Abstract: A process for reducing nitrogen oxides on a SCR catalyst disposed in an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine is performed by a device adapted to introduce ammonia (NH3) into the exhaust gas flow of the exhaust gas system before it reaches the SCR catalyst. The device includes a heatable pressure-tight converter, an NH3 store and a control unit with control signals processing engine operating characteristics and determining therefrom the NOx output for controlling a timed valve for injection of an NH3 dose.

Abstract: A method for making fishing flies which utilizes water borne acrylic emulsion to form body parts of the fly. The water borne acrylic emulsion can be applied to the hook, or it can be applied to traditional fly-tying materials. Other materials can be inserted into the water borne acrylic emulsion before it has dried, such as filaments of plastic or hair which will form the legs, wings or other body parts of the fly. The water acrylic borne acrylic emulsion can be formed into body parts which are remote from the body of the fly, such as feet, knee joints, antennae tips. Any desired color can be achieved by mixing from a selection of colored water borne acrylic emulsions. Increased buoyancy of the fly can be achieved by using buoyant materials with the water borne acrylic emulsion to form body parts. The use of this method of tying flies results in the elimination of much of the actual tying which is presently required to tie flies.

Abstract: A multiple gang junction box assembly includes a main box, divider panels, positioning elements attached to the main box in an interior chamber thereof for slidably receiving the divider panels therein and laterally spacing apart the divider panels from one another so as to partition the interior chamber into adjacent compartments being in a condition of electrical arcing isolation from one another which allows low and high voltage components to be housed therein, and a front cover plate having vertical lands protruding therefrom and laterally spaced apart from one another. The displacement of the divider panels from one another is equal to a selected number of times the distance of the vertical lands from one another. At least some vertical lands of the front cover plate and the front edge portions of the divider panels are placed in flush contact providing additional isolation of adjacent compartments from one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing snoring includes a pillow divided internally into separate air chambers, a sound sensor, an air pressure source, an air pressure reducing unit, and a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit is activated by snoring noises sensed by the sound sensor, is operable to acquire the position of a sleeper's head on the pillow by sensing pressure increase in respective ones of the air chambers of the pillow resulting from the weight of the sleeper's head lying on the pillow, and, in response to such acquiring, is operable to control the operation of the air pressure source and the air pressure reducing unit so as to change the air pressure of selected ones of the air chambers of the pillow and thereby causes a change of the position of the sleeper's head which results in the sleeper stopping snoring.

Abstract: A machine and method for vending products perform the operational steps of storing a multiplicity of products in a plurality of vertical columns thereof that are organized in a circular row wherein the products in each vertical column are disposed one above another and can feed downward due to the influence of the force of gravity, incrementally rotating the plurality of vertical columns of products simultaneously about a circular path wherein lowermost ones of the products in the vertical columns thereof one at a time per revolution advance and cross over an inlet opening to a dispensing path, and dispensing the lowermost ones of the products of the vertical columns thereof through the inlet opening by use of a separation fixture that prevents products from dropping directly into the inlet opening from the vertical columns when aligned above the inlet opening while letting products drop into a lowermost circular row thereof located below the columns and from the lowermost circular row one at a time through t

Abstract: A hydromechanical drive for a metal part forming machine includes an electric motor having a rotary output shaft, a drive shaft attached to the rotary output shaft and adapted to undergo rotational motion therewith about a rotational axis defined by the drive shaft, and a motion conversion mechanism coupled with the drive shaft and being movable between expanded and retracted positions along the drive shaft in response to the rotational movement of the drive shaft. The motion conversion mechanism has a first coupling element stationarily disposed at a fixed location offset from one side of the drive shaft and a second coupling element movably disposed at another location offset from another side of the drive shaft being angularly displaced from the one side thereof.

Abstract: A luminaire configuration includes a mounting module attachable on a securement base, such as the building ceiling or wall, a luminaire module adapted to support illumination producing components, and a connection system having first and second connection elements by which the luminaire module is attachable to and detachable from the mounting module through mechanical cooperation between the first and second connection elements without disturbing the illumination producing components. The luminaire module includes a luminaire housing having an annular shape and a coupling ring fitted thereto. The luminaire housing supports the illumination producing components therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an under-calibered gun-barrel bullet, in particular for guns with a partially or fully rifled barrel, which is received by a thrust cage. The task of the present invention is providing a further such gun-barrel bullet. This task is solved thereby that the under-calibered gun-barrel bullet comprises a shell jacket (2) which, relative to its loaded position, receives a bullet core (3) displaceable in the direction of the gun-barrel end, whose displacement caused by the blast generation in the shell jacket (2), is limited by an abutment (9) whereby the final form of the gun-barrel bullet (1) is established.

Abstract: A percussion instrument pedal assembly includes a base, a shaft, a footplate, a bearing and a spring. The shaft at one end is pivotally mounted to the base and near the other end able to be connected to a percussive striker for striking a percussion instrument. The footplate has a toe end and an opposite heel end pivotally mounted on the base remote from the shaft. The bearing is connected to the footplate adjacent its toe end and has a rotating member able to engage the shaft adjacent the toe end of the footplate such that depression of the footplate will move the shaft in a first direction to cause the percussive striker to strike the percussion instrument when the percussive striker is connected to the shaft. The spring is biased to move the shaft in a second direction opposite the first direction upon release of the footplate.

Abstract: A lighting device convertible between reading light and flashlight configurations has separate off/on light actuating switches. The lighting device includes a case, an elongated arm, hinge, light cap, light element, batteries, first switch and second switch. The hinge pivotally mounts a rear end of the arm to a rear end of the case to allow pivotal movement of the arm between an erect position angularly spaced from the case, the reading light configuration, and a lowered position against the main body, the flashlight configuration. The light element is mounted to the light cap which, in turn, is pivotally mounted to a front end of the arm for positioning the light element at various angles to provide light therebelow at various angles with the arm in the erect position and for positioning the light element at first and second angularly displaced positions to provide light directly forwardly of the case in the first position but not in the second position with the arm in the lowered position.

