em Transportation and storage system for wind turbine blades By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A transportation and storage system for a wind turbine rotor blade comprises a tip end frame assembly comprising a tip end receptacle and a tip end frame. The tip end receptacle comprises an upwardly open tip end-receiving space for receiving a portion of the tip end of the blade and having a supporting surface for supporting the blade, a lower surface allowing the tip end receptacle to rest upright on a substantially horizontal surface, such as the ground, and releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the tip end of the blade in the receiving space of the tip end receptacle. The tip end frame comprises an upwardly open receptacle-receiving space for receiving the receptacle and provided with positioning means for positioning the receptacle in the tip end frame. A base part defines a bottom surface allowing the tip end frame to rest upright on the ground. Full Article
em Transport system for large items By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A transport system for transporting large items wherein the large items comprise at least three through going holes and said system comprises a frame to support the items. Said frame has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises two parallel longitudinal beams connected by two parallel transverse beams and further comprises at least two transverse support bars to support the items, which transverse support bars are located between the two parallel transverse beams. The transport system further comprises a first and a second rod to be mounted in two through going holes in the items where each end of the first and second rod can be connected to the longitudinal beams to secure the items to the frame in such a way that no part of the large items extends over the rectangle defined by the two parallel longitudinal beams and the two parallel transverse beams. Full Article
em Laced strapping system for securing loads in open vehicle beds By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Some embodiments include a novel laced strapping system that provides a plurality of attachment points by which a tie-down lace can adjust the fit of a cargo mesh webbing to secure loads of items in an open bed of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle is a pick-up truck with a cargo bed. In some embodiments, the mesh webbing comprises a first truck bed mesh, a second truck bed mesh, and the plurality of attachment points. In some embodiments, tie-down lace interconnects the attachment points to secure together the first mesh and the second mesh. Full Article
em Rail mounting system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rail mounting system includes a mounting rail that has a channel profile. The mounting rail is secured to a cargo area surface. Further, the rail mounting system includes a slide member that has a securement receiving area for securing a cargo product and the slide member within the channel profile of the mounting rail. The slide member is received within the channel profile. Full Article
em Removable bull ring with rotating attachment plate By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A bull ring for a vehicle comprises a top plate coupled to a rotating plate having a tie-down. Two opposing rail flanges extend from the rotating plate and a fastener selectively couples the rotating plate in a securing position relative to the top plate. The rail flanges extend beyond an outer edge of the top plate to define a clamping region with the top plate. Full Article
em Pallet having reconfigurable tie-down system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pallet system includes a pallet upon which cargo or other payloads may be carried. The pallet has a plurality of tie-down locations at which the pallet may be tied-down on a base, and at least one tie-down device for tying down the pallet on the base at any of the tie-down locations. The pallet further includes structure for mounting the tie-down device on the pallet at any of the tie-down locations. Full Article
em Function element, method for producing a function element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Some embodiments of the invention relate to function elements for fixing in seat rails of aircraft. The function element according to the invention may include: a fixing rail with a web running in the x direction and a multiplicity of extensions which protrude beyond the web in a y direction to form a T profile, wherein the fixing rail is formed corresponding to the seat rail such that the fixing rail can be inserted in the seat rail and moved along the x direction into a holding position in which the extensions sit between the holes below the slots, at least one fixing peg which is arranged mobile on the fixing rail and can be brought into a blocking position in which the fixing peg engages in a hole of the seat rail so that the function element is fixed in the x direction. Full Article
em Self-leveling lift-assisted decking system for use in a cargo trailer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An improved captive beam decking system is disclosed for use in a cargo trailer. The system includes a beam assembly and a foot assembly that is selectively engagable to a vertical sliding track system. The sliding track system is attached to the sidewall of a trailer vertically. The beam can be easily moved at different heights that are selected based upon the configuration of the cargo trailer. Full Article
