The invention relates to sputter targets and methods for depositing a layer from a sputter target. The method preferably includes the steps of: placing a sputter target in a vacuum chamber; placing a substrate having a substrate surface in the vacuum chamber; reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber to about 100 Torr or less; removing atoms from the surface of the sputter target while the sputter target is in the vacuum chamber (e.g., using a magnetic field and/or an electric field). The deposited layer preferably is a molybdenum containing alloy including about 50 atomic percent or more molybdenum, 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a second metal element selected from the group consisting of niobium and vanadium; and 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a third metal element selected from the group consisting of tantalum, chromium, vanadium, niobium, and titanium.

A method during the oxidation and sintering of pellets includes the introduction of a first medium into the compartment through an inlet connected to the compartment and the heating of the first medium in the inlet through the use of a combustion arrangement. The use of the combustion arrangement includes the ignition of the fuel, combustion of the fuel, and the transfer of the combustion heat to the first medium that is present at the combustion arrangement. A second medium is introduced to the inlet through an intake in the direct vicinity of the combustion arrangement, where the ignition of the fuel and the combustion of the fuel take place for the transfer of combustion heat also to the second medium. The heated first medium and the heated second medium are mixed before or during their introduction into the compartment.

The method for forming a 3-D metal object by 3-D printing or injection molding comprising providing as a feed material metal particles formed by establishing multiple metal components in a primary billet of a ductile material, working the primary billet through a series of reduction steps to form the components into elongated elements, leaching the ductile material from the elongated elements and reducing the length to short uniform lengths.

Novel systems and methods are described for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron in an integrated steel mill or the like that has a coke oven and/or an oxygen steelmaking furnace. More specifically, the present invention relates to novel systems and methods for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron using coke oven gas (COG) or COG and basic oxygen furnace gas (BOFG).

Carbothermic reduction of magnesium oxide at approximately 2200 degrees Kelvin yields a high temperature mixture of magnesium vapors and carbon monoxide gas. Previous processes have sought to cool or alter the mixture to cause the yield of pure magnesium, which is then used in subsequent processes for its reducing properties. The present invention takes advantage of the stability and inertness of carbon monoxide at elevated temperatures enabling the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture from the carbothermic process to be used directly for the production of other metals at high temperatures. Chromium oxide, manganese oxide, zinc oxide and sulfide, and several other metal compounds can be reduced by the magnesium vapor/carbon monoxide gas mixture at temperatures high enough to prevent the gas mixture from back-reacting to magnesium oxide and carbon.

Embodiments relate to unidirectional TPMS utilizing information from a corresponding vehicle system in order to correlate with vehicle speed information to be used in a tire localization methodology. In an embodiment, the vehicle system is an anti-lock brake system (ABS), and the vehicle speed can be used in a localization scheme that reconstructs a +/−1 g ripple with waveform, amplitude, frequency and phase parameters. Because the waveform is known to be sinusoidal (due to the wheel rotation), the amplitude is known to be 2 g peak-to-peak (due to the gravitational +/−1 g), the frequency depends on vehicle speed (which can be estimated from centrifugal force measurements), and an algorithm is discussed herein for determining the phase by correlation, the +/−1 g ripple can be reconstructed and the wheels localized therefrom.

The tire run-flat ring removal and installation machine includes three basic embodiments, each having a tire support table (14) and actuators for removing and/or reinstalling the run-flat ring (R) in the tire (T). The actuators may be hydraulically, pneumatically, or electromechanically powered, and save the technician considerable time and effort in the process.

A working tool orienting device in a tire demounting machine includes a base which supports a rotary apparatus, rotating about an axis of rotation and designed to bear and lock wheel rims thereon; a column rising from the base and having an end secured to the base and an end opposite thereto facing upward; a moving arm, which is moved between positions close to and away from the rotary apparatus; a support arrangement for supporting working tools, which is coupled with the upward facing end, and joint means interposed between the support arrangement and the upward facing end, which are configured to make the support arrangement movable relative to the arm.

A device for automatic demounting of a tire from a rim having: a support arm (4); a demounting tool (10) articulated to the support arm (4); an attachment member (12) having one end articulated to the demounting tool (10) by a first articulation pin (13) and the other end thereof pivoted to the support arm (4) around a second articulation pin (14) extending substantially parallel to the first articulation pin (13); at least one extension appendage of the support arm (4) or a section (17) of the support arm (4), which extends beyond the second articulation pin (14); and at least one tie rod member (18) that is articulated on one side to the tool, and on the other side to the extension appendage or section (17) of the support arm (4).

