets engaging one of the longitudinal edges; a scissor arm matrix having a lower longitudinal end connected to the trolley; a platform attached to the scissor arms' upper end; and a motor connected operatively to a chassis for longitudinally moving the jack screw actuator and for vertically moving the platform.
US09617129B2
A hydraulic jack includes a frame and a pump connected to the frame. The pump is connected to the frame. The pump includes a rod, a housing, and a piston, with hydraulic fluid being in the housing. The rod has a cross-sectional area and has a longitudinal axis. The housing has an end through which the rod slides. The housing has an interior open cross-sectional area in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis, and the housing has an interior wall. The piston is coupled to the rod. The piston establishes a rod side chamber and a piston side chamber within the housing. The piston has a cross-sectional area, which is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the housing thereby allowing a portion of the hydraulic fluid to flow between said piston and said interior wall to and from the rod side chamber and the piston side chamber when the piston is moved in the housing.
US09617128B2
The pulley device comprises first and second pulleys each provided with a set of sheaves. The two pulleys are designed to be respectively fixed to a fixed point and to a person to be rescued. A rope is fixed to one of the two pulleys and arranged in such a way that the first pulley moves towards the second pulley when a pull is exerted on the rope. An enclosure connects the first pulley to the second pulley and surrounds the path of the rope between the two pulleys. One end of the rope extends outwards from the enclosure to enable a pull to be exerted on the end of the rope.
US09617125B2
A hoisting crane that comprises a male shaft, a female shaft, a locking shaft, a tightening spring, a hoisting arm, a pressure arm, a top shoe, a bottom shoe, a top bearing, and a bottom bearing. The crane is portable and collapsible and is equipped with an automatic adjusting tightening mechanism that fixes and secures the crane to the work room floor and ceiling using a spring and in a way that the greater the load on the crane, the more the pressure arm increases the tightening force that the crane applies to the work room floor and ceiling.
US09617122B2
A step of an escalator or a pallet of a moving walk has a supporting body with a base and at least one tread-element with a tread-surface wherein, on an underside that faces away from the tread-surface, the at-least one tread-element has at least one fastening protrusion. In the assembled state, the at-least one fastening protrusion protrudes through an opening in the base. Arranged on the side of the base that faces away from the tread-element, at least partly between the base and the fastening protrusion, is at least one fixing element. The fixing element fixes the tread-element against the base in a pretensioned manner.
US09617118B2
An exemplary elongated elevator load bearing member of a traction elevator system includes a plurality of tension elements. A plurality of weave fibers transverse to the tension elements are woven with the tension elements. The weave fibers define at least one traction surface of the load bearing member.
US09617116B2
An elevator installation includes an elevator cage with a support construction carrying the elevator cage, wherein the support construction has two beams. Mounted on each beam is a positioning arrangement on which a sensor is positioned, which is part of a load measuring device, wherein the positioning arrangements have material structures. The sensors detect a change in spacing of the material structures from one another, wherein this change in spacing is caused by a change in loading of the elevator cage. Signals of the sensors are processed in an evaluating unit and a signal representing the loading is used in an elevator control.
US09617101B2
A tape printing device for printing on a ribbon tape includes: a wrapping length acquisition unit which acquires a ribbon wrapping length that is a necessary length of a ribbon tape for ribbon wrapping, of a necessary tape length that is a necessary length of the ribbon tape for ribbon wrapping and ribbon tying on an object to be wrapped; a tying length storage unit in which a ribbon tying length that is a necessary length of the ribbon tape for ribbon tying, of the necessary tape length, is stored; and a necessary tape length calculation unit which calculates the necessary tape length, based on the ribbon wrapping length that is acquired and the ribbon tying length that is stored.
US09617093B2
A paper feeder includes a housing, a driving unit, a sheet loading portion, a paper feeding unit, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism is located in the housing. The paper feeding unit includes a pickup roller, a second shaft portion, a feed roller, a holder, and a stopper. The stopper is swingably supported in the holder, and is configured to change states between a regulation state and a permission state. The regulation state is a state that regulates entrance of the sheet to be loaded in the sheet loading portion into a side of the feed roller side corresponding to the second position of the holder. The permission state is a state that permits entrance of the sheet into the feed roller side corresponding to the first position of the holder. The lock mechanism locks the holder in the second position at a time of non-paper feeding.
US09617083B2
In a transfer apparatus, a lifting unit has a lifting mechanism having a plurality of combined members and a motor. The lifting mechanism converts the rotation force of the motor to movement in the lifting direction, transmits the movement to at least one of first and second conveyors, raises or lowers at least one of first and second conveyors, and stops rotation of the motor when one of conveying paths reaches a predetermined height. In that process, a physical limit identification operation is executed in which the motor is rotated to operate the lifting mechanism to a physical operation limit and is then stopped, and control of the motor is changed so that the motor is rotated at low speed until the lifting mechanism reaches the physical operation limit.
US09617081B2
An apparatus for stripping off material from a conveying belt of a belt conveyor in the region of the curve of a discharge drum, beneath the discharge point of the belt conveyor includes a plurality of stripping members arranged in a row and are carried by at least two elongate flexible carrying elements spaced apart from one another. At least one of the stripping members includes a first stripping element and a second stripping element and is additionally provided with a lifting mechanism which causes the first stripping element to be lifted from the conveying belt when the first stripping element is moved in a direction of travel of the conveying belt. The first stripping element is mounted on the stripping member so as to be movable relative to the lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism may be in the form of an articulated lever mechanism or spring lever mechanism.
US09617079B2
A conveying device including a circulatorily led, extensively extended conveying element that forms a conveying section with a conveying surface and a return section, a front head-end region, in which the conveying element is deflected from the conveying section into the return section in the movement direction of the conveying element, and a braking device that exerts a braking effect upon the driven conveying element. The braking device includes a braking surface that, by way of the sliding friction with the conveying element, at least partly exerts the braking effect upon the driven conveying element. The braking device is designed and arranged such that it exerts the braking effect upon the conveying element outside the front head-end region as well as outside the conveying section. The braking surface is designed in an essentially bent manner and is wrapped by a part of the conveying element.
US09617075B2
An overhead warehousing system for use in a warehouse having a ceiling and a plurality of storage racks supported by the floor of a warehouse includes a plurality of tramways affixed to the ceiling, each tramway associated with at least one storage rack. At least one robotic module is engaged upon each tramway and translatable thereon. Each robotic module includes a powered carrier engaging the tramway for translating the robotic module therealong and a utility head connected to the powered carrier. The utility head is vertically positionable with respect to the powered carrier and is rotatable about a vertical axis. At least one gripper head is horizontally translatable from and rotatable relative to the utility head and includes a plurality of gripper fingers for grasping a parcel. A plurality of drones may be incorporated by the system to perform some of the parcel transporting operations of the robotic modules.
US09617074B2
Methods and picking devices for storing a plurality of identical piece goods in the picking device in which the number of identical piece goods is automatically detected are provided. Multiple piece goods are placed in a support area of a storage device and a determination that a last piece good has been placed is made. Upon detection, the piece goods are moved into a removal area of the storage device and a gripping apparatus of an operating unit moves into the removal area, grasps the piece goods, and moves them from the removal area onto a support table of the operating unit. The number of piece goods situated in the support area is determined based on piece goods data and size data of the piece goods that are detected with a sensor system, after it has been detected that a last piece good has been placed in the support area.
US09617044B2
A fluid container ship cap seals a plurality of fluid interconnects of a fluid container during one or both of shipping and storage. The fluid container ship cap includes an elastomeric seal having a plurality of fluidic sealing members to seal a corresponding plurality of fluid interconnects. The fluid container ship cap further includes a rigid shell to rotate the fluid container ship cap about an axis of rotation at a fulcrum provided by a first fluidic sealing member of the plurality of fluidic sealing members. The elastomeric seal is affixed to the rigid shell.
US09617042B2
The present invention relates to a tube having a dispensing head and a flexible skirt. The skirt and the dispensing head include a single wall manufactured in a single injection-molding operation in an injection mold. According to the invention, the wall is made of a material whose base constituent is a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or a mixture of polymers, at least one of which is a high-density polyethylene representing from 5% to 100% by weight of the polymers constituting the wall. The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a tube.
US09617040B1
An article of manufacture includes a liquid tight container that holds a disinfecting material. A disinfecting material includes a liquid gel material. The disinfecting material is dispensable from the container through a manual dispenser. The material is usable to apply a antimicrobial coating on surfaces, including the external surfaces of mammals such as human skin.
US09617039B2
A packaging container having a closure and release mechanism is provided having a base section and a cover section, with the cover section adapted to cover the base section when in a closed state. The closure and release mechanism includes at least one first aperture formed within an inner wall segment of the base section and at least one second aperture formed within an outer wall segment of the base section, which is aligned with the at least one first aperture. At least one projection extending inwardly from a side wall portion of the cover section is also provided for engaging the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture of the base section. Thus, the closure and release mechanism retains the cover section over the base section and secures the packaging container in a closed position. The at least one projection is released from the at least one first aperture and the at least one second aperture by depressing a deformable flange, thereby opening the packaging container.
US09617036B2
A packaging container having a secure closure includes a base section and a cover section, with the cover section adapted to cover said base section when in a closed state. The closure mechanism includes a first aperture formed within an inner wall segment of the base section and a second aperture formed within an outer wall segment of the base section. A projection extends inwardly from a side wall portion of the cover section for engaging the first and second apertures of the base section, wherein the closure mechanism retains the cover section over the base section and securing the packaging container in a closed position.
US09617035B2
A multi-position storage system including a first housing, and a second housing. The second housing is connected to the first housing. The second housing is capable of being moved from a first position with respect to the first housing to a second position with respect to the first housing.
US09617024B2
A method of forming and filling a pouch, comprises forming opposing walls of a film; sealing the opposing walls of film together to form at least one pouch; filling an interior section of the at least one pouch through an opening in an upper portion of the at least one pouch with a flowable material; forming a top sealed expressing-shaped region to close the opening in the at least one pouch; and cradling the pouch with a foldable flat that is more rigid than the pouch that can be folded or rolled to compress the pouch to express the flowable material through the expressing shaped region.
US09617020B2
A filling aid. The filling aid includes a locking portion including a groove feature; and a locking feature having a locked and an unlocked position; and a filling syringe holder slidably attached to the locking portion, the filling syringe holder including a filling needle cradle portion having a tongue feature; and a needle housing portion comprising at least one tab having a starting position and a filling position, wherein the groove feature configured to accommodate the tongue feature, and wherein the locking feature interact with the filling syringe holder wherein when the locking feature moves from the locked position to the unlocked position the needle housing portion moves from the starting position to the filling position.