em Fixture for retaining an end of a member By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fixture for attachment of an end of a member, such as a wind turbine tower section, blade or hub for a wind turbine characteristically has an end flange. To enable clamping while being able to compensate for different hole patterns in the flanges, by the invention, the fixture provides for retaining of ends of members with flanges, regardless of flange diameter and hole patterns, and which is also quickly and easily installed. Additionally, it is possible to firmly clamp the flange end to upstanding frame parts of the fixture with fastening elements, thereby providing a stable connection between a console of the fixture and the upstanding frame parts. Full Article
em Transport system for a wind turbine blade By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transport system for a wind turbine blade is provided. The transport system is configured for increasing a curvature of the wind turbine blade in response to an obstacle during transport of the wind turbine blade. Further, a method for transporting a wind turbine blade in order to avoid obstacles is provided. Full Article
em Portable and removable anchor for truck bed slots By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for providing a removable anchor for use in tying down a load, or for securing a winch cable for use in recovering a disabled vehicle or other load. The anchor may be removably attached to the deck/bed of a trailer or vehicle (e.g., a car carrier or wrecker/tow truck), using one or more slots or stake pockets located on a cargo surface of the deck. The removable anchor may include: a projection member shaped and sized to fit into a slot on the cargo surface, or to protrude through a stake pocket; a crown attached to, or integrally forming a part of, the projection member, and configured to receive and anchor one or more tie down connectors; and a key attached to, or integrally forming a part of, the projection member. The key can be passed into the slot and manipulated between removable and locked positions. Alternatively, the key may be used to removably secure the anchor to the stake pocket. Full Article
em Energy absorbing fastening system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fastening system includes an energy absorbing or impact indicator and at least one or more of the following: (1) a fastening base for mounting in an emergency vehicle, (2) a patient support engageable with a base, (3) a patient securement mechanism for securing a patient on a patient support, (4) a patient securement mechanism for securing a patient to a vehicle, (5) a patient support securement mechanism operable to secure a patient support in an emergency vehicle, or (6) a patient support securement mechanism operable to secure a patient support to a base, wherein the energy absorbing or impact indicator is located (1) at the patient securement mechanism, or (2) at the patient support securement mechanism, or wherein the energy absorbing or impact indicator is between (1) the base and the vehicle, (2) the patient support and the base, (3) the patient securement mechanism and the patient support, (4) the patient support and the emergency vehicle, (5) the patient and the emergency vehicle, or (6) the patient securement mechanism and the emergency vehicle, wherein the energy absorbing device or impact indicator has at least an energy absorbing state and a rigid state or indicates a level of impact at or between any of the respective component or components. Full Article
em Cargo support system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The combination of: a) a storage unit associated with an over-the-road vehicle, the storage unit having an internal wall surface bounding a storage space and including spaced and facing first and second wall surfaces and a floor surface; and b) a cargo support system. The cargo support system has first and second vertically extending tracks operatively mounted on each to the first and second wall surface and at least a first elongate beam having spaced first and second ends attached respectively to the first and second tracks in an operative position spaced above the floor surface. At least one of the tracks is maintained operatively mounted to the first wall surface through the use of an adhesive. Full Article
em Lifting member edge protector By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An edge protector for insertion between a load to be lifted and a lifting member which facilitates the lifting of the load, preventing damage to either the load or the lifting member. The edge protector has a pair of flanges which extend from a radiused or curved center portion. Each flange has an inner surface and an outer surface. A portion of each respective outer surface of each flange is spaced from and is essentially parallel to the inner surface of the respective flange. Full Article
em Anti-disassembling device for electronic products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An anti-disassembling device for an electronic product includes a case, a linear movement device, a circular movement device and an optical encoder. At least one retractable transmission member is connected to the case. The circular movement device is located in the case and has an encoding disk, which has multiple slots defined therethrough and teeth are defined in the periphery thereof. The at least one retractable transmission member is engaged with the teeth to rotate the encoding disk. The optical encoder has a lighting module which emits light beams through the slots of the encoding disk and a photosensitive module receives the light beams and sends a signal to the storage unit of the electronic product. The retractable device rotates when the electronic product is disassembled. Full Article
