The invention relates to an energy-efficient apparatus driven by compressed air and equipped with a dual piston function for tensioning, or clamping, or centering, or punching, or welding, or clinching, for use in body construction in the automotive industry. The apparatus is driven by a pressurized fluid, in particular by compressed air. It is shown how a significant amount of operating costs can be saved while, at the same time, conserving the environment and consuming a low amount of pressurized fluid, in particular compressed air. In addition, the pivoting angle of a toggle joint assembly and thus of an apparatus connected thereto, for example, a tensioning arm of a toggle tensioning apparatus, can be continuously adjusted in both directions while, at the same time, adjusting a sampling device using sensors, for example, microswitches, or inductive switches, or pneumatic switches, or limit switches.

An apparatus can include a pressure vessel that defines an interior region that can contain a liquid and/or a gas. A piston is movably disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel. A divider is fixedly disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel and divides the interior region into a first interior region on a first side of the divider and a second interior region on a second, opposite side of the divider. The piston is movable between a first position in which fluid having a first pressure is disposed within the first interior region and the first interior region has a volume less than a volume of the second interior region, and a second position in which fluid having a second pressure is disposed within the second interior region and the second interior region has a volume less than a volume of the first interior region.

The invention relates to a method for the impregnation of a product consisting of fibrous material and formed from a continuous web (22), the method comprising at least one first step of cutting out a specific zone (24) of the continuous web (22) and at least one second step of applying an impregnation product to the specific zone (24), the first and second steps being carried out simultaneously or virtually simultaneously.

A pump assembly having an air motor includes a valve connected to a motive fluid inlet of the air motor. The valve shifts between a first position, in which a flow of motive fluid is directed into a pilot port, through a two way pilot conduit and into a pilot chamber portion, and a second position, in which the flow of motive fluid is inhibited from flowing into the pilot port through the two way pilot conduit and into the pilot chamber portion, and in which fluid in the pilot chamber portion flows out through the two way pilot conduit and is directed by the valve to exhaust. The valve is connected to a programmable logic controller, so that the valve is shifted between the first position and the second position in response to the programmable logic controller.

A brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type having a brake booster. In order to provide a brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type, which on the one hand fulfills the statutory requirements care and which on the other hand is inexpensive to produce, it is proposed according to aspects of the invention, that the brake booster be provided as a travel-controlled brake booster, so that when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode the brake pedal is decoupled from feedback forces of the brake actuating unit, and the return force is simulated by the pedal travel simulator even when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode.

A brake booster with regenerative brake force generation comprising a force input element coupled to a brake pedal. A chamber arrangement having a vacuum chamber and a working chamber that are separated from one another by a movable wall. A control valve actuated in accordance with a displacement of the force input element. The working chamber is connectable selectively to the vacuum chamber and the atmosphere to generate and reduce a differential pressure at the movable wall. The control valve has a control valve housing that is connected for joint movement to the movable wall. In a first actuation phase of the brake booster from its rest position, the force input element is displaceable relative to the control valve housing by an idle travel, in which the control valve remains non-actuated to suppress a build-up of a differential pressure at the movable wall.

This disclosure is concerned with automatically replenishable cold cathode structures and the like wherein the monitoring of a predetermined variation in electron beam performance caused by erosion of the cathode material generates control signals for advancing reserve cathode material into operative position.

A detachable bag (13) and shroud (12) which combine to form a stripping apparatus (11) for stripping and collecting fibrous cladding material (27) from a pipe (25). The shroud (12) is adapted to be detachably and sealingly secured to the pipe (25) and the bag (13) is likewise secured to the shroud (12). The bag (13) includes a fastening means (20) to attach an inner envelope (16) thereof to the bottom opening (19b) of the shroud and an outer cover (17) which can be sealingly attached to the outerside of the shroud (12) enclosing the envelope (16) and fastening means (20). The envelope (16) and shroud (12) are each provided with "Velcro" closure strips (21) along their respective inner faces adjacent the fastening means (20) to enable the envelope (16) and shroud (12) to be sealingly closed independently of the other either side of the fastening means (20) to prevent external exposure to the contents of either during attachment and detachment of the bag from the shroud.

