US09128249B2

An optical measurement method that can suppress variation in detection sensitivity even if an optical probe is bent, and an optical probe suitably used for the method are provided. An optical probe 10 includes an optical fiber 11 that transmits light between a proximal end 11a and a distal end 11b, an optical connector 12 connected with the optical fiber 11 at a side of the proximal end 11a, a focusing optical system 13 and a deflecting optical system 14 optically connected with the optical fiber 11 at a side of the distal end 11b, and a support tube 15 and a jacket tube 16 surrounding the optical fiber 11 and extending along the optical fiber 11. The optical fiber 11 is twisted by a number of turns in a range from one turn/m to 50 turns per meter around an axis of the optical fiber as the center and fixed relative to the support tube 15.
US09128246B2

On-chip non-reciprocity can be achieved by employing micron-sized optomechanical (OM) devices that are fabricated on-chip and which can be integrated with other optical elements. Non-linear coupling between light and a mechanical mode inside a resonator can provide a non-reciprocal response of the OM system, which can be induced and fully controlled by an external driving electromagnetic field. By choosing different resonator and/or waveguide configurations and by tuning different system parameters, the same OM coupling mechanism can be used to provide isolation (e.g., as an optical diode), non-reciprocal phase shifting, and/or routing applications. Even in the presence of a finite intrinsic mode coupling inside the resonator, non-reciprocal effects remain large for a sufficiently strong OM coupling. The disclosed systems, methods, and devices can be applied on a single photon level, which may find use for various non-reciprocal applications in the classical optical as well as the quantum regime.
US09128239B2

In an optical device, a first spring connects a first lens frame and a second lens frame for exerting a spring force thereon so that first pins of the first lens frame and second pins of the second lens frame abut a first cam groove and a second cam groove of a cam barrel respectively. A second spring connects the second lens frame and a third lens frame for exerting a spring force thereon so that the second pins of the second lens frame and third pins of the third lens frame abut the second cam groove and a third cam groove of the cam barrel respectively. The first spring may be a compression spring, and the second spring may be an extension spring.
US09128231B2

This display device is provided with: a light source unit having a light source and a light source substrate; a display panel; a light receiving face that is disposed on the back side of the display panel, and upon which light is incident; a light guide plate having a light exiting surface that emits light toward the back side of the display panel; a wall that faces the light receiving face in such a manner that a gap is formed between the light receiving face and the wall; a light source support member that supports the light source unit, and is inserted with the light source unit in the gap etc. from the back side of the light guide plate; and an elastic member that is disposed on the light source support member, protrudes farther toward the light receiving surface than the light source, is inserted in the gap before the light source unit, and is formed of an elastic material.
US09128225B2

The present invention relates to a backlight unit with sag control patterns, comprising a light source formed in a side surface of a light guide plate; and a plurality of optical patterns formed on a lower surface of the light guide plate, sag of the plurality of optical patterns increasing as the optical patterns become more distant from the light source. By controlling sag of optical patterns formed in a light guide plate, efficiency of light emitted from a backlight unit can be improved and uniformity of the light can be maintained. Also, since sag of optical patterns can be controlled, by increasing the number of optical patterns (by improving fill factor), light efficiency and uniformity can be controlled easily. Also, compared with a conventional method for manufacturing white dot patterns, white dot patterns can be more efficiently manufactured in terms of development time and costs.
US09128222B1

A lighting apparatus includes a light-diffusive plate having opposing faces bounded by one or more sides. The plate has disruptions on a first face of the opposing faces and a first channel along at least a portion of a first side of the one or more sides. A first cover has first and second surfaces disposed over the first channel with the first surface facing the first side of the light-diffusive plate. A plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is disposed on the first surface of the first cover and within the first channel. The LEDs electrically coupled with wiring are integrated with the first cover.
US09128220B2

A light guiding element has a first principal surface, a second principal surface which opposes the first principal surface, a first lateral surface which intersects with the first principal surface and the second principal surface, and a second lateral surface which opposes the first lateral surface. The light guiding element allows light incoming from the first lateral surface to propagate between the first principal surface and the second principal surface. The light guiding element includes a portion in which a refractive index varies substantially continuously from the first principal surface toward the second principal surface.
US09128202B2

A method of collecting data from wireless sensor units arranged in a network. The method may comprise the steps of initiating distribution of control signals to the wireless sensor units, acquiring data with the wireless sensor units by sensing one or more physical parameters, each of the wireless sensor units transmitting the acquired data in response to the control signals; and each of the wireless sensor units transmitting of at least a portion of the acquired data according to a prioritizing algorithm associated with each respective wireless sensor unit.
US09128199B2

Systems and methods may be provided for setting up a geophysical seismic information-gathering grid utilizing an alternating source pattern as well as an alternating receiver pattern using base patterns including but not limited to “I+H” or “H+I” and “box plus.” Use of such base patterns may allow seismic data to be collected and processed using a reduced number of sources and receivers to provide a seismic imaging plot having increased and noticeably improved resolution than is presently available.
US09128198B2

The present application discloses an X-ray imaging apparatus for determining a surface profile of an object under inspection that is positioned at a distance from the apparatus. The X-ray imaging system has an X-ray source for producing a scanning beam of X-rays directed toward the object, a detector assembly for providing a signal representative of an intensity of X-rays backscattered from the object, and processing circuitry to determine a time difference between when the X-ray source is switched on and when the backscattered X-rays arrive at the detector assembly. The processing circuitry is adapted to output data representative of the surface profile of the object under inspection.
US09128188B1

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for automatic target recognition. A hypothesis about a target's classification, position and orientation relative to a LADAR sensor that generates range image data of a scene including the target is simulated and a synthetic range image is generated. The range image and synthetic range image are then electronically processed to determine whether the hypothesized model and position and orientation are correct. If the score is sufficiently high then the hypothesis is declared correct, otherwise a new hypothesis is formed according to a search strategy.
US09128180B2

Techniques and tools for reducing power consumption of computing devices (e.g., mobile devices such as mobile phones and tablet computers) that perform position tracking operations are described. In described examples, a low-power processor calculates (e.g., in real time) position information (e.g., GPS position fixes) based on information received from a positioning system (e.g., GPS) and stores the position information for later use in a buffer associated with the low-power processor (e.g., in storage on the low-power processor). Described examples allow position information to be calculated in real time and stored while the device is in a low-power state, and can be used with location-based applications that do not require position information to be delivered to the application in real time.
US09128178B2

A correlation calculation process execution method utilizes a first mode and a second mode as a positioning mode that performs a correlation calculation process on a received signal of a positioning signal that is spread-modulated by a spreading code and a signal replica of the spreading code, the first mode being a mode in which correlation values are averaged in a first mode process period to output a correlation value, and the second mode being a mode in which correlation values are integrated in a second mode process period to output a correlation value, the method including repeating the first mode and the second mode while setting an intermediate time of the first mode process period to be the same as an integration reference time of the second mode process period, and variably setting a ratio of an ON/OFF period in at least one period of the first mode process period and the second mode process period.
US09128166B2

There is provided a secondary battery tester for testing a state of a secondary battery based on an impedance characteristic of the secondary battery. The tester includes: an impedance acquiring section configured to acquire an impedance value of the secondary battery; and a determining section configured to determine a state of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer of the secondary battery based on the impedance value acquired by the impedance acquiring section.
US09128161B2

A voltage monitoring device monitors voltage of each of battery cells connected in series to one another to configure an assembled battery. The device includes a capacitor circuit, a filter circuit, an input side connection switching unit, a potential difference detection unit, and an output side connection switching unit. The capacitor circuit includes a plurality of capacitors connected in series to one another. The filter circuit includes a plurality of resistors connected to an electrode terminal of each of the battery cells. The plurality of resistors are divided into a first resistor group and a second resistor group. The first resistor group is connected to a connection point between adjacent capacitors of the plurality of capacitors. The second resistor group is connected to an independent end of the plurality of capacitors. A resistance value of the first resistor group is smaller than a resistance value of the second resistor group.
US09128150B2

An integrated circuit includes an LBIST controller operative to run a test program on at least one selection of core logic of the integrated circuit to test the operability of the at least one selection of core logic. The integrated circuit also includes a monitoring logic structure operative to detect at least one type of operation executed for the test program from at least one particular control signal activated by the LBIST controller for controlling the at least one selection of core logic to execute the test program from among at least one control signal for controlling operations on the at least one selection of core logic.
US09128147B2

A test board can be inserted to a test head and removed from the test head while the connecting section for mounting thereon devices under test is mounted on the upper portion of the test head. A test head for retaining therein at least one test board for testing devices under test, includes: a casing provided with, on one side surface thereof, an opening through which the at least one test board is inserted and removed, the casing retaining therein the at least one test board with an upper side thereof oriented towards an upper surface of the casing; and a mounting member that guides a lower side of the at least one test board through the opening to a pre-set position, imposes an upward force to the lower side of the at least one test board, thereby mounting the at least one test board to the casing.
US09128145B2

A semiconductor apparatus includes: an output timing controller configured to delay an applied external read command by a predetermined time and generate a normal output enable flag signal, during a normal mode, a test output timing controller configured to generate a DLL clock signal from an external clock signal, delay the applied external read command in synchronization with the DLL clock signal, and output the delayed applied external read command as a test output enable flag signal, during a test mode, and a multiplexer (MUX) configured to output any one of the normal output enable flag signal or the test output enable flag signal as an output enable flag signal.
US09128135B1

A system including a plurality of actuation devices with each actuation device configured to have a metalized and charged to an electrical potential rear part which moves to a designated position representative of a designated manipulation, when at least one actuation device is manipulated, a capacitive sensor array configured to measure a composite electric field produced by the plurality of actuation devices, an acquisition device configured to acquire electric field data indicative of the measured electric field, a converter configured to convert the acquired electric field data into analog values, and a processor configured to evaluate to the analog values to determine which of the at least one actuation devices was manipulated, how the manipulation reflects operation of the control panel, or to provide a response indicative of the manipulation. A method and a computer program product are also disclosed.
US09128134B2

A tester for testing a transformer is provided. The tester comprises a primary voltmeter and a plurality of secondary voltmeters. The tester may also comprise an ammeter in series with a voltage source configured to apply voltage to the transformer. The primary voltmeter is configured to measure voltage induced across a primary winding of the transformer, while the secondary voltmeters may simultaneously measure voltage outputs at secondary windings of the transformer. The tester is configured to calculate ratios, saturation curves, and knee points for multiple winding combinations based on the measurements simultaneously obtained by the ammeter and the primary and secondary voltmeters.
US09128131B2

A device and method for more accurately measuring power consumption in a residential application without having to make connections to high voltage sources in a distribution panel. Since the device calculating the power consumption generally needs to be powered to perform its functions (e.g., plugged into wall outlet), the disclosure utilizes the power supply as a voltage source for measuring voltage without having to make connections to the panel.
US09128121B2

A mechanism is described for facilitating a dynamic electro-mechanical interconnect capable of being employed in a test system according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments of the invention may include separating, via a cavity, a first conductor of an interconnect from a second conductor of the interconnect, and isolating, via the cavity serving as a buffer, a first electrical path provided through the first conductor from a second electrical path provided through the second conductor.
US09128120B2

Disclosed is a probe which stably transmits a test signal. The probe electrically connects a semiconductor device and a tester for testing the semiconductor device. The probe may include an upper plunger which is configured to be electrically connected to the semiconductor device; a lower plunger which is configured to be electrically connected to the tester; an elastic member which is disposed between the upper plunger and the lower plunger, and elastically biases the upper and lower plungers to have them spaced from each other; a conductive member which is disposed in an inside or outside of the elastic member and electrically connects the upper plunger and the lower plunger; and a barrel which accommodates therein the upper plunger, the lower plunger, the elastic member and the conductive member.
US09128119B2

An electronics system module includes a primary electrical circuit including input connectors and output connectors and a filter circuit connected between the primary electrical circuit and ground. The module also includes a switch element connected between the primary electrical circuit and ground. The switch element is configured to be engaged by a test connector to open the switch to disconnect the primary electrical circuit from ground. The test connector includes electrical connectors configured to connect to the input connectors and the output connectors of the primary electrical circuit. The switch element is configured to automatically close based on the test connector being disengaged from the switch element.
US09128117B2

A method for sharpening a nanotip involving a laser-enhanced chemical etching is provided. The method includes immersing a nanotip in an etchant solution. The nanotip includes a base and an apex, the apex having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the base. The method also includes irradiating the nanotip with laser fluence to establish a temperature gradient in the nanotip along a direction from the apex to the base of the nanotip such that the apex and base are etched at different rates.
US09128108B2

The invention relates to an immunoassay method and kit for the detection and/or the determination of mephedrone, mephedrone metabolites and related compounds. The invention is underpinned by a novel antibody, derived from a novel immunogen, that is sensitive and binds to mephedrone, mephedrone metabolites and related compounds.
US09128093B2

The present invention relates to systems and devices to treat and/or prevent inflammatory conditions within a subject and to related methods. More particularly, the invention relates to systems, devices, and related methods that sequester leukocytes and/or platelets and then inhibit their inflammatory action.
US09128088B2

The present invention allows a screening method for identifying novel drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis as well as a diagnostic method for identifying clinical strains that are resistant to these novel drugs. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for screening in vitro drug candidates for the treatment of tuberculosis by interfering with the arabinogalactan biosynthesis, the said method comprising a step of putting into contact a Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell culture over-expressing a protein that performs the transformation of decaprenyl-P-ribose to decaprenyl-P-arabinose and that can be encoded by rv3790 gene or homologues thereof or any open-reading artificial frame whose gene product is identical or homologue to Rv3790 protein, with a drug candidate and then evaluating the percentage of inhibition caused by the drug candidate against a control in an assay test, such as an antibacterial test or an enzymatic test.
US09128084B2

A detection system (100) and a sensor chip (1) for detecting target molecules, and thus corresponding analytes in a sample is described. Typically the detection system (100) includes a sensor chip (1). The sensor chip (1) comprises on its detection surface (33) a dissolvable reagent layer (5). When the dissolvable reagent layer (5) is in contact with sample fluid, free reagent is generated, assisting in the interaction between a label and target molecules, thus allowing for label based detection. The sample thereby is exposed to mobile reagents in a burst. The reagent layer may contain an enzyme allowing enzymatic assays.
US09128078B2

A technique is provided for manufacturing a nanogap in a nanodevice. An oxide is disposed on a wafer. A nanowire is disposed on the oxide. A helium ion beam is applied to cut the nanowire into a first nanowire part and a second nanowire part which forms the nanogap in the nanodevice. Applying the helium ion beam to cut the nanogap forms a signature of nanowire material in proximity to at least one opening of the nanogap.
US09128076B2

The present techniques are directed to a method for microprobe analyses of isotope ratios in inhomogeneous matrices. The method includes selecting matrix standards that have matrices that resemble a target matrix. A bulk isotope analysis is run on each of the matrix standards to determine a bulk isotope ratio value. A microprobe analysis is run on each of the matrix standards to determine a microprobe isotope ratio values for each of the plurality of matrix standards. Spurious values are eliminated from the microprobe isotope ratio values. The microprobe isotope ratio values are averaged for each of the matrix standards to create an average microprobe isotope ratio value associated with each of the matrix standards. The bulk isotope ratio value for each of matrix standards is plotted against the average microprobe isotope ratio value associated with each of the matrix standards to create a matrix corrected calibration curve.
US09128073B2

The invention provides a needle moving device which can detect a fault in a signal provided by a system controller to a performing device. An X-direction driving motor (4a) and a Y-direction driving motor (4b) in a driving portion (4) of an autosampler (1a) are provided with encoders (12a, 12b) for measuring moving distances of a needle (2) in respective directions from rotation numbers of the respective driving motors (4a and 4b). A determining portion (20) provided to a system controller (1b) locates a position of the needle (2) after the movement based on signals from the encoders (12a, 12b) and determines whether the position is a position of a designated sample vessel.
US09128071B2

A liquid mixing device that decreases a concentration non-uniformity in the flow direction of a mobile phase and a liquid chromatograph that uses the liquid mixing device are provided. The liquid mixing device is configured to include a flow channel unit that is made from an introduction channel, a branch portion that is positioned in a downstream of the introduction channel, multiple branched flow channels that branch from the branch portion, a junction portion in which the multiple branched flow channels join together, and a discharge channel of the downstream of the junction portion. The multiple branched flow channels are different in terms of any one of, or several of width, depth, and length that are associated with an external shape, and a structure filling the inside of the flow channel and thus the times for the liquid to pass through the branched flow channels are different from each other.
US09128063B2

Apparatuses and methods for measuring stress or strain in a conductive material without physical contact with the material are provided. The device comprises an inductor circuit configured to induce an alternating current into the material along a first path; and a detector configured to detect a signal representative of the stress in the material along the first path when current is induced in the material.
US09128056B2

The present invention provides a sample holding carrier that can accurately measure a sample with a simple configuration, and a fluorescence detection system and device that use the same. Biosensor substrate includes: base substrate on which excitation light is incident from a lower surface; reflecting film that is arranged on an upper surface of base substrate to partially reflect the excitation light; and plural wells that are arranged on an upper surface side of reflecting film and have bottom surface portions. The excitation light is converged to be incident on base substrate. Distance from reflecting surface that is of a boundary between reflecting film and base substrate to bottom surface portion of well is less than or equal to a focal depth of the excitation light. Therefore, the sample accommodated in bottom surface portion of well can surely and efficiently be irradiated with the excitation light, and accurately be measured.
US09128055B2

Provided is an information processing apparatus including an estimation unit that expresses a light intensity distribution, which is obtained by irradiating light to a measurement object of a measurement target having a plurality of substances with mutually different responsive characteristics to the light on a surface and/or an inside of the measurement object, as a linear combination of light intensity distributions, which are obtained by irradiating the light to reference measurement objects, each of which has a single substance, models the light intensity distribution obtained from each of the reference measurement objects so as to follow a predetermined probability distribution, and estimates a combination coefficient of the linear combination from the light intensity distribution obtained from the measurement object of the measurement target.
US09128054B2

A detection apparatus and method for an ion migration spectrum include acquiring an ion migration spectrum of pure carrier gas and an ion migration spectrum of carrier gas containing a test substance sample and performing differential process on the ion migration spectrum of the pure carrier gas and the ion migration spectrum of the carrier gas containing the test substance sample to acquire a differential spectrum. The value of a characteristic peak of the differential spectrum represents properties of the sample of substances. The method avoids interferences on the migration spectrum from interference sources of the apparatus itself, thereby improving detection sensitivity and accuracy of the ion migration spectrum, and migration spectrum shift caused by variations in the environmental conditions can be found and corrected through the differential process on the migration spectrum of the pure carrier gas, thereby achieving self-stableness and self-correction of the ion migration spectrometer.
US09128050B2

An apparatus and method for inspecting a graphene board. The graphene board inspecting apparatus for inspecting a graphene board on which at least one graphene layer is formed includes: a light processing unit which emits at least one light on the graphene board, receives the at least one light penetrating the graphene board and converts the received at least one light to an output signal; a transmittance detecting unit which receives the output signal from the light processing unit to inspect a transmittance of the at least one light penetrating the graphene board; and a determination unit which is connected to the transmittance detecting unit and receives the detected transmittance to determine a state of the graphene board by analyzing the detected transmittance.
US09128048B2

A method for assessing the cure status of a fibrous blanket manufactured with mineral fibers and binder is disclosed and comprises a using an online optical reflectance measurement as an assessment of cure status. The optical reflectance measurement may preferably be a color image taken of any surface, and in particular of a sectioned face, after which the image is optionally divided into multiple regions of interest (ROI) and analyzed for a color system variable that is representative of cure status. In some embodiments, the color system variable is the B value. Alternatively, the optical reflectance measurement may be UV or IR reflectance of a sectioned face. When two or more regions of interest are defined on a sectioned face, comparative information is valuable to assess cure at different levels, layers or portions of the interior of the fibrous product.
US09128042B2

The present invention is applied for an image capturing device having a light source and a camera that captures an image of a measurement subject placed in an optical path that lies between said camera itself and said light source. The image capturing device according to the present invention includes a control unit that subtracts a plurality of frame images captured by said camera during an OFF period of said light source from a plurality of frame images captured by said camera during an ON period of said light source, the number of frame images captured by said camera during the OFF period being the same as that number of frame images obtained by said camera during the ON period and integrates the differences between their images.
US09128037B2

The invention relates to a measurement apparatus for the determination of gas concentrations. The apparatus comprises two spectral channels, wherein the channels are separated by a single chopper wheel. The chopper wheel has several functions. On the transmitting side, it brings the light of the two light sources on the same measuring path, on the receiving side it associates the light to the associated receiver; it has its chopper function to use the lock-in technique; and it opens the possibility to implement an easy zero point correction.
US09128019B2

The current invention relates to a method and apparatus for assessing the condition of a pipeline and also predicting the future rate of deterioration and/or possible failure of the pipeline. The method includes the steps of selecting at least one portion of the pipeline for which the prediction is to be made and, for that portion, monitoring or inspecting and assessing the condition of the pipeline wall, and typically also assessing the condition of any coating of the pipeline at said portion as well as the condition of the soil adjacent the pipeline. The measurement is performed along the length of the portion and preferably around the circumference of the pipeline at said portion. Data is collected for each cell of a grid which represents the said portion and on the basis of the measured data and, selectively, previous data and or reference data, an accurate prediction can be made as to the future condition of the pipeline and also identify potential future problems or required remedial works.
US09128015B2

Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.
US09128014B2

Systems and methods are provided for producing fluids with desired concentration factors from the given supply of any two concentration factors, one greater than the target CF and one less than the target CF, of the same fluid. According to one embodiment, a method is provided that stores intermediate waste droplets from a sequence of mix and split steps and repeats certain steps of the sequence using the stored intermediate waste droplets. Such a method may produce additional target CF droplets faster than repeating the entire sequence. In another embodiment, a method of volumetric error resilient target CF droplet generation has been described, and includes reusing the stored intermediate waste droplets and involves a collection of capacitive sensing circuits associated with some electrode platforms.
US09128010B2

Methods for monitoring scale deposition in a water-containing industrial process are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the water-containing industrial process is an aqueous cooling system. In certain embodiments, the methods incorporate fluorometric monitoring and control techniques along with a piezoelectric microbalance sensor. A particular embodiment of a piezoelectric microbalance sensor is additionally disclosed, along with at least one method for using the particular embodiment that is independent of whether fluorometric monitoring and control techniques are utilized.
US09128000B2

A potentiostat data link (PDL) unit is provided which can remotely monitor the formation and growth of cracks in metal structures. A PDL includes a sealed box containing two or more modified potentiostats, a power supply, a CPU, a memory device, and computer networking capability. The PDL can be mounted in a remote, difficult-to-access location. Each potentiostat has a lead to a sensor affixed to a structure to be analyzed for the presence of growing cracks due to metal fatigue in a metal structure.
US09127997B2

A measuring element for measuring forces that includes a first measuring element part by which at least one force to be measured is received, a second measuring element part by which at least one force to be measured is received, the second measuring element part being spaced from the first measuring element part, and a plurality of sensors extending between the first measuring element part and the second measuring element part and configured to measure the at least one force received by the first and second measuring element parts.
US09127995B2

A force transducer, in particular a weighing cell, includes a spring body, which deforms under the action of a force or load to be measured, and a sensor that includes two separate sensor parts mounted at different locations of the spring body and that generates a sensor signal which is dependent on the relative position of the sensor parts with respect to each other. In order to improve the adaptation of the sensor to the spring body, one of the sensor parts is attached to the spring body with interposition of an electromechanical actuator and a control device is present, which controls the actuator dependent on the sensor signal in the direction of a reduction in the positional difference of the sensor parts.
US09127989B2

A microwave ablation system incorporates a microwave thermometer that couples to a microwave transmission network connecting a microwave generator to a microwave applicator to measure noise temperature. The noise temperature is processed to separate out components the noise temperature including the noise temperature of the tissue being treated and the noise temperature of the microwave transmission network. The noise temperature may be measured by a radiometer while the microwave generator is generating the microwave signal or during a period when the microwave signal is turned off. The microwave ablation system may be configured as a modular system having one or more thermometry network modules that are connectable between a microwave applicator and a microwave generator. Alternatively, the modular system includes a microwave generator, a microwave applicator, and a microwave cable that incorporate a microwave thermometry network module.
US09127985B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a simple and robust system that allows non-resonant background to be removed from anti-Stokes signals generated during coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) even when using cheaper laser systems, which do not have transform limited pulses. In particular, resonant CARS signals have a real and imaginary component. The imaginary component is directly related to the spontaneous Raman spectrum, for which there are already large spectral databases to allow chemical identification. The NRB signal, on the other hand, only has a real component. Within embodiments of the invention we recover the imaginary component of the entire CARS signal by simultaneously generating two CARS signals at orthogonal polarisations: one has the imaginary components destructively interfering with (i.e. subtracted from) the real components, the other has them constructively interfering. Measuring these two polarisations and subtracting them therefore cancels out the real part of the signal, leaving only the imaginary components.
US09127984B2

A SERS-active structure includes a substrate, at least one metal nanoparticle, a dielectric layer and a metal nanolayer. The metal nanoparticles are disposed on the substrate. The substrate and the metal nanoparticles are covered by the dielectric layer, so that the dielectric layer forms a recessed portion with a dihedral angle formed by a surface of the dielectric layer at which the at least one metal nanoparticle contacts the substrate. The dielectric layer is covered by the metal nanolayer and the metal nanolayer has a gap located at and exposing the recessed portion.
US09127983B1

The resonant frequency of an optical micro-resonator may be controlled by “locking” an operating frequency/wavelength of the resonator using CMOS compatible electronic components.
US09127979B2

An optical measuring device includes a case, a reflective layer and a light collecting lens module. A measuring chamber and a channel, which is connected to the measuring chamber and is connected to an opening of the case, reside in the case. The reflective layer is disposed onto an inner surface of the measuring chamber. The light collecting lens module is located inside the channel. A light beam emits into the channel of the optical measuring device through an opening, passes through the light collecting lens module and enters the measuring chamber afterward.
US09127972B2

Method and system for calibrating a mass flow sensor. The mass flow sensor includes an impact sensor that receives an impact force due to collisions with a plurality of solid particles to generate an output signal. A model relates a mass flow input to the output signal. At least one measurable parameter is varied over a plurality of samples by varying a physical component of the mass flow sensor, and a generated output signal is received. The model can be calibrated based on the received output signal for each of the plurality of samples. A mass-flow input can also be estimated while simultaneously updating the model.
US09127970B2

A hydraulic device including an autonomous electronic sensor assembly that has at least one miniature sensing element. Sensing elements of this type require a minimal amount of space. It is especially preferred if the sensor assembly has at least one miniature transmitter. As the hydraulic device does not then require any sensitive electric cables for signal transmission, the reliability of its monitoring capabilities is optimized.
US09127968B2

A flexible optical impact detection sensor is mounted on an outboard portion of the front bumper for signaling an offset rigid barrier impact event to a forward corner of a motor vehicle and deployment of a small offset rigid barrier airbag mounted on the front rail. The airbag is attached proximate a distal end of a front rail. The flexible optical impact detection sensor, attached to a rear surface of an outboard portion of the front bumper, generates a signal upon a corner impact event, whereby a controller processes the signal generated by the impact detection sensor and electrically actuates an inflator upon a predetermined impact severity. The airbag in the inflated condition acts against the offset rigid barrier to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.
US09127963B2

A method for selection of bellwether smart meters from a plurality of smart meters in a power grid can include for at least each of a subset of the plurality of smart meters, monitoring a meter; determining at least one anomaly in the meter, in response to a determination of an anomaly in the meter, assigning a weight to the anomaly, determining a sum of weights of anomalies in the meter and selecting a sub group of the plurality of smart meters as bellwether meters.
US09127961B2

A projected route between a first location and a second location is determined. A first point-of-interest associated with a third location proximate to the projected route is determined. The first point-of-interest is presented to a user. Additionally or alternatively, a plurality of locations are identified. Each location of the plurality of locations is associated with a respective time. A point-of-interest is received from a user. The point-of-interest is associated with a point-of-interest location. A projected route including the plurality of locations and the point-of-interest location is determined based at least in part on at least one time associated with the plurality of locations.
US09127958B2

Values of a variable affecting the determination of the driver of a shared ride may be calculated. Each value may be associated with a respective potential driver. An optimal value from the calculated values may be selected. A potential driver associated with the selected optimal value may be assigned as the driver of the shared ride. The variable may be carbon emission, electricity consumption, passenger to driver role ratio, driving distance, driving time, vehicle size, fuel efficiency, electricity to gasoline usage ratio, accident occurrence, vehicle safety, vehicle comfort, or vehicle speed. The optimal value may be the lowest value or the highest value from the calculated values. Each value may be calculated based on parameters specified by the respective potential driver.
US09127947B2

A method and system for tracking and updating bias in an inertial sensor by determining a maximum bias drift and a noise band for a sensor, determining a prior bias value of the sensor, and measuring a current bias value of the sensor. The method and system can further include calculating a bias difference between the prior bias value and the current bias value, and updating the prior bias value with the current bias value if the current bias value is within the noise band and the bias difference is less than or equal to the maximum bias drift.
US09127939B2

The present invention provides a stitch measurement method for making a plurality of partial measurements, and obtaining an overall shape by combining partial measurement results, including a step of dividing, on lattices, each peripheral partial measurement region including an external portion of an overall measurement region into a first region inside the overall measurement region and a second region outside the overall measurement region, and dividing each central partial measurement region which does not include any external portion of the overall measurement region into a first region and a second region according to division patterns of the peripheral partial measurement region, a step of formulating first orthogonal function sequences on the first regions, and a step of defining linear combinations of respective functions of the first orthogonal function sequences on the first regions as first system errors for the respective partial measurement regions on the overall measurement region.
US09127938B2

This disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for capturing and measuring surface topography. This disclosure provides a high resolution retrographic sensor comprising a volume of elastomer and a thin, opaque reflective membrane. The reflective membrane is arranged to conform to a specimen that contacts it. The disclosure provides a high resolution visualization system comprising the retrographic sensor and an illumination source. Also provided are high resolution measurement systems comprising the retrographic sensor, an illumination source, an imaging device, and a processing component.
US09127936B2

Method for measuring an extruded profile using a measuring apparatus, wherein the measuring apparatus is designed to produce and measure at least two laser light sections on a surface of the profile, which is being pulled through the measuring apparatus, by means of at least one laser light section sensor from a respective, different position around the profile, wherein the at least two laser light sections are situated essentially in one plane. By positioning at least two references and/or reference markers from the adjacent positions together with the extruded profile in a respective common measurement capture area, said references or reference markers are used for calibration of respective raw image of the at least one laser light section sensor. Thus, the calibrated raw image data are correctly mapped in a common coordinate system from the respective position.
US09127935B2

A laser centering tool for surface areas used to find the center point of a surface. The laser centering tool uses single or multiple laser sources to project a plurality of lines on a horizontal or vertical surface. It may comprise of multiple lasers, rotational plates, prism, beam splitter, gear housing, and/or a gear mechanism. At least one center laser line remains stationary between at least two edge laser lines. The edge lasers may be moved to outline the edge of a surface. At least one center laser projects a beam that indicates the center point of the edge lasers. The edge laser lines may be moved by rotational plates, a set of mirrors, or prism.
US09127930B2

A distance measurement method comprising: projecting a light beam having a speckle pattern to at least one reference plane to show a plurality of images with the speckle pattern on the at least one reference plane. The speckle pattern has a plurality of speckles, so as to capture the image with the speckle pattern on the reference plane to obtain a plurality of reference image information. When the object enters the area illuminated by a light source module, an image with the speckle pattern on a surface of an object is captured to obtain an object image information. Then, a plurality of brightness relationships among each of the speckles with adjacent speckles rounding each speckle are computed according to the reference image and the object image information to obtain relative brightness information of each speckle, which is used to compute position of the object.
US09127927B2

Provided are optimized scatterometry techniques for evaluating a diffracting structure. In one embodiment, a method includes computing a finite-difference derivative of a field matrix with respect to first parameters (including a geometric parameter of the diffracting structure), computing an analytic derivative of the Jones matrix with respect to the field matrix, computing a derivative of the Jones matrix with respect to the first parameters, and computing a finite-difference derivative of the Jones matrix with respect to second parameters (including a non-geometric parameter). In one embodiment, a method includes generating a transfer matrix having Taylor Series approximations for elements, and decomposing the field matrix into two or more smaller matrices based on symmetry between the incident light and the diffracting structure.
US09127925B2

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises an optical system with multiple detectors and a processor. The optical system is configured to produce images of an optical source in a first dimension and a second dimension substantially orthogonal to the first dimension at each detector at a given time. Each image from the images is based on an interference of an emission from the optical source in a first direction and an emission from the optical source in a second direction different from the first direction. The processor is configured to calculate a position in a third dimension based on the images. The third dimension is substantially orthogonal to the first dimension and the second dimension.
US09127918B2

A distributed ordnance system comprises a plurality of ordnance controllers and a plurality of firing units. Each ordnance controller of the plurality of ordnance controllers may be operably coupled with at least one firing unit of the plurality of firing units. Each ordnance controller may be configured to provide power signals to the at least one firing unit coupled therewith, and communicate with the at least one firing unit for initiation of an ordnance event. A multiple-stage ordnance system may comprise a first stage and a second stage that each include an ordnance controller configured to control operation of an ordnance event, and at least one firing unit to initiate the ordnance event. Related methods for constructing a multiple-stage ordnance control system and controlling initiation of an energetic material are also disclosed.
US09127914B2

A blast deflecting boot has a V like shaped sole, a layer to reduce and to stop high velocity fragments, a padded core that limits the blast forces transmitted to the lower leg of a soldier, and an upper of high velocity blast fragment reducing fabric. The invention provides the sole within a layer of non-slip urethane that contains energy absorbing foam, a layer of high velocity fragment reducing para-aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene UHMWPE fabric, and a core of closed cell single or multiple density high energy absorbing foam or silicone that absorbs impact forces. The insole has a high velocity fragment reducing layer system of multiple layers of UHMWPE, or para-aramid. The sole of the present invention may have a unitary form or be assembled from multiple sections.
US09127912B2

A rifle scope having a body and a reticle mounted within the body, an elevation adjustment means for adjusting an elevation sighting of the reticle and including a vertically oriented elevation adjustment knob extending from a side of the body and being rotatable in a vertical plane about a horizontal axis to vertically adjust the elevation sighting of the reticle, and a windage adjustment means for adjusting the windage sighting of the retical and including a horizontally oriented windage adjustment knob extending from the body so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis to adjust the windage sighting of the reticle.
US09127911B2

An electro-optic system, e.g., mounted to a weapon, measures down range winds and a range-to-target for compensating the ballistic hit point. The system may include an optical light source, collimated to generate a laser spot on the target. The system may include a wind measurement receiver that captures laser light scattered from the target. The captured light may be modulated by atmospheric scintillation eddies, producing optical patterns which change in time and move with the crosswind. These patterns may be analyzed by a processor using covariance techniques to determine path-integrated crosswinds and associated errors. Ranging is done by measuring the time of flight of the laser pulse to the target collecting the scattered signal from the target. Compensated ballistic hit point, measurement errors and other data may be displayed on a micro-display digital eyepiece, overlaid on the real-time image of the target.
US09127908B2

A system comprising an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to transition from a terminal homing mode to a target search mode, responsive to an uplink signal and/or an autonomous determination of scene change.
US09127900B2

A toy launcher that can launch multiple consecutive devices into a spin is described. The toy launcher includes a housing adapted to receive an item to be launched. The housing includes a bunching mechanism to force the item from the launcher. Additionally, a protrusion is positioned in front of the launching mechanism such that art item launched from the launching mechanism engages with the protrusion, forcing the item into a spin as it exits the launcher.
US09127899B2

A multipurpose tool for maintaining a rifle, comprising a planar body including a wider portion and a narrower portion of a first edge and a curved transition portion therebetween, wherein the narrower portion terminates in a hook-shaped element having a flat portion whose dimension is less that the outer diameter of a bolt piston of the rifle; an arm pivotably attached to the planar body and terminating in first and second prongs defining a notch sized to fit over a front sight adjusting screw of an AR or AK type rifle; and a pin pivotably joining the planar body and the arm. The body may further comprise a notch formed in a second edge opposite the first edge for assisting in disengaging a gas tube release lever of the rifle. The body may further comprise a scraper sized to fit within the gas block of the rifle.
US09127897B2

Systems and methods for transporting a hydrocarbon are provided. The method can include introducing a fluid at a first pressure and a first temperature to an inlet of a pump and pressurizing the fluid within the pump to produce a pressurized fluid having a second pressure and a second temperature. The method can also include flowing at least a portion of the pressurized fluid through a first heat exchanger and back to the inlet of the pump. The heat exchanger can include a coil having an inlet and an outlet and a housing at least partially enclosing the coil and having a first opening and a second opening. A first end of the coil can be disposed proximate the first opening. The heat exchanger can also include a foundation for supporting the coil and the housing.
US09127891B2

Methods, systems, and computer-readable and executable instructions are described herein. One method includes combining a plurality of images of a furnace into a composite image of the furnace, revising the composite image of the furnace to an intensity scaling, restoring a portion of the revised composite image of the furnace; and displaying a view of the restored revised composite image of the furnace to a user.
US09127888B2

An industrial oven system for curing composite material parts can include an oven compartment configured to receive a composite material structure therein that extends along a majority of the length and/or width of the compartment, the compartment having an inner wall that defines a cavity between proximal and distal ends of the compartment. A shroud can be disposed circumferentially between the inner wall of the compartment and an outer wall of the composite material structure. The shroud defines a first longitudinal annular channel between the inner wall and an outer surface of the shroud, and defines a second longitudinal annular channel between the outer wall of the composite material structure and an inner surface of the shroud. The shroud is contoured to direct a heated airflow longitudinally along the annular channels and over the composite material structure to cure the composite material structure, the heated airflow generally being at a higher temperature than a surface of the composite material part. One or more contour elements of the shroud can direct more heat to a corresponding thicker portion of the composite material structure generally aligned with the contour element relative to an amount of heat directed to adjacent relatively thinner portions of the composite material structure so as to effect a desired heating rate of the composite material structure to achieve a substantially uniform temperature along substantially the entire length of the composite material structure, thereby inhibiting warping of the composite material structure during a curing process.
US09127866B2

Hybrid heating system including: a heat pump water heating system; sensors, for measuring a system parameter; an input arrangement providing cost data pertaining to a first power cost for supplying power to the heat pump system, and to cost information pertaining to a second power cost for operating a conventional heating system; a processor storing criteria specifying when to operate the heat pump and conventional systems, the processor receiving and processing: cost data; cost information; system parameter data; flow information on a heat exchange system circulation arrangement, and heat pump system power consumption information and concurrently operating, upon demand, the heat pump system and a chiller system in opposite heating modes; wherein, when the chiller system operates in a cooling mode, the processor processes the cost data and information, system parameter data, and flow and power consumption information, and controls the systems based on the criteria.
US09127863B2

A mounting for solar panels has fixings which enable it to be easily attached to other mountings for a solar array and can be made of recycled plastic by vacuum forming.
US09127862B2

A connecting system is accordingly provided for a line tube, which can be pivoted about a rotation axis of a solar-thermal installation, which line tube is filled with a carrier fluid, wherein the line tube extends between two ends and is connected, for transportation of the carrier fluid, at a first end via a flexible tube connection to a fixed-position fixed line and at its second end via at least one connection means to a further line tube. According to the invention, the line tube is supported such that the flexible tube connection experiences only forces acting at right angles to the rotation axis, and the connection means experiences only forces acting parallel to the rotation axis.
US09127857B2

A solar receiver includes a multi-sided central assembly with wing assemblies extending from corners thereof. The central assembly includes one-sided heat absorption panels, while the wing assemblies use two-sided heat absorption panels. Stiffener structures run across the exposed faces of the various heat absorption panels.
US09127855B2

A fan assembly includes a nozzle and a body on which the nozzle is mounted. The nozzle has a first air inlet, a first air outlet, and a first interior passage for conveying air from the first air inlet to the first air outlet. The nozzle also includes a second air inlet, a plurality of second air outlets, and a second interior passage for conveying air from the second air inlet to the second air outlets. The body generates a first air flow through the first interior passage and a second air flow through the second interior passage. A first air passageway conveys the first air flow to the first air inlet and a second air passageway conveys the second air flow to the second air inlet. One of the temperature, humidity, composition and electrical charge of the second air flow is changed before it is emitted from the nozzle.
US09127852B2

Disclosed is an air purifier able to maintain the normal state of drive of a disk-shaped humidification filter by controlling the state of rotation of the humidification filter. The air purifier can maintain the normal state of drive of the humidification filter by using a stepping motor and the control unit in order to vary the state of rotation of the humidification filter and thereby remove extraneous material when the humidification filter is rotating abnormally due to extraneous material.
US09127849B2

Provided is a cooking appliance. Steam generated in a steam generation part is selectively supplied into a cooktop part or an oven chamber. The steam supplied into the cooktop part is used for soaking foreign materials attached to a top surface of the top plate to remove the foreign materials. Thus, the steam generated in one steam generation part may be used in a lot of uses.
US09127848B2

An autonomous ventilation system includes a variable-speed exhaust fan, a controller, an exhaust hood, and a spillage sensor. The exhaust fan removes air contaminants from an area. The controller is coupled to the exhaust fan and adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan. The exhaust hood is coupled to the exhaust fan and directs air contaminants to the exhaust fan. The spillage sensor is coupled to the controller, detects changes in an environmental parameter in a spillage zone adjacent to the exhaust hood, and communicates information relating to detected changes in the environmental parameter to the controller. The controller adjusts the speed of the exhaust fan in response to information relating to detected changes in the environmental parameter.
US09127839B2

A combustion apparatus has a burner, a combustion box containing therein a heat exchanger, an exhaust passage in fluid communication with the combustion box, a fan for supplying the burner with combustion air, and a predetermined length of air suction duct in fluid communication with a suction opening formed in a fan casing. The air suction duct has: on a downstream end thereof, an outlet cylindrical portion which is smaller in diameter than a diameter of the suction opening in the fan casing and which lies opposite to the suction opening; and a flange portion which overhangs radially outward from a perimeter of the air suction duct adjacent to the outlet cylindrical portion into contact with that peripheral portion of the fan casing which forms the suction opening. The flange portion is provided with an auxiliary suction opening in fluid communication with a space surrounding the outlet cylindrical portion.
US09127831B2

A portable light emitting apparatus includes: a tube-like grip held by the hand; a light emitting unit that is attached to one end of the grip, houses LEDs to, and outputs light of at least three different colors individually or in a mixture; and three color switches to that are disposed at positions pressed by a first finger, a second finger, and a third finger on the grip and operate a first function that carries out on/off control of light of the different colors.
US09127830B2

In a surface light source apparatus 1 for irradiating light in a planar form by arranging a plurality of tubular light sources 2 at high density in the middle of a screen so that brightness at the middle of the screen is high, each tubular light source 2 positioned in rows at topmost and bottommost edges is arranged to be closer toward screen corner sections in a plan view so as to compensate for lack of brightness at the screen corner sections in a plan view. In this manner, each tubular light source 2 is arranged by placing each tubular light source 2 in the rows at the topmost and bottommost edges closer in a row direction toward each corner section B of the reflection sheet 5. Thereby, brightness at the middle of a screen is maintained and enhanced, and display quality at corner sections of the screen is improved.
US09127827B2

A lighting device may be provided that includes: a heat sink; a member which has a polygonal pillar shape having at least three sides and is disposed on the heat sink, wherein the sides are inclined at a predetermined angle toward the center of the heat sink; and a light source which is disposed on at least one among the sides of the member, wherein the light source includes: a substrate; at least two light emitting devices which are symmetrically disposed on the substrate with respect to the center of the substrate; and at least two lens units which are disposed on the light emitting devices respectively, and consequently, it is possible to meet U.S. Energy Star and ANSI specifications, to remarkably improve rear light distribution characteristics and to remove a dark portion.
US09127823B2

Lighting devices and methods for illuminating the interior of a building with natural daylight are disclosed. In some embodiments, a daylighting apparatus includes a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, an at least partially transparent light collector with one or more light turning elements, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. The one or more light turning elements can turn direct and indirect daylight into the tube so that it is available to illuminate the building. In some embodiments, the tube is disposed between the light collector and a diffuser positioned inside a target area of a building. In certain embodiments, the tube is configured to direct at least a portion of the daylight transmitted through the light collector towards the diffuser.
US09127819B2

A light-directing apparatus for predominantly forward distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis. The light-directing apparatus includes a forward-reflective surface entirely within a lens member positioned over the light emitter. The lens member has an outer surface and an inner cavity including an emitter-light-receiving void and a light-reflecting void which is contiguous with the emitter-light-receiving void and is different in configuration than the emitter-light-receiving void. The forward-reflective surface is in the light-reflecting void in position in the path of light emitted rearwardly.
US09127818B2

A fluorescent tube retrofit luminaire includes a lamp, a light guide, and a heat dissipating frame. The lamp may include a bi-pin base, middle structure, and outer structure, which may include a light-emitting diode (LED)-based light source in thermal communication with a finned heat sink section of the middle structure. Light emitted from the light source may be distributed generally along the length and/or width of the light guide. A bi-pin connector in the light guide may attach the luminaire to a first fluorescent socket. The bi-pin base may be received by a mounting aperture in the light guide before anchoring the luminaire to a second fluorescent socket using a pin-lock. The heat dissipating frame may be in thermal communication with both the light guide and the heat sink section of the lamp.
US09127810B2

An injection molding machine has a motor power interruption function such that it is determined whether or not the respective contents of preset first and second interruption criterion settings are different from each other. If the contents of the two settings are determined to be different from each other, then a third motor power interrupt signal is output so that at least one of first and second motor power interruption units is cut off in response to the output signal, thereby interrupting power supply to a motor.
US09127805B2

Mounting clips and decorative mounting articles removably engage to vertically disposed mounting surfaces, such as rain gutter downspouts. The mounting clips support arms, hooks, plates, decorations, and brackets for display of banners, flags, security lights, decorative lights, etc., on a downspout or other comparable mounting surface. The mounting clips include a frame having arms with projections separated by channels configured for attachment to a profiled outer surface of the mounting surface. Decorative mounting articles include a rear section forming channels having inner sidewalls with engagement portions configured for direct attachment of the decorative mounting article to a profiled outer surface of the mounting surface.
US09127804B2

The present disclosure relates to a holding device for storing holding rods on a crane, with at least two holders, at least one securing piece and at least one lock, wherein the at least two holders comprise at least one toothed connecting surface each and at least four lead-throughs each, at least one of which each is designed as oblong hole. According to the present disclosure, the at least two holders are connectable with each other via a connector through the one oblong hole each and are connectable with the crane through at least one further lead-through each, wherein the at least two holders together comprise a common U-shaped deposition region for accommodating and horizontally fixing holding rods, and wherein the holding rods are vertically fixable by means of the at least one securing piece and the at least one lock inside the U-shaped deposition region.
US09127795B2

Apparatus for joining a first conduit to a second conduit comprising a first coupler for attachment to an end of the first conduit, a second coupler for attachment to an end of the second conduit and for engagement to the first coupler, and a snap-fit fastener for fastening the first coupler to the second coupler. The snap-fit fastener is arranged in at least two portions to fit around the periphery of the first and second couplers when the first and second couplers are engaged. The apparatus enables relative movement between the first coupler and the second coupler.
US09127787B1

A pipe hanging assembly that includes a single piece of steel having a first upper horizontal section, second and third angled sections coupled to the first section, fourth and fifth vertical sections extending vertically from the second and third sections, respectively, sixth and seventh vertical sections extending vertically and parallel to the fourth and fifth sections, respectively, and eighth and ninth curved sections. The eighth curved section connects the fourth and sixth sections to form a first U-shaped holder, and the ninth curved section connects the fifth and seventh sections to form a second U-shaped holder, with the eighth section disposed at a different elevation than the ninth section. Two different pipes can be supported in the first and second U-shaped holder.
US09127775B2

Flexible seals for process control valves are disclosed. An example disclosed seal includes a seal for use with a butterfly valve. The example seal includes a substantially flexible ring-shaped carrier configured to be moveably fixed within the butterfly valve and to surround a flow control aperture therein. The example seal includes a seal stiffener adjacent the substantially flexible ring-shaped carrier to increase the stiffness of the substantially flexible ring-shaped carrier in a first flow direction. The example seal includes a substantially rigid seal ring to engage an opposing surface.
US09127771B2

In a fluid pressure apparatus, a packing is constituted from an annular seal member made of an elastic rubber material, and support rings made of a material possessing low friction, which are mounted on an outer circumference of the seal member. The seal member includes, on an outer circumference thereof, a sealing projection, shoulder portions formed on both sides of the sealing projection, and concave grooves interposed between the shoulder portions and the sealing projection. The support rings include support surfaces on outer circumferences thereof, and engagement projections on inner circumferences thereof, such that by engagement of the projections in the concave grooves, the support rings are mounted on the seal member so as to surround outer circumferences of the shoulder portions.
US09127766B2

A bicycle derailleur is basically provided with a base member, a movable member and a connecting structure. The base member includes a bicycle mounting portion. The movable member is movable with respect to the base member between a first position and a second position that is farther than the first position from the base member. The connecting structure movably connects the movable member to the base member. The connecting structure moves the movable member with an actuation ratio that descends and then ascends as the movable member moves from the first position towards the second position.
US09127762B2

In one embodiment, an Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) reservoir is provided. The reservoir includes housing that is combined with a transmission containing ATF and into/out of which the AFT flows. The reservoir also includes a heating body that is combined with the housing and heats the ATF flowing within the housing by generating heat when power is applied.
US09127756B2

A multistage transmission with eight forward and one reverse gear, including an input and output shafts, planetary gearsets, gear stages, shift elements and shafts. The input shaft couples the carrier of gearset (P1) and, via clutch (15), can couple shaft (5) that couples the sun gear of gearset (P3) and, via clutch (58), can couple shaft (8) connected to the ring gear of gearset (P2). The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (6) connected to the sun gear of gearset (P2). Shaft (3) couples the sun and ring gears of respective gearsets (P1, P3) and can couple, via brake (03), the housing. The carrier of gearset (P2) couples shaft (4) gear stage (S1) which couples the output shaft. The carrier of gearset (P3) couples shaft (7) gear stage (S2) which couples the output shaft. Clutch (56) can couple shafts (5, 6).
US09127750B2

A control device for an automatic transmission including a hydraulic actuator that is actuated on the basis of a hydraulic pressure supplied and a linear solenoid valve that controls the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator on the basis of a driving current of a solenoid includes an ECU that executes current feedback control over a current value of the driving current that is flowed to the solenoid using at least a proportional term and an integral term on the basis of a deviation (ΔI) between a target current value (Itgt) and actual current value (Ir) of the solenoid such that the hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator becomes a target hydraulic pressure. The ECU increases a proportional gain (Kp) in the current feedback control as a fluid temperature (To) detected by a fluid temperature sensor increases.
US09127746B2

A power transmission belt having a body with an inside, an outside, and a length. The body has a tension section and a compression section, and teeth and troughs alternating lengthwise of the body. A layer on the body in which the teeth are formed has a surface facing in one of an inside and outside direction on which alternating protrusions and recesses are formed against which another component on the body is placed and conforms.
US09127744B2

A shock and vibration isolator camera includes a top plate is attached to a bottom plate via a universal joint that allows the top plate to pivot about two mutually perpendicular axes relative to the bottom plate. A camera attachment fitting, such a Mitchell mount fitting, may be provided on the top plate, for attaching a camera or camera accessory to the top plate. Springs are compressed between the top and bottom plates. Fluid dampeners between the top and bottom plates are connected to a valve that allows dampening to be adjusted.
US09127741B2

Provided is a colloidal damper capable of harvesting electrical energy—that is, practical electrical power—from mechanical energy acting from the outside. This colloidal damper has: a cylinder; a piston which is guided and supported so as to reciprocate freely within this cylinder, and which combines with the cylinder to form a sealed space; a porous body having many pores and housed within the sealed space; an operating fluid which is housed together with the porous body in the sealed space and flows into the pores of the porous body when pressure is applied, and flows out from the pores of the porous body when the pressure is reduced; and a piezoelectric element installed in the sealed space.
US09127739B2

A method and composition for damping vibration of a substrate as well as a construction configured to achieve dampened vibration transmission. The construction includes a substrate configured to transmit NVH associated vibration in at least one frequency range. The construction also includes a first polymeric layer overlying at least a portion of the substrate element. The first polymeric layer comprises at least one material having elastomeric characteristics in a Tg range between +10 to −10° C. as outlined in ASTM E1640-00 and a hardness of between 5 and 25 as measured with the Shore A methodology outlined in ASTM D2240-00 and a second polymeric layer having elastomeric characteristics less than those exhibited by the first layer.
US09127727B2

A method of searching for a sync start in an automated manual transmission, may include a slip preparing step of operating, in a parked position, a sleeve and a clutch restrained so as not to rotate into a slip state, an actuator operating step of moving the sleeve toward a clutch gear from a neutral position, a clutch speed determination step of determining whether or not a speed of rotation of the clutch has decreased by the actuator operating step, a stop determination step of determining whether or not a movement of the sleeve that was driven by the actuator operating step has stopped, and a first position determination step of determining a point where the clutch speed determination step determines that the speed of the rotation of the clutch has decreased and the stop determination step determines that the movement of the sleeve has stopped as the sync start.
US09127724B2

Electromechanical apparatus for use with a coupling assembly and controllable coupling assembly including such apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a housing part including an end wall having an outer coupling face with a single pocket defining a load-bearing shoulder in communication with an inner face of the end wall. An electromagnetic source includes at least one excitation coil which is at least partially surrounded by the housing part. An element is received within the pocket in an uncoupling position and is movable outwardly from the pocket to a coupling position characterized by abutting engagement of the element with the load-bearing shoulder. A reciprocating armature is arranged concentrically relative to the at least one excitation coil and is axially movable when the at least one excitation coil is supplied with current. The armature is connected to the element to move the element between the coupling and uncoupling positions.
US09127722B2

A method for producing a resilient force-transmitting member, in particular for transmitting torques for example in a motor vehicle or in an industrial application, wherein the force-transmitting member is provided with at least two receiving openings for connecting to force-transmitting components, an elastomer body and at least one inlay loop embedded in the elastomer body. The method includes positioning the at least one inlay loop in a predetermined desired position in a mold, providing at least one venting mandrel in the mold one free end of which is in contact with the inlay loop, injecting elastomer material into the mold, removing the at least one venting mandrel and vulcanizing the elastomer body.
US09127719B2

A method of manufacturing a bearing assembly includes the steps of providing first (38) and second (42) cage frames, each including a plurality of holes (46) spaced along a circumference of the respective first and second cage frames (38, 42), positioning a plurality of rollers (22) between the first and second cage frames (38, 42), each of the rollers (22) including a bore (26) coaxial with a rotational axis (30) of the respective rollers (22), aligning the bore (26) of a first of the plurality of rollers (22) with a first hole (46) in each of the respective first and second cage frames (38, 42), then sliding a threaded end (54) of a pin (50) through the first hole (46) in the first cage frame (38) and the first roller (22) a sufficient distance to engage the second cage frame (42). The method further includes rotating the pin (50) to form a screw thread in the first hole (46) of the second cage frame (42) with the threaded end (54) of the pin (50).
US09127718B2

A rotation detection set comprises an encoder washer rotatable around a rotation axis, at least one sensor adapted to detect a rotation parameter of the encoder washer through an air gap, a support member for holding the sensor with respect to the rotation axis and a mounting member for immobilizing the support member with respect to a fixed structure. The mounting member is made of one piece of magnetic material and has a first wall located on the same side of the air gap as the encoder washer and a second wall located on the same side of the air gap as the sensor whereas a magnetic body of the encoder washer, the air gap and the sensor are located in a volume defined by the mounting member between the two walls.
US09127710B2

A bearing capable of satisfying demands for cost reduction and further quietness, and stably maintaining high support accuracy. A sliding bearing (4) includes an inner member (5) having a mounting surface (9) with respect to a rotary shaft (2), and an outer member (6) being arranged on a radially outer side of the inner member (5). A radial bearing gap is formed between an outer peripheral surface (5a1) of the inner member (5) and an inner peripheral surface (7a1) of the outer member (6), and a lubricating oil is interposed in the radial bearing gap. Further, between the inner member (5) and the outer member (6), sealing gaps (S, S) for maintaining an oil level of the lubricating oil on both axial sides of the radial bearing gap are formed. At least a part of the mounting surface (9) of the inner member (5) is made of a metal.
US09127703B2

An extendable pole mechanism may be used with a pair of poles that are longitudinally movable to adjust the overall length of both poles. The mechanism may include a collar that receives the poles and a roller sleeve that rotates with respect to the collar to adjust the mechanism between a use condition, where the poles are held in a longitudinally relative fixed position, and an adjustment condition, where the poles are longitudinally moveable with respect to each other.
US09127696B2

A system, in certain embodiments, includes an accumulator. The accumulator includes a first cylinder configured to receive a fluid within an internal volume of the first cylinder. The accumulator also includes a piston configured to move axially within the first cylinder. Axial movement of the piston within the first cylinder adjusts the internal volume of the first cylinder. The accumulator further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy wires configured to cause the axial movement of the piston within the first cylinder.
US09127678B2

A proposed implementation of this present subject matter utilizes a data collection and processing unit and sensors to monitor one or more conditions which can cause damage to a pump. These conditions include differential pressure across the pump, pump flow rate, and the pump rotational speed (RPM). Pump operating curves are analyzed to develop equations indicative of minimum and maximum allowable head for efficient operation within mechanical operation limits of the pump. The equations are used to set a processor for analyzing data inputs. The processor utilizes sensor inputs from the pump, including input and output pressure differential, flow, and pump speed. These values are compared to stored data or may be inserted into an equation to provide a calculated parameter indicative of operation in or out of pump operating limits. Responsive circuits inform users of alarm conditions.
US09127675B2

A vane compressor including plural vanes that perform a compression operation such that the normal to a circular arc formed by each vane tip portion and the normal to the inner peripheral surface of a cylinder are constantly approximately coincident with each other. Each of the plural vanes is held constantly in the normal direction of the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder or is held constantly along a direction having a fixed inclination with respect to the normal direction of the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder so that the compression operation is performed in the state the normal to the circular arc formed by the tip portion of each of the plural vanes and the normal to the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder are constantly approximately coincident with each other. The plural vanes are rotatably and movably supported with respect to a rotor portion.
US09127661B2

A bootstrap accumulator system includes an actuator cylinder that drives an accumulator piston through a multiple of nested actuator sleeves, comprising a multistage actuator cylinder.
US09127660B2

A compressor includes a rotary shaft, a cam, a cylinder block, pistons, a thrust bearing, a rotary valve, and an oil passage. The rotary shaft has an in-shaft passage formed therein. The cam rotates integrally with the rotary shaft. The pistons are coupled to the rotary shaft through the cam. The thrust bearing is provided between the cam and the cylinder block. The thrust bearing includes a first race in contact with the cam, a second race in contact with the cylinder block, and rolling elements retained between the first and second races to form a gap therebetween. The oil passage extends from the gap to the in-shaft passage and includes an oil retaining space formed in at least one of the cam and the cylinder block.
US09127659B2

A multistage reciprocating air compressor compresses air to an elevated pressure level discharge with an intermediate pressure level discharge for use in blow molding of PET bottles and similar products. The air compressor has a first, second and third reciprocating piston stages with first, second and third actuators operable in response to respective sensed discharge pressure levels from the discharges to actuate inlet unloading elements.
US09127656B2