em Methods for operating a memory interface circuit including calibration for CAS latency compensation in a plurality of byte lanes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for quickly calibrating a memory interface circuit from time to time in conjunction with operation of a functional circuit is described. The method uses controlling the memory interface circuit with respect to read data capture for byte lanes, including controlling CAS latency compensation for the byte lanes. In the method control settings for controlling CAS latency compensation are determined and set according to a dynamic calibration procedure performed from time to time in conjunction with functional operation of a circuit system containing one or more memory devices connected to the memory interface circuit. In the method, determining and setting the control settings for controlling CAS latency compensation is performed independently and parallely in each of the byte lanes. Full Article
em System and method to actively drive the common mode voltage of a receiver termination network By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An active termination circuit for a differential receiver includes a first receiver element configured to receive a first component of a differential signal, a second receiver element configured to receive a second component of a differential signal, a common mode measurement element configured to receive the differential signal and generate a transmit common mode signal (Vcm) representing an average value of the differential signal, and a receiver (RX) common mode signal node. The termination circuit also comprises an active element configured to receive the transmit common mode signal (Vcm) and provide an output to the receiver common mode signal node, the output configured to drive the value of the signal at the receiver common mode signal node to the value of the transmit common mode signal (Vcm), and a capacitive element coupled to the receiver common mode signal node in parallel with the active element. Full Article
em Semiconductor integrated circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a main-interconnect to which supply voltage or reference voltage is applied; a plurality of sub-interconnects; a plurality of circuit cells configured to be connected to the plurality of sub-interconnects; a power supply switch cell configured to control, in accordance with an input control signal, connection and disconnection between the main-interconnect and the sub-interconnect to which a predetermined one of the circuit cells is connected, of the plurality of sub-interconnects; and an auxiliary interconnect configured to connect the plurality of sub-interconnects to each other. Full Article
em System and methods for generating unclonable security keys in integrated circuits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and methods that generates a physical unclonable function (“PUF”) security key for an integrated circuit (“IC”) through use of equivalent resistance variations in the power distribution system (“PDS”) to mitigate the vulnerability of security keys to threats including cloning, misappropriation and unauthorized use. Full Article
em Isolator circuit and semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An isolator circuit capable of two-way electrical disconnection and a semiconductor device including the isolator circuit are provided. A data holding portion is provided in an isolator circuit without the need for additional provision of a data holding portion outside the isolator circuit, and data which is to be input to a logic circuit that is in an off state at this moment is stored in the data holding portion. The data holding portion may be formed using a transistor with small off-state current and a buffer. The buffer can include an inverter circuit and a clocked inverter circuit. Full Article
em Semiconductor device having serializer converting parallel data into serial data to output serial data from output buffer circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a device that includes first and second buffer circuits connected to a data terminal and a first control circuit controlling the first and second buffer circuits. The first control circuit receives n pairs of first and second internal data signals complementary to each other from 2n input signal lines and outputs a pair of third and fourth internal data signals complementary to each other to first and second output signal lines, where n is a natural number more than one. The first and second buffer circuits are controlled based on the third and fourth internal data signals such that one of the first and second buffer circuits turns on and the other of the first and second buffer circuits turns off. Full Article
em Semiconductor device and power supply control method of the semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit, a power supply control circuit which controls supply of a power supply to the internal circuit upon receipt of a first control signal, and a control signal generation circuit which outputs the first control signal upon receipt of a second control signal. The control signal generation circuit does not deactivate the first control signal when an inactive period of the second control signal is equal to or less than a first period and deactivates the first control signal when the inactive period of the second control signal is more than the first period. Full Article