An inflator apparatus for inflating more than one un-inflated tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The inflator apparatus includes a support structure; an interface portion rotatably-attached to the support structure, wherein the interface portion includes a plurality of inflator heads, wherein each inflator head of the plurality of inflator heads includes a fluid inlet; a plunger portion movably-connected to the support structure, wherein the plunger portion is movably-connected to the support structure to permit selectively coupling of the plunger portion with one inflator head of the plurality of inflator heads; and a fluid conduit connected to the plunger portion, wherein the fluid conduit is fluidly connectable with the fluid inlet of the one inflator head of the plurality of inflator heads. A system for processing more than one un-inflated tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed. A method for utilizing an inflator apparatus for inflating more than one un-inflated tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed.

An apparatus (1) for mounting and removing a tire (2) on and from a respective rim (3) comprises: a movement element (9) for moving a bead (2a) of the tire (2) in order to insert/remove the bead (2a) into/from a respective groove in the rim (3); means (4) for supporting and moving the rim (3), designed to rotationally drive the rim about its longitudinal axis; characterized in that the means (4) for supporting and moving the rim (3) comprise a sensor (252) for measuring the mechanical strain applied to the supporting and movement means (4) as a result of the mechanical stress on the bead (2a) of the tire (2) during mounting/removal of the latter on/from the rim (3).

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

A machine for fitting and removing wheel tires for vehicles includes a bearing structure, at least an apparatus for fastening and rotating the rim of a wheel for vehicles, a tool-carrier unit associated mobile with the bearing structure and having a removal tool, at least an adjustment apparatus suitable for adjusting the position of the tool-carrier unit with respect to the bearing structure, to place the tool-carrier unit into a work configuration wherein the removal tool is arranged in proximity of the apparatus for fastening and rotating, at least a memorisation device for memorising the position of the tool-carrier unit in the work configuration and at least a positioning device for positioning the tool-carrier unit with respect to the bearing structure between the work configuration and a configuration of minimum overall dimensions, wherein the tool-carrier unit is arranged in proximity of the bearing structure.

The present invention relates to a demounting device comprising a support member translatable along a movement axis (y-y), drive means for the support member, a tool-holder arm (3) borne by the support member (2), an abutment element (4) and a hook-like extraction member (5) both supported by the tool-holder arm (3), the abutment element (4) having a substantially flat work surface (4a), whereas the hook-like extraction member (5) is suitable for being moved in a substantially transverse direction with respect to the rotation axis (x-x) of a rim (W).

The present invention relates to a device for demounting a tire (T) from a rim (W) including at least one support element;an articulation pin element borne by the at least one support element;a spring shackle element having a first end and a second end articulated on the articulation pin;a demounting lever;an actuator borne by the at least one support element and set to act on the demounting lever in order to make the demounting lever angularly move during use; andfriction or elastic loading means designed to slow the angular movement of the spring shackle element around the articulation pin with respect to its angular movement around the first axis (x-x).

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire-wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one linear mounter sub-station that couples the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly. The apparatus also includes a transporting device that transports one of the wheel and the tire along a linear path that traverses the at least one linear mounter sub-station. The component of the at least one linear mounter sub-station resists, but does not prevent, movement of one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel along the linear path in order to spatially manipulate one of the tire and the wheel relative the other of the tire and the wheel in order to at least partially couple the tire with the wheel for forming the tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a current fed to an electric motor during an operation to mount a tire on a rim of a wheel including the tire and the rim, or to demount the tire from the rim. The wheel is rotated by an electric motor about an axis, and the motor current fed to the electric motor is controlled dependent on the rotational speed and torque required for the mounting and/or demounting operation. The motor current is automatically changed to cause the electric motor to apply a high torque peak to rotate the wheel, when the motor current is measured to be greater than a preset limit at a low rotational speed during a preset time. Furthermore, the invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a tire on a rim or demounting the tire from the rim.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

A tire changer machine and tire demounting methodology includes a demount tool assembly having a demount tool selectively positionable relative to a support and configured to extract a bead of the tire from the wheel rim. A guide element is mounted to the support, and the guide element is operable to provide a limited degree of freedom of the distal end from a predetermined path of motion in a tire demount procedure, thereby allowing the distal end to reliably grip the tire bead while the support arm is maintained in a stationary position relative to the wheel rim.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.