A ring cam for a fluid-working machine is formed from a plurality of segments. The segments comprise a leading cooperating formation which has a piston facing surface which forms part of the working surface, at a trailing end, and which is recessed from the working surface at a leading end, and a trailing cooperating formation which has a piston facing surface which forms part of the working surface at a leading end, and which is recessed from the working surface at a trailing end. The segments having piston facing surfaces which are in compressive stress such as to partially or fully compensate for tensile stress arising from the action of rollers in use. The segments form a wavelike cam surface and attachment means are provided, through the working surface, on whichever of the leading or trailing surfaces thereof is subject to lowest forces from pistons in use.
US09127655B2

The disclosure relates to liquid nitrogen pump equipment load testing and experimenting apparatus, and testing and experimenting method thereof, used for oil-gas fields or coalbed methane nitrogen foam fracturing equipment testing. A hydraulic damping apparatus unit and a pressure regulation unit are provided; the hydro-mechanical damping apparatus unit comprises a water tank, a pump unit apparatus, and a pipe manifold system connected in sequence.
US09127650B2

The present invention relates to a tower assembly system, a method of assembling a wind turbine tower and a wind turbine thereof. Three or more guidance devices may be mounted to a mounting flange in the upper end of a lower tower section and/or in the lower end of an upper tower section. The guidance device comprises a contact surface for contacting a mating contact surface on the opposite tower section. The guidance device comprises a mounting flange for mounting the device to the mounting flange of the tower section using fastening means. This allows the guidance devices to catch and guide the free hanging tower section into the correct position on the stationary tower section. This enables the assembly time to be reduced with up to 50% compared with the present assembly methods. The guidance devices allow the workers to guide the free hanging tower section into position from the ground.
US09127629B2

A fuel injection device (100) includes a control body (40) provided with an injection hole (44), a nozzle needle (60) that opens or closes the injection hole (44), a pressure control chamber (53) controlling a movement of the nozzle needle (60), an inflow channel (52) through which high-pressure fuel is introduced to the pressure control chamber (53), an outflow channel (54) through which the fuel from the pressure control chamber (53) is discharged, and a floating plate (70) that opens or closes the inflow channel (52). In the fuel injection device (100), the control body (40) includes a cylinder (56) defining the pressure control chamber (53) in a radial direction thereof, and an inner wall portion (56a) of the cylinder (56) includes a communication groove (57a) which causes an inflow chamber (53a) that is provided within the pressure control chamber (53) at a side of the inflow channel (52) relative to the floating plate (70), to communicate with a back pressure chamber (53b) that is provided within the pressure control chamber (53) at a side of the nozzle needle (60) relative to the floating plate (70).
US09127628B2

A flange fastening structure includes a first flange made of metal and a second flange made of plastic. Stepped nuts are provided in the second flange and each have a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion. The second flange has at least one raised portion on a surface of the second flange facing the large-diameter portion. The at least one raised portion is made of plastic. A height of the at least one raised portion is set such that the at least one raised portion pressed with the large-diameter portion is deformed when the first flange and the second flange are fastened together with bolts and the nuts. The small-diameter portion of each of the nuts contacts the first flange to limit fastening positions of the nuts and the bolts when the first flange and the second flange are fastened together with the bolts and the nuts.
US09127616B2

An improved piston for an opposed piston internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes a piston body that extends along an axis from a crown portion to a skirt portion with a full piston skirt and to a pin boss portion. The piston body includes a plurality of ring grooves in the crown portion and at least one ring groove in the skirt portion. A wrist pin which has a length that is longer than a maximum diameter of the piston body is joined with the piston body at the pin boss portion and extends past the pin boss portion for receiving a pair of connecting rods on opposite sides of the piston body. The piston body is a monobloc piston body which is made of one integral piece or of multiple pieces that are welded or adhered together.
US09127615B2

A control system (12) for an engine (10) having a combustion chamber (22) is disclosed. The control system may have a fuel injector (40) configured to selectively inject fuel into the combustion chamber, and a controller (54) in communication with the fuel injector. The controller may be configured to activate the fuel injector during a first compression stroke to initiate fuel injection in an amount and at a timing that results in a stratified lean air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber during a first combustion event of a six-stroke cycle. The controller may also be configured to activate the fuel injector during a first power stroke to initiate fuel injection in an amount and at a timing that results in a homogenous lean air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber during a second combustion event of the same six-stroke cycle.
US09127601B2

A control system for an engine includes an valve actuator, a cylinder pressure module, and a valve control module. The valve actuator opens a valve of a cylinder at a first target opening timing during a first combustion cycle of the cylinder. The cylinder pressure module receives a cylinder pressure measured by a cylinder pressure sensor of the cylinder and, at a predetermined crankshaft angle after the valve opens during the first combustion cycle, sets a valve opening pressure equal to the cylinder pressure. The valve control module receives a reference cylinder pressure and generates a second target opening timing for a second combustion cycle of the cylinder based on the valve opening pressure and the reference cylinder pressure. The second combustion cycle is after the first combustion cycle. During the second combustion cycle, the valve actuator opens the valve at the second target opening timing.
US09127597B2

Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for a sensor system for detecting, characterizing, monitoring, and analyzing data. According to some embodiments disclosed herein, a monitoring system is configured to obtain data from a sensor system. The sensor system includes two or more sensors and can indicate an operating state detected at a monitored structure by the sensors. The monitoring system also obtains operational data including a threshold value for the sensors and an expected value for the sensors. The monitoring system is configured to adjust the thresholds based, at least partially, upon the operational data to obtain an adjusted threshold value, and to compare the data value to the adjusted threshold. The monitoring system can determine if the monitored structure is operating in an alarm condition.
US09127596B2

A fuel control system having a combustive energy value evaluator determining a combustive energy value of the fuel, and a controller calculating a desired flow rate based at least on the combustive energy value and controlling a fuel metering device such that the fuel flow rate corresponds to the desired fuel flow rate.
US09127591B2

A supercharger drive device (1) for a combustion engine (E) includes a gear carrier shaft (6) operable to rotate in unison with a crankshaft (2) of the combustion engine (E), a high speed gear (8) and a low speed gear (10) provided in the gear carrier shaft (6), a drive shaft (14) of a supercharger (12) which is rotatable when coupled with either one of the high speed gear (8) and the low speed gear (10), a gear shifter (16) for selecting one of the high speed gear (8) and the low speed gear (10) for transmitting a motive force from the gear carrier shaft (6) to the drive shaft (14) through the selected one of the high and low speed gears (8) and (10), and a shifter drive unit (18) for actuating the gear shifter (16) in dependence on the rotational speed of the combustion engine (E).
US09127590B2

Turbocharger provided with a bypass valve device comprising a valve element having a shaft movably connected to a valve element support, with a spindle between the valve element support and an adjusting lever extending transversely to the spindle, and an adjusting lever actuating element pivotably connected to the adjusting lever; an annular spring element is provided in at least one of a first position between the valve element and the valve element support and a second position between the adjusting lever and the adjusting lever actuating element, the spring element comprising at least one annular spring steel disc with a bead being configured and dimensioned so as to minimize play between the valve element and its support or between the adjusting lever and its actuating element.
US09127584B2

A recovery control system that allows a dosing valve to recover from a malfunction to a normal state, or a liquid feed line through which urea solution is fed to recover from clogging to a normal state. An abnormality detector detects an abnormality of the dosing valve and a recovery controller controls a supply module to feed urea solution in the dosing valve back to an urea tank when the abnormality detector detects the abnormality.
US09127583B2

A device for providing a liquid reducing agent includes a reducing agent tank for storing a reducing agent. The reducing agent tank has a tank bottom including a separate chamber. A dosing or metering unit extracts reducing agent from the reducing agent tank at an extraction point disposed at the separate chamber. The dosing unit is disposed within the separate chamber. A motor vehicle having the device is also provided.
US09127579B2

A fluid management system and a method for managing fluid include a removable cartridge, a fluid reservoir, a fluid exchange pump, and a conduit. The conduit provides fluid communication between the removable cartridge and the fluid reservoir. The fluid exchange pump transfers a first fluid from the fluid reservoir to the removable cartridge in a first direction, and permits a flow of a second fluid from the removable cartridge to the fluid reservoir in a second direction.
US09127571B2

Systems and methods are provided for the use of systems that recover mechanical power from waste heat energy using multiple working expanders with a common working fluid. The system accepts waste heat energy at different temperatures and utilizes a single closed-loop circuit of organic refrigerant flowing through all expanders in the system where the distribution of heat energy to each of the expanders allocated to permit utilization of up to all available heat energy. In some embodiments, the system maximizes the output of the waste heat energy recovery process. The expanders can be operatively coupled to one or more generators that convert the mechanical energy of the expansion process into electrical energy.
US09127570B2

Provided is a machine unit layout system that simplifies the layout of a compressor unit and an expander unit and is extremely effective in terms of not only the reliability of the entire machine but also maintainability. Two separate compressors, a low-pressure-side compressor and a high-pressure-side compressor (11A, 11b), are disposed on either side of a steam turbine (10). Two separate expanders, a low-pressure-side expander and a high-pressure-side expander (12A, 12B), are disposed outside the low-pressure-side and high-pressure-side compressors (11A, 11b). The steam turbine (10), the low-pressure-side and high-pressure-side compressors (11A, 11b), and the low-pressure-side and high-pressure-side expanders (12A, 12B) are coupled by rotor shafts comprising a single shaft. The torque distribution between rotator shafts is optimized.
US09127560B2

A cooled turbine blade comprises a root for fixing the blade to rotor, an airfoil extending along a radial axis from the root, and a tip shroud disposed at a radially outward end of the airfoil. The tip shroud extends in a circumferential direction from the airfoil and defines, within itself, a core plenum and a peripheral plenum. The airfoil defines an aft airfoil cooling passage that extends radially through the airfoil proximate a trailing edge portion of the airfoil. The airfoil also defines an aft cooling inlet for providing an aft stream of cooling fluid to the aft airfoil cooling passage. The airfoil also defines at least one aft cooling exit for discharging the aft stream of cooling fluid from the aft airflow cooling passage to the peripheral plenum. The tip shroud defines at least one peripheral plenum vent for discharging the aft stream of cooling fluid.
US09127553B2

Disclosed herein are apparatuses, methods, and systems for transition piece contouring. In an embodiment, a high thermal stress section of a transition piece and a low thermal stress section of a transition piece is a determined. The low thermal stress section of the transition piece may be contoured to intercept hot gas flow.
US09127519B2

A centralizer assembly having a tubular body member with upper and lower channels extending around the external surface of said central tubular body member. A bow spring assembly having bow spring members is installed around the outer surface of the tubular body member and can rotate about the outer surface of the central tubular body member. Bow spring heel supports prevent the bow spring members from contacting the outer surface of the central tubular member when compressed. Non-abrasive materials prevent damage to wellhead or other polished bore receptacles. A robust bolster frame protects the centralizer assembly during shipping, storage or other periods of non-use.
US09127494B2

In a hinge device 1, a door-side mounting member 6 is rotatably connected to a housing-side mounting member 3 via an inner link 4 and an outer link 5. To prevent the inner link 4 and the outer link 5 from being rattled, one protrusion 72 of a torsion coil spring 7 as a rotationally biasing mechanism is pressed against one side plate 41 of the inner link 4 via a cam member 91 and the other protrusion 73 of the torsion coil spring 7 is pressed against the other side plate 52 of the outer link 5.
US09127489B2

A door stop includes a body having a longitudinal axis and a rotating toggle operably connected to the body. The toggle is rotatable such that a longitudinal axis of the toggle aligns with the longitudinal axis of the body in an insertion position and the longitudinal axis of the toggle is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body in a locked position. The door stop includes a lock assembly operably mounted to the body to lock the toggle. Monitoring circuitry provides indication of a location of the door stop and/or an alarm mode.
US09127475B2

An umbrella mount, and optional adaptor, a receiver for an umbrella pole and at least two pressure points that at least one strap and fastener can urge against a base support to securely position the mount.
US09127474B2

A railing system for mounting a panel or series of panels to form a railing. The railing system is comprised of the following base components: a shoe, which may be secured to the floor, having a slot for receiving a glass panel, a sleeve that holds the glass panel within the shoe, an arm that is adjustable to provide the force necessary to hold the glass panel in the desired position, and at least one set screw that adjusts the arm and holds the arm in place, in turn bracing the glass panel in the desired position.
US09127471B1

A spa cover is described that is comprised of a plurality of inflatable drop stitch bladders and a slipcover comprising a plurality of separate chambers. Each chamber corresponds to a respective one of the plurality of inflatable bladders, and each chamber is constructed to house a corresponding one of the inflatable bladders therein. The slipcover has a hinge between at least two separate chambers.
US09127460B2

A flashing laminate includes a non-reinforced thermoplastic sheet having a bottom surface, a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge. The flashing laminate also includes an adhesive layer on a longitudinally extending portion of the bottom surface adjacent to one of the longitudinal edges. In one or more embodiments, the laminate also includes a release liner positioned over the adhesive tape.
US09127458B2

The present invention involves the provision of a truss assembly and method which includes components that have segments pre-connected in a manner that allows the connected parts to be collapsed for packaging and shipping with the other components of a shed or the like.
US09127457B2

A machine for deforming and cutting plastic strands of recycled plastic for use as a secondary reinforcement in concrete includes a multi-strand supply of recycled plastic and a mechanism for advancing the multi-strands into and through the machine. The advancing mechanism may be several sets of motor driven roller sets each of which is connected to a common motor by a belt. The machine includes three sets of deformation mechanisms, a heater for softening the deformed strands and a cutter powered by a separate motor for cutting the softened plastic strands.
US09127444B2

An apparatus and method are shown for installing a metal transition end on an open end of a length of plastic pipe having an outer diameter and an inner diameter by placing a stiffener sleeve within the inner diameter of the plastic pipe at a point which is circumscribed by the metal transition end. An actuating sleeve, carried on the draw rod, allows the stiffener sleeve to be installed in a desired location within the open plastic pipe end by using the draw rod to first position the stiffener sleeve in the desired location. The metal transition end is provided with an internal relief groove which accepts any excess plastic material forced past the stiffener sleeve during the installation process.
US09127428B2

A sheathing arrangement for a soil-working roller (10), in particular for a soil compactor, comprises a plurality of immediately consecutive sheathing members (22) that are connected or connectable in chain-type fashion in longitudinal direction of an arrangement (L).
US09127420B2

An intelligent construction cone includes a light pervious body rotatable relative to a body. A rotating device is mounted to the light pervious body and driven by a driving device to rotate the light pervious body. A distance detector sends a distance signal to a controller coupled to the driving device. The distance detector is jointly rotatable with the light pervious body to eliminate detection dead angle. A warning device is coupled to the controller and generates a warning message responsive to the distance signal. A lighting device is coupled to the controller and provides illumination. A light sensor and a humidity sensor are coupled to the controller and detect environmental brightness and environmental humidity, respectively. The warning message and intensity of the illumination are adjusted according to a distance between an object and the distance detector, the environmental brightness, and the environmental humidity.
US09127413B2

A method for repairing an aged asphalt pavement is provided. The method involves passing an emitter over the aged asphalt pavement, wherein the emitter generates electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 20 microns to 1 mm that penetrates into the pavement to a depth of at least 2 inches. The asphalt pavement is repaired by disturbing voids and interstices in the damaged pavement without dehydrogenation of the asphalt, such that oligomers present in the aged asphalt are linked together into longer polymer chains to improve ductility of the aged asphalt.
US09127408B2

It has now been discovered that the sheet bulk of a tissue web may be increased, with little or no degradation in tensile strength, by forming the web with at least a portion of cellulosic fiber that has been reacted with a water soluble cellulose reactive agent such as a cyanuric halide or a vinyl sulfone and then reacting the fiber with monochloroacetic acid, or salts thereof, in the presence of a caustic.
US09127406B2

The instant disclosure relates to a surface coating composition for inkjet media, including: a binder including at least one of water soluble polymers, water dispersible polymers, or combinations thereof; a pigment including at least one of low surface area inorganic pigments, organic pigments, porous inorganic pigments, or combinations thereof; an optical brightening agent; a metallic salt; and a chemical chelant.
US09127403B2

A flash tank including: an interior chamber having a interior surface formed by a sidewall of the flash tank; a vapor exhaust port coupled to an upper portion of the chamber; a liquid discharge port coupled to a lower portion of the chamber; an insert inlet tube having an insert outlet and inserted into an inlet port of the chamber, wherein the insert inlet tube extends inward of the sidewall and the insert outlet has an elongated cross-sectional shape oriented substantially parallel to a center vertical axis of the flash tank and substantially perpendicular to a radial line of the flash tank, such that the insert outlet is substantially tangential to the sidewall.
US09127398B2

A method for controlling a washing machine includes comparing a command value of a motor with a predetermined limit value, during spin-drying, to determine whether the motor is overloaded, and controlling driving of the motor in response to the determination. It may be possible to determine a water filling state, an excessive bubble state, or a drainage error state, which may be caused during a spin-drying operation, and to take a proper measure. That is, in the drainage error state, a user is informed of the drainage error. In the water filling state, the spin-drying is normally completed by re-performing the spin-drying operation. In the excessive bubble state, a rinsing or spin-drying operation is added to remove the bubbles. When the bubbles are not removed by the added rinsing or spin-drying operation, the excessive bubble message is displayed to inform a consumer of the excessive bubble state.
US09127396B2

A washing machine includes a casing constituting the appearance, a support bar having one end connected to the casing and a suspension for connecting the other end of the support bar to the outer tub so as to suspend the outer tub within the casing, and for absorbing vibrations from the outer tub. The suspension includes an air cap through which the second end of the support bar passes. The air cab is installed on the outer circumference of the outer tub and moves along the support bar according to vibrations from the outer tub. A first friction member fitted on the support bar and disposed within the air cap to contact the inner surface of the air cap. A second friction member contacts the support bar and generates greater frictional force with the support bar than the force generated between the first friction member and the inner surface of the air cap to effectively decrease vibrations.
US09127385B2

A sewing machine includes an embroidery frame moving portion, a sewing portion, a communication portion, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform the steps of specifying an embroidery pattern and a size of the embroidery pattern, outputting the size of the embroidery pattern through the communication portion to a device provided with an image capture portion, acquiring positioning data through the communication portion, setting at least one of a position and the angle of a embroidery pattern on a sewing workpiece based on the positioning data, acquiring embroidery data, and causing the embroidery frame moving portion and the sewing portion to form stitches that make up the embroidery pattern on the sewing workpiece based on the embroidery data. The positioning data have been computed by the device based on image data and output to from the device.
US09127379B2

A multi-layer ballistic woven fabric, including an upper woven layer having upper warp yarns and upper weft yarns that are interwoven together to form the upper woven layer. The multi-layer ballistic woven fabric also includes a lower woven layer having lower warp yarns and lower weft yarns that are interwoven together, and a plurality of securing yarns, each securing yarn interwoven with at least some of the upper yarns and some of the lower yarns so as to secure the upper and lower woven layers together. At least one of the securing yarns is woven underneath a first lower weft yarn, then above a second upper weft yarn adjacent the first lower weft yarn, then underneath a third lower weft yarn adjacent the second upper weft yarn and then above a fourth upper weft yarn adjacent the third lower weft yarn. The multi-layer ballistic woven fabric is formed by interweaving the securing yarns with the warp yarns and weft yarns as the upper woven layer and lower woven layer are made.
US09127371B2

A moth-eye mold fabrication method of an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: (a) anodizing a surface of an aluminum film to form a porous alumina layer which has a plurality of minute recessed portions; (b) after step (a), bringing the porous alumina layer into contact with an etching solution, thereby enlarging the plurality of minute recessed portions of the porous alumina layer; and (c) after step (b), further anodizing the surface to grow the plurality of minute recessed portions, wherein a voltage applied in step (c) is higher than a voltage applied in step (a). According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mold fabrication method is provided which is capable of preventing formation of a plurality of tiny pores in one micropore.
US09127370B2

An apparatus and method for generating low pressure hydrogen gas from fuel solutions (i.e., alcohols) without the use of an external power source or external heat source. The apparatus comprises (a) a first chamber for fuel storage having an aperture, (b) a second chamber for the temporary storage of hydrogen gas generated having an aperture, (c) a first electrochemical cell (Cell-1) and (d) a second electrochemical cell (Cell-2). Cell-2 is disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber so that its anode is in fluid communication with the first chamber and its cathode is in fluid communication with the second chamber. Cell-1 is disposed on the opposite side of the first chamber from Cell-2 so that the anode therein is in fluid communication with the first chamber, and the cathode therein is in fluid communication with an oxidizing agent. The first chamber is sandwiched between Cell-1 and Cell-2. An air convection window or like device making ambient air available to the apparatus via Cell-1 is positioned on the side of Cell-1 opposite the fuel chamber. In operation, fuel is provided to the first chamber, the anode of Cell-1 is connected to the cathode of Cell-2, and the cathode of Cell-1 is connected to the anode of Cell-2, and hydrogen gas is continuously generated from the hydrogen chamber. The present invention may be used at room temperature.
US09127362B2

A process kit comprises a ring assembly that is placed about a substrate support in a substrate processing chamber to reduce deposition of process deposits on the chamber components and on an overhang edge of the substrate. The process kit includes a deposition ring, cover ring, and anti-lift bracket, and can also include a unitary shield. A target is also described.
US09127359B2

A liquid vaporizer is configured to vaporize a liquid reagent and mix the vaporized liquid reagent with a gaseous medium. The liquid vaporizer is equipped with a main vaporizer body having a mixed gas generating space, and a vaporizing unit disposed inside the mixed gas generating space. The vaporizing unit has a vaporizing unit main body having a vaporization surface and a net-shaped body formed in a planar shape by knitting wires regularly in a net-like shape. The net-shaped body forms a plurality of mesh spaces surrounded by the wires and arranged regularly in the in-plane direction. The vaporizing unit forms a plurality of liquid reagent supply spaces surrounded by the wires and the vaporization surface as a result of the net-shaped body and the vaporization surface being abutted against each other. The liquid reagent supply spaces are arranged regularly in the in-plane direction of the net-shaped body.
US09127358B2

A film forming apparatus for forming a polyimide film on a substrate installed within a film forming container. The apparatus includes: a first vaporizer configured to vaporize a first raw material in a solid state, and supply the vaporized first raw material gas to the substrate; a second vaporizer configured to vaporize a second raw material in a liquid state, and supply the vaporized second raw material gas to the substrate; a first pressure measurement unit configured to measure the internal pressure of the first vaporizer; a second pressure measurement unit configured to measure the internal pressure of the second vaporizer; and a controller configured to calculate a supply amount of the first and second raw material gases by the first and second pressure measurement units, respectively, and control the first and second vaporizers to supply the first and second raw material gases in a uniform amount.
US09127353B2

Provided are a film-forming apparatus and a film-forming method capable of preventing complication of an apparatus mechanism in formation of a thin film of multiple materials by sputtering to simplify the apparatus mechanism and preventing an increase in an apparatus cost. The film-forming apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a substrate holder for holding a substrate, cathode mechanisms for supporting targets respectively so that the targets can be opposed to the substrate in the vacuum chamber, and shutters movable forward and backward individually between the targets made of different materials and the substrate to block or pass film-forming particles generated from the targets. At least one of the shutters is formed of a target material different from those for the targets so that the at least one of the shutters is configured as a shutter that also functions as a target.
US09127352B2

Provided is a cylindrical sputtering target which attains a high production yield in a film-forming process even when a film is formed by sputtering with a long cylindrical sputtering target constituted by a plurality of cylindrical target materials.A multi-divided cylindrical sputtering target formed by bonding a cylindrical base and a plurality of cylindrical target materials together with a bonding material has a divided portion where adjacent cylindrical target materials are arranged with a gap therebetween, while outer peripheral faces of the adjacent cylindrical target materials have a step of 0.5 mm or less therebetween in the divided portion. Such a target is obtained by fixing the cylindrical target materials with reference to the outer peripheral faces of the cylindrical target materials when arranging the cylindrical target materials with reference to the cylindrical base.
US09127351B2

Methods of producing metal-containing thin films with low impurity contents on a substrate by atomic layer deposition (ALD) are provided. The methods preferably comprise contacting a substrate with alternating and sequential pulses of a metal source chemical, a second source chemical and a deposition enhancing agent. The deposition enhancing agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, hydrogen plasma, hydrogen radicals, silanes, germanium compounds, nitrogen compounds, and boron compounds. In some embodiments, the deposition-enhancing agent reacts with halide contaminants in the growing thin film, improving film properties.
US09127349B2

The present invention refers to a method as well as an apparatus for depositing a layer at a substrate, the layer containing at least two components co-deposited by at least two evaporation sources, wherein the mixture of the components regarding the content of the components is set by tilting the evaporation sources to predetermined angle and/or by positioning the evaporation sources at a predetermined distance with respect to the substrate and/or wherein evaporation plumes of the evaporation sources are arranged such that the maxima of the evaporation plumes are separated locally with respect to the substrate.
US09127344B2

A method for manufacturing a solid-state battery device. The method can include providing a substrate within a process region of an apparatus. A cathode source and an anode source can be subjected to one or more energy sources to transfer thermal energy into a portion of the source materials to evaporate into a vapor phase. An ionic species from an ion source can be introduced and a thickness of solid-state battery materials can be formed overlying the surface region by interacting the gaseous species derived from the plurality of electrons and the ionic species. During formation of the thickness of the solid-state battery materials, the surface region can be maintained in a vacuum environment from about 10-6 to 10-4 Torr. Active materials comprising cathode, electrolyte, and anode with non-reactive species can be deposited for the formation of modified modulus layers, such a void or voided porous like materials.
US09127324B2

Disclosed is an O-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase (OPSS) mutant which has a Mycobacterium smegmatis-derived amino acid sequence corresponding to that of SEQ ID NO: 1 which is devoid of three to seven C-terminal amino acid residues. Also, a nucleic acid molecule encoding the OPSS mutant, an expression vector carrying the nucleic acid molecule, and a transformant transformed with the expression vector are disclosed. In addition, a method is provided for producing cysteine in which O-phospho-L-serine (OPS) is reacted with a sulfide in the presence of the OPSS mutant. The OPSS mutant has improved enzymatic activity and can be applied to the environmentally friendly production of L-cysteine through a simple enzymatic conversion reaction.
US09127319B2

An in vitro diagnostic method for determining invasive potential of cancer comprising measuring MLK4 gene expression in a cancer cell sample, wherein MLK4 gene overexpression is indicative of an invasive cancer, preferably a colorectal, bladder, breast, gastric, melanoma, lung, ovary or GMB cancer.
US09127313B2

An analysis instrument comprises plural modules connected together over a data network, each module comprising an analysis apparatus operable to perform biochemical analysis of a sample. Each module comprises a control unit that controls the operation of the analysis apparatus. The control units are addressable to select an arbitrary number of modules to operate as a cluster for performing a common biochemical analysis. The control units communicate over the data network, repeatedly during the performance of the common biochemical analysis, to determine the operation of the analysis apparatus of each module required to meet the global performance targets, on the basis of measures of performance derived from the output data produced by the modules. The arrangement of the instrument as modules interacting in this manner provides a scalable analysis instrument.
US09127310B2

The invention generally relates to droplet based digital PCR and methods for analyzing a target nucleic acid using the same. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve forming sample droplets containing, on average, a single target nucleic acid, amplifying the target in the droplets, excluding droplets containing amplicon from the target and amplicon from a variant of the target, and analyzing target amplicons.
US09127306B2

Methods and kits for preparing nucleic acid fragments from a sample of purified nucleic acid are provided. Alternatively, chromatin or other long polymers can be sheared with similar methods and kits.
US09127304B2

The present invention provides methods of making polymer-based biosensors and the biosensors made by said methods, wherein the biosensors comprise conducting polymers and negatively charged nanoparticles comprising a capture moiety. The present invention also provides methods of detecting analytes in a solution by contacting the solution with said polymer-based biosensors.
US09127300B2

The disclosure provides culture devices and methods for a microorganism in a sample. The devices include a base member, a cover sheet, an adhesive layer coupled to the base member or the cover sheet, and a cold water-soluble gelling agent disposed on the base member; wherein the devices are substantially optically transmissive when the gelling agent is hydrated with a clear liquid. Methods of use include detecting or enumerating microorganisms. The methods further provide for detecting a microorganism by detecting the presence or size of an abiogenic gas bubble in a culture device.
US09127292B2

Genetically modified non-human animals and methods and compositions for making and using the same are provided, wherein the genetic modification comprises a humanization of an endogenous signal-regulatory protein gene, in particular a humanization of a SIRPα gene. Genetically modified mice are described, including mice that express a human or humanized SIRPα protein from an endogenous SIRPα locus.
US09127290B2

A three-step screening of selection for resistance against pathogenic bacteria infection, selection for resistance against pathogenic fungi infection, and selection for sensitivity to salicylic acid was carried out on Arabidopsis thaliana lines highly expressing rice full-length cDNA (rice-FOX Arabidopsis lines) which were prepared by using a FOX hunting system. As a result, one Arabidopsis thaliana line (line K15424) selected in all of the three types of screening was successfully selected. Line K15424 carries a rice full-length cDNA. Rice overexpressing AK070024 was produced, and resistance against rice bacterial leaf blight was assayed using the T1 generation. As a result, it was confirmed that AK070024-overexpressing rice is resistant against bacterial leaf blight and blast.
US09127284B2

Described herein is a method of treatment of cancer or tumor using a modified bacteria or composition comprising the modified bacteria. In certain embodiments, the method is in combination with other treatment. In certain embodiments, the treatment is chemotherapy, radiation therapy, gene therapy, surgery or a combination thereof. The method makes modified facultative anaerobic bacteria into a conditional obligate anaerobe. The modified bacteria are strictly hypoxia regulated and comprise an essential gene expressing cassette. The vectors of this method comprise the essential gene expressing cassette. Also described herein are therapeutic and prophylactic compositions comprising the modified bacteria. The therapeutic and prophylactic compositions contain a purified form of the modified bacteria, while in certain embodiments, they do not contain other strain of microorganisms. The modified bacteria grow within the solid tumor/cancer, retarding its growth and are rapidly eliminated from normal tissues. The solid tumor/cancer includes breast cancer, liver cancer or neuroblastoma.
US09127278B2