em Massively parallel interconnect fabric for complex semiconductor devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An embodiment of this invention uses a massive parallel interconnect fabric (MPIF) at the flipped interface of a core die substrate (having the core logic blocks) and a context die (used for in circuit programming/context/customization of the core die substrate), to produce ASIC-like density and FPGA-like flexibility/programmability, while reducing the time and cost for development and going from prototyping to production, reducing cost per die, reducing or eliminating NRE, and increasing performance. Other embodiments of this invention enable debugging complex SoC through large contact points provided through the MPIF, provide for multi-platform functionality, and enable incorporating FGPA core in ASIC platform through the MPIF. Various examples are also given for different implementations. Full Article
em Sequential state elements in triple-mode redundant (TMR) state machines By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosure relates generally to triple-redundant sequential state (TRSS) machines formed as integrated circuits on a semiconductor substrate, such as CMOS, and computerized methods and systems of designing the triple-redundant sequential state machines. Of particular focus in this disclosure are sequential state elements (SSEs) used to sample and hold bit states. The sampling and holding of bits states are synchronized by a clock signal thereby allowing for pipelining in the TRSS machines. In particular, the clock signal may oscillate between a first clock state and a second clock state to synchronize the operation of the SSE according to the timing provided by the clock states. The SSEs has a self-correcting mechanism to protect against radiation induced soft errors. The SSE may be provided in a pipeline circuit of a TRSS machine to receive and store a bit state of bit signal generated by combinational circuits within the pipeline circuit. Full Article
em Placement of storage cells on an integrated circuit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for configuring the placement of a plurality of storage cells on an integrated circuit includes grouping the plurality of storage cells into a plurality of words, where each of the plurality of words is protected by an error control mechanism. The method also includes placing each of the storage cells on the integrated circuit such that a distance between any two of the storage cells belonging to one of the plurality of words is greater than a minimum distance. The minimum distance is configured such that a probability of any of the plurality of words experiencing multiple radiation induced errors is below a threshold value. Full Article
em Partial reconfiguration and in-system debugging By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embedded logic is implemented in a partially reconfigurable programmable logic device (PLD), thus allowing debugging of implemented instantiations of logic after partial reconfiguration. Several instantiations of logic are received at the PLD. One instantiation of logic is implemented in a reconfigurable region of logic within the PLD. The instantiation of logic includes a port that provides a constant interface between the reconfigurable region of logic and a fixed region of logic within the PLD. The port may receive signals from probe points implemented within the reconfigurable region of logic. The port may provide the signals to a signal interface implemented within a fixed region of logic. Furthermore, an embedded logic analyzer may be implemented in either the reconfigurable region of logic or the fixed region of logic. The embedded logic analyzer receives signals from the probe points and provides signal visibility to an external computing system. Full Article
em Semiconductor integrated circuit having a switch, an electrically-conductive electrode line and an electrically-conductive virtual line By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT A semiconductor integrated circuit including: a circuit block having an internal voltage line; an annular rail line forming a closed annular line around the circuit block and supplied with one of a power supply voltage and a reference voltage; and a plurality of switch blocks arranged around the circuit block along the annular rail line, the plurality of switch blocks each including a voltage line segment forming a part of the annular rail line and a switch for controlling connection and disconnection between the voltage line segment and the internal voltage line. Full Article
em Resonator element, resonator, electronic device, electronic apparatus, and mobile object By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A resonator element includes a substrate including a first principal surface and a second principal surface respectively forming an obverse surface and a reverse surface of the substrate, and vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode, a first excitation electrode disposed on the first principal surface, and a second excitation electrode disposed on the second principal surface, and being larger than the first excitation electrode in a plan view, the first excitation electrode is disposed so as to fit into an outer edge of the second excitation electrode in the plan view, and the energy trap confficient M fulfills 15.5≦M≦36.7. Full Article
em Resonator element, resonator, electronic device, electronic apparatus, and mobile object By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A resonator element includes a substrate vibrating in a thickness-shear vibration mode, a first excitation electrode disposed on one principal surface of the substrate, and has a shape obtained by cutting out four corners of a quadrangle, and a second excitation electrode disposed on the other principal surface of the substrate, and a ratio (S2/S1) between the area S1 of the quadrangle and the area S2 of the first excitation electrode fulfills 87.7%≦(S2/S1) Full Article