The method for surface inclusions detection, enhancement of endothelial and osteoblast cells adhesion and proliferation and sterilization of electropolished and magnetoelectropolished Nitinol implantable medical device surfaces uses an aqueous solution of chemical compounds containing halogenous oxyanions as hypochlorite (ClO−) and hypobromite (BrO−) preferentially 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO).

A steel material superior in high temperature characteristics and toughness is provided, that is, a steel material containing, by mass %, C: 0.005% to 0.03%, Si: 0.05% to 0.40%, Mn: 0.40% to 1.70%, Nb: 0.02% to 0.25%, Ti: 0.005% to 0.025%, N: 0.0008% to 0.0045%, B: 0.0003% to 0.0030%, restricting P: 0.030% or less, S: 0.020% or less, Al: 0.03% or less, and having a balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, where the contents of C and Nb satisfy C—Nb/7.74≦0.02 and Ti-based oxides of a grain size of 0.05 to 10 μm are present in a density of 30 to 300/mm2.

A Si or Ge semi-conductor substrate includes an oxygen monolayer on a surface thereof. The oxygen monolayer can be fractional or complete. A Si4+ or Ge4+ oxidation state of the surface of the Si or Ge substrate, respectively, resulting from the presence of the oxygen monolayer represents less than 50%, preferably less than 40% and more preferably less than 30% of the sum of Si1+, Si2+, Si3+ and Si4+ oxidation states or the sum of Ge1+, Ge2+, Ge3+ and Ge4+ oxidation states, respectively, as measured by XPS.

Provided is a NdFeB sintered magnet which can be used in the grain boundary diffusion method as a base material in which RH can be easily diffused through the rare-earth rich phase and which itself has a high coercive force, a high maximum energy product and a high squareness ratio, as well as a method for producing such a magnet. A NdFeB system sintered has an average grain size of the main-phase grains magnet is equal to or smaller than 4.5 μm, the carbon content of the entire NdFeB system sintered magnet is equal to or lower than 1000 ppm, and the percentage of the total volume of a carbon rich phase in a rare-earth rich phase at a grain-boundary triple point in the NdFeB system sintered magnet to the total volume of the rare-earth rich phase is equal to or lower than 50%.

Provided a build-up welding material which contains C: 0.2 to 1.5 mass %, Si: 0.5 to 2 mass %, Mn: 0.5 to 2 mass %, Cr: 20 to 40 mass %, Mo: 2 to 6 mass %, Ni: 0.5 to 6 mass %, V: 1 to 5 mass % and W: 0.5 to 5 mass %, with the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities.

A timepiece barrel assembly, including a barrel mainspring mounted between a barrel drum and a receiving surface of a barrel core coaxial to the drum. The spring is made of a multiphase, cobalt-nickel-chromium based alloy, having a Young's modulus of between 200 and 240 GPa and a shear modulus of between 80 and 100 GPa, and having a width to thickness ratio of between 9 and 21, and the maximum radius of the steel or stainless steel core relative to its pivot axis is less than nine times the maximum thickness of the spring, and the barrel assembly includes, on the spring or the drum, a mechanism limiting longitudinal clearance, towards the pivot axis, between the drum and the mainspring.

Provided is bearing steel excellent in workability after spheroidizing-annealing and in hydrogen fatigue resistance property after quenching and tempering. The bearing steel has a chemical composition containing, by mass %: 0.85% to 1.10% C; 0.30% to 0.80% Si; 0.90% to 2.00% Mn; 0.025% or less P; 0.02% or less S; 0.05% or less Al; 1.8% to 2.5% Cr; 0.15% to 0.4% Mo; 0.0080% or less N; and 0.0020% or less O, which further contains more than 0.0015% to 0.0050% or less Sb, with the balance being Fe and incidental impurities, to thereby effectively suppress the generation of WEA even in environment where hydrogen penetrates into the steel, so as to improve the roiling contact fatigue life and also the workability such as cuttability and forgeability of the material.

Apparatus and method are provided for making the longitudinal temperature distribution of the bulbous end of a longitudinally oriented workpiece, such as a rail's head, generally uniform when the head has a non-uniform longitudinal temperature distribution. A combination of crown and skirt electric inductors is used to achieve the generally uniform temperature distribution by modulating the magnetic field intensity produced by current flow through one or more of the combination of crown and skirt inductors as required for the non-uniformly heated regions of the rail's head.