Disclosed herein are antisense compounds and methods for decreasing HBV mRNA, DNA and protein expression. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, or ameliorate HBV-related diseases, disorders or conditions.
US09127276B2

Provided herein are oligomeric compounds with conjugate groups. In certain embodiments, the oligomeric compounds are conjugated to N-Acetylgalactosamine.
US09127264B2

The present invention relates to recombinant furin (rFurin) and methods for producing rFurin. More specifically, the invention relates to substantially animal protein-free rFurin and methods for producing substantially animal protein-free rFurin.
US09127257B2

The present invention relates to a polypeptide that is modified to have homoserine O-acetyltransferase activity, and in particular, the present invention provides a modified polypeptide having homoserine O-acetyltransferase activity, in which the amino acid at position 111 of a polypeptide having homoserine succinyltransferase activity is substituted with other amino acid.
US09127249B2

Provided is a novel method for preparing metabolites of atorvastatin using bacterial cytochrome P450, and a composition therefor, and more particularly, a composition for preparing 2-hydroxylated product of 4-hydroxylated product from atorvastatin including bacterial cytochrome P 450 BM3 (CYP102A1), CYP102A1 mutants, and chimeras derived from the CYP102A1 mutants, a kit therefor, and a method for preparing thereof.
US09127246B2

A method for processing a fluid includes sparging a fluid within the compartment of a container with an initial gas so that the initial gas passes through a portion of the fluid to form a humid gas within the compartment. The humid gas is passed out of the compartment of the container and into a flexible condenser bag. The humid gas within the condenser bag is cooled so as to separate the humid gas within the condenser bag into a condensed fluid and a dehumidified gas. The condensed fluid and the dehumidified gas is then removed from the condenser bag.
US09127238B2

The invention involves foam stabilization compositions that rely upon an electrostatic charge interaction. According to the invention, the positively charged class of polymers such as polyethyleneimine (PEI) polymers are used to provide a long range electrostatic interaction with detersive anionic or amphoteric surfactants present in the same. The interaction must be of sufficient character so that the components do not precipitate out, instead causing longer lasting and increased foam production. The system provides an environmentally friendly alternative for traditional foaming enhancers such as cocamide DEA.
US09127225B2

High octane unleaded aviation fuel composition having high aromatics content and CHN content of at least 97.8 wt %, less than 2.2 wt % of oxygen content, a T10 of at most 75° C., T40 of at least 75° C., a T50 of at most 105° C., a T90 of at most 135° C., a final boiling point of less than 190° C., an adjusted heat of combustion of at least 43.5 MJ/kg, a vapor pressure in the range of 38 to 49 kPa is provided.
US09127224B2

The present disclosure generally relates to methods to reduce the external steam supplied to a fluidized catalytic cracker by injecting a stream comprising a water-containing renewable fuel oil into a riser of a fluidized catalytic cracker.
US09127207B2

Described is a pyrolysis system including an entrained flow pyrolyzer having an opening through which biomass can be added. The pyrolyzer also has an inlet for hot exhaust gas, an outlet for pyrolyzed biomass and an outlet for syngas. The system has a burner for producing hot exhaust gas and a conduit between the burner and the hot exhaust gas inlet. A syngas extraction means for extracting syngas from the pyrolyzer. The syngas extraction means extracts syngas from the pyrolyzer at a rate such that the internal pressure within the pyrolyzer never exceeds the pressure external to the pyrolyzer.
US09127206B2

An apparatus for synergistically combining a plasma with a comminution means such as a fluid kinetic energy mill (jet mill), preferably in a single reactor and/or in a single process step is provided by the present invention. Within the apparatus of the invention potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and subsequently into angular momentum by means of wave energy, for comminuting, reacting and separation of feed materials. Methods of use of the apparatus in the practice of various processes are also provided by the present invention.
US09127205B2

An apparatus for synergistically combining a plasma with a comminution means such as a fluid kinetic energy mill (jet mill), preferably in a single reactor and/or in a single process step is provided by the present invention. Within the apparatus of the invention potential energy is converted into kinetic energy and subsequently into angular momentum by means of wave energy, for comminuting, reacting and separation of feed materials. Methods of use of the apparatus in the practice of various processes are also provided by the present invention.
US09127201B2

An electro-optical device includes: (1) a first electrode layer; (2) a second electrode layer; and (3) a middle layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The middle layer includes a material having the formula: [AaBbXxX′x′X″x″], where A is selected from potassium, rubidium, and cesium; B is selected from germanium, tin, and lead; X, X′, and X″ are independently selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine; a is in the range of 1 to 9; b is in the range of 1 to 5; a sum of x, x′, and x″ is in the range of 1 to 9; and the material is at least one of n-doped and p-doped.
US09127199B2

A liquid crystal composition including a first liquid crystal monomer, and a second liquid crystal monomer, wherein the ratio of the first liquid crystal monomer is 5 wt % to 10 wt % and the ratio of the second liquid crystal monomer is 90 wt % to 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the first liquid crystal monomer and the second liquid crystal monomer. The first liquid crystal monomer is selected from the group consisting of tetra-cyclic compounds represented by formula 1 to formula 6: wherein R is C3-C12 alkyl group, X is —COO—, —C≡C—, or —N═N—, and Y is —CN. The second liquid crystal monomer includes a bicyclic structure or a tricyclic structure.
US09127195B1

A quantity of insoluble solid particles is coated with a hydratable gelling agent to produce a composition comprised of a mass of discrete solid particles which is dry and flowable. The composition is made by placing a binder on the insoluble solid particles and then, while the binder is sticky, placing a hydratable gelling agent on the sticky binder to thereby form the composition. The hydratable gelling agent on the composition, upon contact with an aqueous liquid, operates to increase the viscosity of the aqueous liquid.
US09127185B2

Composition comprising a polyester resin (A) made waterborne by adding 7-20 mass %, based on resin solids content of (A), of (a) a C1-3 alkoxy group-containing glycol monoalkyl ether to a polyester resin of resin acid value 25-35 mgKOH/g and neutralizing with a secondary amine and/or tertiary amine; a melamine resin (B) comprising methylated melamine resin and methyl/butyl mixed alkylated melamine resin, the content ratio based on resin solids content by mass of the methylated melamine resin to the methyl/butyl mixed alkylated melamine resin from 50/50 to 90/10, and the content ratio based on resin solids content by mass of component (A) to component (B) is 70/30 to 90/10, and a polypropylene glycol (C) comprising a number average molecular weight between 400 and 1,200, and in a mass percentage between 1 and 10 mass % in terms of the combined resin solids contents by mass of component (A) and component (B).
US09127178B2

A process for printing a substrate comprising applying thereto an ink by means of an ink jet printer, wherein the ink comprises a latex binder, a liquid medium comprising water and organic solvent, and polymer-encapsulated pigment particles comprising a carboxy-functional dispersant crosslinked around a pigment core by a crosslinking agent, wherein the ink has a minimum film-forming temperature below 70° C. Inks are also claimed. The process and inks are useful for printing temperature-sensitive substrates, e.g. foil balloons and wrapping materials for special occasions.
US09127177B2

A water-based ink for use in a computer-to-plate inkjet printing and a preparation method therefor. A polymer of 5 to 40 wt %, an additive of 0.01 to 10 wt %, a dye or pigment of 0.01 to 10 wt %, an organic solvent of 1 to 30 wt %, an anti-foaming agent of 0 to 5 wt %, and deionized water are stirred and mixed at room temperature. When the polymer is dissolved, the mixed solution is filtered. The filtrate is the water-based ink. The water-based ink is sprayed via a computer-to-plate machine onto a surface of a metal substrate (which may be an aluminum plate, a zinc plate, or a copper plate) to form a graphic region. A printing plate allowing for computer-to-plate printing is acquired after solidification. The printing plate acquired is allowed to achieve a halftone dot reproduction rate between 2 and 99% and a recognition rate of 175 lpi.
US09127176B2

A cationic electrodeposition coating is provided having excellent covering power (clearance application properties), edge anticorrosion properties, and finish properties. The cationic electrodeposition coating composition comprises a specific amino-group-containing epoxy resin; blocked polyisocyanate obtained by reacting an active hydrogen-containing component containing propylene glycol, and a polyisocyanate compound; and 0.1-20 mass parts of a cationic electrodepositing gelled microparticulate polymer obtained by crosslinking an acrylic copolymer containing hydrolyzable alkoxysilane groups and cationic groups, per a total of 100 mass parts of the solids fraction of the amino-group-containing epoxy resin and the blocked polyisocyanate compound.
US09127164B2

The present invention relates to fluorescent dyes based on acridine derivatives and use of such dyes, for example, in biochemical and/or cell based assays. A preferred feature of some of the dyes described is their long fluorescence lifetimes and their use to label biological molecules.
US09127159B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a curable resin composition capable of giving a cured product which is excellent in mechanical properties (such as elastic modulus) and toughness. The curable resin composition contains 60 to 99 parts by mass of an unsaturated ester resin, 0.5 to 20 parts by mass of an epoxy resin, and 0.1 to 20 parts by mass of crosslinked rubber particles having a number average particle diameter of 20 nm to 600 nm. The crosslinked rubber particles are obtained by polymerizing a vinyl monomer in the presence of one or more rubber polymers selected from the group consisting of a butadiene rubber, a butadiene-styrene rubber, a butadiene-butyl acrylate rubber, a butyl acrylate rubber and an organosiloxane rubber.
US09127142B2

A method for injection molding a thermoplastic composition that contains a polyarylene sulfide and an aromatic amide oligomer is provided. Due to the improved crystallization properties imparted by the oligomer, the present inventors have discovered that the thermoplastic composition can be molded at lower temperatures to still achieve the same degree of crystallization. In addition to minimizing the energy requirements for the molding operation, such low mold temperatures may be accomplished using heating mediums that are less corrosive and expensive than some conventional techniques.
US09127137B2

The invention relates to an energy efficient, environmentally favorable process for the preparation of brominated butyl rubbers, that uses a bromination agent and a oxidizing agent in order to enhance the utilization of bromine contained in the bromination agent. In a preferred embodiment a common medium for both solution polymerization and subsequent bromination of the rubber is employed.
US09127136B1

A method of recycling bis(hydroxyalkyl) terephthalate monomer from a composition comprising a terephthalate-containing polymer includes depolymerizing the terephthalate-containing polymer to provide the bis(hydroxyalkyl) terephthalate; and separating the bis(hydroxyalkyl) terephthalate from the composition comprising the depolymerized terephthalate-containing polymer by continuous multi-column liquid chromatography.
US09127125B2

The present invention relates to a new process for preparing polyurethane-polyacrylate hybrid dispersions, and to the resulting dispersions and their use.
US09127109B2

A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising: polymerizing conjugated diene monomer, optionally together with comonomer, using a phosphorus-containing organometal initiator.
US09127102B2

A rheology modifier copolymer of formula (I) wherein A is a macromonomer, B is an acrylic or methacrylic acid or salt thereof, C is a C1-C8 ester of (meth)acrylic acid, D is an associative monomer, and when present E is a crosslinking monomer.
US09127090B2

A fibronectin type III (Fn3) polypeptide monobody, a nucleic acid molecule encoding said monobody, and a variegated nucleic acid library encoding said monobody, are provided by the invention. Also provided are methods of preparing a Fn3 polypeptide monobody, and kits to perform said methods. Further provided is a method of identifying the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide molecule capable of binding to a specific binding partner (SBP) so as to form a polypeptide:SSP complex, and a method of identifying the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide molecule capable of catalyzing a chemical reaction with a catalyzed rate constant, kcat, and an uncatalyzed rate constant, kuncat, such that the ratio of kcat/kuncat is greater than 10.
US09127087B2

The present invention relates to a Yeast Surface Display (YSD) vector for expression of VLR proteins by yeast, wherein the vector includes nucleotide sequences encoding segments of yeast flocculation proteins Flo1p, such as the leader and C-terminal segments, a homologous recombinant cassette and a geneticin/kanamycin resistance gene. The vector can be used for expression of VLR that may be effective in diagnostic applications (e.g., protein chip, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry), immunoaffinity purification, and for engineering novel fusion proteins.
US09127082B2

The present invention discloses a novel neurotrophic factor protein, MANF2 and a genetic sequence encoding the same. The molecule will be useful in the development of a range of therapeutics and diagnostics useful in the treatment, prophylaxis and/or diagnosis of MANF2 dependent conditions. The molecule of the present invention is also a useful effector of primary and central neurons, especially dopaminergic neurons at the central nervous system and growth factor genes.
US09127077B2

The present invention relates to polypeptides, nucleic acids and pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the treatment of ErbB2 dependent-cancers, in particular of tumors overexpressing ErbB2 or expressing mutated forms of the ErbB2 gene.
US09127076B2

This invention relates in part to modifying BtBooster (BtB) peptides, in part to increase their stability in insect midgut digestive juices. Some preferred embodiments of BtB have removed proteinase cleavage sites resulting in increased stability of the modified BtB in the insect gut, while retaining the ability to enhance B.t. proteins for improved insect control. In some preferred embodiments, the protease-stable BtB is used in combination with B.t. spores and/or crystals comprising a Cry protein. Also reported herein is the significant and increased enhancement of Bt toxins against relatively Bt-tolerant insects (Helicoverpa zea, Spodoptera exigua and Agrotis ipsilon), when used with BtBs. We also describe increased toxin enhancement with cadherin fragments that are stabilized against over-digestion by insect midgut proteinases. We also report enhancement of Bt Cry1F toxin by cadherin fragments.
US09127075B2

The present invention provides an active peptide purified from scorpions, and derivatives, analogs and active fragment which are produced by using genetic engineering technology. The analgesic active peptide VGG is extracted, separated and purified from scorpion, and its amino acid sequence is shown as below: VKDGYIADDRNCPYFCGRNAYCDGECKKNRAESGYCQWASKYGNACWCY KLPDDARIMKPGRCNGG. The present invention further provides a use of the peptides in preparation of an analgesic drug, where the peptide is mixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to prepare into forms for injection, oral administration, transdermal absorption, and transmucosal absorption.
US09127074B2

The invention refers to TFEB related molecules, as variants, mutants, truncated proteins, chimeras etc. that are constitutively localized in the nucleus of a eukaryote cell. Such molecules have a therapeutic applicability in all of disorders that need of an induction of the cell authophagic/lysosomal system, as lysosomal storage disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, hepatic diseases, muscle diseases and metabolic diseases.
US09127073B2

The present invention relates to two new gain of function variants of the cytokinin receptor proteins AHK2 and AHK3, namely rock2 and rock3, to transgenic organisms comprising at least one of said new gain-of-function cytokinin receptor variants and to a method for the manufacturing of a transgenic plant comprising at least one of the new gain-of-function variants.
US09127066B2

Treating a disorder (e.g., osteoporosis, renal failure, or diabetic nephropathy) associated with a signaling pathway mediated by IL-20 receptor with an agent that suppresses IL-20 receptor activity, e.g., an antibody that neutralizes IL-20 receptor via binding to IL-20R1, an antisense nucleic acid that suppresses expression of IL-20R1, a small molecule that inhibits IL-20 receptor activity, or a dominant negative mutant of IL-19, IL-20, or IL-24.
US09127056B2

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antigen binding fragments and engineered antibody domains (eAds) that specifically bind IGF-II are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, these mAbs and eAds are included in a bispecific mAb. In some embodiments, the bispecific antibody specifically binds two different epitopes of IGF-II. Methods of using these mAbs, antigen binding fragments, and eAds, bispecific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding these mAbs, antigen binding fragments, and eAds, bispecific antibodies are also disclosed.
US09127054B2

An object of the present invention is to realize an antibody or a fragment thereof specifically recognizing a cofilin 1 protein, and a method for detecting and testing gastrointestinal cancer with high detection performance, which comprises performing immunoassay of the cofilin 1 protein using the antibody or a fragment thereof. An immunoassay of cofilin 1 protein is characterized by measuring cofilin 1 or a fragment thereof in a sample using 2 or more types of anti-cofilin 1 monoclonal antibody or fragments thereof specifically recognizing different peptide regions in the amino acid sequence constituting the cofilin 1 protein.
US09127049B2

The invention relates to neutralizing antibodies, and antibody fragments thereof, having high potency in neutralizing hCMV, wherein said antibodies and antibody fragments are specific for one, or a combination of two or more, hCMV gene UL products. The invention also relates to immortalized B cells that produce, and to epitopes that bind to, such antibodies and antibody fragments. In addition, the invention relates to the use of the antibodies, antibody fragments, and epitopes in screening methods as well as in the diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of disease.
US09127048B2

The present invention discloses positive control material for nucleic acid amplification based detection of microorganisms in biological samples. The control material comprises purified microorganism that is rendered non-infectious but is amenable to nucleic acid amplification. Also disclosed is a process for making and using the control material.
US09127045B2

Methods for selectively manipulating a growth rate of a selected bacterium comprising the step of contacting the selected bacterium with a predetermined amount of a quorum sensing molecule to affect a change in the growth rate of the selected bacterium, wherein the quorum sensing molecule is species specific, and the change in the growth rate is dependent on the amount of quorum sensing molecule in a dose-dependent fashion. Also provided are methods for treating or protecting against bacterial infections by utilizing the dose-dependent response of bacterial quorum sensing systems. The methods can be applied to a wide range of bacteria species including Streptococci, Staphylococci, and Bacilli. Compositions, medicaments and oral formulations for use with the methods are also disclosed.
US09127038B2

The invention relates to kisspeptide-pentasaccharide conjugates having the general formula (I) wherein Z1 is Tyr or D-Tyr; Z3 is Trp, Hyp, Phe or Lys(R2); Z5 is Thr, Aib or Ala; Z7 is Gly or azaGly; Z8 is Leu; or Z7 and Z8 together represent; Z10 is Phe or Trp; n is 0 or 1; or R2, when present, represents a pentasaccharide derivative having the formula (II) wherein R is methyl or SO3X; X is a positively charged counterion; with the proviso that when R2 is present, R1 is H or (C1-6) alkylcarbonyl; R3 is H or (C1-3)alkyl; and L represents a pharmacologically inactive linker moiety having 10-50 atoms; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same as well as to the use of said kisspeptide-pentasaccharide conjugates in the treatment of female infertility.
US09127032B2

As a novel substance having a novel skeleton, an organometallic complex with high emission efficiency which achieves improved color purity by a reduction of half width of an emission spectrum is provided. One embodiment of the present invention is an organometallic complex in which a β-diketone and a six-membered heteroaromatic ring including two or more nitrogen atoms inclusive of a nitrogen atom that is a coordinating atom are ligands. In General Formula (G1), X represents a substituted or unsubstituted six-membered heteroaromatic ring including two or more nitrogen atoms inclusive of a nitrogen atom that is a coordinating atom. Further, R1 to R4 each represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
US09127031B2

Methods for deposition of elemental metal films on surfaces using metal coordination complexes comprising bisamineazaallylic ligands are provided. Also provided are bisamineazaallylic ligands useful in the methods of the invention and metal coordination complexes comprising these ligands.
US09127028B2

Embodiments of substrates and processes for chromogenic detection, and in particular pyrazolyl dihydrogen phosphate compounds, are disclosed.
US09127004B2

Compounds of Formula (I), their preparation and use in preventing or treating bacterial infections are disclosed.
US09127003B2

Compounds of formula (I): wherein; R1 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; R2 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, perhalomethylC0-5alkyl-O—, or C1-6alkoxy; R3 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, or C1-6alkoxyC1-6alkyl; R4 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, perhalomethylC1-6alkyl; or unsubstituted C3-6cycloalkylC1-6 alkyl; A is C—R5 or N; B is C—R6 or N; D is C—R7 or N; with the proviso that at least one of A, B, and D, is N; R5 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; R6 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; R7 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkoxy, or hydroxy; R8 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl, with the proviso that one of R4 and R8 is hydrogen; R9 is hydrogen or hydroxy; R10 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl; and salts thereof are PAD4 inhibitors and may be useful in the treatment of various disorders, for example rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, cancer, cystic fibrosis, asthma, cutaneous lupus erythematosis, and psoriasis.
US09126998B2

The present application relates to novel substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-carboxamides, to processes for their preparation, to their use alone or in combinations for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.
US09126982B2

The present invention relates to compounds of general formula (I) and the tautomers and the salts thereof, particularly the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids and bases, which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on epithelial sodium channels, and the use thereof for the treatment of diseases, particularly diseases of the lungs and airways.
US09126979B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula I: in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the Summary of the Invention. Compounds of formula I are capable of disrupting the BCL-2 interations with proteins containing a BH3 domain. Disrupting this interaction can restore the anti-apoptotic function of BCL-2 in cancer cells and tumor tissue expressing BCL-2. The invention further provides a process for the preparation of compounds of the invention, pharmaceutical preparations comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds in the treatment of cancerous diseases.
US09126978B2

The present invention provides novel chemical compounds characterized as Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors, methods for their discovery, and their therapeutic, research, and diagnostic use. In particular, the present invention provides 1,4-benzodiazepine-2,5-dione compounds and related compounds having ROCK inhibitory activity, and methods of using such compounds as therapeutic agents to treat a number of conditions associated with ROCK activity.
US09126977B2

The present invention relates to the discovery of a novel opioid modulator effective in reducing pharmacologically induced weight gain associated with atypical antipsychotic use. The present invention provides methods of reducing antipsychotic induced weight gain, methods for suppressing food intake and reducing ghrelin levels induced by atypical antipsychotic medications in a patient.
US09126970B2

The present invention describes indenocarbazole derivatives having electron- and hole-transporting properties, in particular for use in the emission and/or charge-transport layer of electroluminescent devices or as matrix material. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention and to electronic devices comprising same.
US09126964B2

The present disclosure provides methods to produce substituted furans (e.g., halomethylfurfural, hydroxymethylfurfural, and furfural), by acid-catalyzed conversion of biomass using a gaseous acid in a multiphase reactor, such as a fluidized bed reactor.
US09126958B2

The present disclosure relates to compounds effective as human protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (HPTP-β) inhibitors thereby regulating angiogenesis. The present disclosure further relates to compositions comprising said human protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (HPTP-β) inhibitors, and to methods for regulating angiogenesis.
US09126951B2

Described herein are inhibitors of FGFR, pharmaceutical compositions including such compounds, and methods of using such compounds and compositions to inhibit the activity of tyrosine kinases.
US09126943B2

A nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivative represented by the following formula (1): wherein any “12-a” groups of R1 to R12 are independently a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 30 ring carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group having 5 to 30 ring atoms; any “a” groups of R1 to R12 are independently a single bond which is bonded to L1; L1 is a single bond, a “b+1” valent substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon ring group having 6 to 30 ring carbon atoms or a “b+1” valent substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group having 5 to 30 ring atoms; HAr is a substituted or unsubstituted nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group; and “a” and “b” are independently an integer of 1 to 4, and at least one of “a” and “b” is 1. Also disclosed is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivative represented by the following formula (21) or (31):
US09126940B2

Provided are compositions and methods useful for modulation of signaling through the Toll-like receptors TLR7 and/or TLR8. The compositions and methods have use in treating or preventing disease, including cancer, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, inflammatory disorder, graft rejection, and graft-verses-host disease.
US09126937B2

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise alkylated imino sugars derivatives having a disease-modifying action in the treatment of diseases associated with glucosidase activity that include Viral hemorrhagic fevers, and any other diseases involving glucosidase activity.
US09126927B2

The present invention relates to inhibitors of 11-β hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1, antagonists of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. The compounds of the invention can be useful in the treatment of various diseases associated with expression or activity of 11-β hydroxyl steroid dehydrogenase type 1 and/or diseases associated with aldosterone excess.
US09126918B2

A process for preparing cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone from cyclohexane includes steps of: (1) non-catalyticly oxidizing cyclohexane with molecular oxygen to obtain an oxidized mixture liquid containing cyclohexyl hydroperoxide (CHHP) as a main product; (2) performing a homogenous catalytic decomposition with an oil-soluble transitional metal compound serving as a catalyst, and serving as a scale inhibitor by 1-hydroxy ethidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (di)octyl ester, or a combination of 1-hydroxy ethidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (di)octyl ester and phosphoric acid octyl ester, to decompose the CHHP in the oxidized mixture liquid into cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone; and (3) rectifying to obtain products of the cyclohexanol and the cyclohexanone.
US09126907B2

A sulphur-containing and sulphonated aromatic perfluoroalkane monomer is provided that can be used for the manufacture of a polymer membrane for a PEM-type fuel cell. The perfluoroalkane monomer is a functionalized polymer that has a structure corresponding to a formula (I): E1-Ar1—X1—(CF2)n—X2—Ar2-E2  (I) in which: n is in a range from 1 to 20; X1 and X2, which are identical or different, represent S, SO, or SO2; Ar1, Ar2, which are identical or different, represent a phenylene group, at least one of Ar1 and Ar2 bearing a sulphonic (—SO3H) group or a sulphonate (—SO3M) group, in which M represents an alkali metal cation; and E1 and E2, which are identical or different, represent an electrophilic group such as a halogen, specifically fluorine or chlorine.
US09126904B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing isocyanates by reacting amines with phosgene in the liquid phase, where phosgene, hydrogen chloride and isocyanates are separated with stripping columns operated at different pressures.
US09126902B1

A class of modified single-ring cyanate esters which have shown the ability to tailor and control the glass-transition (Tg) of the cured resins as well as the water uptake.
US09126897B2

The invention relates to a method for the synthesis of a compound according to formula I comprising the following steps: a) reacting a N-carboxyanhydride according to formula II and a N-carboxy-anhydride according to formula III with a diamine according to formula IV and b) adding an acid to the reaction to adjust the pH value of the reaction to <7; wherein L represents a C2-C20 alkyl group, a C6-C20 aryl group, or a C7-C20 alkylaryl group; and R1 and R2 can be identical or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl group, a C1-C4 thioether group, a C6-C20 aryl group, a C7-C20 alkylaryl group, a C7-C20 alkylhydroxyaryl group, a C4-C20 alkylheteroaryl group with 1 to 4 heteroatoms; or a C1-C4 alkylcarboxylic moiety, which may be an acid, an amide, or which may be esterified with a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C7-C20 alkylaryl group.
US09126896B2

The invention relates to a method for the synthesis of a compound according to formula I comprising the following steps: a) reacting a Dane salt according to formula II and a Dane salt according to formula III with a coupling reagent; b) adding a diamine according to formula IV to the reaction mixture; and c) adding an acid to the reaction mixture to adjust the pH value of the reaction to <7; wherein L represents a C2-C20 alkyl group, a C6-C20 aryl group, or a C7-C20 alkylaryl group; R1 and R2 can be identical or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, a C1-C4 hydroxyalkyl group, a C1-C4 thioether group, a C6-C20 aryl group, a C7-C20 alkylaryl group, a C7-C20 alkylhydroxyaryl group, a C4-C20 alkylheteroaryl group with 1 to 4 heteroatoms; or a C1-C4 alkylcarboxylic moiety, which may be an acid, an amide, or which may be esterified with a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C7-C20 alkylaryl group; R3 represents a C1-C4 alkyl group; R4 represents a hydrogen atom, or a C1-C4 alkyl group; R5 represents a C1-C4 alkyl group; and X represents an alkali metal.
US09126888B2

Provided are azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze(E)) and water. Such azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions are useful in isolating trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene from impurities during production. Azeotropes of the instant invention are similarly useful in final compositions or for the manufacture of final compositions, such as blowing agent, propellants, refrigerants, diluents for gaseous sterilization and the like.
US09126883B2

A method of making alkylaromatics is described. The process includes recycling a portion of the alkylation reaction zone effluent back to the alkylation zone to maintain the product quality while reducing energy usage.
US09126876B2

Effect Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of lower olefins by converting a syngas feedstream at a temperature within a range of from 300° C. to no more than 400° C. using a supported, iron-based catalyst under a total system pressure of at least 2 megapascals with a volumetric ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide of at least 3:1 with markedly lower coking rates than attainable at a total system pressure of less than 2 megapascals.
US09126874B2

The invention relates to nutrient compositions for agricultural applications, and methods for plant or crop growth and care. The nutrient composition comprises a potassium-based nutrient solution enriched by electrochemical treatment. In various embodiments, the potassium-based nutrient composition comprises hypochlorous acid. The present invention involves the use of the nutrient compositions or solutions, among other things, in pre-harvest and post-harvest treatments and in environmental and soil disinfection.
US09126870B2

An article with a sintered decorative part obtained from a particulate mixture having the following chemical composition: zirconia ZrO2: complement to 100%; 0.5% to 10.0% of oxide(s) with a perovskite structure; 2.0% to 20.0% of a stabilizer for zirconia selected from Y2O3, Sc2O3, MgO, CaO, CeO2, and mixtures thereof, the quantity MgO+CaO being less than 5.0%; less than 2.0% of a sintering additive selected from Al2O3, ZnO, TiO2, and mixtures thereof; and less than 2.0% of other oxides.
US09126869B1

A method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure includes kneading titania particles, alumina particles and binder ingredient such that raw material paste including the titania particles, alumina particles and binder ingredient is prepared, forming a body made of the raw material paste and having a honeycomb structure such that the body has the honeycomb structure having multiple through-holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the body and multiple partition portions formed between the through-holes, drying the body made of the raw material paste and having the honeycomb structure such that the body maintains temperature difference of 20° C. or lower between surface temperature at an outer surface of the body and temperature at a central portion of the body and a dried body having the honeycomb structure is formed, and sintering the dried body having the honeycomb structure such that a ceramic body having the honeycomb structure is formed.
US09126864B2

A concrete mix for producing freeze-thaw durable concrete having enhanced strength properties, like compressive strength, abrasion resistance, impact strength, toughness, is disclosed. The novel concrete mix contains deformable solid elements in place of 4-8% entrained air for good durability of concrete under freeze-thaw cycles.
US09126849B2