em Oscillating device, oscillating element and electronic apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An oscillating device includes a temperature compensated oscillator that compensates a frequency temperature characteristic in a temperature compensation range including apart of a first temperature range, and a temperature control circuit that includes a heater and controls a temperature of a quartz crystal resonator of the temperature compensated oscillator into a second temperature range included in the temperature compensation range. Further, the temperature compensation range of the temperature compensated oscillator may include a part of the first temperature range in which compensation can be performed by first-order approximation. Full Article
em Integrated epitaxial structure for compound semiconductor devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An integrated structure of compound semiconductor devices is disclosed. The integrated structure comprises from bottom to top a substrate, a first epitaxial layer, an etching-stop layer, a second epitaxial layer, a sub-collector layer, a collector layer, a base layer, and an emitter layer, in which the first epitaxial layer is a p-type doped layer, the second epitaxial layer is an n-type graded doping layer with a gradually increased or decreased doping concentration, and the sub-collector layer is an n-type doped layer. The integrated structure can be used to form an HBT, a varactor, or an MESFET. Full Article
em Systems and methods for impedance switching By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for switching impedance are provided. In some aspects, a system includes first and second impedance elements and an impedance switch module, which includes a third impedance element coupled between the first and second impedance elements and a switch parallel to the third impedance element. The switch is coupled between the first and second impedance elements, and is configured to switch between an open configuration and a closed configuration. An electrical path is completed between the first impedance element and the second impedance element via the first switch in the closed configuration. The electrical path is not completed in the open configuration. A total impedance of the first impedance element, the second impedance element, and the impedance switch module is varied based on the switching between the open configuration and the closed configuration. Full Article
em Digital system and method of estimating quasi-harmonic signal non-energy parameters using a digital Phase Locked Loop By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention proposes a digital system and method of measuring (estimating) non-energy parameters of the signal (phase, frequency and frequency rate) received in additive mixture with Gaussian noise. The first embodiment of the measuring system consists of a PLL system tracking variable signal frequency, a block of NCO full phase computation (OFPC), a block of signal phase primary estimation (SPPE) and a first type adaptive filter filtering the signal from the output of SPPE. The second embodiment of the invention has no block SPPE, and NCO full phase is fed to the input of a second type adaptive filter. The present invention can be used in receivers of various navigation systems, such as GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO, which provide precise measurements of signal phase at different rates of frequency change, as well as systems using digital PLLs for speed measurements. Full Article
em Temperature compensation method and crystal oscillator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present invention provide a temperature compensation method and a crystal oscillator, where the crystal oscillator includes a crystal oscillation circuit unit, a temperature sensor unit, an oscillation controlling unit, a relative temperature calculating unit, and a temperature compensating unit. The temperature sensor unit measures a measured temperature of the crystal oscillation circuit unit; the relative temperature calculating unit obtains a temperature difference between the measured temperature and a reference temperature; the temperature compensating unit obtains a temperature compensation value corresponding to the temperature difference from a temperature-frequency curve; and the oscillation controlling unit generates a frequency control signal, according to a frequency tracked by a communications AFC device and the temperature compensation value, thereby controlling a frequency of the crystal oscillation circuit unit to work on the tracked frequency. Full Article
em Current output control device, current output control method, digitally controlled oscillator, digital PLL, frequency synthesizer, digital FLL, and semiconductor device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A current output control device is provided that includes: a current cell array section including plural current cell circuits that are each connected in parallel between a first terminal (power source) and a second terminal (ground) that connect between the first terminal and the second terminal in by operation ON so as to increase control current flowing between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a code conversion section (decoder) that generates signals (row codes, column codes) to ON/OFF control current cells so as to change the number of current cells that connect the first terminal and the second terminal according to change in an externally input code and that inputs the generated signals to the current cell array section. Full Article