A system and a device for anti-thief protection, especially for open pockets of trousers, bags and the like, includes a mobile protection strip element (1) to be applied on the pockets hooks (12). The aim is attained by superposing the strip (1) on the pocket (T) and blocking the strip (1) using a plurality of hooks (12) in the form of clips located in the lower part (5) of the strip (1), the strip (1) supported by support elements (G), located in the upper part (2) thereof, which insert or hook in the zone overlying the pocket (T) to be protected.

A wallet system having an elongated panel with a first end and a second end, wherein a fold is in the panel about halfway between the first and second end and extends from the top edge to the bottom edge, the fold divides the panel into a first half panel and a second half panel, wherein the panel can pivot about the fold between an open and closed position, a first and second pouch both on the front surface of the first half panel, and a third and fourth pouch both on the front surface of the second half panel, the first pouch has a thickness greater than that of the fourth pouch, and the third pouch has a thickness greater than that of the second pouch, each pouch having an to provide access to the pouch.

A toteable or wearable fashion item configured to provide an electronic charge to a mobile electronic device. The device includes a battery comprising one USB port and one pin port and a pouch secured to the fashion device and containing the battery substantially concealed therein, the pouch defining at least one opening which facilitates access to the USB port and the pin port.

A covering system includes a tarp made of an elastic membrane and a plurality of tarp fastening hooks. The fastening hooks allow the elastic membrane to be stretched over valuables and affixed to environmental anchors so that creases and puddle-enabling pockets in the membrane are eliminated. The fastening hooks clamp onto the elastic membrane and hook onto the environmental anchors to cause tension in the membrane. The clamping forces of the tarp fasteners are inherently increased in proportion to the tension in the clamped membrane.

A protective cover system for a trailer is provided that includes a cover and a line. The line moves relative to the trailer for moving the cover from a lowered position to a raised position. A portion of the line may be located outboard from a side surface of the trailer in a lateral direction and may be located rearward of a front surface of the trailer in a longitudinal direction.

A label for removable application to an article such as a beverage bottle includes a backing layer (2) comprising a laminate of a bi-axially oriented polyester such as PET (12) and a bi-axially oriented polypropylene (14). The polyester film (12) has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the polypropylene film (14). Consequently, when the label is heated, it will tend to curl and this effect can be used to assist in the removal of the label from the article in a hot washing bath during recycling of the article.

A display assembly includes a flexible sheet. The flexible sheet is formed of a flexible material supporting a first display panel and a second display panel. A mechanism is operatively connected to the flexible sheet. The mechanism moves the flexible sheet from a first position in which said first display panel may be viewed to a second position in which said second display panel may be viewed.

A flag and banner system for displaying a flag and/or a banner on a flat panel of a vehicle. The system features a first mast with two linear mast channels, a first indexing base with an attachment clip that attaches to an inner edge of a pivoting panel of the vehicle, and a first pliable flag. The system also features a second mast with two linear mast channels, a second indexing base with an attachment clip that attaches to the inner edge of the pivoting panel of the vehicle at an offset from the first indexing base, and a second pliable flag. The first pliable flag is connected to the first mast and the second pliable flag is connected to the second mast via attachment tabs. A banner is attached to both the first and second mast via attachment tabs.

The invention relates to a partition system (10) comprising a plurality of wall elements (1) merging one into another, wherein at least one wall element (1) is designed as a stepped element (150), and wherein at least one wall element (1) is designed as a corner element (250).

A picture frame assembly includes a backing plate having a front surface, a rear surface, and a plurality of parallel grooves in one of the surfaces. The material and thickness of the backing plate are chosen so that the backing plate can be plastically deformed about a bending axis parallel to the grooves. At least one frame element, which can be formed integrally with the backing plate, is for provided for retaining a planar picture element against the front surface of the backing plate. A fastener extends from the rear surface for mounting the assembly to any of various objects, such as a tree, flower stem, a candle, a vase, a basket, a gift wrapping device, a container, a column, and furniture.

Mobile signs/billboards designed to attach to the back end of a vehicle are disclosed comprising a mounting device that is mounted to the back end of a vehicle via the holes for fixing a license plate, and a sign or billboard supported by the mounting device. The signs are designed in a variety of shapes and sizes to provide a display for advertisement or personal messaging. The sign/billboard can be inserted or removed quickly from the mounting device. While the sign/billboard is supported by the mounting device at the back end of the vehicle, the license tag is affixed elsewhere on the mounting device for full viewing and lighting. The mounting device remains on the vehicle until easily removed whereupon the license plate can be reattached to the vehicle. The mounting device comprises an inner pocket for easy insertion and removal of signs and billboards. Lighting may be wired with the vehicle or use solar power or batteries to providing lighting for the sign/billboard.