US09617016B2
The present disclosure relates to a launch system, a launch vehicle for use with the launch system, and methods of launching a payload utilizing the launch vehicle and/or the launch system. The disclosure can provide for delivery of the payload at a terrestrial location, an Earth orbital location, or an extraorbital location. The launch vehicle can comprise a payload, a propellant tank, an electrical heater wherein propellant, such as a light gas (e.g., hydrogen) is electrically heated to significantly high temperatures, and an exhaust nozzle from which the heated propellant expands to provide an exhaust velocity of, for example, 7-16 km/sec. The launch vehicle can be utilized with the launch system, which can further comprise a launch tube formed of at least one tube, which can be electrically conductive and which can be combined with at least one insulator tube. An electrical energy source, such as a battery bank and associated inductor, can be provided.
US09617013B2
A fuselage structure for a rotorcraft (1), the structure comprising load-bearing members including middle frames (9a, 9b) carrying a top floor (12a) and a middle floor (12b). The middle floor (12b) internally partitions the fuselage into two compartments (6, 7), including a cabin-forming top compartment (6) and a bottom compartment (7) having an open bottom (23) leading to the outside via the bottom face of the fuselage. The middle floor (12b) provides a loading plane in the top compartment (6) having a false-floor (27) made up of interchangeable slabs (28) fitted out in a variety of ways. The middle floor (12b) also forms an anchor member from which equipment (16, 17) for suspending can be suspended, which equipment is accessible from outside the fuselage through said open bottom (23).
US09616999B1
A rotating wing includes a support frame, two connecting rods, two drive systems and a wing frame. The support frame includes a first side frame, a second side frame, a cross frame member, a first guide pin and a second guide pin. The cross frame member is secured to one end of the first and second side frames. A first connecting rod is rotatably retained on the first side frame. A second connecting rod is rotatably retained on the second side frame. The first guide pin extends from the first side frame and the second guide pin extends from the second side frame. The wing frame includes first and second side members. A peripheral groove is formed in an outer surface of the first and second side members to receive the first and second guide pins. First and second drive systems rotate the first and second connecting rods.
US09616998B2
An unmanned aerial vehicle/unmanned aircraft system including an airframe; a plurality of rotor assemblies respectively extending from a plurality of arms connected to said airframe, said rotor assemblies each having a rotor thereon with at least one rotor blade; a landing gear extending from said airframe; and a flight controller disposed on said airframe; wherein said flight controller receives instructions for unmanned aerial vehicle/unmanned aircraft system control.
US09616990B2
A rotary device assembly is provided and includes an input shaft coupled to a torque generating device, an output shaft and a rotary device disposed to transmit first torque from the input shaft to the output shaft and configured with no-back capability to prevent second torque applied to the output shaft from being transmitted to the input shaft in an event the second torque deceeds a torque-limiting threshold and the no-back capability and torsional lock-up capability to prevent an overload of the torque generating device in an event the second torque exceeds the torque-limiting threshold.
US09616968B1
A sensing device and a driving module for an electric bicycle having a spindle are provided. The sensing device includes a torque sensor, a slip ring, a grating, and a cadence sensor. The driving module includes a motor, a reducer and the sensing device. The present disclosure combines the slip ring with the grating to integrate the cadence sensor and the torque sensor into one sensing device, such that the sizes of the sensing device and the driving module are reduced.
US09616961B2
A kick scooter includes a frame having a head tube for supporting handlebars and a front fork, an elongated frame member extending along a length of the frame, the frame member having a first end attached to the head tube and a second end configured for attachment to a rear wheel, the frame member being angularly disposed relative to the head tube. The frame includes support member coupled to the frame member for adjustable movement along a length of the frame member, a knee pad is attached to the support member for supporting a rider's knee and shin. The support member is movable relative to the frame member for adjusting a position of the knee pad relative to the head tube and a riding surface. The kick scooter further includes front and rear wheels, and a handlebar attached to the frame.
US09616959B2
A bicycle includes a handlebar and a vibration generator supported on the handlebar. A sensor is configured to detect an overcoming vehicle. A controller is configured to activate the vibration generator when the sensor detects an overcoming vehicle.
US09616957B2
A motorcycle fairing adjustment assembly, a motorcycle fairing adjustment member, and a method of adjusting a motorcycle fairing are disclosed. The motorcycle fairing adjustment member includes an outer side configured for mounting to an inner fairing member of a motorcycle, an inner side configured for mounting to a fairing bracket extending longitudinally forward from a neck portion of a motorcycle frame, and an adjustment angle formed by the outer side and the inner side. The adjustment angle adjusts an angle of the inner fairing member relative to the motorcycle frame.
US09616956B2
A quick release mechanism with safety collar is provided. The quick release mechanism includes a mounting element having an axis extending along a threaded shank, a male element located at a distal end of the threaded shank, and a bolt head located between the threaded shank and the male element. A receiving element having an axis extending along a second threaded shank and a coupling portion located at a distal end of the second threaded shank, the coupling portion including a slot sized to receive the male element and a raised channel adjacent to the slot, the raised channel having an elevated shoulder that abuts an end of the slot.
US09616951B2
Undercarriage assembly components of track-type machines having a metallurgically bonded wear-resistant coating and methods for forming such coated undercarriage assembly components is taught herein. The bodies of the undercarriage assembly components, formed of an iron-based alloy, have a hard metal alloy slurry disposed on a surface or into an undercut or channel and then fused to form a metallurgical bond with the iron-based alloy. The wear-resistant coating comprises a fused, metal alloy comprising at least 60% iron, cobalt, nickel, or alloys thereof. The portion of the outer surface of the undercarriage assembly components having the wear-resistant coating corresponds to a wear surface of the component during operation of the endless track of the track-type vehicle.
US09616946B2
The disclosure provides a system and method for trailer attachment.
US09616944B2
A rear aerodynamic drag reduction system is configured to be coupled to a rear frame assembly of a trailer including a rear frame and a rear swing door. The rear drag reduction system includes a main wall panel configured to be coupled to the rear frame assembly to extend generally rearwardly of the trailer at least partially along a height of the trailer, and a secondary wall panel configured to be movably coupled to the rear swing door of the trailer to extend along a width of the trailer. The main wall panel and the secondary wall panel are each movable relative to the rear frame assembly between a deployed position and a stowed position. A locking mechanism of the drag reduction system is configured to releasably couple the main wall panel and the secondary wall panel to each other to prevent relative movement between the main wall panel and the secondary wall panel when the main and secondary wall panels are in their deployed positions.
US09616943B2
A method for increasing the aerodynamic efficiency of a vehicle includes monitoring operating condition of a vehicle, determining if a pre-selected event has occurred with respect to the operating condition of the vehicle, communicating a spacing value to a moving device and adjusting a spacing between a cab and a trailer of the vehicle based on the communicated spacing value.
US09616942B2
It is an object to provide a tractor, which is a work vehicle, being capable of providing an air-conditioner unit and rear working lights in the interior of a ceiling without protruding the rear end of the cabin. Regarding a tractor, which is a work vehicle in which a cabin for covering a drive operating unit is provided, the ceiling of the cabin is formed in an arc shape from the front end to the rear end thereof, and a radius of curvature of the arc shape is configured to increase as the ceiling advances from the front end to the rear end of the ceiling.
US09616940B2
A vehicle lower portion structure has: an undercover that is fixed to a lower portion of a vehicle body, and that covers a bottom surface side of the vehicle body; rockers that extend in a vehicle longitudinal direction at both sides in a vehicle transverse direction at the lower portion of the vehicle body; and rocker moldings that are fixed to the lower portion of the vehicle body, and are disposed at vehicle transverse direction outer sides of the undercover, and are provided from vehicle transverse direction outer sides of the rockers to vehicle lower sides. End portions at the vehicle transverse direction outer sides of the undercover, and end portions at vehicle transverse direction inner sides of the rocker moldings, are superposed one on another at least in a vehicle vertical direction.
US09616939B2
There are provided a pair of diagonally-extending inclination members which are formed in a substantially X shape in a plan view and provided above or below a floor panel. Each of the pair of inclination members is configured to interconnect a connection portion of one of right-and-left side sills and a hinge pillar and a connection portion of the other of the right-and-left side sills and a center pillar. Thereby, a load-transmission efficiency between a front end of the above-described one of the right-and-left side sills and the other of the right-and-left side sills can be improved in the SOL or vehicle side collisions.
US09616933B2
A sub frame structure of a vehicle comprises a pair of right-and-left side members extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, to which a pair of right-and-left upper-side lower arm supporting rear wheels are pivotally connected, a rear cross member holding the vicinity of rear ends of the side members, and a front cross member interconnecting the side members in a vehicle width direction and being positioned in front of the rear cross member, being spaced apart from the rear cross member. The side member includes a front support bracket and a rear member holding member to which a front connection portion and a rear connection portion of the upper-side lower arm are connected, and a displacement portion to cause the rear member holding member to be displaced forward is provided between the front support bracket and the rear member holding member.
US09616921B2
A method of adjusting friction of an MDPS unit may include detecting road surface conditions of a road on which a vehicle travels; classifying the road on which the vehicle travels into a normal road, a low frictional road, a road having a first uneven road surface, and a road having a second uneven road surface; and reducing friction of the MDPS unit of the vehicle when the road on which the vehicle travels is determined as the road having the first uneven road surface.
US09616917B2
A core of a worm wheel has an axial end surface formed with a first annular recess nad and another axial end surface formed with a second annular recess. An outer circumferential wall surface of a radially outer region of the second annular recess has a tapered surface extending from a bottom surface of the second annular recess to form an obtuse angle relative to the bottom surface, and a third annular recess formed radially outside the tapered surface. A cross-section of the third annular recess is a right-angled triangle having, as two sides, a surface parallel to the bottom surface of the second annular recess and a surface perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second annular recess. A rim portion has a first inner circumferential portion fixed to the first annular recess and a second inner circumferential portion fixed to the second annular recess.
US09616916B2
An electric power steering device includes a ferrite core mounted on a wire harness connected to an electric motor and a bracket configured to fix the ferrite core to a vehicle.
US09616911B2
A cleaning cart having a base plate and a working plate arranged at a vertical distance above the base plate, the base plate and the working plate being connected to each other by a rod system arranged within the vertical distance. The rod system is formed by at least two struts extending in a non-parallel manner relative to each other, and the struts are connected to each other by a bridge-like holder, the holder being arranged in a self-retaining manner between the struts.