em Vibration element, vibrator, oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vibration element includes a piezoelectric substrate including a vibrating section and a thick section having a thickness larger than that of the vibrating section. The thick section includes a first thick section provided along a first outer edge of the vibrating section, a second thick section provided along a second outer edge, and a third thick section provided along another first outer edge. An inclined outer edge section that intersects with each of an X axis and a Z' axis is provided in a tip section of the piezoelectric substrate. Full Article
em Assembly structure of electronic control unit and coil assembly of solenoid valve for electronic brake system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An assembly structure of an electronic control unit and a coil assembly of a solenoid valve for an electronic brake system connected to the electronic control unit having a printed circuit board and applying power to the solenoid valve. The coil assembly is penetrated to allow an upper portion of the solenoid valve to be fitted thereinto, and includes a cylindrical bobbin provided with a coil and a coil case. The electronic control unit is provided with a housing having an insertion groove and joined to the hydraulic control unit, the printed circuit board being disposed spaced apart from the coil assembly, and the housing is provided with an elastic member having one end contacting the printed circuit board and the other end contacting the coil case. The elastic member is configured with a coil spring to produce different elastic forces. Full Article
em Switching valve having a valve element movable in a housing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a switching valve having a valve element which is movable in a housing, an actuating apparatus acting on the valve element in a first direction and a spring apparatus charging the valve element in a second direction. According to the invention, the first and second directions are in opposition and the spring apparatus has a progressive spring characteristic. Full Article
em Flush adaptor for use with a valve fitment assembly for cleaning of the assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A flush adaptor for use with a valve fitment assembly for dispensing liquids from a container; wherein the flush adaptor comprises an outer ring-collar; a flange with an edge molded to the bottom of the outer ring-collar; an interior ring-collar adjacent to the outer ring-collar; a ridge molded in the interior ring-collar; a seat molded onto the interior ring-collar and a pin molded into the interior ring-collar which keeps the valve in an open position; and a hollow tube molded into the adaptor to allow the flow of liquid through the adaptor and into the fitment assembly; whereby the flush adaptor allows for cleaning of the assembly and any tubes connected thereto. Full Article
em Fuel system valve assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fuel system valve assembly may include a housing, a spring, and a body. The housing may have a fuel passage defined in part or more by a fuel passage wall. The fuel passage wall may have a seat and a cylindrical section. The cylindrical section may have a constant diameter and may be located downstream of the seat. In use, the body may reciprocate linearly in the housing between an open position and a closed position. The body may be biased to the closed position by the spring. The body may abut the seat when the body is in the closed position. Full Article
em Power-efficient actuator assemblies and methods of manufacture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Power-efficient actuator apparatus and methods. In one exemplary embodiment, the actuator assembly utilizes a shape memory alloy (SMA) filament driven by an electronic power source to induce movement in the underlying assembly to actuate a load (e.g., water valve). In addition, a circuit board is included which allows the actuator assembly to be readily incorporated or retrofit into a wide range of systems such that the signal characteristics of the supply line can, among other applications, be conditioned in order to protect the SMA filament. Furthermore, the circuit board can also readily be adapted for use with “green” power sources such as photovoltaic systems and the like. Methods for manufacturing and utilizing the aforementioned actuator assembly are also disclosed. Full Article
em Filler assembly for a valve By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A filler assembly is mounted in an axial hole of a cap of a valve. The filler assembly includes at least one first filler and at least one second filler stacked in a longitudinal direction. A valve rod received in the axial hole extends through the at least one first filler and the at least one second filler. At least one of two mutually abutting faces respectively of the at least one first filler and the at least one second filler is at a non-parallel angle to a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. If one of the at least one first filler and the at least one second filler is subjected to a pressing force in the longitudinal direction, at least one of the at least one first filler and the at least one second filler is moved in the radial direction to press against the valve rod. Full Article
em Control device with improved stem connector and display By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In a control device for a technical processing plant, a pneumatically driven actuator having an actuator stem is provided together with a valve operated by the actuator, the valve having a valve stem. A valve element is attached to the valve stem. A stem connector connects the two stems to each other for a forced transmission of axial actuating movements and for modifying an axial distance between adjacent ends of the valve stem and the actuator stem to adjust a total axial length of the two stems. The stem connector comprises two half-shells connected to each other, and two positioning devices are provided for a friction-locking coupling of the half-shells to the respective ends. At least one of the positioning devices is designed to modify an axial attachment position of the half-shells along one of the stems. Full Article