A container containing a cobalt carbonyl complex and a gas that contains carbon monoxide, and a cobalt carbonyl complex composition comprising a cobalt carbonyl complex and a solvent, wherein the concentration of carbon monoxide dissolved in the solvent is 0.001 to 1 wt %.Since the cobalt carbonyl complex contained in the above container or the above composition can retain its sublimation properties for a long time without being converted into a stable complex, when a cobalt film is formed by chemical vapor deposition using the container and the composition, a high-quality film can be formed by a simple process, and the production cost of the cobalt film can be reduced due to high use efficiency of the precursor.
US09126848B2

A method for producing nanoscale particles by means of ionic liquids produces highly crystalline particles. The ionic liquids can be easily regenerated.
US09126846B2

A method of synthesizing metal composite oxide, the method including: a step of separately introducing into a high-speed stirring apparatus a ceria composite oxide microparticle colloid having a mean particle diameter of 10 nm or less after adding a dispersant and an alumina microparticle colloid having a mean particle diameter of 10 nm or less after adding a dispersant; a step of synthesizing alumina-ceria composite oxide microparticles by allowing the ceria composite oxide microparticles and the alumina microparticles that have been introduced into the high-speed stirring apparatus to react in a microscopic space; and a step of applying a shearing force of 17000 sec−1 or more to the alumina-ceria composite oxide microparticles.
US09126844B2

A positive electrode is disclosed for a non-aqueous electrolyte lithium rechargeable cell or battery. The electrode comprises a lithium containing material of the formula NayLixNizMn1-z-z′Mz′Od, wherein M is a metal cation, x+y>1, 0
US09126834B2

A hydrogen storage material has been developed that comprises a metal hydride material embedded into a carbon microstructure that generally exhibits a greater bulk thermal conductivity than the surrounding bulk metal hydride material.
US09126833B2

A method for the rapid and continuous production of crystalline mixed-metal oxides from a precursor solution comprised of a polymerizing agent, chelated metal ions, and a solvent. The method discharges solution droplets of less than 500 μm diameter using an atomizing or spray-type process into a reactor having multiple temperature zones. Rapid evaporation occurs in a first zone, followed by mixed-metal organic foam formation in a second zone, followed by amorphous and partially crystalline oxide precursor formation in a third zone, followed by formation of the substantially crystalline mixed-metal oxide in a fourth zone. The method operates in a continuous rather than batch manner and the use of small droplets as the starting material for the temperature-based process allows relatively high temperature processing. In a particular embodiment, the first zone operates at 100-300° C., the second zone operates at 300-700° C., and the third operates at 700-1000° C., and fourth zone operates at at least 700° C. The resulting crystalline mixed-metal oxides display a high degree of crystallinity and sphericity with typical diameters on the order of 50 μm or less.
US09126831B2

The present invention relates to a compact, concentric auto thermal hydrogen/syngas generator for production of hydrogen/syngas without any external heating. Further, the auto thermal hydrogen/syngas generator of the present invention involves combination of reactions such as partial oxidation, steam reforming, dry reforming, auto thermal reforming, dry autothermal reforming, water gas shift, preferential oxidation or methanation that takes place without external heating, for converting air, steam and fuel into a reformate mainly containing CO, CO2, N2, CH4 and H2O which is subsequently converted to hydrogen/syngas as a feed for fuel cell or syngas applications.
US09126826B2

The micro-electromechanical semiconductor component is provided with a first silicon semiconductor substrate having an upper face, into which a cavity delimited by side walls and a floor wall is introduced, and having a second silicon semiconductor substrate comprising a silicon oxide layer and a polysilicon layer applied thereon having a defined thickness. The polysilicon layer of the second silicon semiconductor substrate faces the upper side of the first silicon semiconductor substrate, the two silicon semiconductor substrates are bonded, and the second silicon semiconductor substrate covers the cavity in the first silicon semiconductor substrate. Grooves that extend up to the polysilicon layer are arranged in the second silicon semiconductor substrate in the region of the section thereof that covers the cavity.
US09126823B2

A microphone has a base substrate comprising a main surface, an acoustic sensor mounted on the main surface, and a circuit element stacked on the acoustic sensor. A hollow space is formed between the acoustic sensor and the circuit element. The acoustic sensor has a sensor substrate having a first surface opposed to the base substrate, a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface, and a cavity formed while recessed with respect to the second surface, and a movable electrode that covers the cavity from the second surface side. A through-hole is formed in the base substrate while piercing the base substrate in a thickness direction. A communication hole is formed in the sensor substrate while piercing the sensor substrate from the first surface to the second surface. The communication hole causes the through-hole and the hollow space to communicate with each other.
US09126822B2

Methods and systems for no-glue pocketed spring unit construction. Rows of pocketed springs, preferably arranged into modules of more than two pocketed springs surrounding a central hole, are ultrasonically welded together when paired vibrating probes and anvils press layers of pocketed spring fabric from the rows of pocketed springs together and a welding pulse is transmitted to the vibrating probe.
US09126814B2

A funnel body comprising a base plate, pull rod, and an outer wall. The outer wall may comprise a plurality of overlapping leaves or a membrane joined to a frame, with the outer wall movable between a collapsed position and an extended position and optionally biased towards the extended position. The funnel body may be moved into an extended position for use as a funnel and moved into a collapsed position and further retracted into a receptacle for storage within the receptacle when not in use. Also provided is a funnel assembly, comprising the funnel body and a housing, wherein the base plate of the funnel body is housed within the housing and positioned between upper and lower stops that engage the base plate and thereby prevent the base plate from exiting the housing. Further provided is a receptacle in combination with the funnel assembly and a method for modifying a receptacle to include a funnel assembly.
US09126802B2

A payout spool for a cable includes a base, a spool, and a disconnect/reconnect device. The cable extends between a first and a second end. The payout spool pays out the cable when the first end of the cable is pulled away from the payout spool. The base includes a terminal for transmitting and/or receiving a signal to and/or from the cable. The spool is rotatably mounted to the base about an axis. The spool is adapted to unwrap the cable about a wrapping area of the spool when the spool is rotated about the axis. The disconnect/reconnect device may be adapted to disconnect the second end of the cable from the terminal when the payout spool pays out the cable and reconnect the same when the payout spool is not paying out the cable.
US09126798B2

A knife folding machine comprises: a support surface (4) for supporting a lower surface of a sheet (S); a knife blade (5); a pair of folding rollers (6a, 6b) opposed to the knife blade (5) at a fold position with the support surface (4) therebetween. The knife blade (5) is reciprocated between first and second positions by a knife drive unit 7. The first position is away from an upper surface of the support surface, and the second position is adjacent a gap between the folding rollers. The reciprocal movement of the knife blade (5) effects a folding operation every time the sheet (S) is set at the fold position. The sheet (S) is conveyed to the fold position by the conveyer belt (13). The conveyer belt (13) is driven by a first servomotor (11). The control unit (12) controls the rotation of the first servomotor (11) so as to decelerate the sheet (S) before its abutment against the stopper (14) without its rebounding against the stopper (14).
US09126792B2

Coreless rolls of tissue, such as rolls of bath tissue or paper towels, are produced by winding tissue logs on a mandrel having retractable pins. During winding, the pins extend and penetrate the first several windings of the log as it is initially wound, which prevents slippage. After the winding is complete, the pins retract to allow the tissue log to slide off of the mandrel for subsequent slitting into individual product rolls and packaging. The penetration of the pins into the first several windings of the log tends to mechanically entangle and structurally unify those windings to create a “soft core”. At the same time, the properties of the tissue sheets within the soft core are the same as the other sheets within the roll and are therefore usable by the consumer.
US09126786B2

An image processing apparatus includes a supplying section from which a sheet placed thereon is supplied into the image processing apparatus, a processing section configured to execute an image processing on an image formed on a sheet, a first storing section configured to store a sheet, a second storing section configured to store a sheet, a first conveying section configured to convey a sheet placed on the supplying section to the first storing section through the processing section, and a second conveying section configured to convey a sheet passing through the processing section to the second storing section and convey a sheet stored in the second storing section to a position at which the sheet from the supplying section enters the processing section.
US09126769B2

An apparatus for distributing a stream of products comprises an ingoing conveyor and an outgoing conveyor which are configured to convey the products along a conveying direction and which are arranged behind one another viewed in the conveying direction. At least two distributor conveyors which are arranged behind one another viewed in the conveying direction between the ingoing conveyor and the outgoing conveyor and which are each configured to convey the products along the conveying direction are displaceable independently of one another transverse to the conveying direction.
US09126768B2

A conveyor which allows the formation and movement of at least one batch of products from a line of products in single file, in at least one passage at an upstream station. The conveyor includes, at an upstream station, a rug for moving said products, and a movement device for moving a predetermined quantity of products from said line of products, between the upstream station and a downstream station. The movement device has engaging elements able to be placed in contact with the products. The rug has a through hole. The movement device is arranged under said at least one passage. The engaging elements are mounted to be movable, relative to said movement device, between a retracted position and an engaged position.
US09126763B2

Transport chain for transporting objects along a transport path in a transport direction, which transport chain comprises a plurality chain links that is interconnected using a joint segment between each chain link, which joint segment comprises a bearing element. Each chain link in the part that is located at the back in the transport direction comprises a cavity that is arranged to receive the bearing element. The bearing element is substantially spherical and comprises a plurality of through holes. The joint segment also comprises a plurality of pins that is arranged in the through holes in the bearing element and in openings in the chain link and in openings in the following chain link.
US09126741B2

A collective vertical tank has a plurality of tanks and stabilizing and weight-distributing connectors. The connectors are adjustable to provide an adjustable footprint of the collective tank. A stabilizing and weight-distributing connector for vertical hydraulic tanks includes a first connecting member attached to a first vertical tank and extending away therefrom, and a second connecting member attached to a second vertical tank and extending away therefrom. The second connecting member defines a central passage adapted to receive the first connecting member therein. A locking mechanism secures the first connecting member within the second connecting member.
US09126736B1

A combined trash receptacle and condiment holding apparatus includes a base member having a plurality of side walls configured in such a manner that an orifice as well as a plurality of recessed receptacles are formed in the base member, a plurality of vessels removably positioned within the receptacles, respectively, and supported at the base member, and a container removably positioned within the orifice and intermediately juxtaposed between the vessels respectively. The container is adapted to receive and segregate the trash therein while the vessels are adapted to receive the foodstuff therein. The orifice and the receptacles extend downwardly from an uppermost surface of the base member and remain supported on a lowermost surface of the base member. In this manner, the container and the vessels remain at a static and fixed upright position when the base member is transported.
US09126729B2

A tea bag string securable to a lid for a cup enables the bag to be positioned into the cup liquid for removal therefrom and thereafter for storage within the lid underside. A string holding tab on the lid comprises a slotted notch in the tab or a hook formation extending from the lid and enables the string to be secured to the lid. A bag-holding strip extending over the lid underside retains the bag therewithin. The strip may be integral with or separate from the lid. If separate, the strip has a cup-engaging rim that can snap the strip over the container lip.
US09126728B1

A tamper resistant cap for a container includes an inner cap and an outer cap. The inner cap has a threaded inner surface, and an upper surface with a plurality of upwardly extending teeth. The outer cap houses the inner cap and defines a central bore thereabove with an inner engagement surface. On an intermediate layer of the outer cap, below the upper bore, there are a plurality of downwardly extending teeth. The tamper resistant cap is releasably securable onto a neck of the container by engagement with the threaded inner surface and removable therefrom by applying a downward force to the outer cap to mesh the upwardly and downwardly extending teeth. The central bore is engageable with a frangible post of the container to effect removal thereof.
US09126726B2

A plastic closure includes a top wall portion, and an annular depending skirt portion having at least one internal thread formation. In order to facilitate high-speed closure application to an associated container, the closure includes an application guide feature positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship to a thread start of the internal thread formation of the closure. The application guide feature is configured to engage the lower surface of an external thread formation of the associated container, whereby cocking, tilting, and other misalignment of the closure is avoided as it is applied to the container with high-speed application equipment.
US09126725B1

An insert for use with a closed loop system, a dispensing system, a gravity draining system or other systems. The insert is designed to be inserted into the throat of a container such as a bottle. The insert includes a cylindrical seal which has a hardness which is less than the other components of the insert. The seal compensates for varying inside diameters of the throat of the container. The seal may be overmolded into a cylindrical recess formed in the insert or may be separately molded and then positioned in the cylindrical recess.
US09126709B2

There is described a labelling machine for applying labels onto articles, comprising a protective wall; one first labelling group which may move between an operative position in which it applies a plurality of labels onto corresponding articles, and a rest position; wall comprises at least one first opening which is at least partially engaged, in use, by first labelling group when it is set in operative position; first labelling group is arranged completely on a first side of wall as it is arranged in rest position, and is arranged at least partially on a second side, opposite to first side, of wall when it is arranged in operative position; wall comprises at least one first panel which may be moved between a closed position in which it covers opening, and an open position in which it leaves free opening; labelling machine comprises connecting means for connecting first panel to first labelling group at least when first labelling group moves, in use, between rest position and an intermediate position, which is arranged between operative and rest positions; the movement of first labelling group between intermediate position and rest position causing, in use, the movement of first panel between open and closed position.
US09126692B2

A remote actuation system for de-manning a human/machine interface emulates the interface protocol to interact with the interface at a mechanical level. The system may function autonomously or with a remote human operator. At least one imaging module and at least one switch module with the same relative positions as and a complementary relief to the interface's gauge(s) and mechanical switch(es) are mounted on the instrument panel. The modules may be individually mounted or provided on a remote actuation panel that fits over the instrument panel. A data cable connects the imaging and switch modules to a processing module having at least one computer processor configured to execute an image-processing sub-module and a switch sub-module to emulate the protocol to interact with the interface at a mechanical level. The estimate of the measured value may be fed back to generate the switch command to control the remote switch actuator.
US09126689B2

A seating arrangement for location at the longitudinal center line of a commercial passenger vehicle that has a longitudinally extending passenger seating area. The seating arrangement includes a pair of seats disposed alongside and secured to each other. Each seat comprising a backrest portion, and a seat pan portion, wherein the seats face at an acute angle to each other, and wherein the backrest portions of the respective seats are nearest the vertex of the acute angle than the seat pan portions.
US09126686B2

A draining system having an odor seal for a vacuum toilet drain system in which a flexible hose acts as an odor seal. As a result of the flexible hose, propagation of odors can be prevented when the hose collapses flat, for example as a result of its intrinsic weight, and consequently there is no longer a flow-through cross section, wherein, however, drainage of liquids remains possible.
US09126684B2

A habitation and sleeping module, in an aircraft, for accommodating at least one member of a flight crew, with the module having a first sleeping area. Furthermore, an ascent region is provided for ascending from a lower level into the module, wherein the ascent region includes an ascent device that is laterally arranged on the module.
US09126671B2

A stiffened panel includes a panel at least one of whose surfaces is equipped with stiffeners each of which includes a base that is pressed against the surface of panel, as well as a core that is oriented orthogonally relative to the base and whose first longitudinal edge is integral to the latter. At least one of the stiffeners includes a multitude of notches that cross over a second longitudinal edge of the core opposite the first edge, so that they extend towards the outside of the stiffener.
US09126670B2

In an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a panel assembly for joining to a structure and method of making the same. The assembly has a first panel element having at least one first panel nonlinear edge, and has a second panel element having at least one second panel nonlinear edge, wherein the second panel nonlinear edge is designed to interlace with the first panel nonlinear edge to form a panel assembly with interlaced panel edgebands for joining to a structure. A width of the interlaced panel edgebands is reduced as compared to a width of adjacent panel edgebands formed by adjacent panel elements having linear edges, and the reduced width results in an overall reduced weight of the panel assembly and the structure to which the panel assembly is joined.
US09126665B2

An outboard motor for a marine vessel application, and related methods of making and operating same, are disclosed herein. In at least one embodiment, the outboard motor includes a horizontal-crankshaft engine in an upper portion of the outboard motor, positioned substantially positioned above a trimming axis of the outboard motor. In at least another embodiment, first, second and third transmission devices are employed to transmit rotational power from the engine to one or more propellers at a lower portion of the outboard motor. In at least a further embodiment, the outboard motor is made to include a rigid interior assembly formed by the engine, multiple transmission devices, and a further structural component. In further embodiments, the outboard motor includes numerous cooling, exhaust, and/or oil system components, as well as other transmission features.
US09126664B1

A watercraft comprising a bow, a stern, a hull, a transom, and a deck. The transom is located at the stern of the watercraft and the deck extends forward from the transom. One or more cavities are disposed through the deck adjacent to the transom wherein the cavities are each configured to receive an outboard motor. An enclosure is disposed over each of the cavities, providing a means to hide and enclose the outdoor motor. Multiple enclosures can be provided where the watercraft is powered by multiple outboard motors. The top of the enclosure includes a seating surface, providing a sun deck for boaters. The enclosures are hingeably mounted to the deck to provide selective access to the enclosure's respective cavity and motor therein. The interior of the enclosures defines a curved surface to promote air turnover inside the enclosures, optimizing engine performance.
US09126657B2

A portable boat enclosure includes a plurality of separable panels formed of a lightweight material and a storage bag. The panels are connectable into a boat enclosure, and the panels are sized and shaped to be overlaid, folded and rolled to fit in the storage bag.
US09126654B1

An electric bicycle motor power control apparatus performs a linear program for a compensation signal through a linear computation module according to the data such as exercise strength and pedaling angle of a user pedaling a bicycle, and transmits the signal to a proportion and integration module for computation to provide a stable input power to a motor, so as to achieve the effects of controlling the motor output, minimizing the change of periodical output while the user is pedaling the pedal, and providing a mild and consistent motor output.
US09126647B2

The present invention relates to a bicycle seat post structure, and more particularly, to a structure provided with a hydraulic actuator within which is configured with an upper oil compartment, an intermediate oil compartment, and a lower oil compartment; the three oil compartments intercommunicate. It is characterized in that the bicycle seat post structure provides an upper valve moving simultaneously with the pin and configured between the upper oil compartment and the intermediate oil compartment; the upper valve will be closed to disconnect the upper oil compartment from the intermediate oil compartment when the pin is in a state of locking. Thus, the valve will stop moving up because it is positioned above the upper and the intermediate oil compartments and consequently controlled by the oil within the compartments, so as to stop the seat sliding upward and further to be combined with the bicycle frame as a whole.
US09126644B2

A powered converter trolley for movement and attachment of trailers is provided. The trolley comprises a conventional converter trolley having a drawbar. The trolley has a power supply and operates as a towing device. The trolley connects to a freight trailer and can be raised or lowered from a stored position to a ground-engaging, working position. Alternatively, the wheels of the trolley may be powered for providing motion to the trolley. The trolley further comprises several attachment devices for securing the trolley to an intermodal railcar, including alternative hydraulic, mechanical, and electrically-powered tie down devices. A trolley movable along a railcar is provided for securing the trolley or trailer to the railcar and includes a hitch component for selectively interconnecting to a hitch component on the trolley or trailer.
US09126642B2

A vehicle having a tailgate attached by hinge assemblies. The hinge assemblies have a pair of first hinge halves secured to a rear sill with a hinge leaf extending rearwardly, and a pair of second hinge halves, each secured to the tailgate with a pair of double hinge plates extending therefrom. Each of the second hinge halves include a hinge pin mounted thereto that is selectively slidable between a removal position, a locked position where each of the hinge pins extends into hinge pin holes in the second hinge halves and hinge pin holes of the first hinge halves to pivotally secure the tailgate to the vehicle, and an install position where a tapered end of each of the hinge pins is located in a gap. A latch secures the tailgate in a closed position and releases the tailgate for pivoting about the hinge pins.
US09126640B2

An air guiding device (10) for a motor vehicle, with a spoiler lip (12) extending in the transverse direction (FQ) of the vehicle, and with a pneumatic actuating device (28) for the spoiler lip (12), with the aid of which actuating device the spoiler lip (12) is shiftable between a retracted rest position and an extended position, wherein the pneumatic actuating device (28) has a pneumatic actuator (30) which is fillable with or is emptiable of air, wherein the pneumatic actuator (30) is divided in the transverse direction (FQ) of the vehicle into a plurality of zones (40, 42, 44), wherein the pneumatic actuator (30) has a plurality of air-fillable chambers (46, 48, 50) in each zone (40, 42, 44), and wherein the chambers (46, 48, 50) are fillable with or are emptiable of air in a manner individual to the zones.
US09126639B2

An air guiding device (10) for a motor vehicle has a spoiler lip (12) mountable on a front part (8) of the motor vehicle via an adapter (32) and extends in the transverse direction (FQ) of the vehicle. A pneumatic actuating device (28) shifts the spoiler lip (12) between a retracted rest position and an extended position. A flexurally elastic rod (24) is guided in a guide (26) near the free end of the spoiler lip (12). The spoiler lip (12) is mounted on the adapter (32) so that the spoiler lip (12), even in the retracted rest position, is under a prestress that opposes the shifting of the spoiler lip (12) out of the rest position into an extended position.
US09126631B2

A connecting arrangement is provided for connecting at least two body components of a motor vehicle. The connecting arrangement includes, but is not limited to a pulling device, an elastic clamping element and a pressure distributor provided with a passage opening, which pressure distributor with its passage opening, can be supportingly brought to bear against a surface portion of the body component overlapping with a passage opening of the body component and the clamping element can be interactingly arranged on an outside of the pressure distributor facing away from the body component with the pulling device extending through the passage openings of the body component and of the pressure distributor.
US09126630B1

A corner node for reinforcing a portion of a truck box of a pickup truck is provided. The corner node may be disposed within a cavity defined by a cross member and a corner box pillar of the truck box. The corner node may include a lateral portion and a pillar portion extending vertically from the lateral portion. The lateral portion may be secured within the cross member. The pillar portion may have a plurality of sidewalls secured to the pillar and may define a plurality of web supports spaced apart along a height of the pillar portion to reinforce a corner region of the truck box. The corner node may be five or six thousand series aluminum.
US09126626B1

Apparatus for steering a boom support vehicle includes a boom support vehicle which has a front section which is rotatably connected at a pivot to a rear section. The one side of the rear end of the front section is connected to the same side of the front end of the rear section by a variable length mechanism. Steering is effected by changing the length of the variable length mechanism thereby causing the rear section to rotate about the pivot with respect to the front section.
US09126623B2

A steering shaft for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises an inner shaft mounted axially displaceably in a hollow shaft, wherein a rolling bearing having multiple metallic rolling elements, which are disposed axially in at least two rows, is disposed between the hollow shaft and the inner shaft. Previously known steering shafts cannot reliably present vibrations from being transmitted from the inner shaft to the hollow shaft. Therefore, the diameters of the metallic rolling elements decreases proceeding from the center of the rolling bearing toward the end faces thereof, wherein multiple mutually adjacent metallic rolling elements have identical and/or different diameters.
US09126621B1

A lever for a drive-by-wire system installed in a vehicle, may include a lever body that is rotatably mounted on a console surface of the vehicle, and an acceleration lever and a steering roller that are installed in the lever body, such that it is possible to control a change of a gear shift stage, acceleration, and a change of a proceeding direction of the vehicle in a unified manner, and there is no risk of erroneous manipulations of an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal, and acceleration and a proceeding direction may be changed using a finger, thereby improving performance in manipulating the vehicle.
US09126619B2

An operation unit provided on a grip part of a steering wheel, and having an operation panel in which contact operations are possible by the fingers of an operator; an operation detection unit that detects contact operations with respect to the operation panel with a predetermined coordinate system as a reference; a display control unit that controls the display of a display device according to the contact operations detected by the operation detection unit; a correction unit that corrects a coordinate system according to a steering angle detected by a steering angle detection device; and a correction prohibition device that, based on at least one from among contact operations detected by the operation detection device, a steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor, and a speed detected by a speed sensor, prohibits correction of the coordinate system by the correction unit.
US09126617B1

A chair including a fold down seat which is closed against the side or rear of a stroller or wheelchair for transit or storage, but which is deployable to rotate outwardly therefrom for sitting upon when desired.
US09126616B2

A shopping cart attachment is mounted to the handlebar of a shopping cart to facilitate fast and easy installation and removal of a multi-page booklet, such as may be used to provide advertisements and/or informational material to a customer. In addition, the attachment may include a raised ledge that may be used to retain a customer's mobile phone, tablet, shopping list, coupons and/or writing utensil while shopping.
US09126612B2

A cable reel trolley includes a main body fixed with a carrying unit, and a wheel frame and a third wheel at the bottom, with the third wheel parallel to the wheel frame. The wheel frame has two ends respectively installed with a first wheel and a second wheel. A direction-swaying member is fixed between the wheel frame and the first wheel, able to shift the axial direction of the first wheel so that the trolley can move with the first wheel and the second wheel or with the first wheel and the third wheel optionally. That is, the trolley can travel forward and backward or leftward and rightward, turning vertically in a narrow space.
US09126610B1

A collapsible shopping cart apparatus allows a person to load and unload items from a vehicle without having to remove the items from a shopping cart. The apparatus includes a plurality of panels including a back panel, a bottom panel, a front panel and a pair of side panels. A frame is coupled to and extends around a perimeter edge of the bottom panel. The frame and the plurality of panels define a basket. A plurality of legs is coupled to the frame. Each of the legs is pivotable relative to the frame between a use position and a storage position. A plurality of swivelable casters is configured for contacting a ground surface when the legs are in the use position. Each of the casters is coupled to a bottom end of an associated one of the legs.
US09126598B2

The invention relates to power management of a off-highway vehicle. A power management apparatus is described as a vehicle control unit coupled to a vehicle and the vehicle control unit is in communication with an engine and a transmission controller. In response to power management input, the vehicle control unit sends a message to the transmission controller commanding a maximum torque limit based on the maximum drivetrain torque. The maximum torque limit is configured to optimize power to the vehicle implement.
US09126587B2

A vehicle control system including a combustion engine and an electric motor selectively provided torque to a transmission separately or in combination to meet driver torque demand. The engine has a maximum torque output value and a torque increase delay response function spanning a predetermined time period. A motor torque boost signal requests an increase in torque provided from an electric motor if the engine torque request signal exceeds the maximum torque output of the engine or the torque increase delay response function of the engine. The motor torque boost signal is time limited and a second level of motor torque boost may be provided for a second limited time period.
US09126586B2

An antiskid apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a generator control section that adjusts a deceleration torque of a driving wheel by controlling a power generator to change from an operation of decreasing a generation amount of the power generator to an operation of assisted driving of a crankshaft when an engine rotation speed is higher than a predetermined rotation speed during rapid deceleration in which a vehicle deceleration speed is at a predetermined value or more or during deceleration associated with shift-down through a transmission.
US09126585B2

A control device for a hybrid vehicle, including a mode whereby the vehicle runs using a motor only, and a mode whereby the vehicle uses both the motor and an engine. When the motor temperature of an MG(2) exceeds a threshold temperature, an ECU moves from a running mode that uses the MG(2) only, to a running mode that limits the load on the MG(2). When the charging state of a battery for running exceeds a threshold value, the ECU performs control such that in addition to the system voltage for driving the MG(2) being reduced, the threshold temperature is increased, and the running mode whereby only the MG(2) is used is maintained.
US09126578B2

A machine includes an engine and an engine cooling system, which is associated with and configured to remove heat from the engine. A transmission is connected to the engine and configured to transmit engine power from the engine to a driven load. The transmission controls an amount of engine power transmitted to the driven load in response to a transmission command signal. A controller associated with the engine and the transmission provides the transmission control signal. The controller is disposed to determine an engine operating condition, determine a transmission operating condition, and adjust the transmission command signal to reduce the amount of engine power transmitted to the driven load when the engine operating condition indicates that the engine cooling system removes insufficient heat from the engine.
US09126577B2

A vehicle braking system includes (a) a rotary machine that functions at least as an electricity generator and that is capable of generating braking torque based on regenerative torque, (b) a first braking control apparatus that electrically controls the braking torque of a mechanical brake that is provided for a wheel, and (c) a second braking control apparatus that replaces one of the braking torque provided by the rotary machine and the braking torque provided by the mechanical brake with another one of the braking torque provided by the rotary machine and the braking torque provided by the mechanical brake while maintaining a target braking torque, the second braking control apparatus correcting the braking torque provided by the rotary machine so that the deviation lessens, if the braking torque of a vehicle has deviation from the target braking torque at time of replacement transition.
US09126571B2

A patient support apparatus includes a frame, with a barrier, and a patient support surface supported in the frame. The apparatus further includes a control system with a controller, which is incorporated into the surface or the frame, and which is in communication with at least one functional component associated with the surface or the frame for controlling or monitoring the functional component. The control system further includes a touch-screen display in communication with the controller for controlling the functional component, which is positioned in the barrier between the exterior and interior side of the barrier wherein the display is incorporated into the barrier and accessible at the exterior or interior side for access by a user. The display is configured to allow the user to select the functional component and control or monitor a function associated with the selected functional component and includes a touch-selectable icon at the display representative of a function associated with the selected component, and with the icon operable to adjust the function of the selected component.
US09126569B2

The invention relates to a wiper blade (10) for cleaning vehicle windows, with a wiper blade body (22) connected with a wiper blade adapter (11), wherein the wiper blade adapter (11) consists of an adapter element (12) on the wiper arm side and of an adapter element (13) on the wiper blade side, which are connected with one another and are arranged pivotably with respect to one another in an axis (14), and with at least one distributor element (35) arranged pivotably in the axis (14) for the hydraulic and/or electrical supply of the wiper blade body (22), wherein the distributor element (35) is arranged substantially between two side walls (29, 30) of the adapter element (13) on the wiper blade side, that an aperture (31, 32) is formed respectively on the two side walls (29, 30) of the adapter element (13) on the wiper blade side aligned to the axis (14), and that the distributor element (35) has respectively a peg-like bearing extension (55, 56) on the side facing the side walls (29, 30).
US09126568B1