US09616906B2
An extender accessory for a hand truck having a frame with two vertical frame portions, a plurality of cross bars connected between the frame portions, a pair of axle mounted wheels at lower ends of the frame portions and a platform extending forwardly from the lower ends of the frame portions. The extender accessory comprises an L-shaped support member being of a length longer than the width of the platform. A mechanism is for removably attaching the L-shaped support member against the lower ends of the frame portions and sit upon the platform. The L-shaped support member will overhang opposite sides of the platform, to allow the L-shaped support member to carry and stabilize a variety of loads placed thereon.
US09616904B2
Telescopic mechanism in telescopic hitch buffer device for use in high speed electric multiple units
The patent was disclosed a telescopic mechanism in a telescopic hitch buffer device for use in high speed electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. The telescopic mechanism comprises a compression rod (2) located inside a movable housing (1) of said hitch buffer device, one end of said compression rod (2) being connected to the movable housing (1), and a bearing connector (3) encasing the compression rod (2). A guiding barrel (4) is fixedly mounted outside the bearing connector (3). An extension/retraction driving mechanism (9) is provided between the guiding barrel (4) and the movable housing (1). A locking mechanism comprises protrusions (6) distributed at the other end of the compression rod (2), and grooves (7) in engagement with protrusions (6) on the inner wall of the bearing connector (3). One end of the compression rod (2) is connected to the movable housing (1) via a torsion spring (5), keeping the compression rod (2) and the bearing connector (3) in a locked state; an unlocking driving mechanism is provided on the outside of the movable housing (1), and is in an unlocked state when the protrusions (6) face the grooves (7), in which case, the movable housing (1) and the bearing connector (3) can slide relative to each other. Since the extension/retraction driving mechanism (9) is provided inside the movable housing (1), volume is reduced, good protection is provided for respective components, and the telescopic mechanism and the locking mechanism are relatively simple in structure, labor-saving, reliable in operation, and can bear relatively large loads.
US09616894B2
A stepless transmission 1 is provided for preventing drive wheels from being driven despite the driver's intention during vehicle deceleration. A control device 40: when the required drive force of the vehicle is 0, controls the output rotational speed Ne of a travel drive source 50 to be Ne2, and controls the transmission gear ratio i of the transmission 1 so that the transmission 1 in the case where the Ne is Ne1 changes from a first state to a second state; and when the vehicle speed V is less than a boundary speed Vgn, controls the ratio i to be a state maintaining transmission gear ratio ign that enables the first state to be maintained even during vehicle deceleration. In the second state a rotational drive force is transmitted from an input shaft 2 to an output shaft 3. In the first state the transmission is prevented.
US09616886B2
Systems and methods relating to the operation of an autonomous vehicle relative to forward objects in an external environment are described. At least a forward portion of the external environment can be sensed to detect an object therein. A size adjustment factor can be determined to predict a laterally innermost point of the detected object relative to the autonomous vehicle. A driving maneuver for the autonomous vehicle can be determined based at least partially on the predicted laterally innermost point of the detected object relative to the autonomous vehicle.
US09616884B1
A method and an apparatus for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle including a dual clutch transmission are provided. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle including a dual clutch transmission (DCT) may include: determining whether an engine start condition is satisfied in a state in which an engine is stopped; determining whether a slip control entry condition of a shift clutch of the DCT is satisfied when the engine start condition is satisfied; increasing a speed of a driving motor by slipping the shift clutch when the slip control entry condition is satisfied; determining whether a lock-up condition of an engine clutch is satisfied while increasing the speed of the driving motor; locking up the engine clutch when the lock-up condition of the engine clutch is satisfied; and increasing engagement force of the shift clutch when the engine clutch is locked up.
US09616882B2
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a coast stop control section (60) which stops a fuel supply to an engine (E) when a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed, an accelerator pedal is not depressed, a brake pedal is depressed, and a select position of a continuously variable transmission (1) is in a traveling position; and a low return control section (50) for retuning a transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission (1) to a low side after the engine (E) is restarted in a case where the transmission gear ratio of the continuously variable transmission (1) is a midway ratio which is higher than a predetermined transmission gear ratio, when detecting that the coast stop control section (60) is operated and the vehicle is stopped.
US09616881B2
A vehicle and a method of controlling a powertrain are provided. The vehicle may include a controller programmed to operate a powertrain in a hybrid mode. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to a request to operate the powertrain in electric mode, transition powertrain operation from the hybrid mode to the electric mode without shifting gears until a change in accelerator pedal position exceeds a threshold following the transition.
US09616877B2
While an engine (drive source) is being driven, when a long pressing operation (selection operation on a predetermined shift range) on an N-range button via a SBW shifter is executed, an engine drive/stop button blinks to notify a driver (step S1 and step S2). During the blinking of the engine drive/stop button, when the engine drive/stop button is pressed and the engine (drive source) is stopped, a neutral range is maintained without being switched to a parking range automatically (step 3 and step 4).
US09616871B2
The invention provides a method of operating a brake system, including: transmitting a valve operating command to an inlet valve an outlet valve calculating a valve operating time of each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve based on a difference in pressure between both ends of each of the inlet valve and the outlet valve; performing the linear or On-Off control for increasing pressure and calculating the quantity of brake oil passing through the inlet valve and, the ON-OFF control for decreasing pressure and calculating the quantity of brake oil passing through the outlet valve; and calculating hydraulic pressure in the wheel brake cylinder based on the quantity of brake oil passing through the inlet valve and the quantity of brake oil passing through the outlet valve.
US09616861B2
An electrical-mechanical brake apparatus includes a bracket and a pedal arm supported by the bracket. The bracket has a cam surface. An arm extends from the pivot arm to a follower. As the pedal arm moves toward the bracket, the follower moves along the cam surface, compressing the cam bias for simulating the feel of a purely mechanical brake system. In certain embodiments, the earn body rotates while in others the cam follower rotates.
US09616854B2
A mounting assembly for mounting a wiper blade to a wiper arm includes an adaptor adapted to be mounted to the wiper blade, the adaptor including a base wall and a plurality of side walls extending upwardly from the base wall, and a plurality of hinge pins extending outwardly from the side walls, and a coupler for connection to the wiper arm, the coupler including a base wall, a plurality of side walls depending from the base wall, and a plurality of openings extending into the side walls to receive the hinge pins to allow the coupler and the adaptor to be connected together.
US09616851B2
A method for recognizing directional structures on a window pane of a vehicle is described. The method includes carrying out an assessment of image points of an image of the window pane, which image points are disposed along an evaluation path, a course of the evaluation path being dependent on an expected orientation of the directional structures on the window pane. The method further includes recognizing a directional structure based on the assessment.
US09616839B2
A seat cushion airbag system includes an inflatable airbag with a boundary that bounds an inflatable area, the boundary positioned with respect to an H-point of an occupant.
US09616837B1
A roll bar assembly includes an upper portion which is movably mounted at least indirectly to a vehicle frame. The upper portion is able to be secured in a raised position and is also able to fold forward to a folded-forward position for shipping.
US09616834B2
An apparatus for preserving spacing around a vehicle includes a load bearing member and a controller. The load bearing member has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. At least the first end portion of the load bearing member is movable to a predetermined position within a range that includes a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. The controller is configured to cause, for a parking operation, the first end portion of the load bearing member to be moved to the predetermined position based on a received instruction indicative of a preset parking scenario stored in a memory. For the parking operation, the predetermined position is one of a first preset position stored in the memory for a first parking scenario or a second preset position stored in the memory for a second parking scenario different from the first parking scenario.
US09616823B1
A badge is provided herein. The badge includes a housing defining a viewable portion having indicia. A first set of light sources is configured to emit light toward the viewable portion. A light guide extends between the viewable portion and the first set of light sources. A decorative layer and a diffusive layer are disposed between an upper surface of the light guide and viewable portion. A second set of light sources is configured to emit light toward the viewable portion. The first set of light sources illuminates a first region of the viewable portion and the second set of light sources illuminates a second region of the viewable portion.
US09616815B2
An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mounting structure configured to mount to an interior portion of a vehicle, a housing, a reflective element disposed at the housing and an actuator disposed in the housing and connected to the reflective element. The actuator includes a first motor connected to the reflective element via a first drive element and a second motor connected to the reflective element via a second drive element. Responsive to an input, the actuator may be operable to adjust an orientation of the reflective element in tandem with the housing relative to the mounting structure. The first and second motors may operate in tandem to adjust the orientation of the reflective element and the housing relative to the mounting structure. The actuator may adjust the reflective element responsive to a user input, a glare sensor and/or a driver eye tracking system of the vehicle.
US09616809B1
A system and method are provided that include a driver status monitor having at least one of an infrared sensor and a camera configured to sense facial feature data associated with an operator of a subject vehicle and an electronic control module that receives the facial feature data and determines that the operator has looked at one of a side mirror and a rear-view mirror and that the operator has looked at a blind spot of the subject vehicle within a predetermined time period. A controller in communication with the driver status monitor activates a turn signal system having at least one turn signal in response to the driver status monitor determining that the operator has looked at one of the side mirror, rear-view mirror, and the blind spot of the subject vehicle.
US09616798B2
A portable storage device to contain fuel. The device is designed to be relatively light-weight to allow for movement around a fueling facility, and to be delivered to the fueling facility through the air. The device includes a number of separate tanks each configured to contain fuel. A suspension protects the tanks by absorbing external forces that could occur in the event the device is dropped during air delivery.
US09616795B1
A universal tailgate ramp assembly for quick ramp attachment and detachment from a tailgate for all truck types. The universal tailgate ramp assembly includes a bracket assembly adapted to latch to a tailgate of truck; a ramp support assembly adjustably and removably fastened to the bracket assembly; and a ramp assembly removably mounted to the ramp support assembly for moving an object onto a box of the truck.
US09616777B2
A vehicle seat includes a slide rail. A cap provided in an upper rail integrally includes a base portion adjacent to a longitudinal rear end of the upper rail provided with the cap, and a first deformation prevention portion extending into a space from the base portion toward a longitudinal center of the upper rail provided with the cap, the first deformation prevention portion being provided between the pair of side face portions within the space so as to restrain deformation of the upper rail. When the upper rail is placed in a rearmost position within a slidable range, the first deformation prevention portion is placed in vicinity to the rear end of the lower rail.
US09616774B2
A vehicle seat controller includes a feedback controller, a speed instruction value setting unit, and an entrapment determination unit. The feedback controller performs speed feedback control so that a rotation speed of the motor follows a speed instruction value based on a difference of the speed instruction value and an actual speed of the rotation speed of the motor. The speed instruction value setting unit sets the speed instruction value in accordance with a position of the vehicle seat. The entrapment determination unit determines entrapment of a foreign object entrapped by the vehicle seat when the vehicle seat is motor-driven. When the entrapment determination unit makes a foreign object entrapment determination, the speed instruction value setting unit changes the speed instruction value for an entrapment position of the vehicle seat to a low speed value that is smaller than a predetermined initial value.