em Solenoid valve, in particular for slip-controlled motor vehicle braking systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A solenoid valve, the magnet armature of which is designed to be movable relative to a first valve-closing element, for which purpose the first valve-closing element is accommodated telescopically in a coupling element attached to the magnet armature, wherein the coupling element is guided along the inner wall of a guide sleeve inserted in the valve housing in order to align the magnet armature precisely with the first valve-closing element in the direction of a second valve-closing element which is likewise accommodated in the guide sleeve. Full Article
em Flap assembly, in particular exhaust gas flap assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT For a flap assembly, in particular an exhaust gas flap assembly, with the flap mounted on both sides via bearing devices in the housing, the disclosure describes a design in which a bearing body is supported radially against an annular collar of the bearing device and, by way of the annular collar, is held braced in a radially spring-loaded manner in a predefined radial position. Full Article
em System, method, and apparatus for utilizing a pumping cassette By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention involves, in some embodiments, systems and methods involving fluid handling apparatus for pumping fluid to and from a patient, which may include a reusable component and a disposable pumping cartridge. The reusable component may comprise a control chamber and a pressure transducer configured to measure a gas pressure associated with the control chamber, as well as a processor. The processor may be configured to supply the control chamber with a gas at a predetermined pressure, monitor the gas pressure associated within the control chamber with the pressure transducer over a predetermined period of time, and determine if the change in gas pressure associated within the control chamber exceeds a maximum allowable predetermined limit. Full Article
em Method and device for removing at least one book block from and/or supplying at least one book block to a conveying section of a book production line By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A method and device for the production of books, including: moving book blocks successively along a conveying section of a book production line; supplying a stack of book cases to the book production line; identifying a marking on each of the book blocks and the book cases; transmitting an identified marking on at least one book case to a machine control of the book production line; assigning a dataset stored in the machine control for a sequence of book cases to the supplied stack; determining a sequence in the machine control for book blocks positioned on the conveying section; comparing the dataset for the sequence of the book cases to the sequence of the book blocks; and removing and/or supplying at least one book block from or to the conveying section if the sequence of the book blocks deviates from the sequence of the book cases using the machine control. Full Article
em Method for operating a processing system, in which product units having different product characteristics are processed By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for operating a processing system, in which product units of different formats are processed. The processing system contains a plurality of processing devices that are arranged one after the other in a processing line. In the event of a format changeover, certain component arrangements arranged in the processing system must be adapted to the new product format. In the event of an upcoming format change, a gap in the conveyed goods is generated while the conveying operation is maintained, wherein the gap in the conveyed goods runs through the processing system along the processing devices. As soon as the gap in the conveyed goods runs through a component arrangement to be adapted to the new format, the format is changed over at the component arrangement while the gap in the conveyed goods runs through the component arrangement. Full Article
em Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Imaging apparatus and methods for bindery systems. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a platform having a plurality of openings to provide suction through a surface of the platform and a first track that moves across the surface of the platform. The first track has a plurality of apertures to fluidly couple the suction to an upper surface of the first track. Full Article
em Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A sheet processing apparatus 3 includes a position aligning section (61A, 61B), a holding section 53, and a processing section (38, 55). The position aligning section (61A, 61B) abuts the inner side or a fold of a sheet bundle (S2), which is formed by collecting a plurality of folded sheets (S1), to align the position of the folds of line plurality of folded sheets (S1). The holding section (53) holds the sheet bundle (S2) in which the position of the folds of the plurality of sheets (S1) has been aligned by the position aligning section (61A, 61B). The processing section (38, 55) performs a predetermined process on the sheet bundle (S2) held by the holding section 53. Full Article