Graphite and/or carbon surfaces are coated with a titanium nitride coating by exposing the substrate to electric arc thermal spray process wherein titanium wire as the source of titanium and nitrogen is used as the propelling (atomizing) gas.

Polypeptides capable of binding human IL-13 and/or of binding human IL-4 in the presence of IL-4 Rα can be used in medicine, in diagnosis and in screening for agonists/antagonists of IL-13/IL-4. One such polypeptide is shown in FIG. 1.

A ceremonial illuminary including a voltage supply mechanism, a switching mechanism that is electrically connected to the voltage supply mechanism, a first lamp electrically connected to the switching mechanism, a second lamp electrically connected to the switching mechanism wherein the switching mechanism provides voltage to the first lamp to illuminate the first lamp and then switches to provide voltage to the second lamp instead of the first lamp when the first lamp burns-out and no longer illuminates. The first lamp and the second lamp are secured with an enclosure.

Methods and devices are disclosed for identifying objects over a surface and for tracking the position of said objects in relation to the sensing surface. The methods include the steps of providing an array of electrodes or coils that generating electromagnetic radiation having a individual characteristic frequencies of oscillation. Objects in proximity to the sensing surface(s) couple electromagnetically to the array of electrodes or coils, which then alters the characteristic frequency of one or more elements in the array. By monitoring the individual frequency shifts among the array elements, one or more objects in proximity to the surface can be sensed and identified. Quantitative identification and enhanced detection of the objects is achieved through the use of electromagnetic markers affixed or embedded in the objects in specified geometric patterns. In addition, a method is presented for scanning the sensing array, through the use of a second layer of electrodes that selectively mask or modulate the sensing field.

A method of retaining a solder mass within a solder-bearing component is provided and includes the steps of: (a) forming a plurality of fingers in the solder-bearing component at one edge thereof, with each finger being defined by a pair of slots formed in the solder-bearing component; and (b) interleaving a solder mass between the fingers such that the solder mass is securely held by the fingers. The solder-bearing component includes any number of different types of components where a solder mass is held thereby, e.g., leads, terminals, connectors, electromagnetic shields, etc.

An information handling system (IHS) employs a power fault protection circuit to protect the IHS from overvoltages which may occur on an information line from a power adapter to the IHS. The system includes a processor coupled to the protection circuit. The circuit is operative in a first mode to decouple an information line from the IHS in response to a disable command and operative in a second mode to decouple the information line from the IHS when a voltage in the information line exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage.

An information handling system projector tracks lamp usage to generate a lamp order form for order of a replacement lamp when lamp usage is a predetermined usage. The lamp order form is automatically generated and displayed to include lamp usage and projector identification information so that a user need not manually input that information into an order form. A network module of the projector supports queries for lamp usage from a lamp management module running on an information handling system. A projector processor interfaced with the network module reads the lamp usage and projector identification information from firmware of the projector and provides the lamp usage and projector identification information to the lamp management module for automatic generation of the lamp order form display.

A wafer surface inspection method and apparatus of high sensitivity, and free from performance degradation in terms of cleanliness, coordinate repeatability of foreign particles and the like. Gas for cooling is sprayed onto a laser irradiation position on the wafer surface to prevent an increase in temperature of the foreign particles and to suppress break-down of the foreign particles.

An indirectly heated cathode C1 comprises a heater 1, a double coil 2, a mesh member 3, and a metal oxide 10. An electrical insulating layer 4 is formed on the surface of heater 1. Heater 1 is inserted into and positioned at the inner side of double coil 2. Mesh member 3 is disposed along the length direction of double coil 2 at the outer side of double coil 2. Double coil 2 is grounded by being connected to the ground terminal of heater 1 via a lead rod 7. Metal oxide 10 is held by double coil 2 and disposed to be in contact with mesh member 3. Metal oxide 10 and mesh member 3 are exposed to the outer side of indirectly heated electrode C1 so that the surface of metal oxide 10 and the surface of mesh member 3 make up a discharge surface and mesh member 3 is in contact with the surface part of metal oxide 10.