US09616770B2
An embodiment of an electric vehicle drive apparatus includes a rotary electric motor, an electromagnet apparatus, an electric motor controller, and an electromagnet controller. The rotary electric motor drives at least one wheel. The electromagnet controller generates at least one of an attraction force between a rail and a bogie, and a propulsion force. The electromagnet controller controls the electromagnet apparatus. The rotary electric motor and the electromagnet apparatus are provided on the same bogie.
US09616760B2
An inverter-charger integrated device for an electric vehicle is provided. The inverter-charger integrated device for the electric vehicle includes a motor; a power input unit; a rectifying unit; an inverter; and a control unit, wherein the inverter comprises a first group of switches including first and second switches, a second group of switches including third and fourth switches, and a third group of switches including fifth and sixth switches, the rectifying unit is directly connected to the first of the first to third groups of switches, and phases of the motor are respectively connected to the first to third group of switches.
US09616754B2
The present technology discloses an apparatus for protecting a passenger who boards a vehicle at the time of lightning and a method thereof. An apparatus for protecting a passenger includes a receiver configured to receive positional information of a vehicle and weather information, a gas detection sensor configured to detect an electrolyte gas within a battery duct, an air pressure sensor configured to detect an air pressure of tire, and a controller configured to control an opening and closing of the battery duct depending on the positional information, the weather information, the detected result of the gas detection sensor, and the detected result of the air pressure sensor.
US09616752B2
An electrical power supply system for a machine is provided. The electrical power supply system includes a generator, a primary power converter unit and an auxiliary power converter unit. The primary power converter unit is electrically coupled to the generator. The primary power converter unit includes a rectifier connected to the generator and an inverter electrically connected to the rectifier by a Direct current (DC) link. Further, the auxiliary power converter unit is electrically connected to the DC bus within the primary power converter unit.
US09616746B2
A gear assembly includes an input shaft, a drive ring gear assembly, a pair of input/ring bearings, a driven pinion gear assembly, a first and second clutch members, and an actuator assembly. The first cutch member is fixedly connected to the input shaft. The drive ring gear assembly is mounted about the input shaft. The input/ring bearings are mounted so as to straddle the drive ring gear. The driven pinion gear assembly is operatively engaged with the drive ring gear. The second clutch member is slidingly mounted to the drive ring gear and the actuator assembly operates to move the second clutch member into engagement with the first clutch member to cause the drive ring gear to rotate when the input shaft rotates.
US09616742B1
A vehicle grill shutter system comprising at least one grill shutter and a controller. The grill shutter is movably coupled to a vehicle at a location forward of a radiator of the vehicle. The grill shutter comprises first and second portions. The first portion has a first surface and includes a first material having a first porosity, and the second portion has a second surface and includes a second material having a second porosity which is less porous than the first porosity. The controller is configured to operate the grill shutter, in response to a detected vehicle condition pertaining to the vehicle, to move between a first position at which the first surface is oriented transverse to a flow direction of air entering a grill of the vehicle toward the radiator and a second position at which the second surface is oriented transverse to the flow direction.
US09616741B2
A vehicle engine cooling arrangement including a fan, a radiator and a mounting plate. The plate provides a fan mounting surface and a radiator mounting surface so that the fan and radiator are in a spaced arrangement. The plate extends from under the fan at the front of the vehicle to under the radiator downstream of the fan and guides air from the fan to the radiator.
US09616735B2
A vehicle roll shade device is provided which includes a shade that opens and closes an inner opening of a roof; a roll shaft that winds the shade in a roll shape; a bearing member that pivotally supports the roll shaft; and an elastic member that is interposed between the roll shaft and the bearing member, wherein the bearing member includes: a lock mechanism that locks rotation of the roll shaft in a state of being urged to rotate in a shade rewinding direction by the elastic member; and a release mechanism that releases a locked state of the lock mechanism, and wherein a portion of the release mechanism comes in contact with a predetermined portion to be displaced when the bearing member is assembled to an assembling position, and the locked state of the lock mechanism is released in conjunction with the displacement.
US09616733B2
A shading device for a rear window arrangement of a motor vehicle having a shading structure arranged so as to be shiftable relative to the rear window arrangement between a compactly stored inoperative position and an extended shading position, and with a dimensionally stable extension profile arranged on an end region, at the front in the extension direction, of the shading structure, the extension profile being guided so as to be shiftable in parallel in vehicle-mounted, lateral guide arrangements. The extension profile having two different visible contours positionable into different functional positions by rotation about a longitudinal axis of the extension profile, is known. The extension profile is mounted on opposite end sides by respective ball and socket joint so as to be pivotable about the longitudinal axis relative to lateral guide elements guided in the lateral guide arrangements.
US09616732B2
An air outlet for ventilating the interior of a motor vehicle is provided. The air outlet is fluidly connected with a module of a heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning system. The air outlet includes a linkage region having an opening. An insulating structure is held in the linkage region with the air outlet in a fluidically-connected state. A retainer is configured to fix the insulating structure on the air outlet in the linkage region.
US09616728B2
A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.
US09616723B2
A receiver pin lock for insertion into first and second sized opposed engaging apertures of first and second hitch receivers is shown and described. The receiver pin lock may include a stem, a first stepped portion extend from the stem, and a lock member selectively engageable with the stem, the lock member preventing removal of stem from either of the first and second hitch receivers. The receiver pin lock may also include a second stepped portion positioned on the lock member and extending from the stem, where the stem is configured to operatively engage the first sized engaging apertures of the first hitch receiver and the first and second stepped portions are configured to operatively engage the second sized engaging apertures of the second hitch receiver.
US09616718B2
[Object] To provide a pneumatic tire 2 from which static electricity is easily discharged.[Solution] The tire 2 includes penetration portions 8, an under tread 6, a belt 16, a carcass 16, and clinches 12. The carcass 16 includes a large number of cords aligned with each other, and a conductive topping rubber. The electric resistance Rc of the carcass which is represented by the following mathematical formula is less than 1.0×108Ω. Rc=ρ/g/(2×3.14×r)×L×10 In the mathematical formula, ρ is the volume resistivity (Ω·cm) of the topping rubber of the carcass, g is the minimum thickness (mm) of the topping rubber, r is the distance (m) from the axis of the tire to an outer end, in the radial direction, of the clinch, and L is the length (m) of the carcass from an end of the reinforcing layer to the outer end, in the radial direction, of the clinch.
US09616715B2
Tread for a tire for the driven axle of a heavy goods vehicle, comprising a plurality of circumferential grooves delimiting at least three ribs each having a height and a width measured in the axial direction, axially delimited by two edge rows, each rib having a plurality of sipes able to close at least in part as they enter the contact patch, and opening onto each lateral face of the rib to form two edge corners and having a depth at least equal to 50% of the height of the rib, these sipes in pairs delimiting an elementary rib volume and an elementary contact surface, wherein each elementary volume delimited by two sipes of one and the same rib has a void volume opening on the contact face in the new state, having a total area on the tread surface at least equal to 0.4% and at most equal to 1.5% of the area of the elementary contact surface, having a depth at least equal to half the depth of the grooves, and determined such that it remains open as it passes through the contact patch so as to allow any liquid present on the road surface to be picked up.
US09616712B2
Provided are a process for efficiently producing a rubber wet master batch in which a dispersibility of carbon black in the rubber is improved, in which a reinforcing property and an abrasion resistance of the rubber can be enhanced by using carbon black having a high surface activity, in which a yield of the carbon black in the wet master batch obtained is not reduced and in which a handling property of the carbon black is good as compared with master batches prepared by using a granulated and dried substance of carbon black prepared by a conventional wet method and non-granulated carbon black, a carbon black-containing rubber wet master batch obtained by the above process and a rubber composition and a tire prepared by using the master batch.It is a process for producing a rubber wet master batch comprising a step for mixing a slurry (A) in which a filler containing carbon black is dispersed with a rubber liquid (B) in which a rubber component is dispersed or dissolved, wherein the slurry (A) is prepared by using a filler containing a carbon black granulated substance which is granulated by a wet method and which stays in a non-drying state.
US09616706B2
A kit for a dual wheel assembly for a vehicle is provided having a drive shaft adapter with an outwardly projecting extension attachable to an inner wheel by a flange and a drive shaft coupler having an outwardly projecting receiver attachable to an outer wheel with a flange, whereby drive shaft extension and receiver are telescopically engageable over a range of distances, which allows the inner wheel and outer wheel to be mounted with the tires abutting or the tires spaced apart by incorporating a spacer element into the assembly.
US09616704B2
A one-part wheel which is made of fiber composites without interruption of fibers with excellent mechanical properties and with low weight at the same time as well as a process for the manufacture thereof. The wheel has especially a rim well as well as a wheel disk passing over into a wheel flange of the rim well, where the wheel disk is formed at least partly by fiber layers, which run from the rim well over a wheel flange and the wheel disk. The wheel is manufactured by a multipart mold with parts displaceable at least in the axial direction. The mold is completely removed after the deposition of fibers or remains as a lost core in the wheel.
US09616698B2
A bookbinding apparatus includes an application roller that applies glue onto a back edge face of a sheet bundle and a bookbinding control unit that positions the application roller onto the back edge face and causes the roller to execute glue application. The bookbinding apparatus applies a required amount of glue determined by a sheet bundle thickness by, after applying side glues to both side surfaces of the sheet bundle, bringing the application roller in contact with a first position within a central region on the back edge face and rotating the roller in a forward direction, bringing the application roller in contact with a second position between the first position and a right side of the sheet bundle, and rotating the roller in the forward direction. The glue is leveled to form a flat layer of adhesive with an adequate thickness.
US09616692B1
Included are embodiments for providing a service station interface. Some embodiments of a system include a service station for receiving a handheld jet dispensing apparatus in a service compartment of the service station and a memory component. The memory component may store logic that, when executed by a processor, causes the system to determine if a maintenance function is to be implemented on the handheld jet dispensing apparatus, in response to determining that the maintenance function is to be implemented, determine if the service station is closed, and if the service station is closed, engage an interface function of the service station during the maintenance function, wherein the interface function is related to accessing the service compartment. In some embodiments, the logic causes the system to determine that the maintenance function has ended and, in response to determining that the maintenance function has ended, disengage the interface function.