A display card holder for use on support surfaces, such as golf carts includes a display card retaining sleeve and a sleeve holder. The sleeve holder includes an entrance slot having inwardly extending retention ridges which deform and thereby reduce vibration of the retaining sleeve. The sleeve holder may further include a mechanical locking mechanism for securing the sleeve in the sleeve holder.

The invention relates to a messaging sign apparatus with informative indicia moveable articles that externally display information regarding patient care. The messaging sign apparatus includes a frame, a movable article positionable within the frame, and fastening member that is engageable with the moveable article. The frame includes an article receiving section on an inner body thereof and an article receiving opening on an outer surface and leading into the article receiving section, with the moveable article positioned in the article receiving section and moveable through the article receiving opening. The fastening member is arranged on the frame and engageable with the moveable article to secure the moveable article within the frame into different displaying position.

A frame assembly includes a display panel, a rear cover, a housing and an assembling structure. The housing includes a plurality of frames which enclose the display panel and the rear cover. Each frame has a sidewall, and a connection member which connects the frames to each other. The assembling structure is installed in the housing to provide a closed structure and is provided to ensure coupling force among the display panel, the rear cover and the housing. The assembling structure includes a fastening bracket which presses the display panel onto the frames of the housing and fastens the display panel to the frames, a support bracket which supports the rear cover, and an auxiliary bracket which assists connection between the adjacent frames.

A framing system having a base panel assembly configured so that an ornamental/informational object can be incorporated into the base panel assembly so as to be viewable from in front thereof. A frame extends around a peripheral region of the base panel assembly. Connectors on the base panel assembly and frame cooperate so as to allow the base panel assembly and frame to be: a) moved from a separated relationship relative to each other into an operatively joined relationship; and b) releasably maintained in the operatively joined relationship as an incident of the base panel assembly and frame changing from the separated relationship into the operatively joined relationship, without requiring use of any separate fasteners, once the operatively joined relationship is achieved.

First support portions 71 and 72 positioned on a predetermined straight line L2 approximately perpendicular to a broken line of a hinge portion is set in a support portion 70 that supports a back plate 27 with respect to a back face side of a door portion 36. Second and third support portions 73 and 74 positioned in line symmetry with respect to the straight line L2, are set in the support portion 70. It is possible to receive the centrifugal force, which is applied to the back plate 27 due to the expansion of the door portion 36, with good balance by the first to third support portions 71, 72, 73, and 74. An emblem 24 can be reliably fixed to the door portion 36 with preventing a fixing pin 31 from being excessively locked into a through hole 33 more than necessary.

A road sign, for viewing by primary traffic and right-angled traffic comprises a sign plate having a first indicia representative of the sign's message directed to the primary traffic and a lateral member having a second indicia. In a preferred embodiment, the lateral member has suitable dimensions, is suitably positioned relative to the sign plate and has suitable second indicia so as to give the appearance, when viewed by right-angled traffic, that a portion of the sign plate was bent substantially perpendicular to the sign's normal orientation along substantially the vertical axis of the sign. Additional embodiments are also provided.

A portable movie screen includes a screen portion and a frame portion surrounding at least part of the periphery of the screen portion. The screen portion has a screen gain greater than about 0.8 and an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the frame portion. The movie screen includes at least one side connected to the front portion and a receiving space defined at least in part by the front portion and the side portion. The receiving space is configured to selectively receive a support body including at least one sealed chamber and movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The frame portion is configured such that when the support body is in the expanded configuration and positioned in the receiving space, the frame portion tensions the screen portion and substantially maintains the screen portion in a desired shape.

A louver display panel system with a display panel for receiving printed or graphic material thereon, a support member to secure the display panel to a building or structure, and a louver movement control means. The display panel is rotationally secured to the support member and forms a louver structure. The louver movement control means maintains the display panel in a first position in a plane generally parallel to the exterior face of the building or structure until a wind load applied to the display panel exceeds a pre-determined value, after which the louver movement control means permits the display panel to rotate toward a second position generally parallel to the direction of the wind to reduce the wind load borne by the display panel. The louver movement control means returns the display panel to its first position when the wind load drops below said pre-determined value.

A display system that rocks in the wind and is self-righting with a biased anchoring system that is recessed inside of the display and hidden from view.