In general, this disclosure describes techniques for changing a sampling frequency of a digital signal. In particular, the techniques provide a more accurate way to determining a relative timing between a desired output sample and a corresponding input sample using a non-approximated integer representation of the relative timing. The relative timing between the desired output sample and corresponding input sample may be represented using a first component that identifies a latest input sample of the digital signal used to generate intermediate samples, a second component that identifies an intermediate sample, and a third component that identifies a timing difference between the desired output sample and the intermediate sample. Each of the components may be recursively updated using non-approximated integer values.

An analog front-end circuit includes an analog processing circuit, an A/D converter, a target register in which a lower limit target value of an input image signal is set, and a calculation circuit. The analog processing circuit includes an offset control circuit which performs offset control based on an offset control value set in an offset control register. The calculation circuit monitors the A/D-converted value in a lower limit value output period when the A/D-converted value corresponding to a lower limit value of an input range is output from the A/D converter, and sets the offset control value that causes the A/D-converted value to become closer to the lower limit target value set in the target register in the offset control register.

An information handling system projector tracks lamp usage to generate a lamp order form for order of a replacement lamp when lamp usage is a predetermined usage. The lamp order form is automatically generated and displayed to include lamp usage and projector identification information so that a user need not manually input that information into an order form. A network module of the projector supports queries for lamp usage from a lamp management module running on an information handling system. A projector processor interfaced with the network module reads the lamp usage and projector identification information from firmware of the projector and provides the lamp usage and projector identification information to the lamp management module for automatic generation of the lamp order form display.

A touch apparatus, a transparent scan electrode, a geometric electrode structure and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The transparent scan electrode structure comprises a first transparent scan electrode, a second transparent scan electrode and an isolative layer. The first transparent scan electrode comprises a first resistance region and a second resistance region. A resistance value of the second resistance region is higher than that of the first resistance region. The isolative layer is disposed between the first transparent scan electrode and the second transparent scan electrode.

There are provided an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a vitreous silica crucible which can prevent the deterioration of the inner surface property in the manufacturing process of a vitreous silica crucible. The apparatus includes a mold defining an outer shape of a vitreous silica crucible, and an arc discharge unit having electrodes and a power-supply unit, wherein each of the electrodes includes a tip end directed to the mold, the other end opposite to the tip end, and a bent portion provided between the tip end and the other end.

Apparatuses, methods and systems for lighting fixture determining its power usage and monitoring its operational health are disclosed. One embodiment includes a method of a lighting fixture determining its power usage. The method includes sensing, by an ambient light sensor, an intensity of light emitted from the lighting fixture, and estimating power usage of the lighting fixture based on the sensed intensity of light.

A non-contact and non-disposable electric induction LED lamp includes a power source and a luminous-radiating unit combined together. The power source is formed with a power source module electrically connected with a first electric induction plate, while the luminous-radiating unit is provided with a second electric induction plate corresponding with the first electric induction plate and electrically connected with an LED module. Thus, the electricity of the power source can be transmitted to the luminous-radiating unit via electromagnetic induction produced between the first and the second electric induction plates to enable the LED module to emit light. The LED lamp of this invention can partially be replaced conveniently and has water proof and dustproof effects.

A sleigh for travel over a snow covered surface adapted to be disassembled or knocked down into a storage or transport position, from an operating position, is shown. Runners of the sleigh are pivotally connected to a floorboard along side edges thereof. The runners are locked into an operating position and may be unlocked to fold against a bottom surface of the floorboard in a stored position. An upper body including a seat is formed of multiple planar pieces which are dependently interlocked with each other for assembly and later disassembly. Means are provided for interlocking the runners to a hitching assembly to which a horse is conventionally harnessed.