US09616688B2
A printing apparatus includes a control unit that calculates a transport amount (an actual transport amount) during a transport period based on a captured image of a medium by an imaging unit and controls a transport unit. In addition, the control unit calculates the transport amount (the actual transport amount) during the transport period by calculating the transport amount at each calculation interval (a divided transport amount) and integrating the transport amount at each calculation interval (the divided transport amount). Then, the control unit causes the calculation interval to be longer in a case where the transporting speed of the medium is low than in a case where the transporting speed of the medium is high.
US09616687B2
A print data generating device generates print data printable by a tape printer including a feeding mechanism which feeds a print tape in a scanning direction, a print head which performs print processing on the print tape fed in the scanning direction, and a tape cutter which is arranged downstream of the print head in the scanning direction and cuts the print tape. In the print data generating device, a print direction of a print image is changed in such a way that an image arrangement area on the print image of the print data, and a print area where the print processing is carried out by the print head in a paper feed acceleration/deceleration zone at the time of cutting the print tape, do not overlap with each other.
US09616677B2
The present invention is and includes a conversion circuit for allowing a printer controller to send a different set of control signals for dot history control to an integrated circuit driver other than those which the integrated circuit driver is designed to receive. The conversion circuit includes a plurality of driver circuits coupled to a plurality of strobe signals from at least one strobe signal generator, wherein each of the plurality of driver circuits comprises a plurality of gating groups respectively coupled to the plurality of strobe signals, wherein each of the plurality of gating groups includes a plurality of gate units respectively coupled to a plurality of heating elements wherein at least one gate unit controls at least one coupled heating element according to a corresponding strobe signal.
US09616673B2
A liquid jet unit includes a circulation path through which liquid is circulated, and a liquid jet head having an inflow port and an outflow port between which is disposed a flow path forming a part of the circulation path, and a nozzle communicating with the flow path and configured to eject liquid from the liquid jet head. A liquid pump is inserted into the circulation path for circulating liquid in the circulation path. A supply path is connected to the circulation path for supplying liquid to the circulation path. A pressure sensor detects the pressure of liquid in the circulation path and generates corresponding pressure information. The liquid pump is configured to change an amount of liquid to be fed on the basis of the pressure information generated to maintain liquid in the nozzle at a predetermined pressure and draw liquid into the circulation path from the supply path.
US09616667B2
An inkjet head including a substrate configured to discharge ink including a supporting surface formed of a resin material and configured to support the substrate, the supporting substrate including a portion continuing to a surface intersecting the supporting surface and forming a corner portion, the portion forming the corner portion including a non surface treated area which is not surface treated, the supporting surface including a portion adjacent to the non surface treated area being surface treated areas which is surface treated, wherein the substrate and the supporting surface are bonded via an adhesive agent disposed in the non surface treated area and the surface treated area.
US09616666B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing an element substrate, including: forming first and second resists on a predetermined surface of a substrate so that part of the predetermined surface is exposed; etching the substrate with the first and second resists being used as a mask to form a first recess in the substrate; removing the second resist to expose a portion of the substrate that is different from the first recess; etching the substrate with the first resist being used as a mask to deepen the first recess and to form a second recess communicating with the first recess in the substrate; and covering openings of the first and second recesses with an orifice forming member to form a pressure chamber by the first recess and an orifice forming member and to form a flow reducing portion by the second recess and the orifice forming member.
US09616659B2
An image processing apparatus includes a controller for controlling a print execution unit. The print execution unit repeatedly performs ejection processing of ejecting a droplet of color material onto a printing medium. The controller is configured to perform: specifying an estimate value for a target partial image by using color gap information, the target partial image being selected among a plurality of partial images included in an N-th band image; determining whether the estimate value satisfies an estimate condition; determining an ejection execution direction with respect to an N-th ejection processing to be a first direction in response to determination that the estimate value satisfies the estimate condition; and determining the ejection execution direction with respect to the N-th ejection processing to be opposite to the ejection execution direction with respect to an (N−1)-th ejection processing in response to determination that the estimate value does not satisfy the estimate condition.
US09616647B2
A device for bonding a window includes a chamber having an internal space, a display panel fixing unit in the chamber and including a first curved surface, the first curved surface being configured to attach to a flexible display panel, a window fixing unit in the chamber and including a second curved surface, at least part of the window fixing unit including an ultraviolet transmitting material, the second curved surface facing the first curved surface and being complementary with the first curved surface, and the second curved surface being configured to attach to a window, and an ultraviolet irradiating unit on the window fixing unit, the ultraviolet irradiating unit being configured to irradiate ultraviolet light through the window fixing unit toward the first curved surface of the display panel fixing unit.
US09616643B2
An embossed thermoplastic label includes (a) a facestock having an upper surface and a lower surface with at least one layer and the layer has at least one thermoplastic resin, and (b) the facestock includes at least one embossed pattern on the upper surface of the facestock. The embossed pattern includes at least one embossed section and at least one unembossed section on the facestock. An intermediate configuration is also disclosed. A method is provided for embossing a thermoplastic label. The embossed thermoplastic label is useful in various labeling and brand awareness applications and provides visual and textural effects.
US09616639B2
Tin-plated copper-alloy material for terminal in which: a Sn-based surface layer is formed on a surface of a substrate made of Cu alloy, and a Cu—Sn alloy layer is formed between the Sn-based surface layer and the substrate; the Cu—Sn alloy layer is an alloy layer containing Cu6Sn5 as a major proportion and having a compound in which a part of Cu in the Cu6Sn5 is substituted by Ni and Si in the vicinity of a boundary face at the substrate side; an average thickness of the Sn-based surface layer is 0.2 μm or more and 0.6 μm or less; an oil-sump depth Rvk of the Cu—Sn alloy layer is 0.2 μm or more; an area rate of the Cu—Sn alloy layer exposed at a surface of the Sn-based surface layer is 10% or more and 40% or less; and dynamic friction coefficient is 0.3 or less.
US09616623B2
A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours.
US09616609B2
An apparatus for the shaping of plastics material pre-forms into plastics material containers, with a plurality of shaping stations which are arranged on a movable carrier, wherein the shaping stations have blow molds which are used for receiving the plastic pre-forms and inside which the plastic pre-forms are shaped into the plastic containers, and wherein the shaping stations have stressing devices which are movable relative to the plastic pre-forms and which act upon the pre-forms arranged in the blow molds with a sterile flowable medium to expand them, with a clean room, inside which the shaping stations are conveyed, wherein this clean room is arranged or demarcated from the environment by means of at least one wall. At least one supply device is provided for supplying a flowable control medium to at least one shaping station), wherein this supply device (60) is sealed off from the clean room.
US09616607B2
In a method for manufacturing a polyolefin microporous film, non-uniformity in a film resulting from non-uniform drying during solvent extraction is minimized, high-speed drying and high-speed continuous productivity of the polyolefin microporous film are implemented. In the method for manufacturing a polyolefin microporous film, in which a composition composed of a polyolefin resin and a plasticizer is made into a film form using extrusion, the plasticizer is extracted and removed using a solvent, and the film is thereafter dried. After the foregoing extraction and before the drying, the film is brought into close contact with a roll, or its width is mechanically restrained. A liquid (heating medium) having a temperature greater than or equal to the boiling point of the solvent is made to contact the film while the film is in close contact with the roll or while the width is restrained, whereby the film is heated and dried.
US09616605B2
The invention pertains to a pellet mill 2 for forming pelleted material, the pellet mill 2 comprising: A die 4 having a cylindrical inner surface 6 with a plurality of apertures 8 formed therein and extending to the outside of the die 4, the volume bounded by said inner cylindrical surface 6 defining a die chamber 10. At least two cylindrical rollers 12, 14, 16 adapted to travel over said inner cylindrical surface 6 of the die 4 in a rolling motion. Drive means for causing relative rotation of the die 4 and the rollers 12, 14, 16, so that the rollers 12, 14, 16 will travel over the inner cylindrical surface 6 of the die 4, thereby forming wedge-shaped spaces 18, 20, 22 between the rollers 12, 14, 16 and the inner cylindrical surface 6 of the die 4. A feed system, comprising at least two conduits 24, 26, 28, one associated with each of the at least two rollers 12, 14, 16, extending into the die chamber 10, each of the conduits 24, 26, 28 having a side opening 32 for feeding the pelletizable material 30 into the wedge-shaped spaces 18, 20, 22 between the rollers 12, 14, 16 and the inner cylindrical surface 6 of the die 4, the side opening 32 extending axially along the conduit 24, 26, 28 and having an extension that is equal to the length of the rollers 12, 14, 16, wherein at least one of the conduits 24, 26, 28 is configured for feeding the pelletizable material 30 directly to a wedge-shaped space 22, which is at a higher location in the die chamber than said conduit 28.
US09616592B1
A modular conveyor assembly employable with a materials mixing system is provided that includes an elongate frame supporting a motor driven axle, an idler axle, and a plurality of rollers supported in individual rotational fashion by the frame, and a belt and chain subassembly configured to be cycled rotationally about the axles and rollers, where the belt and chain subassembly includes first and second chains each attached along first and second sides of the belt, respectively, so that the belt and chains move in unison, and wherein the frame is configured to be detachable from a materials mixing system without the need to disassemble substantial components of the modular conveyor assembly.
US09616589B2
A resin infusion repair device and method for repairing a wooden boat deck having a repair area that includes voids between the planking of the boat deck and the as built surface under the boat deck planking. A vacuum cover provides an airtight cover of the repair area. A vacuum suction line is inserted into the vacuum cover. A vacuum pump is connected to the vacuum suction line and provides vacuum suction at the repair area. A resin supply line is inserted through the vacuum cover. A resin supply source is connected to the resin supply line. The vacuum pump provides a vacuum suction that draws resin from resin supply source through the resin supply line and into the repair area so that the voids are all filled with the resin. In a preferred embodiment, the wooden boat deck is a teak boat deck.
US09616588B2
A method of forming a joint between first and second workpieces generally consisting of forming a recess in one of such workpieces, provided with at least one side wall having a serrated cross-sectional configuration with inwardly projecting, distortable segments; providing a portion in the other of such workpieces, insertable into such recess, having a cross-sectional configuration sufficient to engage and distort such segments as such portion is inserted into such recess; and inserting such of the other workpiece into such recess, causing the segments to distort and thus provide an interference fit between such workpieces.
US09616580B2
An end effector for a robotic arm is disclosed. The end effector includes a grasping apparatus having a gripping member and an appendage extending from the gripping member forming a channel between the griping member and the appendage. The channel is configured to receive at least a portion of an article, such as a latch for a container, to be manipulated by the end effector.