An integrated jacking system includes built-in jacks for each wheel of the vehicle. Electric motor-driven screw or worm-gear jacks are welded to the vehicle frame or unibody aft of the front wheels and forward of the rear wheels. The four jack screws each terminate on the lower end in a rotatable ball-jointed footing adaptable to uneven drive surfaces beneath the vehicle wheels. The integrated jacking system is controlled by the vehicle computer through a passcode-accessible central jacking control interface. The vehicle computer is programmed to implement safety protocols: allowing only one wheel at a time to be jacked up, limiting jacking height of a wheel to not more than six inches (6″) off the ground, and disabling the jacking system if the grade of the underlying surface exceeds twenty percent (20%) or if the parking brake is not set.
US09126562B2

The present invention relates to an airbag including: an inflator; and an airbag cushion which is deployed by gas flowing into the airbag cushion from the inflator, in which the airbag cushion has a burst portion at least a part of which is torn from the airbag cushion so as to form a burst hole through which gas flowing into the airbag cushion is discharged to the outside.
US09126553B2

The present invention relates to a vehicle bunk restraint system that includes a padded ladder restraint member and at least one other restraint member. The padded ladder restraint member provides access to an upper bunk. The padded ladder restraint member and at least one other restraint member may cooperate to obstruct the entrance to the lower bunk, whereby ejection from the lower bunk via the entrance is obstructed via the padded ladder restraint member and the at least one other restraint member.
US09126551B2

A shock absorber for motor vehicles, comprising: a deforming body (2) comprising a first portion (3) and a second portion (4) which are fixed to one another such as to identify a tubular member (5) which has a first axis and comprises a first wall (6) and a second wall (7) adjacent to one another, which intersect to identify an edge (8), each portion (3, 4) comprising a half-shell (9) and two fixing tabs (10) arranged respectively at opposite ends of the half-shell (9), at least a portion (3, 4) comprising at least a bead (11, 12) which develops along a perpendicular development with respect to the first axis. The bead (11, 12) develops continuously at least along a part of the first wall (6) and at least along a part of the second wall (7) of the tubular member (5), following at least the edge (8) identified between the first wall (6) and the second wall (7), the bead (11, 12), when it follows the first wall (6), being orientated projecting with respect to the zone of the external surface of the first wall (6) which surrounds the bead (11, 12), the bead (11, 12), when following the second wall (7), being orientated retracted with respect to the zone of the external surface of the second wall (7) which surrounds the bead (11, 12), the bead (11, 12), at the edge (8), varying orientation thereof between projecting and retracted.
US09126549B2

It is intended to provide a sound insulation structure for a vehicle, which is capable of adequately retaining an elongated line component, such as a wiring harness, a pipe or a cable, while suppressing deterioration in sound insulation performance by a sound insulator. In the sound insulation structure, a sound insulator is provided in a void space surrounded by: a front fender panel; a cowl side member disposed on a vehicle inward side with respect to the front fender panel to extend in a vehicle front-rear direction; and a mud guard disposed just below the front fender panel and the cowl side member to form a wheel housing. The sound insulator is formed using an elastically-deformable urethane foam. The sound insulator is formed with a slit capable of clamping a regenerative brake wiring harness laid to extend in the vehicle front-rear direction and pass through the void space.
US09126536B2

An apparatus for providing safe access to the upper surface of a mobile container. The apparatus includes a pivoting handrail system having a walk surface, a first set of rails and a second set of rails both capable of being raised and lowered between a raised access position and a lowered stored position, a first pull for raising and lowering the first set of rails, a second pull for raising and lowering the second set of rails, and a support device for supporting the walk surface and attaching to the mobile container. An access such as a ladder may be attached to the pivoting handrail system to provide access to the pivoting handrail system.
US09126534B2

A system to remove debris from a vehicle camera lens using washer fluid from the vehicle's washer system is disclosed. The system analyzes a captured image and determines if the image is obstructed by debris. If the image is determined to be obstructed, the system automatically sprays the camera lens with fluid to remove the debris. The system includes a method of determining obstruction by comparing an image with a reference image. The system includes a method of determining obstruction by analyzing relative movement within a reference area of the image. The system also prevents the draining of the washer fluid due to a false obstruction reading or debris that does not come off after a few sprayings.
US09126526B2

A vehicle approach informing device includes: an informing sound output unit mounted on a vehicle and configured to inform of approach of the vehicle by transmitting sound to the outside; a distance measurement unit to detect a current position of the vehicle and to measure a distance between the detected current position and a predetermined position; and a sound volume control unit configured to set a sound volume outputted by the informing sound output unit to a predetermined normal sound volume when the distance measured by the distance measurement unit is equal to or longer than a first distance, and to set the sound volume to a lower level than the normal sound volume when the distance measured by the distance measurement unit is shorter than the first distance.
US09126523B2

Provided is a vehicle that elevates a working beam installed between a pair of booms with a working beam elevating unit and can ensure the area of a load receiving surface where a load is loaded. The working beam elevating unit is received in a working beam and one end of a chain is fixed to a boom. Therefore, the working beam is moved up/down by loosening and retracting the chain. Therefore, as the working beam elevating unit is installed at the working beam, it is not necessary to ensure a space for installing the working beam on a vehicle body. Therefore, it is correspondingly possible to enlarge the space (area of the load receiving surface) on the vehicle for loading a load.
US09126520B2

The present invention relates to a detachably attachable moving headboard trailer ejector and floor cleaning apparatus for use with a self-unloading trailer having a front end, a rear end, side walls, and either a reciprocating slat conveyor floor or a conveyor belt floor. The invention comprises, in one embodiment, a base, a panel sweeper, one or more panel sweeper support members, a means for traversing the panel sweeper, a tether bar, side flanges, and a base flange. In use, the invention is placed in the front end of a self-unloading trailer and the trailer is loaded with material; when material is ejected from the trailer, the invention transverses or “travels” along the top of the moving floor and pushes the material out of the trailer's back end. The rubber flanges ensure a snug fit within the trailer and keep post ejection residual material at a minimum.
US09126514B2

A system to inductively transfer power and transmit and receive data between a support structure associated with a vehicle and apparel worn by a user. The support structure has one or more primary inductive power coils. The apparel has one or more secondary inductive power coils. Primary circuitry cooperates with the primary inductive coils to energize at least one of the primary inductive coils. Secondary circuitry on the apparel cooperates with the secondary inductive power coil. An inductive data transmit and receive sub-system allows wireless inductive transmission of audio, text, images, video and other data between the support structure when occupied by the user, the vehicle data bus the support structure is conductively connected to, and devices located on the apparel.
US09126511B2

A self-locking step-by-step mechanism for an adjustment device of a vehicle seat has a clamping roller lock and a step-by-step device. The clamping roller lock a rotatable release wheel and a toothing. The step-by-step device has a) a pivotably mounted actuating lever, b) a driver pivotably mounted on the actuating lever and which has two driver regions which interact with the toothing of the release wheel, c) a drag lever which has supporting surfaces which enter into contact with the driver, and d) a spring. The spring has at least one projection. The drag lever has at least one indentation which is normally in engagement with the projection. The spring is fixed against rotating.
US09126510B2

A vehicle seat with a built-in cushion airbag device includes an inflator that produces gas by being activated; and a cushion airbag that is divided by a tether into a plurality of inflating portions including at least a rear-side inflating portion arranged on a seat lower side of a rear portion of a seat cushion, and a front-side inflating portion arranged to a seat front side of the rear-side inflating portion, and that inflates toward a seat upper side, with the front-side inflating portion becoming higher than the rear-side inflating portion, by the gas produced by the inflator being supplied.
US09126507B2

The invention relates to a longitudinal seat adjuster for a vehicle seat having easy entry functionality and folding functionality, comprising a rail system for longitudinal seat adjustment having a lower rail and an upper rail and an unlocking device.
US09126497B2

Method for controlling a vehicle that includes a support, at least one wheel, a platform coupled to the at least one wheel, a coupling structure having a support portion coupled to the support and a platform portion coupled to the platform that allows the support portion to move or slide fore and aft with respect to the platform portion, an actuator coupled to the coupling structure to control the position of the support portion relative to the platform portion, a drive coupled to the at least one wheel to deliver power to the at least one wheel to propel the vehicle and maintain the platform level, and a controller coupled to the drive to control the drive and coupled to the actuator to control the actuator.
US09126495B2

A reverse polarity protection circuit includes a p-channel MOSFET, an n-channel MOSFET, zener diodes, a coil that suppresses a backward flow of an electric current, a resistor that retains a voltage difference between a source of the p-channel MOSFET and a drain of the n-channel MOSFET, a resistor that protects the circuit if short-circuit destruction of the p-channel MOSFET occurs, a resistor that protects the circuit if short-circuit destruction of the n-channel MOSFET occurs, an electrolytic capacitor that suppresses fluctuation in an input voltage to a power supply control IC, a battery that supplies a voltage to an ECU, and the power supply control IC that generates a voltage for causing an IC in the ECU to operate.
US09126491B2

A shield for a coil unit to carry out non-contact power feeding by a resonance method includes a magnetic sheet capable of reducing a magnetic field, and a copper shield capable of reducing both an electric field and magnetic field. The magnetic sheet is arranged to take a layered configuration at a side closer to the coil unit than the copper shield.
US09126483B2

A vehicular display system includes a vehicle on-board unit having a vehicular display part, and a mobile device having a mobile display part. The vehicular display part is fixedly mounted on a vehicle and configured to display vehicular information including at least a vehicle speed. The mobile display part is configured to display the vehicular information including the vehicle speed when the mobile device is set in position between a driver of the vehicle and the vehicular display part.
US09126482B2

Attitude display system for remotely operated machine is provided. The attitude display system includes a pitch display and a roll display. The pitch display includes a fixed pitch reference scale and a pitch indicator. The pitch indicator can be configured to move relative to the fixed pitch reference scale to indicate a pitch of the remotely operated machine. The roll display includes a roll reference element and a roll indicator configured to pivot about a reference point to indicate a roll of the remotely operated machine. Further, the pitch display and the roll display include a pitch text field and a roll text filed to display a numeric value of the pitch and roll respectively. Also, the pitch indicator and the roll indicator can be configured to change to a first color and a second color based on a degree of movement or pivot.
US09126472B2

A door weatherstrip for a vehicle includes an extrusion part, which is mounted by insertion onto a flange 25 formed on the vertical side edge of a first-closing door 3 among double doors 3 and 4, and a molded part 51, which is integrally formed on the upper end of the extrusion part and seals between the first-closing door 3 and a next-closing door 4 when the doors 3 and 4 are closed. A molded part 51 has a wider part 31a including a deep insertion groove 29, and a slit 52 is formed in the door width direction from the side end on the sidewall 31, and water that has invaded through between the flange 25 and the molded part 51 flows out onto a drip channel 8 established on the upper edge of the door opening of the body via the slit 52.
US09126469B2

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle window assembly adapted to be mounted vertically above a header beam, having a flange portion that extends in a direction towards the center of a vehicle until it transits into a depressed portion. The assembly comprises a communication module adapted to receive and/or send information signals, a main window area, and an extended window area. The extended window area is formed as a partial extension of the main window area in a direction away from an upper main window area border.
US09126462B2

A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air passageway in the tire that is operable to be sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air from an inlet device through the passageway to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. A valve device for a tire is also disclosed. The valve device includes an insert mounted in the tire, a valve body mounted within the valve insert; wherein the valve body has a first, second and third chamber, wherein a first and second check valve is positioned in the first and second chamber. A pressure membrane is received within the valve body, and positioned to open and close the third chamber. The pressure membrane is in fluid communication with the tire cavity and the third chamber of the valve body. A spring is received within the third chamber and is positioned to exert force upon the pressure membrane to bias the pressure membrane position relative to the channel in the open position.
US09126460B2

A tire inflation system for a vehicle includes an axle spindle having a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface, a sleeve having a radially inner surface, a radially outer surface, an inboard end portion and an outboard end portion with a flared end. A cavity is located between the radially inner surface of the axle spindle and the radially outer surface of the sleeve. The cavity being in fluid communication on an inboard end portion with a first rotary seal and in communication on an outboard end portion with a second rotary seal, wherein the flared end of the sleeve closes the cavity on the outboard end portion.
US09126458B2

In the present invention, a carcass (120) of a pneumatic tire (1A) comprises a toroidal-shaped carcass main body (121) and a carcass folded part (122) folded at a bead core (111). A bead filler (131) is disposed outward of the bead core (111) in the tire radial direction. A rubber sheet (132) is disposed outward of the bead filler (131) in the tire radial direction. A space (DA) is formed between the tire radial direction outer side end (131a) of the bead filler (131) and the tire radial direction inner side end (132b) of the rubber sheet (132).
US09126453B2

In a wristbhaving a label-like structure, fracturing notches for preventing unauthorized use are positioned where the two ends of the band are to be glued together. If temporary peeling of the glued ends is attempted, the wristband breaks reliably and it is difficult to return it to the original state. If fracturing notches (11) are formed on either a first winding region (6) or a second winding region (7), which are positioned at left and right ends of the printing region (5). The wristband is configured so that a ring shape can be formed by overlapping and adhering the adhesive layer on the rear surface of one of shape, the first winding region (6) or the second winding region (7) onto the other winding region. An adhesion position check mark (15, 16) is formed on either the first winding region (6) or the second winding region (7).
US09126451B2

A thermal recording material having a heat-sensitive color-forming layer that contains a phosphate modifier in addition to an activator and lueco dye can provide good imaging. The phosphate modifier such as unsubstituted dibenzyl phosphate can be paired with an activator such 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid to provide an environmentally friendly thermal recording material.
US09126438B2

A printer comprising a roll storage part, a feeder, a printing head, a plurality of support rollers, and at least one guide member. The roll storage part rotatably stores a roll that winds a print-receiving tape around a predetermined axis. The feeder pulls out and feeds the print-receiving tape. The printing head performs desired printing on the print-receiving tape. The plurality of support rollers contact an outer peripheral surface of the roll and rotatably support the roll. The at least one guide member is provided to the roll storage part in an advanceable and retreatable manner and guides the print-receiving tape by contacting an end surface of the roll. The guide member comprises a plurality of through-holes configured to guide advancing and retreating of the guide member. A plurality of support rollers are respectively inserted along the width direction thorough the through-holes.
US09126431B2

An ink jet recording method uses an ink jet recording apparatus including a plurality of heads arranged in parallel in a first direction, each of which ejects droplets of a different radiation-curable ink composition onto a recording medium, and first light sources provided for corresponding heads so as to be disposed at a predetermined side of the corresponding heads. The first light sources emit active radiation to irradiate the droplets on the recording medium. The method includes ejecting droplets of the ink compositions from the heads onto the recording medium, and performing a first irradiation by irradiating the droplets of each ink composition with the active radiation from the corresponding first light source at an irradiation energy within 500 ms after the droplets have landed. The irradiation energy is in the range of 5% to 10% of the energy E90 at which the ink composition is 90% cured.
US09126425B2

According to one example, there is provided a method of duplex printing. The method comprises printing recto pages and associated recto checkmarks on a first side of a web and printing verso pages and associated verso checkmarks on a second side of a web, the length of each successively printed recto and verso checkmark varying in accordance with a respective recto and verso checkmark length sequence, determining the length of successive printed verso and recto checkmarks and determining their sequence position in the appropriate checkmark length sequence, and determining whether a print error has occurred based on the determined recto and verso checkmark sequence positions.
US09126424B2

An inkjet printing process includes advancing a print medium so that it contacts a relatively high-contact area of a platen. After the print medium first contacts the relatively high-contact area, ink is deposited on a side of the medium not contacting the platen to form an image. The print medium continues to advance so that the image passes over a relatively low-contact area of the platen.
US09126423B2

A method of surface marking an article, especially a building product, is provided. One described method includes the steps of laser marking a first graphic design element on a surface of an article and ink-jet printing a second graphic design element in registry with the first graphic design element on the surface of the article to create a high quality overall graphic design. Also provided are articles made according to this method, and systems for carrying out the method.
US09126417B2

A cover for a liquid container which exposes at least a portion of a detecting member, having a liquid supply portion to a liquid ejecting apparatus through communicating with the liquid containing unit, and a first surface provided with a first container side engagement portion arranged between the liquid supply portion and the detecting member. The cover includes a first cover side engagement portion engaging with the first container side engagement portion.
US09126395B2

A bridge sleeve has at each extreme end of the bridge sleeve, a multi-component stabilizer. One component of each stabilizer includes an inner cylindrical contacting surface having a diameter that changes as this respective component of the stabilizer moves axially relative to at least one other component of the respective stabilizer.
US09126393B2

A bonding apparatus configured to bond a component on a substrate is presented. The apparatus includes a stage, a push member, a support member and a compression member. The stage fixes the substrate in place and by using at least one first suction part formed in the stage. The push member is disposed above the stage and pushes the substrate fixed to the stage to support the substrate on the stage. At least one second suction part is formed in the support member to attach to a pad part of the substrate. The compression member compresses the component into the pad part fixed to the support member.
US09126385B2

Disclosed are an adhesive coating method and apparatus and a display panel. The adhesive coating method moves a coating unit at a first speed for forming a plurality of adhesive dots, which are separated from each other by a first distance in a straight section, and the coating unit coats an adhesive for forming the adhesive dots on the first substrate. When the coating unit enters from the straight section into the corner section, the adhesive coating method accelerates the coating unit to a second speed faster than the first speed for forming a plurality of adhesive dots, which are separated from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance in a corner section.
US09126384B2

A bonded body 10 includes a plate-shaped alumina or aluminum nitride ceramic member 12 and a Mo or Ti terminal 14 having a Ni coating, a Au coating, or a Ni—Au coating (Au on Ni) and joined to a recess 12a in the ceramic member 12 with a joint layer 16 therebetween. The joint layer 16 contains Au, Ge, Ag, Cu, and Ti and is in contact with at least part of the side surfaces (herein the entire side surfaces) and the bottom surface of the recess 12a. Ti is rich in the joint interface between the joint layer 16 and the ceramic member 12. The percentage (porosity) of the sum of the cross-sectional areas of pores to the cross-sectional area of the joint layer 16 in a cross-section taken across the thickness of the bonded body 10 is 0.1% to 15%.
US09126378B2

This invention is intended to provide a large-capacity servo press apparatus driven by multiple motors, the servo press apparatus enabling a drive at a high efficiency and with reduced torque pulsations in a simple structure. The disclosed servo press comprises a slide that is moved up and down by a plurality of crank structures (including eccentric rings and connecting rods), main gears that drive the crank structures, a plurality of drive gears interlinked with the main gears directly or indirectly, intermediate gears interlinked with the main gears directly or indirectly, and servo motor sets connected to drive shafts to drive the drive gears. In each of the servo motor sets, a plurality of servo motors are directly connected to each servo motor shaft.
US09126371B2

A method of manufacturing a custom sized plastic tote lighter in weight than heretofore known custom sized plastic totes is provided. The method comprises separating an injection molded tote into upper and lower portions by cutting the injection molded tote. A sleeve or middle portion of plastic material is secured to the upper and lower portions of the injection molded tote to create a custom sized plastic tote of a desired height. Alternatively, portions of different injection molded totes may be used to create a custom sized plastic tote. The sleeve may be made from different materials and may be made of multiple pieces.
US09126368B2

The present invention relates to a foil applicator, such as a spatula (1), for applying foil, in particular self-adhesive foil, to a surface, for instance the bodywork of a car. It is the object according to the present invention to provide an improved foil applicator. For this purpose the handgrip (2) is elongate and the pressing edge (5) lies at an angle relative to the handgrip. The foil applicator further comprises at least one hook (7, 8). Using the hook adhered foil can be pulled back, for instance out of or from edges, seams and transitions, in the event air bubbles have been included in the foil, without having to pick up another tool, which would take some time and during which time the foil could adhere more fixedly to the surface and the foil could be damaged even more when—after another tool has been picked up—it must then be released at or from the edges, seams and transitions.
US09126365B1

Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to drag the filament from the conduit nozzle.
US09126364B2

A press die is provided which includes a lower die having a lower core and an upper die having an upper core, the upper die includes moving blocks installed movably in a first horizontal direction and a bending shaft installed to the moving blocks, and the bending shaft presses a plate against a side surface forming portion of the lower core as the moving blocks move in the first horizontal direction, thereby enabling the plate to be deformed in the first direction.
US09126362B2

An apparatus for corona treating film includes a source of film material and at least one transport roller that is rotatably mounted in a frame. The transport roller has a longitudinal axis and has a width greater than the film. First and second treater heads have first and second leading edges, first and second trailing edges and are mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second leading edge is parallel to and spaced from the first trailing edge by a second predetermined distance. The film is transported over the roller and a high voltage electric arc is provided to the first and second treater heads. The roller is grounded and provides a return path for the electric current provided to the first and second treater heads, thereby corona treating the front side or back side of the film if a second roller and third and fourth treater heads are used.
US09126361B2

When manufacturing hybrid components, especially the fan blades or stator vanes of an aircraft gas turbine including a metallic enveloping structure and a supporting structure in fiber-composite material, the mating faces of the metallic structure are cleaned and roughened with plasma prior to fitting the fiber-composite material and the metallic molecules activated so that high attractive forces take effect and an intimate, extremely strong adhesive connection is produced between the metal and the fiber-composite material. Fan blades or stator vanes of the fan structure of a gas-turbine engine which are manufactured according to this method are capable of transmitting high loads and feature a long service life.
US09126359B2

A method of producing a device comprises at least one displaceable operating member, wherein a foil (2) is placed into a mold and at least one polymer is injected into the mold to form a housing wall (3) adhering to the foil (2). The displaceable operating member comprises at least a flexible part of the foil (2) extending over a hole (5) in the housing wall (3). The foil is inserted into the mold, after which said polymer is injected into the mold to form the housing wall (3) with the hole and to form a support element (6) located in the hole (5). A gap (7) is provided between the support element (6) and the housing wall (3). The support element (6) is, at least at an outer area (9) near the gap (7), adhered to the foil (2) with a reduced adhesion force compared to an adhesion force between the housing wall (3) and the foil (2). After removing the device from the mold, the support element (6) and the flexible part of the foil (2) are mutually disconnected at a location of said reduced adhesion force.
US09126355B2

A system for changing a dimension of manufactured composite material parts may comprise a male tool, a female tool, a removable material, and a retainable material. The male tool may include a convex outer surface configured to receive composite material placed thereon to form a new part. The female tool may include a concave inner surface configured to receive the male tool such that the outer surface of the male tool faces the inner surface. The removable material may be placed on the composite material in a first area corresponding to a wide area on a previously manufactured part where an outer dimension was measured to be greater than a designed value. The retainable material may be placed on the composite material in a second area corresponding to a narrow area on the previously manufactured part where the outer dimension was measured to be less than the designed value.
US09126354B2

A method and a device for recycling labeled plastic articles are described. Accordingly, the labels are detached from the plastic articles and the plastic articles treated in this way are sorted in particular automatically. During sorting, plastic articles from which the labels have not been properly detached are sorted out and again subjected to the treatment for detaching the labels.
US09126349B2

An apparatus for severing a workpiece having a cutting mechanism operable to cut the workpiece substantially along a selected course; drive mechanism operable to drive the cutting mechanism to cut the workpiece; a transport assembly operable to guide the workpiece in movement relative to a predetermined severing position and with respect to the cutting mechanism; and a frame mounting the cutting mechanism and transport assembly in predetermined relation to each other and relative to the severing position so that the drive mechanism is operable to drive the cutting mechanism to cut the workpiece in the severing position.
US09126347B2

A microscopic geometry cutting device includes: a controller that outputs a timer count start command in starting a driving program which controls a drive of an X-axis or a Y-axis moving mechanism; an arrival time calculator that calculates an arrival time from when the timer count start command is output till when the cutter arrives at a machining start position in accordance with relative moving speed information of the moving mechanisms and machining start position information of a workpiece W; an elapsed time determiner that determines whether an elapsed time from when the timer count start command is output is coincident with the arrival time and outputs a trigger signal when the elapsed time is coincident with the arrival time; and a reciprocating stage driver that drives the reciprocating stage in a manner that the cutter advances and retracts in a predetermined cutting depth in response to the trigger signal.
US09126335B2

A method for applying a substance to the teats of a dairy livestock comprises extending a robotic arm between the legs of a dairy livestock positioned in a stall. The method continues by rotating a linear member of a spray tool about an axis that is perpendicular to the robotic arm, wherein the linear member has a perimeter that lies within an outer perimeter of the robotic arm when the robotic arm extends between the hind legs of the dairy livestock. The method continues by discharging a substance as the linear member rotates.
US09126331B2

A moving apparatus includes: robot guiding rails extended in a first direction to guide the working robot, and including first and second ends; first rollers included at a vicinity of the first end of the robot guiding rail and having a rotation axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; hook arms included at the vicinity of the first end of the robot guiding rail, and including hooks extended in the first direction and facing upwardly; hook latches included at a vicinity of the second end of the robot guiding rail, positioned at a position corresponding to the hook arm, and latched by the hooks of the hook arms at lower sides thereof; and docking guiding rails included at the vicinity of the second end of the robot guiding rail, extended in the first direction, and having an upper surface for guiding the first roller.
US09126325B1

A creeper is provided wherein the creeper has a main frame comprising a front and a rear; wheels attached to the main frame; a handle attached to the mainframe rearward of said wheels; a platform slidably attached to the main frame and rail engagement brackets attached to the mainframe forward of the wheels. Pressure is applied to the handle thereby lifting the front of the main frame thereby supporting the creeper on the wheels. The creeper is moved to a position under the railcar. Pressure is removed from the handle thereby allowing the front of the creeper to lower wherein the rail engagement brackets engage with rails of a track. The personnel lays on the platform and slides the platform under the railcar.
US09126299B2

A work holder which is adapted to hold a workpiece firmly in place for machining operations with respect to a machine tool. The workpiece is fashioned with a dovetail protuberance, which protuberance is designed to affix the workpiece to the work holder to the machining operations. Once the machining is completed, the dovetail protuberance may be removed in any convenient manner. Thus, the finished product may not then exhibit the former protuberance.
US09126298B2

A machining center includes a rotatable tool magazine (22) arranged above a work space (WS) facing a spindle (15) tilted so that the spindle side becomes lower and having a plurality of grippers (24) for holding tools (16) in a circumferential direction, and a shutter (26) arranged below the tool magazine (22) to be able to open and close facing the spindle side. The tool magazine (22) has a tool-free area (AR2) where there are no grippers (24) at a part of the circumferential direction and a tool-holding area (ARA) where there are grippers (24) at another part of the circumferential direction. The tool magazine (22) is controlled in rotation so that when the shutter (26) is closed, the tool-free area (AR2) moves to the spindle side while when the shutter (26) is open, the tool-holding area (AR1) moves to the spindle side.
US09126294B2

An apparatus includes a body, a driver, a plurality of shafts, and a plurality of arms. The body is configured for insertion into a component and the driver is adapted for movement relative to the body. The plurality of shafts extend through the body and are connected to the plurality of arms. The tool is configured such that contact by the driver against the shaft rotates the plurality of shafts to pivot the plurality of arms.
US09126293B2

An assembling method of a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus including various equipment, which is required for air-conditioning a vehicle, mounted in a vehicular-air-conditioner frame on a production line includes modularization of, among the various equipment, at least a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger off the production line, and, further, modularization of a refrigeration cycle by connecting the above modules with refrigerant pipes off the production line, as well as incorporating the modularized refrigerant cycle into assembly work on the production line as a refrigerant cycle module.
US09126279B2

A brazing method is disclosed. The brazing method includes providing a substrate, providing at least one groove in the substrate, providing a support member, positioning the support member over the at least one groove in the substrate, providing a braze material, applying the braze material over the support member to form an assembly, and heating the assembly to braze the braze material to the substrate. Another brazing method includes providing a preform, providing a wire mesh, pressing the wire mesh into the preform, heating the preform to form a braze material including the wire mesh, providing a substrate, providing at least one groove in the substrate, applying the braze material over the at least one groove in the substrate, then brazing the braze material to the substrate.
US09126268B2

A lathe tool that works in conjunction with a HUNTER lathe to engage a rotating an inner frictional surface of a flywheel on its axis to perform various symmetrical operations about an axis of rotation such as cutting and facing with a cutting tool. The components of the lathe tool position to one side of the flywheel to allow sufficient clearance for engaging a large flywheel across the full diameter of the flywheel, and also provide adjustment mechanisms for enhanced precision. A lathe mount extends perpendicularly from the Hunter lathe terminating at a lathe mount aperture. A tool mount passes through the lathe mount aperture terminating at a cutting tool notch, where the cutting tool attaches. A bracket passes through the tool mount and includes an adjustable screw that extends towards the Hunter lathe, rotating to draw the lathe tool to and from the flywheel.
US09126263B2

A continuous casting plant (1) includes at least one continuous casting line, optionally, at least one reducing unit, at least one separation device, and one or more devices for tempering the strip, and at least one auxiliary rolling line is arranged parallel to the continuous casting line with conveyors (10, 10′) for continuously inwardly transferring different slab formats into the line of the continuous casting plant (1).
US09126261B2

An injection pump for the hot-chamber die casting of corrosive light alloys includes a body provided with an internal coaxial liner where an injector piston sealingly slides. The liner being made of a material resistant to the molten alloy and has a coefficient of thermal expansion different from the material of the body. Static sealing elements, made of a graphite-based non-metallic material that yields under compression, are arranged between the internal surface of the body and the external surface of the liner. The pump also has axial compression means arranged between a ring nut screwed into the body and the liner and the static sealing elements.
US09126259B2

A composite utility knife blade and method of making such a blade involves butt joining a tool steel wire to a front edge of an alloy steel backing strip. The wire is electron beam welded to the backing strip to form a composite strip defining a first metal portion formed by the alloy steel backing strip, a second metal portion formed by the tool steel wire, and a weld region joining the first and second metal portions. The composite strip is then annealed, and the annealed strip is straightened to eliminate any camber therein. The annealed composite strip is then hardened such that the first metal portion defines a surface hardness within the range of approximately 38 Rc to approximately 52 Rc, and the second metal portion defines a surface hardness within the range of approximately 60 Rc to approximately 57 Rc.
US09126252B2