A yttria sintered body is provided which includes yttria as a principal ingredient and 5 to 40 vol. % silicon nitride, and which exhibits enhanced corrosion resistance and mechanical strength.

A method and system are presented for enhancing one or more images of an object, so as to increase the visibility within the images of one or more structures within the object. The object may be an anatomical region of a patient, and may include one or more reference structures, for example skeletal structures or vertebral structures, and one or more treatment targets, for example tumors or lesions. An operator, for example a top-hat filter operator, selects at least a first neighborhood and a second neighborhood within the images. The operator selects within each neighborhood one or more pixels having an optimal pixel value, and eliminates the remaining pixels in these neighborhoods. When the operator is applied to the selected neighborhoods, only the pixels having the greatest pixel values remain in the selected neighborhoods, and the remaining pixels are eliminated in the selected neighborhoods. As a result, desired features can be located and enhanced in the images.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for charging electrically powered devices. In accordance with the invention, the device is powered by two storage devices. One storage device is capable of receiving a substantial charge very rapidly while the other storage device requires a longer time to receive a charge. The advantage is that the powered device can be used almost instantly and continually while at the same time rebuilding electrical charge.

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for charging electrically powered devices. In accordance with the invention, the device is powered by two storage or charge receiving devices. One of these devices is capable of receiving a substantial charge very rapidly while the other device requires a longer time to receive a charge. The advantage is that the powered device can be used almost instantly and continually while at the same time rebuilding electrical charge. The present invention further relates to a system for protecting the charging device from being damaged from an electrical surge, such as from a lightening strike.

A linear actuator for a variable-geometry member of a turbocharger includes a piston/rod assembly that can axially translate and also pivot to a limited extent. A permanent magnet is mounted in a fixed position within the actuator. A non-magnetized flux carrier is mounted in the piston/rod assembly, and its movement alters the magnetic field of the magnet. A Halls effects sensor detects the magnetic field and the signals produced by the sensor are used for determining axial position of the piston/rod assembly.

The present invention relates to a position sensor and limit switch apparatus for an actuator. The actuator has a cylinder and a piston with at least one magnetized portion reciprocatingly disposed within the cylinder. The apparatus includes an elongate housing aligned parallel with the cylinder. A magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer is disposed within the housing for sensing the position of the at least one magnetized portion. The apparatus includes a switch means responsive to the transducer for operatively interrupting actuation of the piston upon the at least one magnetized portion reaching a limit position.

A metallic protecting cover is formed from two axially split members, i.e. a first protecting cover member secured to a mounting eye, and a second protecting cover member having an overall length shorter than that of each of first and second cylinders and having a predetermined gap between itself and the second cylinder. The second protecting cover member is press-fitted into the first protecting cover member secured to the mounting eye to integrate the first and second protecting cover members into the protecting cover. Accordingly, the lower end of the second cylinder can be caulked in a state where the second protecting cover member has been temporarily assembled to the second cylinder. Thus, it is possible to ensure the required strength of the protecting cover and to increase the degree of freedom in assembly process.

High pressure pump systems with reduced pressure ripple for use with waterjet systems and other systems are described herein. A pump system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment includes four reciprocating members operably coupled to a crankshaft at 90 degree phase angles. The reciprocating members can include plungers operably disposed in corresponding cylinders and configured to compress fluid (e.g., water) in the cylinders to pressures suitable for waterjet processing, such as pressures exceeding 30,000 psi.

A piston engine may include a heat pipe capable of transferring heat away from a portion of the piston engine such as a combustion section. The heat pipe may be included as part of a piston assembly, a cylinder, or both. The heat pipe may be filled with a suitable heat pipe fluid that may undergo a phase change such as, for example, water, ethanol, ammonia, sodium, other fluids or combinations thereof. Boiling and condensing of the fluid within the heat pipe may utilize the latent heat of the fluid during heat transfer. Multiple heat pipes may be used in some instances.