US09616574B2
An apparatus is configured to process a work piece and includes a robotic arm, a sealant discharger, and a plasma discharger. The robotic arm includes a distal end that is rotatable with respect to an axis of the robotic arm. The sealant discharger includes a sealant outlet configured to discharge sealant while the sealant outlet is at a first point. The sealant discharger is mounted on the distal end such that the first point is located on the axis. The plasma discharger includes a plasma outlet configured to discharge plasma while the plasma outlet is at a second point that is located a distance apart from the axis. The plasma discharger is mounted on the distal end such that the second point is rotatable around the axis.
US09616563B2
A toolbox has a central section and at least one side section. The side sections are pivotally attached to the central section using a pin and slot arrangement which allows an eccentric path to be followed as the side sections pivot around the central section. This allows freedom of design of the dimensions of a central tray in the central section without obstructing pivoting of the side sections. A latch may be provided which slightly opens the side sections when it is in its unlatched position allowing a user to see that the sides are not properly latched.
US09616558B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an impact tool including: a motor; a hammer connected to an output portion of the motor; and an anvil to be struck by the hammer in a rotation direction and having a rotary shaft, the hammer striking the anvil in the rotation direction by driving the motor in pulses, wherein the anvil is provided in front of the hammer, wherein the hammer is driven in pulses by the motor, and wherein a rotation angle of the hammer is substantially proportional to a rotation angle of the motor.
US09616550B2
A grinding tool includes a rigid support body and a carrier substrate. The carrier substrate is attached to the support body, and is supported by the support body. Two opposing surfaces of the carrier substrate respectively define a working surface and a non-working surface. A plurality of first abrasive particles are affixed on the working surface, and a plurality of second abrasive particles are affixed on the non-working surface. The first abrasive particles have a first average size, and the second abrasive particles have a second average size smaller than the first average size. The carrier substrate is attached to the support body at the non-working surface. Moreover, a method of manufacturing the grinding tool is described herein.
US09616541B2
A shrink-fit chuck having a receiving body, a receiving opening for a tool shank, arranged in the receiving body, an accumulation and collection chamber arranged in the front region of the receiving opening and at least one coolant supply channel leading to the accumulation and collection chamber. The accumulation and collection chamber is delimited to the front by a ring bar arranged at the front end of the receiving opening. The internal diameter of the ring bar is adjusted to the internal diameter of the receiving opening in such a manner that as small an annular gap as possible exists between the ring bar and the tool shank. A plurality of outlet openings are provided in the ring bar for discharging to the outside a coolant routed via the coolant supply channel into the accumulation and collection chamber.
US09616526B2
According to a method according to the invention for operating an additional tool axis (Z) of a tool (2) guided by a manipulator, in particular a robot (1), a position and/or an orientation of the tool in space are defined by axis positions (q1-q6) of the manipulator axes and a position value (f) of the tool axis, are saved and/or displayed, with an automatic conversion being carried out between the position value (f) and an axis position (e) of the tool axis which brings it about.
US09616523B2
A laser processing device has a laser source and a high speed vibration unit. The laser source has a laser-emitting end being capable of emitting a laser beam adapted to process a workpiece. The high speed vibration unit is located on a moving path of the laser beam and is capable of vibrating periodically along a direction parallel to the moving path of the laser beam such that the focusing point of the laser beam moves periodically on the workpiece at high speed. The laser processing device with the fast moving focusing point is able to efficiently process parts of the workpiece at specific depths. Therefore, product quality and production rate are increased.
US09616522B2
The invention discloses a device for laser material machining, with at least two laser beam sources (2a-2c) which emit laser beams (5a-5c) of different wavelengths, with associated beam imaging means (3a-3c), to configure appropriately the beam paths of each associated laser beam (5a-5c), a beam superposition device (6), to overlay the laser beams (5a-5c) on each other, and imaging optics (8), to image the overlaid laser beams (5a-5c) onto a workpiece (12) so that respective focal points are associated with the laser beams (5a-5c) in the focus of the imaging optics (8) on the workpiece (12), wherein the beam imaging means image the laser beams (5a-5c) onto the respective focal points in a predefined arrangement which can be varied by means of the beam imaging means (3a-3c). According to the invention, electronic control devices (4a-4c) are provided which are able to vary each of the outputs of the laser beams (5a-5c) with a high frequency to vary the intensities of the respective focal points at the focus of the imaging optics (8) in a predefined manner. In this way, a high frequency control of the parameters of laser material machining which can be combined with conventional modulation techniques is implemented.
US09616520B2
A friction stir welding member is formed by welding a second member to a first member in such a manner that a second member is stacked on a first member, a material property of the second member being different from a material property of the first member, a pin of a welding tool using a Friction Stir Welding technique is inserted into the second member, welding is started at one end of the second member, and the pin is pulled out at a welding terminal portion before the pin reaches the other end of the second member. A projection projecting toward the welding tool is provided integrally with the second member, the projection is formed so as to have a height that is higher than a length of the pin, and the projection is provided with the welding terminal portion.
US09616512B1
An invention is disclosed comprising a cutting chain of links that pivot without longitudinal disarticulation, yet are connected without reliance on separate connections. Lateral dislocation of the links of the cutting chain is prevented by placement of the cutting chain in a channel, which guides the cutting chain along its operational path and provides resistance against normal load. The channel may be retractable and/or comprised of lubricious, heat absorbing materials. The blade may be flexible in order to cut a variable kerf. The invention further comprises a power train and drive train, designed to optimize the cutting chain for one of many applications.
US09616506B2
An object is to provide a cutting insert for a milling cutter with which efficiency in machining can be increased. The cutting insert includes two polygonal main surfaces facing each other and side surfaces each connected to a corresponding side of each of the main surfaces. The side surfaces include a major side surface through which an attachment hole extends, a first minor side surface perpendicular to the major side surface, and a second minor side surface disposed between the first minor side surface and the major side surface. A ridge between each of the main surfaces and the major side surface forms a major cutting edge, and a ridge between each of the main surfaces and the second minor side surface forms a minor cutting edge. An angle between the major cutting edge and the minor cutting edge is 145° or larger.
US09616500B2
A guide bush adjusting device includes a drawbar (a mobile body) displaceable relative to a guide bush sleeve (cylindrical body). The drawbar is formed from a screw connection member (a connection member) which is connected to a guide bush housed in the guide bush sleeve (a cylindrical body), and an operation member configured to displace the screw connection member. The guide bush adjusting device adjusts an inner diameter of the guide bush by releasing the operation member from its fixation, displacing the drawbar, moving the guide bush with respect to the guide bush sleeve via the drawbar to thereby position the guide bush, and fixing the operation member of the drawbar (mobile body) at a predetermined position.
US09616497B2
Plastic zone extrusion may be provided. First, a compressor may generate frictional heat in stock to place the stock in a plastic zone of the stock. Then, a conveyer may receive the stock in its plastic zone from the compressor and transport the stock in its plastic zone from the compressor. Next, a die may receive the stock in its plastic zone from the conveyer and extrude the stock to form a wire.
US09616494B2
A printer that produces objects from liquid conductive material is disclosed. In one embodiment, the printhead has a chamber for containing liquid conductive material surrounded by an electromagnetic coil. A DC pulse is applied to the electromagnetic coil, resulting in a radially-inward force on the liquid conductive material. The force on the liquid conductive material in the chamber results in a drop being expelled from an orifice. In response to a series of pulses, a series of drops fall onto a platform in a programmed pattern, resulting in the formation of an object.
US09616493B2
An apparatus and a system including a casting pit; a mold including a reservoir and a cavity; a coolant feed operable to introduce a coolant to a periphery of a metal emerging from the mold cavity; an array of water vapor exhaust ports about at least the top periphery of the casting pit; a mechanism to introduce an inert fluid into the coolant feed. A method for a direct chill casting including, after detecting a bleed out, exhausting generated gas from the casting pit at a flow volume rate that is enhanced relative to a flow volume rate prior to detecting bleed out or run out; introducing an inert gas into the casting pit; and introducing an inert fluid into a coolant feed to the casting mold.
US09616491B2
The invention provides a split-type mold for wheel casting, the mold having an upper die, a split-type water-cooling side die and a lower die, and the split-type water-cooling side die is divided into four pieces along a circumferential direction of the wheel mold. A thermal deformation arc compensation surface is machined on ¼ arc portion of each split-type water-cooling lower side die, and a compensation surface is machined on key portions of 45-degree matching surfaces of adjacent split-type water-cooling upper side dies. The side die can effectively solve the problems such as untight matching between the matching surfaces, flashes of the matching surfaces and aluminum sticking and the like due to the thermal deformation and non-homogeneous expansion and shrinkage of the two portions of the split-type water-cooling side die.
US09616488B2
In a method for producing in particular structural components or chassis components for a motor vehicle by hot or semi-hot forming, a sheet metal blank is heated in a heating station at least in a first region from a starting temperature to a target temperature, and then the warm blank is transferred to a cooled pressing tool and is formed and press-hardened. The heating station includes at least one burner zone which includes at least one burner, in which zone the sheet metal blank is heated from the starting temperature to the target temperature, and at least one burner is operated with a combustion gas and an oxygen-containing gas and the sheet metal blank comes into direct contact with the burner flame.
US09616487B2
A riveting tool configured to install a plurality of fasteners simultaneously is provided including a body having a generally central cavity. A strike surface is arranged at a first end of the body and a plurality of contactors extends generally outwards from a second, opposite end of the body. Each contactor includes an engagement surface configured to contact a surface of an adjacent fastener when a force is applied to the strike surface. A biasing mechanism is arranged within the cavity adjacent an upper cavity surface. A dowel is positioned within the cavity adjacent the biasing mechanism. The dowel is configured to engage a portion of an adjacent nut plate and translate within the cavity.
US09616485B2
Provided is a metal strip for a pipe with which the weight of a pipe can be reduced while maintaining the strength of a joint portion that tends to be structurally the weakest. A metal strip L is formed by rolling. The thickness of each of a head end portion 1a and a tail end portion 1b, which are longitudinal end portions 1, is greater than the thickness of an intermediate portion excluding the longitudinal end portions 1. The metal strips are connected to each other in series by welding, and a pipe is made by performing a pipe-forming operation.
US09616483B2
A method of making a can end, which includes a recessed panel defined by an upwardly extending chuck wall, a peripheral scoreline disposed in a public side of the panel proximate to the base of the chuck wall, a tab fastened to the panel by a rivet, includes the step of employing tooling to form a pressure resistance bead extends around the panel inboard of the peripheral scoreline and outboard of the rivet. The tooling forms a saw tooth panel formation proximate to the pressure resistance bead inboard of the pressure resistance bead. Among other benefits, the pressure resistance bead and saw tooth panel formation created by the tooling and method combine to resist wrinkling or other undesired deformation of the can end.