Forming a channel letter box using a profile, including: determining an incision position on one surface of the profile where at least one surface incision is to be made; surface incising at the determined position; folding the profile at the incision position to form the channel letter box, wherein the profile comprises at least one protruding rib on one surface of the profile; and cutting and attaching a top plate to the channel letter box, wherein a thickness of the top plate is substantially close to a distance from the top of the profile to the top of a top rib of the at least one rib.
US09126251B2

A method for making a device includes providing a tubular member which will be formed into the device, masking at least a portion of the inner surface of the tubular member with a removable sacrificial material, selectively removing a portion of the tubular member and sacrificial material using a laser device, and mechanically removing the sacrificial material from the inner surface of the tubular member. Ultrasonic energy could be applied to a workpiece which is being laser cut to prevent any generated slag from welding itself to an exposed surface of the workpiece. A compressed fluid or gas, such as air, could be used to clean the surface of the laser-cut workpiece to remove slag formation which adheres to the surface of the cut workpiece.
US09126245B2

A method for the removal of semi-volatile organic compounds in soils, sludges, groundwater, process water, and wastewater is presented. Oxidation and biological attenuation processes utilize persulfates and other oxidants with trivalent metals, such as ferrous iron or Mn3+, as activators. The resulting chemical oxidation process yields degradation compounds which facilitate further attenuation via biological processes.
US09126244B2

Anaerobic reductive dechlorination processes remove chlorinated solvents from contaminated subsurface soil and ground water. The presence of organic hydrogen donors enables anaerobic microorganisms present in the subsurface soil and groundwater to accelerate the reductive dechlorination process. The present invention provides an alternative method to control the release rate of organic hydrogen donors during dechlorination. The invention utilizes encapsulated substrates to control the release rate of organic hydrogen donors, therefore accelerating the biotic process of anaerobic reductive dechlorination.
US09126243B2

An arm-length glove made of a flexible material for performing maintenance work within sealed housings. An armhole-side end of which can be attached to a flange of a maintenance opening in a gas-tight manner and the hand end of which is freely movable, wherein a hand-grip is located in the hand end. The hand end is telescopically extendable. A camera and a light source are located at the hand end. Furthermore tools and/or sensors are also located at the hand end.
US09126242B2

A bell jar includes a metallic bell jar (1), and a metallic base plate (2) on which the bell jar (1) is placed, and packing (3) seals an inside of a container. To the base plate (2), a pressure gauge (4), a gas introduction line (5), and a gas discharge line (6) are connected so as to allow monitoring of internal pressure of the bell jar (1) and introduction and discharge of a gas. A vacuum pump (7) is provided in a path of the gas discharge line (6), and the vacuum pump (7) reduces internal pressure of the bell jar so as to be lower than vapor pressure of water. The vacuum pump (7) reduces the internal pressure of the bell jar so as to be lower than vapor pressure of water, thereby efficiently removing moisture, and completing drying of the bell jar in a short time.
US09126240B2

The invention provides an intermediate storage device of an electrostatic coating system that can clean efficiently, a method for cleaning the same, and a method for coating. An intermediate storage device 10 comprises: a first hole 141 which is open to a cylinder chamber 14 and is connected to a paint supply source; a second hole 142 which is open to the cylinder chamber 14 and is connected to a coating gun; and a switch means which switches between a first cleaning which cleans the cylinder chamber 14 by supplying cleaning fluid W from the first hole 141 and discharging from the second hole 142 waste fluid that has undergone cleaning and a second cleaning which cleans the cylinder chamber 14 by supplying cleaning fluid W from the second hole 142 and discharging from the first hole 141 waste fluid that has undergone cleaning.
US09126239B2

The invention described herein is directed to a skid for cleaning subsea conduits, such as strakes and fairings, and a method of cleaning subsea conduits. This invention may be utilized for the removal of marine growth from subsea conduits.
US09126238B2

The vehicle snow removal system is a drive-through station for clearing snow, ice, or other debris from a flat surface of a vehicle, such as the vehicle's roof, for example. The vehicle snow removal system includes a pair of vertical supports, each having an upper end and a lower end. The lower ends thereof are adapted for mounting on a support surface. The pair of vertical supports are laterally spaced apart from one another such that the vehicle may drive therebetween. Opposed ends of a horizontal support are mounted on respective upper ends of the vertical supports. At least one blower is mounted substantially centrally on the horizontal support, and the vertical supports each have sufficient height to provide clearance for the roof of the vehicle. The at least one blower may be actuated either automatically or manually to blow accumulated snow from the flat surface of the vehicle.
US09126234B2

A system for automatically sorting a mailpostal matter and a method thereof are provided. The system for automatically sorting a mailpostal matter includes a mailpostal matter supply unit configured to convey two inputted mailpostal matters by controlling a distance between the two inputted mailpostal matters to be equal to a distance between carriers when the two mailpostal matters are inputted through one inlet at the same time, a mailpostal matter inserting unit, configured to insert the two conveyed mailpostal matters into two crossbelt carriers which are continuously empty at the same time when the two mailpostal matters are conveyed from the mailpostal matter supply unit, and a crossbelt carrier configured to move the two mailpostal matters inserted from the mailpostal matter inserting unit.
US09126226B2

A device (10) for applying particulate material onto a surface of a mould is described. The device (10) comprises a container (12) for holding particulate material and defining an opening (18) for releasing the material. A closure device (20) is operable to open and close the opening (18). A levelling means (24) projects from the container (12) adjacent to the opening (18) and is operable to level the surface of the material dispensed. The levelling means (24) is shorter than the length of the opening (18) so that the opening extends beyond each end of the levelling means (24). In this way, an even layer of particulate material can be dispensed in one pass covering the bass of a mould cavity and opposed side walls of the cavity.
US09126218B2

An ultrasonic atomizing unit is provided which can spray fine particles of a liquid farther without greatly increasing a voltage applied to a piezoelectric vibrator and using a fan. An annular atomizing member (1) is provided and ultrasonically vibrates a vibrating plate (12) with a piezoelectric vibrator (11) to atomize a liquid. The atomizing member (1) is elastically sandwiched and held by a casing (3) through a pair of annular elastic rings (2) that are in contact with the atomizing member (1). A maximum facing width in a radial direction between each annular elastic member and one surface of the atomizing member (1) on one side in the radial direction from the center of the atomizing member (1) is 40% of a radial direction width of the piezoelectric vibrator (11) on one side in the radial direction from the center of the piezoelectric vibrator (11).
US09126214B2

A showerhead is disclosed in this invention. The showerhead includes a bottom portion, at least one plate, and a top portion. The bottom portion includes a plurality of gas tubes which are integratedly formed on the bottom portion. The gas tubes include at least one first gas tube. The at least one plate includes a first plate. The first plate includes a plurality of first openings, wherein the gas tubes pass through the first openings. The top portion is coupled to the bottom portion for forming at least one inner space.
US09126211B2

A rotary atomizer is disclosed, comprising an atomizer bell and a shaft carrying the same. The rotary atomizer may further include a retainer between the atomizer bell and the shaft, said retainer preventing, e.g., by the action of a centrifugal force, the atomizer bell from detaching itself from the shaft.
US09126204B1

A process and system for producing an engineered fuel product that meets customer specifications for composition and combustion characteristics is provided. The engineered fuel product is preferably a high-BTU, alternative fuel that burns cleaner than coal or petroleum coke (petcoke) and has significantly reduced NOx, SO2 and GHG emissions.
US09126190B2

A method is disclosed for preparing zeolite SSZ-70 using an imidazolium cation as a structure directing agent in conjunction with a polyethyleneimine modifier. The SSZ-70 zeolite is characterized as having an external surface area larger than conventional SSZ-70 zeolites.
US09126189B2

Disclosed is a method of making a pyrochlore comprising, obtaining a solution comprising a solvent and a metal precursor or salt thereof capable of forming a pyrochlore, wherein the metal precursor or salt thereof is dissolved in the solvent, subjecting the solution to a drying step to obtain a non-gelled or non-polymerized pyrochlore precursor material in powdered form, and subjecting the pyrochlore precursor material to a calcination step to obtain a pyrochlore.
US09126184B2

A process is disclosed using a new catalyst for use in the alkylation of benzene with a substantially linear olefin. The catalyst allows for cation exchange with a rare earth element to increase the alkylation of benzene, while reducing the amount of isomerization of the alkyl group. This is important for increasing the quality of the alkylbenzene by increasing the linearity of the alkylbenzene.
US09126181B2

An aromatic alkylation catalyst is presented. The aromatic alkylation catalyst comprised a zeolite, an inorganic oxide, and silanol functional groups of less than about 0.65 area/mg on the surface of the catalyst.
US09126173B2

An integrated plant generates syngas from biomass, where the integrated plant includes a Thermo Mechanical Pulping (TMP) process, a biomass gasifier, a methanol synthesis process, and a liquid fuel generation process. Biomass is received as a feedstock in the TMP process. The biomass is pre-treated in the TMP process for subsequent supply to the biomass gasifier by using a combination of heat, pressure, moisture, and mechanical agitation that are applied to the biomass to make the biomass into a pulp form. The TMP process breaks down a bulk structure of the received biomass, at least in part, by applying steam to degrade bonds between lignin and hemi-cellulose from cellulose fibers of the biomass. Next, the broken down particles of the biomass are reacted in a biomass gasification reaction at a temperature of greater than 700 degrees C. to create syngas components, which are fed to a methanol synthesis process.
US09126171B2

A process for recharging the reaction tubes of a tube bundle reactor with a new fixed catalyst bed, in which a heterogeneously catalyzed partial gas phase oxidation of an organic compound had been performed beforehand in a preceding fixed catalyst bed comprising Mo-comprising multielement oxide active compositions to form a steam-comprising product gas mixture, in which, before the recharge, solid deposit which had been deposited on the tube inner walls and comprises molybdenum oxide and/or molybdenum oxide hydrate is brushed away with the aid of a brush.
US09126160B2

A system, including method and apparatus, for forming an array of emulsions. The system may include a plate providing an array of emulsion production units each configured to produce a separate emulsion and each including a set of wells interconnected by channels that intersect to form a site of droplet generation. Each set of wells, in turn, may include (1) at least one first input well to receive a continuous phase, (2) a second input well to receive a dispersed phase, and (3) an output well configured to receive from the site of droplet generation an emulsion of droplets of the dispersed phase disposed in the continuous phase.
US09126154B2

This invention relates to high hydrocarbon resistant chemically cross-linked aromatic polyimide polymers, membranes and methods for making and using these polymers and membranes. The high hydrocarbon resistant chemically cross-linked aromatic polyimide membrane described in the present invention comprises a plurality of repeating units of a first aromatic polyimide comprising hydroxyl groups cross-linked with a second aromatic polyimide comprising carboxylic acid groups via covalent ester bonds. These membranes exhibit high permeability and selectivity in separation of mixtures of gases and liquids.
US09126144B2

There is disclosed a honeycomb structure in which a ring crack is not easily generated. A honeycomb structure includes a honeycomb substrate, and a bulging portion continuously or intermittently surrounding, in a ring shape, at least a part of an outer periphery of the honeycomb substrate. The outer periphery of the honeycomb substrate has one or a plurality of stress relaxing portions which are crevices each having an open end in the surface over a region of −5 to +10 mm or less from a reference bonded portion to a tapered surface, and a total of lengths of all the stress relaxing portions is 3% or more of a circumferential length of the honeycomb substrate.
US09126141B2

A membrane for a method for filtration of gas effluents from an industrial installation including a wall having an internal surface and an external surface, the wall having pores of variable dimensions in the radial direction and in the longitudinal direction of the wall.
US09126136B2

Cassette bodies for use with electrophoresis apparatus can be formed of a single piece of molded or machined plastic. Such cassette bodies can include a plurality of channels that pass through the cassette body, from a proximal end to a distal end. Such channels can be defined by upper and lower chambers. The upper chambers can be in fluid communication with a first buffer pool through a semi-permeable membrane, and the lower chambers can be in fluid communication with a second buffer pool. An electric current can be passed through the first and second buffer pools, and then reversed, to perform an electrophoresis operation that can separate a biomolecule of interest from free probes, and provide for convenient collection of said biomolecule of interest.
US09126134B2

The invention relates to an exhaust gas separating tower, comprising a washing section, a flash-distilling section above the washing section, and a liquid seal means between the flash flash-distilling section and the washing section. The washing section is configured for washing exhaust gas entering the tower with a cooling liquid to at least partially remove solid dust entrained in the exhaust gas, cool the exhaust gas, and condense at least a portion of moisture in the exhaust gas into liquid. The flash-distilling section is configured for flash-distilling the cooling liquid from the washing section to produce a cooled cooling liquid and a cooling liquid vapor. The liquid seal means is configured so that the cooling liquid produced by flash-distillation can enter the washing section through the liquid seal means while the flash-distilling section is in gas-phase isolation from the washing section, wherein a pressure in the flash-distilling section is lower than that in the washing section.
US09126126B2

A process for recovery of sulfolane used in a solvent-extraction or extractive-distillation process includes introducing a mixture into a solvent-recovery column having a heat source connected to a bottom portion of the column and removing a lean solvent stream, substantially free of hydrocarbons, from the bottom of the column, removing a polar-hydrocarbon-rich overhead stream from the top section of the column and maintaining the needed vacuum conditions using a liquid-jet ejector, preferably using water as the liquid.
US09126124B2

Apparatuses and methods for enhancing the multisensory experience of the members of the audience at entertainment venues are disclosed. The inventions disclosed herein permit an audience member to receive sensory stimulation of the senses of sound, sight, smell, touch, or taste through multisensory entertainment modules positioned on a structure so that each audience member is within a maximum optimal distance from one or more multisensory entertainment modules. An object of the inventions is to provide each attendee at an entertainment event with a multisensory experience of similar quality to that of every other attendee.
US09126115B2

Technologies are generally described for a safety scheme for a gesture-based game. In some examples, a method performed under control of a gesture-based game system may include determining whether an obstacle exists within a playing space associated with a game being currently played on the gesture-based game system, and generating in a display area associated with the game a barrier image associated with the obstacle.
US09126110B2

A game device comprises: a first receiving unit configured to receive an input direction from a controller comprising an input interface for accepting an input direction in which to move a target displayed on a screen of a display device; a second receiving unit configured to receive, from a sensor that detects the position or the attitude of the controller, information relating to the position and the attitude of the controller; and a movement control unit configured to move the position of the target based on both of the direction received by the first receiving unit and the information relating to the position or the attitude of the controller received by the second receiving unit.
US09126105B2

Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for expanding gaming social networks with players having no existing social relationships with other players. One method includes an operation for identifying first filters selected by a first user, the first filters identifying a first criteria for desired new friends. Another operation identifies second filters selected by a plurality of users in the network, where the second filters are entered by each user to identify second criteria for being added as a friend in the network. A plurality of candidates to be added as friends for the first user are determined, where each candidate conforms to the first criteria and where the first user conforms to the second criteria set by each candidate. Additionally, friendship requests are sent to one or more of the candidates or candidates are added as friends when the candidates have chosen automatic addition of friends.
US09126103B2

Playing card-handling devices, such as shufflers, dealing shoes, discard racks and verification systems, are rotatably secured to a gaming table to allow for functional and ergonomic adjustment of the card-handling device, without removal from the gaming table. One end of the device, preferably a front end of the device from which playing cards may be removed, has a structure that extends through an aperture in the gaming table. The device is movable within the aperture. Movement in the X-Y direction, angular movement and rotational movement, parallel to the movement of the plane of the surface of the gaming table, is enabled. The movement of the device about the aperture preferably maintains the base of the device relatively parallel to the plane of the surface of the gaming table.
US09126091B2

A golf club swing training apparatus and a method for fabricating it are provided. The apparatus includes a golf club shaft and a slide mechanism. The shaft includes an upper portion and a lower portion that are spaced apart to form a gap there-between. The slide mechanism is inserted within this gap and is connected to the lower end of the upper shaft portion and the upper end of the lower shaft portion. The slide mechanism includes an upper connector, a sliding rail, a rail guide block, and a lower connector that are configured to permit a lateral shift of this lower portion relative to this upper portion during a swinging of the club. The method uses an axial alignment apparatus to maintain the elongated axis of the upper shaft portion in substantial alignment with the elongated axis of the lower shaft portion when the slide mechanism is being connected.
US09126090B1

A visual reference and feedback device for use with a golf club is presented. The visual reference and feedback device includes a clubface reference head and a neck that connects a supporting body to the clubface reference head. The supporting body includes three supporting members having a first supporting member, a second supporting member, and a third supporting member. C-clip fasteners may be formed at distal ends of the first supporting member and second supporting member. A sternum guide may be formed as a rectangular structure at the outer portion of the first supporting member and proximate to the neck of the visual aid and feedback device.
US09126078B2

In an elliptical step exercise apparatus a dynamic link mechanism can be used to vary the stride length of the machine. A control system can also be used to vary stride length as a function of various exercise and operating parameters such as speed and direction as well as varying stride length as a part of a preprogrammed exercise routine such as a hill or interval training program. In addition the control system can use measurements of stride length to optimize operation of the apparatus.
US09126058B2

A mouthwash composition comprises water and a modified polyglutamic acid composed of a plurality of segment A and a plurality of segment B randomly arranged, in which, the segment A has a formula I: The segment B has a formula II: wherein X=H, Na, K, NH4, ½Ca, or ½Mg, and Y=Cl, Br, or I. The modified polyglutamic acid in the mouthwash composition is 0.1-5 wt %. The mouthwash composition in the present invention can eliminate bad breath, and also has antibacterial properties, so it can suppress the formation of dental plaque and is effective in preventing periodontal disease.
US09126052B2

Approaches for rate initialization and overdrive pacing used during capture threshold testing are described. Cardiac cycles are detected and the cardiac events of a cardiac chamber that occur during the cardiac cycles are monitored. The number of intrinsic beats in the cardiac events is counted. Initialization for a capture threshold test involves maintaining a pre-test pacing rate for the capture threshold test if the number of intrinsic beats in the cardiac events is less than a threshold. The pacing rate is increased for the capture threshold test if the number of intrinsic beats in the cardiac events is greater than the threshold.
US09126037B2

A medical electrical lead includes an inductance augmenter assembly. The assembly includes an inductor coil formed of an insulated wire, which is wound about a non-conductive core and is electrically coupled in series between a conductor coil of the lead and an electrode of the lead.
US09126036B2

An electron therapy unit for delivering therapeutic electrons to a patient during an operation that is made up of a movable and stowable beam head that may be connected permanently or temporarily to either a base cabinet or a fixed structure using one or more optionally pivotable arms is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the inventive electron therapy unit is a mobile unit suitable for in-hospital use or for shared use between hospitals or clinics. The unit is self-contained, small, light and easy to use. It has a very reliable, compact design, allowing for easy stowing to a small rugged configuration for transport. In another exemplary embodiment, the inventive electron therapy unit is a stationary unit. An ion chamber for use with such an optionally transportable electron therapy unit is also provided. The ion chamber employs two or more collector plates and associated bias plates, each having a centrally located hole that extends through the plate. Further provided is a method for reducing or eliminating the possibility of significantly higher current caused by electrical arcs and power excursions during operation of the inventive electron therapy unit.
US09126031B2

This disclosure provides a medical lead assembly that includes a lead body having a proximal end configured to couple to an implantable medical device and a distal end. The lead assembly further includes an electrode assembly located at the distal end of the lead body, the electrode assembly including a tip electrode, a conductive electrode shaft that is electrically coupled to the tip electrode and an energy dissipating structure that is coupled to at least a portion of the conductive electrode shaft at high frequencies to redirect at least a portion of the current induced in the lead by a high frequency signal from the tip electrode to the energy dissipating structure.
US09126021B2

A guidewire includes a first junction that joins a distal end of an inner coil body and a portion of a core shaft positioned a non-zero distance away from a distal end toward a proximal end; a second junction that joins a proximal end of the inner coil body and the core shaft; a third junction that joins a distal end of the outer coil body and the distal end of the core shaft; and a fourth junction that joins a proximal end of the outer coil body and the core shaft. The outer coil body includes a tapered coil portion and a uniform-diameter coil portion. The inner coil body is disposed inside the uniform-diameter coil portion of the outer coil body. The inner coil body is joined to the core shaft at only the first and second junctions but is not joined to the outer coil body.
US09126013B2

Novel catheter systems including those having guidewire lumens that can convert from an Over-the-Wire mode to a Rapid Exchange mode are useful and effective when crafted such that this conversion happens without adjusting the position of the guidewire in a body lumen.
US09126011B2

A catheter for providing a blood flow includes a wall defining at least one lumen extending between a distal end and a proximal end. A distal end portion of the catheter is deformable to selectively open and close one or more ports in the wall to allow the blood flow into or out of the at least one lumen of the catheter.
US09126005B1

A breathing tube support device for holding and supporting one or more flexible breathing tube(s) of a breathing circuit during provision of anesthesia, assisted and artificial ventilation and/or spontaneous ventilation has a flexible support arm formed of a length of flexible axially extendable and collapsible corrugated tubing, a mounting base at a bottom end thereof for attachment to the patient or a support surface, and a breathing tube holder a top end thereof for receiving and supporting a section of the breathing tube(s). The flexible support arm can be expanded to increase its length longitudinally and collapsed upon itself to shorten its length longitudinally, and is sufficiently flexible to assume a bent or curved configuration, and sufficiently stable to retain the bent or curved configuration, whereby breathing tube(s) held and supported by the device can be optimally positioned relative to the patient's head and neck area.
US09125989B2

Device for determining the characteristics of peritoneal membrane comprising means for measuring glucose in the fluid drainage and a processing unit comprising means for determining the characteristics of the membrane as a function of that rate of glucose measured at different times. The invention also relates to a method for determining the characteristics of peritoneal membrane including the consideration of glucose measured at different moments in the liquid drainage.
US09125986B2

The present invention relates to a medicament delivery device (10) comprising a housing (12, 14); a medicament container (22) arranged inside the housing; a medicament delivery drive unit comprising a plunger rod (28) acting on said medicament container (22) and a power force (26) capable of driving said plunger rod (28) for delivering a dose of medicament. The invention is characterised in a delivery controller (30) comprising a manually operable release mechanism (30, 36) for releasing said plunger rod (28) and said power source (26) for delivering a dose of medicament and a manually operable control speed mechanism (30, 38) capable of controlling the speed of the released plunger rod and thereby the medicament delivery speed.
US09125962B2

The present invention includes an apparatus and method for processing solid waste products. The invention features periodic removal of water preferably while the contents are under pressure. The apparatus comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical vessel having a first end, a second end and an interior surface, at least one end terminating in a hatch that may be opened to allow access to the interior of the vessel and sealably closed to allow pressurization of the vessel; a steam inlet for injecting stem disposed at one or both ends; and one or more valves for exhausting water periodically as the waste mass is being processed.
US09125955B2

An embodiment of the invention comprises method of imaging a target site comprising administrating ligand of Formula I complexed to 99mTc wherein R1 and R2 are independently an alkyl or cycloalkyl; R3 is and alkyl; X is CO or SO2; Y is (CH2)n, C6H4, (OCH2CH2)n(NHCH2CH2)n and (OCH2CH2CH2)n, or a combination thereof; Z is linker group capable of conjugating to a vector; and n is an integer between 0 and 10.
US09125953B2

The invention relates to a complex made of α-cyclodextrin and a halogenated ether, characterized by a content of the halogenated ether of at least 3 wt % of the total weight of the complex.
US09125950B2

An immunogenic composition comprising a siderophore covalently linked to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier molecule wherein the antigenicity of the siderophore moiety is sufficient to stimulate an immunologic response to the siderophore when the composition is circulating in the bloodstream of a human or non-human animal and vaccine.
US09125947B2

The presently described technology provides phenylethanoic acid, phenylpropanoic acid, phenylpropenoic acid, a salt thereof, a derivative thereof or a combination thereof chemically conjugated to hydrocodone (morphinan-6-one, 4,5-alpha-epoxy-3-methoxy-17-methyl) to form novel prodrugs or compositions of hydrocodone which have a decreased potential for abuse of hydrocodone. The present technology also provides methods of treating patients, pharmaceutical kits and methods of synthesizing conjugates of the present technology.
US09125941B2

The invention discloses an aqueous method of making polymer coated superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Nanoparticles made by the method are included in the invention.
US09125925B2

Methods and compositions for reducing intraocular pressure in a patient, particularly a human patient, are described. In particular, compositions are disclosed that contain an anthocyanoside or an extract comprising it, a proanthhocyanidin or an extract comprising it and combinations thereof. The compositions are useful for lowering intraocular pressure.
US09125921B2

An anti-viral composition comprising terpenes and fatty acids found in the Scophulariaceae family of plants is disclosed. It further comprises other lipophillic constituents and the aglycons of the glycosides occurring in said family of plants. Preferably, the composition is derived by extraction of the roots and rhizomes of mixtures of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle, Picrorhiza scrophularflora Pennell and Neopicrorhiza scrophulańiflora. Solvents and solvent combinations are disclosed. The composition is effective against both DNA and RNA viruses and against fungal, bacterial, parasitic and protozoal infections and diseases and also as a hepatoprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-diabetic and kidney-protective agent. Antibodies and vaccines for the cited diseases can be made by administration of the composition to animal or other subjects.
US09125917B2

Effective treatments of pain and inflammation are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of fluocinolone at or near a target site, one can reduce, prevent or treat inflammation and pain and autoimmune disorders. In various embodiments, fluocinolone formulations may be provided within biodegradable polymers to reduce, prevent or treat sciatic pain and/or inflammation. In various embodiments, prevent transplant rejection for at least twenty-five days. In some embodiments, the pain relief can be for at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.
US09125904B1

Biphenyl imidazoles and related compounds of Formula I, useful as antiviral agents, are provided herein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing a compound of Formula I, together with a second active agent, such as an NS3a protease inhibitor are provided herein. Methods for treating viral infections, including Hepatitis C infections, are included herein by providing a compound of Formula I together with an additional active agent. In certain embodiments the additional active agent is an NS3a protease inhibitor.
US09125903B2

The present invention relates to a composition useful for the treatment of lipid metabolism disorders, comprising one or more of the following active ingredients: (a) extract of rice fermented with Monascus purpureus, (b) at least one omega-3 fatty acid, (c) L-carnitine or a salt thereof; and one or more of the following active ingredients: (d) at least one policosanol or a natural extract containing policosanols; (e) resveratrol or a natural extract containing resveratrol; (f) Coenzyme Q10; and (g) at least one vitamin.
US09125901B2

The present invention provides 4-(benzimidazol-2-ylamino)benzamide derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof. The (benzimidazol-2-ylamino)benzamide derivatives are of formula wherein X, Y, Z, and Q are defined herein. Also provided herein are methods of slowing the expansion of cancer cells with these compounds.
US09125898B2

The present invention provides a method of treatment, prevention and/or delay of progression of neuropathic pain by a specific dosing regime of acetam derivatives.
US09125886B2

This invention provides a trivalent immunogenic composition including a soluble portion of a Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M.hyo) whole cell preparation; a porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) antigen; and a PRRS virus antigen, wherein the soluble portion of the M. hyo preparation is substantially free of both (i) IgG and (ii) immunocomplexes comprised of antigen bound to immunoglobulin.
US09125880B2

Methods are provided for the synthesis of polymer conjugates of cytokines and receptor-binding antagonists thereof, especially a non-glycosylated interferon-beta, which conjugates retain unusually high biological potency. Preparation of polymer conjugates according to the methods of the present invention diminishes or avoids steric inhibition of receptor-ligand interactions that commonly results from the attachment of polymers to receptor-binding regions of cytokines, as well as to agonistic and antagonistic analogs thereof. The invention also provides conjugates and compositions produced by such methods. The conjugates of the present invention retain a high level of biological potency compared to those produced by traditional polymer coupling methods that are not targeted to avoid receptor-binding domains of cytokines. In assays in vitro, the biological potency of the conjugates of non-glycosylated interferon-beta of the present invention is substantially higher than that of unconjugated interferon-beta and is similar to that of interferon-beta-1a that is glycosylated. The conjugates of the present invention also exhibit an extended half-life in vivo compared to the corresponding unconjugated cytokine. The present invention also provides kits comprising such conjugates and/or compositions, and methods of use of such conjugates and compositions in a variety of diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic applications, including treatment of multiple sclerosis.
US09125849B2

The present invention provides isolated peptides or the fragments derived from SEQ ID NO: 42, which bind to an HLA antigen and induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The peptides may include one of the above mentioned amino acid sequences with substitution, deletion, or addition of one, two, or several amino acids sequences. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions including these peptides. The peptides of this invention can be used for treating cancer.
US09125848B2

Compositions and methods for immunization against human breast cancer are disclosed. A breast cancer vaccine comprises an immunogenic polypeptide comprising human α-lactalbumin.
US09125844B1

The disclosure relates to nutritional supplements to be administered to, or to be taken by, women desiring to become pregnant, and pregnant and nursing women, so that a woman (and any fetus) will be nutritionally supplemented before, during and after the gestation period. The nutritional supplements have a blend of folic acid, lycopene and co-enzyme QIO, optionally docosahexaenoic acid, and other vitamins and minerals, and a nutritionally acceptable carrier therefor, but are free or substantially free of other materials in nutritionally effective amounts. Specific nutritional supplements are described.
US09125832B2

Agents for coloring keratinic fibers, containing (a) at least one compound of formula (I), and (b) at least one zwitterionic surfactant are disclosed and described.
US09125831B2

Agents for coloring keratinic fibers, containing (a) at least one compound of formula (I) and (b) at least one phosphate surfactant are disclosed and described.
US09125818B2

To suppress a curing agent paste stored in a sealed state in a packaging container from self-curing over a long period of time, provided are a dental alginate impression material as described below, and a curing agent paste to be used for the dental alginate impression material. The dental alginate impression material may includes: a base material paste including as main components: an alginic acid salt (A); and water (B); and a curing agent paste including as main components: a gelling reaction agent (C); a poorly water-soluble organic solvent (D); and a humectant (E).
US09125817B2