The invention is an accumulator system in which multiple elastomeric accumulators are attached in series or parallel in order to generate total differential pressure in excess of that generated in a non-series system. Also disclosed is a “stacked” accumulator system. The system stores energy when the accumulators deform from their original shape in response to the flow of a pressurized fluid. The stored energy is available for use when the fluid is released from the accumulators and the accumulators return to their original shape.

The invention relates to a rotary machine with pistons (22) and a turret (25), including: —a frame (2), through which a shaft (1) extends, having a geometrical axis x-x' and mounted in a stationary manner relative to the frame (2); —a thrust plate (9) rotatably mounted on the shaft (1); —an oscillating plate (15) bearing on the thrust plate (9); —a torsion bar (18), a first end of which is pivotably connected to the frame (2) and a second end of which is pivotably connected to the oscillating plate (15); —a spherical female bushing (14) rigidly connected to the oscillating plate (15) and pivotably connected around a spherical male knuckle centered on the shaft (1), the knuckle including a spherical male bushing (10) rotatably mounted relative to the shaft (1), characterized in that the rotary machine includes a means for rotating the spherical male bushing (10) about the geometric axis x-x'.

Primer apparatus and methods are described herein. An example primer apparatus includes a flexible body defining an internal chamber to be fluidly coupled to a fuel system. The body includes a first layer material having a low permeation characteristic to substantially prevent diurnal emissions from escaping the fuel system, a second layer material adjacent the first layer material having a relatively high resiliency compared to the first layer material to enable the body to return to an uncompressed shape when the body is deflected and released by a user, and a third layer material adjacent to the first layer material such that the first layer material is disposed between the second layer material and the third layer material and having a relatively high resiliency compared to the first layer material to enable the body to return to the uncompressed shape when the body is deflected and released by the user.

An end member for a gas spring assembly is dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of a flexible wall. The end member can be formed from polymeric material and can include a side wall receiving the end of the flexible wall. The end member can also include a base wall extending transverse to the side wall and dimensioned to abuttingly engage a jounce bumper of the gas spring assembly. The end member can include a mounting ridge or a mounting channel for engaging an associated structural component. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is also included.

A method of creating a bend in a construction component for use in a transportation vehicle. The method comprises providing a plurality of cuts in the construction component so as to create a region of increased flexibility in the construction component. The method further comprises bending the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause the construction component to acquire a bent shape, and then rigidifying the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause said construction component to maintain the acquired bent shape.

A bumper assembly includes a bumper beam having a bumper beam surface extending along a bumper plane X and a crash box including a crash box surface extending along a crash box plane Y. One of the bumper beam and the crash box includes an alignment joint to mate the bumper beam and the crash box and dispose the surfaces in abutting and aligned relationship relative to one another for establishing a linear load path extending linearly along the planes X, Y. A method of assembling a bumper assembly includes the steps of mating the bumper beam and the crash box about the alignment joint and connecting the bumper beam and the crash box together along the alignment joint. The step of connecting the bumper beam and the crash box includes friction stir welding the bumper box and the crash box together along the alignment joint.

The assembly is for mounting to a motor vehicle having a bumper skin and it comprises a body part forming at least a portion of a bumper skin. The body part is defined by bottom and top edges. The top edge includes a first portion to be masked by a member of the vehicle that is to be fitted to the body part. The assembly includes at least a first masking element masking at least one portion of the bottom edge and at least a second masking element masking at least one second portion of the top edge of the body part, complementary to the at least one first portion of the top edge of the body part. The first and second masking elements are fixed relative to the body part once the assembly is mounted to the motor vehicle.