US09616480B2
A thermo-mechanical treatment process is disclosed. A nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a first heating step to a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked in a first working step to a reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature when the first working step begins. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is heated in a second working step to a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.) and less than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is not permitted to cool to ambient temperature between completion of the first working step and the beginning of the second heating step. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is worked to a second reduction in area of 20% to 70%. The nickel-base alloy workpiece is at a temperature greater than 1700° F. (926° C.) and less than the M23C6 carbide solvus temperature of the nickel-base alloy when the second working step begins.
US09616471B2
A rinsing line for discharging a rinsing fluid out of a medical technical functional device having been rinsed by means of the rinsing fluid is described, in which the rinsing line is, on the one side, connected, provided or intended for being connected with a section of the medical technical functional device and in which the rinsing line is, on the other side, connected with, provided or intended for being connected with a fluid supplying device for supplying a medical fluid into the medical technical functional device. A medical technical functional device, a medical technical treatment apparatus, a method and a control unit are also described.
US09616466B1
Methods, programs and systems are provided for arranging in correct delivery sequence a plurality of individual garments from multiple delivery routes. A first of two sorting operations utilizes predicted wearer data to create a wearer-rail association where a selection of a plurality of sequenced sorting rails is designated to receive garments according to a set number of predicted wearers/placeholder-wearers, and where the garments of the batch are distributed about the rails based on at least two or more levels of garment designation, including route, stop, customer and/or wearer. The second sort assembles, rail-by-rail, the garments from each of the respective sequenced rails into groups according to wearer which produces a correct delivery order for the batch of garments after only two scan/sort operations and where each garment moves along a non-repeating path.
US09616458B2
A device for producing or building up a metal part by sintering and laser fusion, the device including a laser beam generator, a mechanism for deflecting the beam to scan a surface of the part to be produced, a sintering pan including a metal powder used to cover the surface of the part and to be melted by the laser beam to thicken the part, and at least one mechanism for heating powder contained in an area of the sintering pan by induction.
US09616455B1
A paint roller locking mechanism that prevents a roller cover from rotating is designed to apply paint in a smoother manner that typically provided by a roller. The locking mechanism prevents the roller cover from rotating as it is rolled along the surface being painted. This, in effect, allows the roller cover to emulate a paint brush, allowing for a smooth painted surface without surface irregularities. The locking mechanism may easily pivot away allowing the paint roller to function in a normal rolling manner, as well as allow a user to reload the roller or apply bulk paint when needed.
US09616453B2
Powder is sprayed uniformly and favorably from a powder nozzle into processing target air. In a coating mist collection apparatus, coating mist in processing target gas is collected by filters in a state in which a coating mist trapping filter covering layer made up of an accumulated layer of powder is formed on the surface of the filters. The coating mist collection apparatus is provided with a powder dispersion means that obtains a uniform powder concentration in the air in sealed powder tanks by dispersing the powder stored in the tanks in a uniform floating dispersed state, and is provided with a spray air conveying means that supplies the powder in the floating dispersed state in the powder tanks along with carrier air to powder nozzles through powder supply passages.
US09616451B2
The harmful effects of accumulating droplets of process liquid on the outer surface of a dispense nozzle are prevented by equipping an apparatus for process wafer-shaped articles with a blow-off block that blows the droplets off the nozzle outer surface before they can coalesce and drop in an uncontrolled manner onto the work piece. The nozzle preferably has a polished and tapered outer surface to aid in blowing off any accumulated droplets of process liquid from the outer surface.
US09616449B2
An apparatus and methods for applying an inner coating to a wellbore screen are described. The apparatus comprises a support for the wellbore screen, an elongate injector for injecting coating material into the inner bore of the wellbore screen, and a driver for positioning the elongate injector into the inner bore and moving the elongate injector through the inner bore to introduce coating material to the inner bore. The elongate injector has a supported end, a distal end, and a coating material delivery line extending through the elongate injector from a coating material supply to a port at the distal end.
US09616445B2
Embodiments of lost motion foam pumps are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment includes a liquid chamber, a liquid piston movable in the liquid chamber, an air chamber and an air piston movable in the air chamber. The air piston is linked to the liquid piston. A connector is linked to the air piston or the liquid piston. The connector includes an engagement member for connecting to an actuator of a foam dispenser. Movement of the actuator in a first direction moves the liquid and air pistons to contract the liquid chamber and the air chamber. Movement of the actuator a first distance in a second direction does not move the liquid piston or the air piston; however, continued movement of the actuator a second distance in the second direction moves the liquid piston and the air piston and expands the liquid and air chambers.
US09616444B2
A high pressure water cleaner with detachable water tank includes a water cleaner main unit having an internal hydraulic pump, a top receptacle and a feed water connector in the receptacle in communication with the hydraulic pump, and a water tank detachably insertable into the receptacle and lockable to the receptacle by a movable lock. Thus, the water cleaner main unit and the water tank can be used together or separately subject to different application requirements.
US09616439B2
A coating dispensing device includes a trigger assembly for actuating the coating dispensing device to dispense coating material and a nozzle through which the coating material is dispensed. The coating dispensing device further includes a source of voltage and a voltage multiplier for multiplying the voltage. The voltage multiplier is coupled to the source. An output terminal of the voltage multiplier is charged to a high-magnitude electrostatic potential and is adapted to charge coating material as the coating material is dispensed from the dispensing device. The coating dispensing device further includes a circuit for providing a visual indication of the voltage at the output terminal. The circuit for providing a visual indication of the voltage at the output terminal comprises a first impedance across which a portion of the voltage at the output terminal appears and an amplifier. The output terminal of the amplifier is coupled to a light source for providing the visual indication of the voltage at the output terminal of the voltage multiplier.
US09616429B2
The invention concerns a control and positioning system for the indication of the mounting position of an exchangeable wear lining element at a surface at a wall that is subject to wear, which may be constituted by, for example, the inner surface of a rotating drum at an ore grinder. The wear lining element is supported at the free end of a maneuverable arm that is a component of a lifting arrangement that is controlled during the handling of the wear lining element during a mounting operation by a crane operator. The wall is provided with a set of mounting holes and the wear lining element is equipped on its lower surface with a set of attachment means. The wear lining element is intended to be tightened against the surface by means of supplementary attachment means that are introduced through the mounting holes.
US09616426B2
A heater for heating fluidic elements and fluids is provided. The heater quickly and efficiently heats elements and samples without occupying a lot of space in in vitro diagnostic environments. The heater includes an induction coil, sized and configured to allow for a fluidic element to be placed therein, and induction circuitry coupled to the induction coil that facilitates induction heating through electromagnetic induction. A current is generated to pass through the induction coil, creating a field within the induction coil that generates heat that is transferrable to conductive objects placed within the field. In this manner, heat is transferred to the fluidic element and to fluids in contact with the fluidic element.
US09616421B2
The objectives of the present invention are to provide an olefin oligomerization catalyst that allows properties of particles of a polymer component by-produced in an α-olefin production process to be obtained in such a shape that does not negatively affect a separation process for the particles and to provide a method for producing an olefin oligomer performed in the presence of the olefin oligomerization catalyst. The objectives can be achieved by the olefin oligomerization catalyst obtained by contacting (D) a transition metal compound with a preliminary contact solid catalyst component (II) obtained by contacting a solid catalyst component (I) formed by supporting (B) an organoaluminum oxy-compound (b-2) on (A) a solid carrier with (C) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an organometallic compound (c-1), an organoaluminum oxy-compound (c-2), and a compound (c-3) that reacts with the transition metal compound (D) to form a pair of ion.
US09616419B2
The present invention is directed to an improved finished hydroisomerization catalyst manufactured from a first high nanopore volume (HNPV) alumina and a pore size distribution characterized by a full width at half-maximum, normalized to pore volume, of 15 to 25 nm·g/cc, and a second HNPV alumina having a pore size distribution characterized by a full width at half-maximum, normalized to pore volume, of 5 to 15 nm·g/cc. Their combination yields a HNPV base extrudate having a low particle density as compared to a conventional base extrudates.
US09616415B2
A process for producing a catalyst for the (amm)oxidation of alkanes comprises calcination of a crystalline mixed metal oxide catalyst partially or wholly in the presence of steam.
US09616411B2
The present invention provides a high Al-content steel sheet having an excellent workability and a method of production of the same at a low cost by mass production, a high Al-content metal foil and a method of production of the same, and a metal substrate using a high Al-content metal foil, that is, a high Al-content steel sheet having an Al content of 6.5 mass % to 10 mass %, the high Al-content steel sheet characterized by having one or both of a {222} plane integration of an α-Fe crystal with respect to the surface of the steel sheet of 60% to 95% or a {200} plane integration of 0.01% to 15% and a method of production of the same, a high Al-content metal foil and a method of production of the same, and a metal substrate using a high Al-content metal foil.
US09616392B2
A thin film composite polyamide membrane comprising a porous support and a thin film polyamide layer characterized by possessing: i) an azo (—N═N—) content of from 0.30% to 0.80%, as measured by pyrolysis gas chromatography; and ii) a dissociated carboxylate content of at least 0.18 mol/kg as measured by RBS at pH 9.5.
US09616387B2
An exhaust fluid treatment apparatus used to treat exhaust fluid emitted by a combustion engine includes a check of its functionality. A method of monitoring operation of an exhaust fluid treatment apparatus includes comparing a calculated temperature difference with an expected temperature difference associated with combustion of fuel. If the calculated temperature difference is within an acceptable margin of the expected temperature difference, further fuel injection may be permitted. If the calculated temperature difference is outside the acceptable margin of the expected temperature difference, a temperature of the exhaust gas upstream of the exhaust fluid treatment apparatus may be increased.
US09616386B2
A catalyst for purification of exhaust gas, comprising a first catalyst comprising: a first catalyst support comprising a first composite oxide composed of alumina, zirconia, and titania, and ceria supported on a surface of the first composite oxide in an amount of 0.5 to 10 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the first composite oxide; and a first noble metal supported on a surface of the first catalyst support in an amount of 0.05 to 5.0 parts by mass in terms of metal relative to 100 parts by mass of the first catalyst support.
US09616383B2
A very compact Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system with a very low footprint comprising an SCR reactor, an inlet flow system, and a vaporizer module is described. The SCR reactor comprises at least one SCR catalyst which is in communication with the inlet flow system and the vaporizer module. The inlet flow system is configured to provide an approximately uniform flow of the exhaust gas through the catalyst and to provide heat to the vaporizer module. The vaporizer module is configured to allow for the conversion of urea to ammonia and to contact the ammonia with the exhaust gases in the SCR reactor upstream of the SCR catalyst.