Various embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a light-cure and dual-cure resin that have low color and is color stable over conventional light, self and dual-cured resins. Additionally, the light-cure resin has enhanced degree of cure over conventional light-cure resins. Finally, due to the low color and enhanced color stability of the dual-cure resins, their inherent property of having lower shrinkage stress as compared to light-cure resins can now be utilized in various dental applications and other resin applications.
US09125816B2

A pharmaceutical composition useful for treating hypogonadism is disclosed. The composition comprises an androgenic or anabolic steroid, a C1-C4 alcohol, a penetration enhancer such as isopropyl myristate, and water. Also disclosed is a method for treating hypogonadism utilizing the composition.
US09125814B2

Disclosed are hydrogel compositions formed by the mixture of a tetramethylmethane substituted with one or more polyethylene glycols, and wherein each polyethylene glycol substituent is independently further substituted with one or more electrophilic groups, and a tetramethylmethane substituted with one or more polyethylene glycols, and wherein each polyethylene glycol substituent is independently further substituted with one or more nucleophilic groups. Disclosed are also methods of preparing the above hydrogels. The hydrogel compositions can further comprise pharmaceuticals, such as analgesics or local anesthetics. Disclosed are also methods of sealing a wound, preventing post-surgical adhesion, and reducing post-surgical pain using the disclosed hydrogels.
US09125813B2

A particulate glucomannan gel is produced by dissolving glucomannan-rich flour in water, precipitating glucomannan from the solution with ethanol, treating the precipitated glucomannan with an alkali to transform to water-insoluble, irreversible hydrogel particles, recovering and drying the hydrogel particles, and milling dried particles to a desired particle size. The resulting gel particles are incorporated into hygienic or cosmetic preparations as a deposit-cleaning agent.
US09125802B2

The present invention provides a dental curable composition which has excellent curability and which cures into a cured product that is less susceptible to discoloration by hydrogen sulfide in an oral environment. The present invention is a dental curable composition containing: a polymerizable monomer (a) having an acidic group, as a polymerizable monomer component; and a copper compound (b) and a benzotriazole compound (c) represented by the following general formula (1) and/or a benzimidazole compound (c) represented by the following general formula (2), as polymerization initiator components (symbols used in the formulae are as described in the description).
US09125800B2

An indicator assembly for use with a non-vascular catheter device. The indicator assembly includes: a first retainer secured to a catheter tube, the first retainer being an indwelling retainer which is deployed within a non-vascular lumen or cavity of the body; a second retainer secured to the catheter tube, the second retainer deployed outside the human body; and an indicator located outside the body on the catheter tube between the first retainer and the second retainer. The first retainer and the second retainer are configured to maintain substantially the same position with respect to each other on the tube and the indicator is configured to signal a change in position with respect to either the first or the second retainer, thereby indicating a change in the length of a stoma.
US09125799B1

A remotely locatable pacifier apparatus that includes a handheld control unit disposed in wireless communication with a pacifier unit, said control unit having a plurality of control unit Light Emitting Diodes (“LEDs”) disposed thereon, each of said control unit LEDs illuminable sequentially to signal a direction and proximity of the pacifier unit relative the control unit, whereby a user is able to locate the pacifier unit without causing an audible or visible signal from the pacifier unit.
US09125792B2

A spray nozzle system for a bidet includes a nozzle casing and a rotating member within the nozzle casing. The rotation of the rotating member changes a water output pattern of the nozzle. A first inlet pipe to the nozzle casing is positioned to cause the rotating member to rotate upon receiving fluid flow. A second inlet pipe to the nozzle casing is positioned to suppress rotation of the rotating member upon receiving fluid flow. A controller is configured to vary the relative fluid flow provided to the first inlet pipe and the second inlet pipe, thereby controllably varying the water output pattern of the nozzle.
US09125788B2

A method and system for motor learning. The method comprises the steps of detecting a user's motor intent; and giving robotic assistance to the user for executing a motor task associated with the motor intent based on the detected motor intent.
US09125777B2

A body transport apparatus including an inflatable air mattress with a plurality of air exit holes on the bottom to provide an air cushion when the mattress is inflated and a cover portion connected to the mattress adjacent a perimeter to define an enclosed volume. The cover portion may include a selectively closeable passageway. A flap may be defined in the cover portion that is movable between open and closed configurations. A plurality of hollows may be defined in the cover portion when inflated to define a body contact area that is less than a surface area of the top surface.
US09125770B2

A portable, adjustable disposable medical suction system and method of use is disclosed. The system includes a delivery device to provide a conduit from a surgical site on a patient to the portable, adjustable medical suction system. The suction system may be a battery powered vacuum pump with one or more different adjustments directed to a strength of the vacuum, duration of the vacuum and interval between suction. The delivery device may be an intranasal tampon device or a tube inserted into the surgical site. During surgery and recovery at a surgical center or hospital, the vacuum source attached to the delivery system may be an industrial type vacuum source. Upon discharge, the suction system can be connected to the delivery system so that bleeding can be resolved by the patient in the comfort of his/her own home. The system and method of use is safer and mitigates body fluid borne contamination.
US09125769B2

An absorbent article that includes an absorber capable of absorbing a body fluid of a user, a liquid-permeable sheet covering one surface of the absorber and allowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, and a liquid-impermeable sheet covering another surface of the absorber and disallowing a body fluid of the user to pass through, wherein the color of the liquid-permeable sheet has an L* value of 88 or more, an a* value of 0 to 0.3 and a b* value of −8 to 0 in the L*a*b* color system, and the color of the absorber has a b* value of 1 to 5 and an L* value of 93 or more in the L*a*b* color system.
US09125762B2

A prosthesis is compressed in a device by being wrapped in a flexible sheet inside a cartridge, the opposite edges of the sheet being led out through a longitudinal slit in the cartridge and attached respectively to the outer surface of the cartridge and the inner surface of a surrounding shell; subsequent relative rotation of the shell pulls the sheet outwardly of the cartridge causing compression of the prosthesis. Stop projections are provided to limit the rotation to less than one complete revolution. End pieces of the device have tubes aligned with the prosthesis when compressed, and a pusher rod is pushed through the tubes to push the prosthesis into an introducer sheath. The or each end piece may incorporate a ratchet mechanism to prevent rotation in the wrong direction.
US09125759B2

The disclosure describes methods of making collagen based biocomposite constructs and related devices. The methods include: (a) winding at least one collagen fiber a number of revolutions about a length of a support member having a long axis, the winding having at least one defined pitch and/or fiber angle relative to the long axis of the support member to form an elongate construct; and (b) applying a fluid polymeric material, such as, for example, an acrylate emulsion and/or other thermoplastic material, onto the collagen fiber during the winding step. Optionally, the fluid polymeric material can include antibiotics and/or other therapeutic agents for additional function/utility.
US09125758B2

The present invention relates to a fluid absorbing sheet including a bottom- or under-layer of water- or fluid-tight material, a middle layer of super absorbent polymer (SAP) and an upper layer of diffusing material The fluid absorbing sheet may further include at least one water- or fluid-tight bag for collecting and/or disposing of body fluids and/or other body wastes. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a sheet as well as its use.
US09125757B2

The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a central ramp, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the central ramp capable of being moved in a first direction to move the first and second endplates outwardly and into an expanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed down an endoscopic tube.
US09125754B2

An artificial disc prosthesis is provided. The prosthesis of the present invention enables spinal segment alignment by having a variable height across its surface. The variable height is achieved by an asymmetric artificial nucleus or by at least one variable height end plate.
US09125751B2

The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic spinal disc for replacing a damaged disc between two vertebrae of a spine and methods for inserting said discs. The present invention also relates to prosthetic spinal disc designs that are implanted using a transforaminal approach, methods thereof, and apparatus thereof.
US09125750B2

Tissue spacer implants, surgical distraction instruments, surgical insertion tools, coupling devices, surgical kits, surgical methods for distraction, and methods for coupling bodies are disclosed. The tissue spacer implants include a first end member, a second end member, and an intermediate spacer member having a coupling mechanism adapted to couple the first end member with the intermediate spacer member and to couple the second end member with the intermediate spacer member. The surgical instruments may be used for inserting these implants and include a first elongated member, a second elongated member, a distraction mechanism, and an actuator. The coupling devices may be used to couple the components of the implants.
US09125748B2

A method and apparatus for replacing damaged meniscal tissue includes a meniscus implant including a porous body having a plurality of interconnected open micro-pores and one or more open cavities for receiving meniscal tissue. The interconnected micro-pores are arranged to allow fluid to flow into the porous body and are in fluid communication with the one or more open cavities.
US09125746B2

A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one aspect, the method involves identifying link pivot locations, fixing base components and minimally invasive insertion techniques. In one particular aspect, the system facilitates absorbing energy between members forming a joint such as between articulating bones.
US09125740B2

Prosthetic heart valve devices for percutaneous replacement of native heart valves and associated systems and method are disclosed herein. A prosthetic heart valve device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an expandable support having an outer surface and configured for placement between leaflets of the native valve. The device can also include a plurality of asymmetrically arranged arms coupled to the expandable support and configured to receive the leaflets of the native valve between the arms and the outer surface. In some embodiments, the arms can include tip portions for engaging a subannular surface of the native valve.
US09125732B2

Apparatus and methods are described including an implantable device shaped to define (a) at least two artery-contact regions, the artery-contact regions comprising struts that are configured to stretch an arterial wall by applying pressure to the arterial wall, and (b) at least two crimping regions that comprise locking mechanisms configured to prevent the crimping regions from becoming crimped due to pressure from the wall of the artery on the artery-contact regions. The crimping regions are configured to be crimped during insertion of the device, via a catheter, by the locking mechanisms being unlocked during insertion of the device. Other embodiments are also described.
US09125728B2

A combined multi-lumen central access catheter and an embolic filter including ports proximal and distal the filter for fluid infusion and/or pressure sensing and infusion ports in the catheter to permit infusion of bioactive agents, flushing agents and/or contrast agents and managing the capture of the clot thereafter.
US09125725B2

A laser surgical system for making incisions in ocular tissues during cataract surgery includes a laser system, an imaging device and a control system. The laser system includes a scanning assembly and a laser to generate a laser beam that incises ocular tissue. The imaging device acquires image data of a crystalline lens and constructs an image from the image data. The control system operates the imaging device to generate image data for the patient's crystalline lens, processes the image data to determine an anterior capsule incision scanning pattern for scanning a focal zone of the laser beam to perform an anterior capsule incision, and operates the laser and the scanning assembly to scan the focal zone of the laser beam in the anterior capsule incision scanning pattern, wherein the focal zone is guided by the control system based on the image data.
US09125721B2

A pressure-driven valve is disclosed. The valve includes a housing and a flow control portion disposed within the housing. The housing includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The flow control portion has a first side subject to fluid flow pressure in a fluid flow channel, and a second side subject to an outlet pressure representative of pressure at the fluid outlet. The flow control portion is deformable to increase and decrease flow through the fluid flow channel based on pressure differentials between the fluid flow pressure, a tube pressure, and the outlet pressure. In some instances, the flow control portion comprises a flow control membrane and a radially-fluctuating pressure tube attached to the periphery of the membrane.
US09125715B2

This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing pulsatile release of active agents via a punctal plug inserted into a punctum. A tube is provided which may be inserted into a cavity of a punctal plug. One or more pulsatile delivery units are arranged in a generally linear fashion within the tube. The pulsatile delivery units include a core comprising the active agent and an encapsulation layer around the core.
US09125709B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus's for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic tracking template is provided for assisting in determining whether a patient's teeth are in an appropriate tooth arrangement for transitioning between a wire and bracket orthodontic treatment to a patient-removable orthodontic appliance treatment. The tracking template may include a shell portion defining a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities arranged to fit over at least a portion of the patient's teeth in an intermediate tooth arrangement without applying a tooth-moving force to the teeth or to any brackets attached to the teeth.
US09125706B2

An embodiment of a bone stabilization and distraction system of the present disclosure includes a light-sensitive liquid; a light source for providing light energy; a light-conducting fiber for delivering the light energy from the light source to cure the light-sensitive liquid; a delivery catheter having a proximal end in communication with the light-conducting fiber and the light-sensitive liquid, an inner lumen for passage of the light-conducting fiber, and an inner void for passage of the light-sensitive liquid; and an expandable body removably engaging a distal end of the delivery catheter, wherein the expandable body has a closed end, a sealable open end, an inner cavity for passage of the light-sensitive liquid, an external surface and an internal surface, and wherein the expandable body has an insertion depth with a fixed dimension, a width with a fixed dimension, and a thickness with a changeable dimension.
US09125704B2

An implant for fusing adjacent bones is disclosed. The implant includes an elongate threaded member and a flexible portion extending from the elongate threaded member. The flexible portion includes a plurality of prongs configured to be reversibly compressed toward an axis defined by the elongate threaded member.
US09125700B2

A system and method facilitating replacement of comminuted bone fractures or portions thereof adjacent bone joints. The system and method employs a prosthesis to replace at least a portion of the comminuted bone fractures. The prosthesis serves in reproducing the articular surface of the portion or portions of the comminuted bone fractures that are replaced. In doing so, the prosthesis serves in restoring joint viability and corresponding articulation thereof.
US09125695B2

An ankle fusion nail apparatus and method includes a first, tibial component that includes a hole there through. The tibial component includes, among other things, a base. A second. talar component includes a hole there through, also, and, among other things, a base and a top. The tibial component is separate from the talar component. A third, central component is provided that is separate from the first tibial component and the second talar component. The central component is conformed to connect with the tibial base and the talar top such that the central component joins the tibial and talar components together and aligns them as the central component is connected with the tibial base and the talar top.
US09125689B2

Ablation treatment planning comprises: acquiring a three-dimensional (3D) image data set of a region of interest; introducing 3D model data of an ablation volume into the 3D image data set; and drawing, as a 2D image, what remains of a cross sectional multiplanar reformatting (MPR) slice of the region of interest and the ablation volume within an MPR plane by virtue of using the MPR plane as a clipping plane. The introduction is doable by tagging image pixels using a stencil buffer and possibly by culling specific inside areas and/or outside areas of the ablation volume. An ablation volume, for, e.g., receiving a cryoablation needle to eliminate tumor tissue and having any arbitrary shape, may be visualized within a 3D image space by drawing 2D images in any desired MPR plane such that also oblique orientations of the ablation volume can be represented. Subsequently, an ablation needle may be guided to a location and in an orientation as previously planned.
US09125685B2

A trocar device includes a main part that has a first and a second end. A shaft tube is connected to the second end of the main part. A through-opening for receiving an instrument extends from the first end of the main part to the end of the shaft tube that faces away from the main part. A sealing unit is disposed in the main part and has an elastic sealing element having a hollow-cylindrical wall, which divides the through-opening into a first region that runs from the sealing unit as far as the first end of the main body, and into a second region that runs from the sealing unit as far as the end of the shaft tube that faces away from the main part. When the instrument has been properly inserted in the through-opening, the sealing element seals off the two regions from each other.
US09125683B2

A catheter for insertion into vasculature of a patient to a target area in the vasculature includes a hollow inner shaft, a non-occluding self-expandable scaffold coupled to the distal end of the inner shaft and disposed at the distal end of the inner shaft, and a hollow outer shaft. The outer shaft is slidable over the inner shaft and scaffold such that the scaffold is in a non-expanded state when the outer shaft is around the scaffold. The outer shaft has a state where the distal end of the outer shaft remains near the target area without the inner shaft and the scaffold being within the outer shaft. The inner shaft and the scaffold are removable through the proximal end of the outer shaft while the distal end of the outer shaft remains near the target area.
US09125679B2

A surgical instrument is provided, including: at least one articulatable arm having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one joint region disposed between the distal and proximal ends; an optical fiber bend sensor provided in the at least one joint region of the at least one articulatable arm; a detection system coupled to the optical fiber bend sensor, said detection system comprising a light source and a light detector for detecting light reflected by or transmitted through the optical fiber bend sensor to determine a position of at least one joint region of the at least one articulatable arm based on the detected light reflected by or transmitted through the optical fiber bend sensor; and a control system comprising a servo controller for effectuating movement of the arm.
US09125678B2

The surgical orientation system is used to assist a surgeon to orient a prosthetic component relative to a patient's anatomy during surgery. An embodiment is particularly suited for assisting surgeons to locate an acetabular cup into a reamed acetabulum. The system includes: an implement (1) for releasable attachment of a prosthetic component; an electronic orientation monitor (2) attached to the implement (1); and a brace (3). The brace (3) is releasably attachable to the patient so as to define a reference point (4) relative to the patient's anatomy. This reference point (4) is external of the patient and includes at least one surface (5) defining a reference plane that is used to orient the monitor (2) into a reference orientation to calibrate the monitor (2). The surgeon then manipulates the implement (1) so that the prosthetic component is in the desired position relative to the patient and the monitor (2) provides an indication to the surgeon when a subsequent orientation of the monitor (2) has a predefined relationship relative to the reference orientation; for example the predefined relationship may be parallel to within predefined tolerances. Upon receiving the indication the surgeon inserts the prosthetic component into the patient.
US09125677B2

The efficacy and safety of laser medical treatments are ensured by performing a combination of measurement techniques to examine tissue properties in order to control characteristics of the laser treatments of cartilaginous tissues. In some aspects, a treatment tool is provided that is capable of taking and providing feedback relating to multiple measurements, including temperature measurements (in particular, radiometry), mechanical measurements, light scattering, speckle interferometry, optoacoustic measurements, and monitoring tissue electrical characteristics. The device is capable of providing feedback during the course of laser treatment of tissue to increase the safety and efficacy of treatment.
US09125674B2

A surgical template system for use in working on a bone comprises: a tool guide block comprising at least one guide aperture for receiving and guiding a tool to work on a bone; locating means comprising a plurality of locating members, each member having a respective end surface for positioning against a surface of the bone; and attachment means for non-adjustably attaching the tool guide block to the locating means such that, when attached, the member end surfaces are secured in fixed position with, respect to each other, for engaging different respective portions of the surface of the bone, and the at least one guide aperture is secured in a fixed position with respect to the end surfaces. Corresponding methods of manufacturing a surgical template system, methods of manufacturing locating means for a surgical template system, methods of fitting a prosthesis to a bone, surgical methods, and surgical apparatus are described.
US09125672B2

Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US09125666B2

A catheter and catheter system for eccentric remodeling and/or removal of atherosclerotic material of a blood vessel of a patient include an elongate flexible catheter body with a radially expandable structure. A plurality of electrodes or other electrosurgical energy delivery surfaces can radially engage atherosclerotic material when the structure expands. An atherosclerotic material detector near the distal end of the catheter body may measure circumferential atherosclerotic material distribution, and a power source selectively energizes the electrodes to eccentrically remodel the measured atherosclerotic material.
US09125660B2

An assembly including an obstruction device including a proximal obstruction balloon and a distal obstruction balloon mounted on a shaft, the balloons being inflatable via an inflation lumen, and a delivery system that includes an insertion tool and an injection site assembly assembled with one of the balloons, the insertion tool including a connector which is connectable to the injection site assembly and which permits passing tools and injection fluid therethrough.
US09125654B2

Circular stapling instruments and anvil assemblies. The anvil assemblies may have collapsible anvil support members that may be inserted through an opening in a patient and then expanded to be attached to an anvil plate assembly that has a staple-forming surface thereon. The anvil support member is attachable to the anvil plate assembly in such a way that when the anvil assembly is coupled to the stapling head of a circular stapler, the staple-forming surface is in substantial registry with the staples supported in the stapling head. A variety of different anvil support members and anvil plate assemblies are disclosed.
US09125642B2

In some embodiments, nerves surrounding arteries or leading to organs are targeted with energy sources to correct or modulate physiologic processes. In some embodiments, different types of energy sources are utilized singly or combined with one another. In some embodiments, bioactive agents or devices activated by the energy sources are delivered to the region of interest and the energy is enhanced by such agents.
US09125638B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a medical device and methods for collecting a tissue sample from a patient's body. The device may include a first tube defining a lumen and an aperture at a distal end of the first tube. A second tube extends within the lumen of the first tube and defines a lumen and slots, where at least some of the slots have sharp edges configured to shear tissue. The second tube is movable relative to the first tube such that the sharp edges cut a plurality of samples from tissue disposed within the aperture.
US09125637B2

A method of loading a locked tissue biopsy needle into a biopsy gun includes rotating a head of the biopsy gun in a first direction, with the head located at a front distal portion of the biopsy gun. The method includes inserting the locked tissue biopsy needle into a distal end of the head of the biopsy gun. The locked tissue biopsy needle provides a stylet inserted in a longitudinal lumen of a cannula, and the stylet is locked in position relative to the cannula thus preventing longitudinal movement of the stylet within the cannula. The method includes rotating the head of the biopsy gun in a second direction opposite from the first direction and rotating the stylet relative to the cannula and unlocking the stylet from the cannula allowing longitudinal movement of the stylet within the cannula.
US09125625B2

Techniques and systems are disclosed for implementing textile-based screen-printed amperometric or potentiometric sensors. The chemical sensor can include carbon based electrodes to detect at least one of NADH, hydrogen peroxide, potassium ferrocyanide, TNT or DNT, in liquid or vapor phase. In one application, underwater presence of chemicals such as heavy metals and explosives is detected using the textile-based sensors.
US09125624B2

Method and apparatus are described herein for registering an anatomical region with a scanned image of the anatomical region. The method includes pressing a moldable appliance against a surface of the anatomical region or a facsimile thereof to provide an intermediate appliance; hardening the intermediate appliance to provide the formed appliance; providing a fiducial body attached to the formed appliance; attaching the formed appliance with the fiducial body attached thereto to the anatomical region; scanning the anatomical region with the formed appliance attached thereto and the fiducial body attached to the formed appliance to obtain a three-dimensional volume representation of the fiducial body and an interior of the anatomical region; segmenting the part of the fiducial body in the three-dimensional volume representation to obtain a segmented fiducial body region; aligning the segmented fiducial body region with a reference model of the fiducial body to obtain a mapping transformation; and operating a data processor to map locations in an interior of the anatomical region to corresponding locations in the three-dimensional volume representation of the interior of the anatomical region based on the mapping transformation. The apparatus may include a moldable appliance configured for molding into a formed appliance and a fiducial body being attached to the moldable appliance, wherein the fiducial body is scan detectable entirely or in part, shaped such that an orientation of the fiducial body relative the anatomical region is uniquely determinable, and rigidly fixed to the formed appliance such that the fiducial body is in a fixed spatial relationship with the formed appliance.
US09125622B2

A plurality of sets of volume data, each of which represent the state of a beating heart in different phases, are obtained. Coronary artery regions are extracted from at least two sets of volume data from among the obtained sets of volume data. A plurality of analysis points are set in each extracted coronary artery region. Correlations are established among analysis points set at the same anatomical positions within the coronary artery regions. Index values that indicate the character of plaque are calculated at each analysis point within all of the coronary artery regions. The character of plaque is evaluated at positions within the coronary artery regions, by integrating the index values calculated at the analysis points corresponding to each of the positions. The evaluation results regarding the character of plaque at each of the positions within the coronary artery regions are output, correlated with information regarding the positions.
US09125618B2

Embodiments for providing an elastic image are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a living body to output ultrasound data corresponding to a plurality of frames while applying compression to the living body; and a processing unit configured to extract frames from a (n−1)th frame to a (n−i)th frame on a basis of a nth frame, wherein n indicates an integer larger than one and i indicates a positive integer, detect an optimal frame for forming an elastic image among the extracted frames by using first displacement between the nth frame and each of the extracted frames based on the ultrasound data, calculate second displacement between the optimal frame and the nth frame based on the ultrasound data, and form the elastic image based on the second displacement.
US09125608B2

A system and method for calibrating a sensor of a characteristic monitoring system in real time utilizes a self-calibration module for periodic determination of, and compensation for, the IR drop across unwanted resistances in a cell. A current-interrupt switch is used to open the self-calibration module circuit and either measure the IR drop using a high-frequency (MHz) ADC module, or estimate it through linear regression of acquired samples of the voltage across the sensor's working and reference electrodes (Vmeasured) over time. The IR drop is then subtracted from the closed-circuit value of Vmeasured to calculate the overpotential that exists in the cell (Vimportant). Vimportant may be further optimized by subtracting the value of the open-circuit voltage (Voc) across the sensor's working and reference electrodes. The values of Vmeasured and Vimportant are then controlled by respective first and second control units to compensate for the IR drop.
US09125604B2

An electrochemical sensor includes a base plate including one end portion and another end portion, an electrode portion formed on the one end portion of the base plate, a connecting portion, formed on the another end portion of the base plate, for electrically connecting the electrode portion to a monitoring instrument, and an attaching portion formed on the another end portion, the attached portion being employed for attaching the another end portion to the monitoring instrument in a state where the one end portion is enabled to swing relatively to the monitoring instrument.
US09125601B2

A needle assembly for an injection device comprising a needle cannula which is mounted in a hub connectable to an injection device, and which needle assembly comprises a back needle. Further the needle assembly is provided with means which, when activated, prevents a user from physically contacting the back needle.
US09125600B2

A medical device including a barrel having an open first end and capable of supporting a needle at a second end of the barrel is provided and includes a lid releasably adhered to and overlying the open first end of the barrel in a fluid tight manner; and a pad secured to a surface of the lid such that the pad is disposed within a cavity of the barrel when the lid is adhered to the barrel, wherein the pad comprises a disinfecting solution.
US09125593B2

A method of observing a three-dimensional image of an examinee's eye to be examined, includes: obtaining a first three-dimensional image which is a three-dimensional image of an anterior segment of the examinee's eye by optical coherence tomography for obtaining a tomographic image by converging a measurement light on the anterior segment of the examinee's eye; obtaining a second three-dimensional image which is a three-dimensional image of a fundus of the examinee's eye by optical coherence tomography for obtaining a tomographic image by converging the measurement light on the fundus of the examinee's eye by a timing different from a timing of obtaining the first three-dimensional image; constructing a three-dimensional eyeball image of the examinee's eye through image processing based on the obtained first and second three-dimensional images; and displaying the constructed three-dimensional eyeball image on a monitor.
US09125592B2

A system for processing an image data volume acquired with a medical imaging acquisition device 100 from a body comprising a needle is provided. It has been realized it is advantageous to display 150 a plane intersecting the image data volume showing the needle to a user of the system. This allows better positioning of the needle. The system comprises a needle-plane determination 110 module for determining a plane being parallel to and intersecting a representation in the image data volume of the needle and being parallel to a viewing direction. The needle plane determination module may make use of pixel processing and/or spectral transformation, in particular the Gabor transform.
US09125588B2

A physiological sensor-transmitter assembly for measuring a physiological property at an internal body location of a subject over time is described. An instrument for inserting the assembly in the subject and a method of monitoring a physiological property measured at the internal body location over time are also described. The assembly includes a sensor and a transmitter adapted to transmit information from the sensor in a non-wired fashion to a receiver. The assembly also includes an anchor adapted to attach to an externally accessible portion of a subject and a tether that connects the sensor and the anchor to maintain a position of the sensor within the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.
US09125584B2

An exemplary method includes positioning a lead in a patient where the lead has a longitudinal axis that extends from a proximal end to a distal end and where the lead includes an electrode with an electrical center offset from the longitudinal axis of the lead body; measuring electrical potential in a three-dimensional potential field using the electrode; and based on the measuring and the offset of the electrical center, determining lead roll about the longitudinal axis of the lead body where lead roll may be used for correction of field heterogeneity, placement or navigation of the lead or physiological monitoring (e.g., cardiac function, respiration, etc.). Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.
US09125564B2

A system for detection of frequency power for diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD), comprising: an acoustic sensor to be placed on the chest of a patient to generate acoustic signals SA: a memory adapted to store acoustic signals SA; a control unit adapted to receive said acoustic signals SA; the control unit comprising: an identification unit to identify diastolic or systolic periods in a predetermined time period and to generate a period signal SP, a filtering unit adapted to apply a filter to said identified periods to generate a low frequency band signal SLFB indicating low frequency bands of identified periods; a calculation unit to estimate the power in said low frequency band of identified periods, to calculate a low frequency power measure and to generate a low frequency power measure signal SLFP. The invention also relates to a stethoscope and a method for detection of low frequency power.
US09125562B2

Catheter-based Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) systems utilizing an optical fiber that is positioned off-axis of the central longitudinal axis of the catheter have many advantage over catheter-based OCT systems, particularly those having centrally-positioned optical fibers or fibers that rotate independently of the elongate body of the catheter. An OCT system having an off-axis optical fiber for visualizing the inside of a body lumen may be rotated with the body of the elongate catheter, relative to a handle portion. The handle may include a fiber management pathway for the optical fiber that permits the off-axis optical fiber to rotate with the catheter body relative to the handle. The system may also include optical processing elements adapted to prepare and process the OCT image collected by the off-axis catheter systems described herein.
US09125560B2

A detecting apparatus includes: a change-over switch for switching on/off display of a scope model on a liquid crystal monitor; a position calculating portion for calculating respective positions of source coils; a scope model generating portion for generating a scope model of an electronic endoscope based on the respective positions of the source coils calculated by the position calculating portion; and a selector for selectively outputting to the liquid crystal monitor a display-pause-time image stored in a display-pause-time image storing portion and a scope model image from the scope model generating portion; and a control portion for controlling each of these portions. The detecting apparatus thus displays an insertion shape of the endoscope at a timing as needed.
US09125553B2

A distal end bending piece subjected to processing for fastening a nail-plate portion so as to allow seesaw movements is assembled on a proximal end side of a distal end rigid portion, a sleeve is inserted from a rear side, and the sleeve is fitted and fixed to the distal end rigid portion in a state where a distal end bending piece is housed in the sleeve, thereby allowing a first nail-plate portion to elastically press an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and allowing a second nail-plate portion to elastically press a bottom surface of a recessed portion of the distal end rigid portion at a predetermined contact pressure. Such a configuration enables a secure and stable electrical conduction between the distal end rigid portion and the distal end bending piece without interfering with a reduction in a diameter of the insertion portion.