A fascia support structure and aerodynamic shutter assembly for a vehicle includes a fascia support structure, comprising: a top portion comprising a substantially U-shaped body comprising a top fascia support member, a first side fascia support member and a second side fascia support member, the first side fascia support member having a first side baffle, the second side fascia support member having a second side baffle; and a bottom portion comprising a bottom baffle, the bottom portion attached to the first and second side fascia support members, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising a fascia support structure opening, at least one of the first side baffle, second side baffle or bottom baffle having a seal member disposed on a leading edge. The assembly also includes an aerodynamic shutter system comprising a shutter frame having a shutter frame opening and a plurality of rotatable shutters disposed therein.

A vehicle bumper system comprises a bumper reinforcement beam and an energy absorber with top and bottom rows of similarly-shaped spaced-apart crush lobes in alternating relation for uniform impact resistance across the bumper system. The illustrated top row of crush lobes provides a high first force-deflection curve for high impact forces, and the bottom row of crush lobes provides a lower second force-deflection curve, for pedestrian reduced injury. An elongated sensor is positioned under shear walls of the top and bottom crush lobes, and is retained by tabs on the energy absorber. This positively retains the sensor in position on the bumper system, with few (or zero) separate fasteners, while facilitating quick assembly and reliable operation of the sensor tube.

A material handling vehicle includes a laminated bumper that provides both durability and reduced energy transmissibility. The laminated bumper includes at least a first bumper layer and a second bumper layer, such that at least one of the first bumper layer and second bumper layer of the laminate bumper are allowed to translate upon bumper contact with an object.

Vehicle structures for dissipating energy associated with a collision are described herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a side support extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a bumper assembly coupled to the side support and extending in a vehicle lateral direction that is transverse to the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a repositionable joint assembly extending between and pivotally coupled to the side support and the bumper assembly, the repositionable joint assembly including an outboard linking member pivotally coupled to the bumper assembly at a bumper securement location, an inboard linking member pivotally coupled to the side support at a side support securement location, and a fulcrum portion, where the outboard linking member is pivotally coupled to the inboard linking member at the fulcrum portion.

A mold structure used to form a molded object having an undercut portion includes a fixed mold as a first mold having a first molding surface for molding an obverse surface of the molded object; a slide core having an undercut molding surface used to mold the undercut portion as part of the obverse surface of the molded object; and a movable mold as a second mold having a second molding surface used to mold the reverse surface of the molded object. The first molding surface and the undercut molding surface form a cavity surface. A step is formed between the first molding surface and the second molding surface at a parting position between the fixed mold and the slide core on the cavity surface.

A fascia support structure and aerodynamic shutter assembly for a vehicle includes a fascia support structure, comprising: a top portion comprising a substantially U-shaped body comprising a top fascia support member, a first side fascia support member and a second side fascia support member, the first side fascia support member having a first side baffle, the second side fascia support member having a second side baffle; and a bottom portion comprising a bottom baffle, the bottom portion attached to the first and second side fascia support members, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising a fascia support structure opening, at least one of the first side baffle, second side baffle or bottom baffle having a seal member disposed on a leading edge. The assembly also includes an aerodynamic shutter system comprising a shutter frame having a shutter frame opening and a plurality of rotatable shutters disposed therein.

A coupler body for a railcar coupler, said coupler body comprising at least one central datum feature that does not wear during coupler use.

A railroad coupler knuckle includes a single, solid rib at a horizontal centerline of the knuckle that passes through a pivot pin hub thereof. The single, solid rib extends generally from a flag hole of a finger cavity of the knuckle to an opposite side of the knuckle from the flag hole. In another aspect, a railcar coupler knuckle includes a tail section, a hub section, and a nose section. The tail, hub, and nose sections define internal cavities including (i) a combined void that defines a pivot pin hub cavity and a kidney cavity and (ii) an isolated finger cavity. The combined void is formed using a first internal core during manufacturing of the coupler knuckle. The isolated finger cavity is formed using a second internal core during manufacturing of the coupler knuckle, such that molten alloy substantially separates the combined void and the isolated finger cavity.

A finger core for forming the front part of a knuckle for a railcar, said finger core comprising a single opening to form a single rib at the horizontal center line of the resulting knuckle.