Abstract: A bridge device for providing a transition between two bordering floor segments of different levels includes a securement shank, a terminal shank and a transition shank. The securement shank is positionable under one of the bordering floor segments which are separated by a space. The terminal shank has spaced upper and lower ends and opposite sides extending between the upper and lower ends. The terminal shank is attached at the lower end to the securement shank and is positionable in the space between the floor segments. One side of the terminal shank is disposed adjacent to and faces toward the one floor segment whereas the other side of the terminal shank faces toward the other floor segment.

Abstract: A removable work surface defining device includes a pair of rigid support members attachable to a support structure, a platform defining a work surface surrounded by spaced apart opposite front and rear edge portions and spaced apart opposite side edge portions extending between the front and rear edge portions, and a pair of quick release locking mechanisms each for releasably attaching the platform at a respective one of the opposite side edge portions thereof upon an adjacent respective one of the rigid support members. Each of the quick release locking mechanisms includes first and second sets of elements, a locking latch and a catch. The first and second sets of elements are disposed on respective ones of the rigid support members and adjacent respective ones of the opposite side edge portions of the platform for undergoing relative movement between released and interengaged positions with one another upon movement of the platform between first and second positions relative to the rigid support members.

Abstract: An electronically controlled anti-dive suspension apparatus for a two-wheeled vehicle includes a suspension system, a sensor, an electronics module, and an actuator. The sensor mounted to the vehicle senses deceleration of the vehicle due to a braking action and produces an input representative thereof. The electronics module mounted to the vehicle and connected to the sensor receives and processes the input from the sensor and produces an output corresponding to a desired predetermined response to the deceleration of the vehicle. The actuator mounted to the vehicle and coupled to the suspension system receives the output from the electronics module and in response thereto causes the suspension system to reduce its amount of contraction and thereby prevent any resulting dive of the front end of the vehicle downward toward the ground.

Abstract: An apparatus for grasping odd-shaped objects to relocate the same includes an upright main frame being attachable to a material handling vehicle for maneuvering the main frame between different heights and locations by operation of the material handling vehicle, a support member mounted at a lower end of the main frame and being adapted to engage an edge of an object, an arm member mounted at an upper end of the main frame so as to undergo pivotal movement relative to the main frame, a tine mounting member mounted to the arm member so as to undergo pivotal movement relative to and independently of the arm member, a pair of tines each having a substantially curved configuration and being mounted to and extending outwardly and downwardly from the tine mounting member, and main and auxiliary actuation mechanisms for respectively pivotally moving the arm member relative to the main frame and the tines relative to the arm member through respective first and second arcuate paths toward and away from the support mem

Abstract: An apparatus for dampening standing wave pattern generation in a closed cavity of a microwave oven, includes a fluid table having an enclosure made of a microwave energy transparent material, such as plastic, and a structure, such as top flat platform held in place by the enclosure, for defining a processing surface for placement thereupon of samples to be processed, and a quantity of dielectric fluid contained by the enclosure so as to provide a large flat surface of the dielectric fluid beneath the flat platform and thus below the processing surface. The apparatus also includes mechanisms for recirculating the dielectric fluid to and from the enclosure and for cooling the dielectric fluid to maintain the dielectric fluid within a given narrow range of temperatures.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a data and access protection system for a computer via the use of a hardware key, comprising a non-volatile memory for storing a first access code, a hardware key having a second access code, means for determining whether the hardware key is connected to the computer and whether the first access code is different from the second access code, and means for disabling the computer when the hardware key is not connected to the computer or when the first access code is different from the second access code. Additional aspects of the present invention provide that the hardware key is capable of being carried on a key chain on a person and capable of starting a computer through wireless means. A further aspect of the present invention provides that the hardware key can be used to secure electronic transactions conducted over the Internet.

Abstract: A bird observatory assembly includes an enclosure, an annular mounting frame and complementary first and second magnetic elements. The enclosure has a plurality of panels interconnected to one another and to the mounting frame so as to define an interior cavity for one or more birds to nest within the enclosure and an opening at an inner end of the enclosure. One of the panels has an aperture defined therein that permits birds to enter and exit the interior cavity. The mounting frame has a surface positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of a window pane. The mounting frame is mounted to the inner end of the enclosure and defines a viewing portal in communication with the opening of the enclosure and the interior cavity. The first magnetic elements are mounted to the surface of the mounting frame.

Abstract: A passive vibration isolation device includes a support frame, an instrument support platform and a plurality of vibration isolators. The support frame is adapted to rest on a support surface. The instrument support platform is adapted to support an instrument thereon. The vibration isolators are spaced apart from one another and disposed between and interconnect the support frame and the instrument support platform such that the instrument support platform is suspended by the vibration isolators in a position spaced from the support frame and above the support surface.

Abstract: A safety wall socket assembly includes a housing, a pair of outer switches, a pair of inner contacts, a pair of conductor wires and a pair of interconnection wires. The outer switches are pivotally mounted to the housing and disposed in the respective cavities thereof. The outer switches are biased to a circuit break condition between the conductor wires and interconnection wires and pivotally displaced to a circuit make condition between the conductor wires and interconnection wires in response to partial insertion of the prongs of an electrical plug into the cavities. No electrical connection is established between the outer switches and the prongs of the plug. The inner contacts are mounted to the housing and disposed in the respective cavities thereof spaced inwardly from the outer switches.