US09616382B2
A humidity control system includes a humectant material, an oxygen absorbing composition, and a package housing the humectant material and the oxygen absorbing composition.
US09616374B2
A process is provided for the removal of impurities from the exhaust gases being emitted from a power generation plant. A multi-stage temperature based separation system is being utilized. The removal of undesirable compounds/elements is accomplished by directing the exhaust gases from the power plant through a first stage cooling unit to lower the temperature of the exhaust gases to a first predetermined level that is below the boiling point of one or more of the undesired compounds/elements, diverting the resulting liquid to storage, directing the gas to a second stage cooling unit to further lower the temperature of the exhaust gases to a second predetermined level that is below the boiling point of several more of the undesired compounds/elements. The resulting exhaust gas is a very clean syngas that may be used in various commercial applications.
US09616373B2
An inertial separator includes an inlet portion connected to a Y-junction having a first conduit fluidly extending therefrom and a second conduit fluidly extending therefrom. A separator wall is disposed between and along at least a portion of the first and second conduits. The separator wall has a tip extending into the Y-junction between an inlet to the first conduit and an inlet to the second conduit. An angle is formed between a major longitudinal dimension of the separator wall and the inlet portion centerline, and a ramp is formed adjacent the second end of the generally straight inlet portion, upstream of the Y-junction in a direction of airflow from the inlet opening towards the first and second outlets. During operation, debris entering the inlet portion is separated from an airflow and exits the through the second conduit while air exits through the first conduit.
US09616372B2
A honeycomb structure has porous partition walls defining and forming a plurality of cells communicating between two end faces, and a circumferential wall formed integrally with the partition walls. The cells include partial cells positioned in an outermost circumferential portion of the honeycomb structure and being partially in contact with the circumferential wall, and normal cells other than the partial cells. As to the normal cells, a plugging portion is formed in one end portion of each normal cell, and as to the partial cells, in the partial cells in which the plugging portion to be formed in one end portion thereof, the plugging portion is not formed in at least a part of a partial cell in which an area ratio obtained by Equation (1) is smaller than 80%: the area ratio(%)=an area of the partial cell/an area of the normal cell×100 (1).
US09616363B2
The present invention relates to an industrial scale filtration assembly for filtrating a liquid and screening of foreign particles and dirtiness. More particularly the invention pertains to a self-cleaning filtration assembly for gradually screening of fine and coarse particles in a single system by using different filtration screens (2, 4) concentrically formed in a single filter body (13).
US09616354B2
A model train railway assembly system having a plurality of foam boards cut to support at least one model train track on each board. Bus wires may be used to facilitate running of electricity along the track. The system comprising connecting a plurality of the assembled boards in a desired train track configuration.
US09616353B2
A doll with reconfigurable hair and dress is disclosed. The hair is rotatably coupled to the top of the head of the doll and a switch within the head of the doll. Furthermore, the switch is connected to the output mechanism, dictating which output the output mechanism produces. When the hair rotates about the head of the doll, the switch is actuated, changing the output of the output mechanism. Additionally, the dress of the doll is capable from converting from a full gown that folds away to reveal a skirt.
US09616352B2
A method and system for wireless communication are disclosed. The method comprises: the master device generates a sequence code through a specific encoder and transmits the sequence code to each slave device continuously within a preset period according to the communication demand, wherein the specific encoder is a feedback shift register constructed by a specific polynomial, of which the coefficients and the order are in correlation with the communication demand while all of the coefficients and initial values are not equal to 0 at the same time; the preset period is greater than or equal to the sum of a sleeping period and a detecting period of the slave device, which constitutes a sleeping-and-waking cycle; the slave device receives a continuous section of the sequence code in the detecting period, decodes the sequence code through a decoder corresponding to the encoder, and performs corresponding operation according to the decoding result.
US09616346B2
A sports simulator calculates the rotational and translational velocity of a sports object. The rotational velocity is calculated using image analysis. The translational velocity is calculated using image analysis and a set of emitters and sensors. The simulator then computes the future trajectory of the sports object based on the rotational and translational velocity. In one embodiment, the sports object is a golf ball and the sports simulator simulates golf.
US09616345B2
Various embodiments provide systems and methods that collect data regarding game strategy decisions by human players during video game, and utilize the collected data to either adjust or replace behaviors of computer players and/or suggest game strategies to human players during video game sessions. The game strategy decisions may be harvested from human-vs-human and human-vs-computer video game sessions. The data may be harvested from online-connected video game sessions, which may be hosted over an online video game network. Depending on the embodiment, the harvested data can include information regarding game strategies used by players during the video game sessions, the game contexts in which the game strategies were respectively used, and the results achieved by the respective use of the game strategies. Systems and methods described herein may facilitate a computer player having behavior that is (at least partially) “crowd-sourced” based on game strategies used by online-connected video game sessions.
US09616338B1
Provided herein are systems and methods for dynamically capturing the graphics engine function calls and other virtual reality object data as it is created during a virtual reality session by a client virtual reality device and creating a modified virtual reality session data stream based on the captured virtual reality session for rendering a virtual reality replay session of the captured virtual reality session by the same or another client virtual reality device (or by multiple client replay devices either independently and/or in a synchronized, interactive replay), where the modified virtual reality session data stream allows the virtual reality replay session to mimic the virtual reality scenes and environment created during the captured virtual reality session, while permitting a “third person” spectator perspective to be selected, and dynamically re-selected, during the course of the virtual reality replay session.
US09616336B2
Methods and apparatus for gaming according to various aspects of the present invention may be implemented in conjunction with a multiplayer game. The game system may identify a winning player for the multiplayer game and notify the winning player of a win condition. The game system may receive a video stream of the winning player's reaction, and substantially concurrently display the video stream to one or more other players of the game.
US09616335B2
An interactive game system that stage lighting style cues as part of the game, where the stage lighting cues cause external stage lighting equipment to create effects that are based on outputs from the game. Steerable lights can be steered to the player and sounds can be created that are directed to the player. A simulation system can also simulate the actions that occur. The computer assigns teams.
US09616326B2
There is provided a system and method for determining an identity of a game piece. The system including a detection grid, a memory for storing a detection algorithm, and a processor configured to detect an electrical change on the detective grid caused by a contact face from the game piece, determine the identity of the game piece based on the electrical change using the detection algorithm, and transmit the identity of the game piece wirelessly. The game piece may include a die with a plurality of resistors, where each of the plurality of faces includes a resistor with a different resistance value. The identity of the die corresponds to the rolled face of the die. Wherein detecting the rolled face of the die includes detecting the resistance value on the contact face of the die and determining the rolled face based on the detected resistance value.
US09616316B2
A goaltender glove including a finger portion, a thumb portion and a webbed pocket extending therebetween to collectively form a catching area. The webbed pocket can include a rigid support element that extends into at least one of the finger portion and the thumb portion, and is connected to the same via an interface element. The support element pivots about the interface element, with a free end of the element pivoting away from or through a portion of the main shell to prevent excessive bending and stress on the element. The glove can include a selectively manually replaceable mitt, which can be replaced with another mitt, or removed for servicing the mitt or glove. The mitt can be attached to the main shell via an elastic member joined with the finger portion to enable fingers in the finger portion and the mitt to move together.
US09616309B2
A swing training device for improving the batting mechanics of baseball players includes a device handle for gripping by a player in the manner of a baseball bat handle and a device barrel having a ball striking surface. The device barrel is interfaced at an angle from about 20° to about 40° to the device handle. At least the ball striking surface of the device barrel is formed in the size and circular shape of a baseball bat barrel. A joint maybe provided for interfacing the device barrel to the device handle at the desired angle of interface, in which case threaded bolts are utilized to attach the device handle and the device barrel to the joint. Longitudinally oriented threaded bores are provided on substantially planar faces of the device handle and the device barrel to matingly receive the bolts.
US09616301B2
The invention includes a releasable component for use on a golf club head, wherein the component itself may serve as a portion of the club head face, crown, sole, or other portion of the club head body when attached to the club head. The component includes an anti-over rotation mechanism configured to prevent overtightening of the component to a corresponding counterbore on the golf club head. The anti-over rotation mechanism is embodied as a taper design defined on a flange of a threaded component and a corresponding taper design on a flange surface of a counterbore. The counterbore is configured to receive and retain the releasable component by way of a threaded engagement, wherein the interaction between the corresponding taper flange designs of the releasable component and counterbore prevents over rotation of the releasable component, particularly resisting rotation due to ball strike impacts.
US09616292B2
An exercise tracker includes a force sensor programmed to output a force signal representing a force applied to a cable associated with a piece of exercise equipment. The exercise tracker further includes a processing device programmed to receive the force signal and determine, from the force signal, exercise data including an amount of weight lifted.
US09616290B2
A foot monitoring system includes a measurement circuit and an alert circuit. The measurement circuit measures sideways roll of a person's foot while the person is walking/running. The alert circuit determines that the person should change sideways spacing between the person's feet to change further measured values of the sideways roll of the person's foot toward preferred sideways roll values, and generates a notification that indicates to the person to change the sideways spacing between the feet. The foot measurement circuit may determine how much shoe cushioning life remains for a shoe worn by the person in response to comparison of values a peak pulse segment of impact measurements to another segment of the impact measurements that is outside the peak pulse segment.
US09616289B2
A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller, display and indicator system thereon. The controller has at least one sensor wherein activity of a user wearing the device is detected. The controller selectively illuminates the indicator system to indicate a level of activity of the user.
US09616279B2
A exercise device, for example, and exercise ball device. The exercise device includes a frame and at least one panel or multiple panels.
US09616270B2
A selectorized dumbbell comprises a handle assembly that comprises a generally triangularly shaped handle housing having an upwardly extending loop style handle in the manner of a kettlebell handle. The handle housing has angled side walls that provide surfaces on which the user's forearm can rest when doing certain exercises. The handle housing is hollow inside. A set of generally triangularly shaped add-on weights of progressively decreasing size can be nested inside one another with the set of weights being nested inside the handle housing. A repositionable connecting pin can be placed into different positions on the handle housing to selectively couple a desired number of the add-on weights to the handle housing.
US09616266B2
Physical training apparatus, at least comprising a frame, a load which is to be gripped by a user and which is provided as a load shaft arranged on the frame and rotatable through a determined rotation angle, wherein an electric motor is provided to produce a torque exerted on the load shaft, the electric motor being coupled by means of first coupling means to a reaction shaft, which reaction shaft is coupled by means of second coupling means to the load shaft, wherein the rotation angle of the load shaft is limited to a value of less than 360°, and the second coupling means are adapted to exert a torque on the load shaft during a rotation of the load shaft limited to this value of less than 360°.
