Abstract: A strap tip structure includes a positioning fastener member and an outer cover. The positioning fastener member includes a mainbody, at least three clip members and an external screw structure. The at least three clip members are flexibly connected to the mainbody, and each of the clip members is an arc plate and has an end portion. The external screw structure is disposed on an outer surface of the mainbody. The outer cover is detachably connected to the positioning fastener member. The outer cover includes an inner space and an inner screw structure, and the inner screw structure matches the external screw structure. When the inner screw structure of the outer cover and the external screw structure of the positioning fastener member are screwed together, the positioning fastener member is accommodated in the inner space.

Abstract: Roofing granules comprising agglomerated inorganic material, and building materials, such as shingles, that include such roofing granules. By fabricating roofing granules from agglomerating inorganic material it is possible to tailor the particle size distribution so as to provide optimal shingle surface coverage, thus reducing shingle weight and usage of raw materials. Additionally, the use of agglomeration permits the utilization of by-products from conventional granule production processes.

Abstract: A weightlifting belt includes a flexible strap portion with a first major surface (e.g., a front), a second major surface (e.g., a back), a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side. An anchor assembly is in contact with the first major surface of the flexible strap portion near the first longitudinal end of the flexible strap portion. A lever-actuated hook assembly is in contact with the first major surface of the flexible strap portion near the second longitudinal end of the flexible strap portion. The lever-actuated hook assembly is configured to engage the anchor assembly so as to hold the first longitudinal end of the strap portion close to, or in physical contact with, the second longitudinal end of the strap portion so as to form a loop that can fit around a waist of a human.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for processing containers. The system may include an apparatus for processing sealed plastic containers having a first headspace pressure. The apparatus may include: an open entry port or tunnel for continuously receiving containers; a sanitizer configured to sanitize outside surfaces of the received containers; a perforator configured to perforate or open a cap or seal of the containers within the apparatus; a sealer configured to seal the perforation or opening formed in the cap or seal of the containers; an open exit port or tunnel for continuously exiting the processed containers; and a conveyor system configured to transport or convey the containers. The system may further include a production line including a filler for filling empty blow-moulded containers with a heated liquid to pasteurize inside surfaces of the containers and a capper for sealing the filled blow moulded containers.

Abstract: Chemically impregnated applicators used to provide hydrophobic surfaces on chemical mechanical polishing system components and related application methods are shown. A method of forming a hydrophobic coating on a surface of a polishing system component includes cleaning the surface of the polishing system component to remove a polishing fluid residue therefrom and applying a hydrophobicity causing chemical solution to the surface of the polishing system component.

Abstract: A method of automatically moving a dolly apparatus from an initial location to a downstream location is provided. The method includes engaging a component being carried along an elevated conveyor with a synchronization arm of a dolly apparatus such that the dolly apparatus moves with the component. The dolly apparatus includes a base frame and an actuation member movably mounted to the base frame. A synchronization arm is movably mounted to a top of the base frame. The actuation member is operatively connected to the synchronization arm such that actuating the actuation member lowers the synchronization arm to a disengaged position. The actuation member is actuated thereby lowering the synchronization arm to a disengaged position and releasing the component.

Abstract: An autonomous traverse tire changing bot includes a carriage having a carriage frame with a carriage drive section effecting autonomous traverse of the carriage, along a traverse path, relative to a traverse surface or a floor on which the bot rests, and a bot frame including at least one actuator mounted to the carriage and a bot drive section with a motor defining an actuator degree of freedom, wherein the at least one actuator has an end effector having a tire engagement tool disposed so that articulation of the at least one actuator with the actuator degree of freedom effects engagement contact of the tire engagement tool and a tire mounted on a vehicle, and a controller effects traverse of the bot along the traverse path effecting dynamic positioning of the at least one actuator relative to a variable position of the vehicle with the tire mounted thereon.

Abstract: Sealing in rotary positive displacement machines based on trochoidal geometry that comprise a helical rotor that undergoes planetary motion within a helical stator is described. Seals can be mounted on the rotor, the stator, or both. The rotor can have a hypotrochoidal cross-section, with the corresponding stator cavity profile being the outer envelope of the rotor as it undergoes planetary motion, or the stator cavity can have an epitrochoidal cross-section with the corresponding rotor profile being the inner envelope of the trochoid as it undergoes planetary motion. In some embodiments, the geometry is offset in a manner that provides advantages with respect to sealing in the rotary machine. In multi-stage embodiments, the rotor-stator geometry remains substantially constant or varies along the axis of the rotary machine.

Abstract: A product dispenser with a reservoir for a product and a cap. The cap has a first assembly and a second assembly. The first assembly can include a button configured to dispense the product through a lower end orifice of the pipette, when the button is actuated. The second assembly can include a pipette rigidly connected and in fluidic communication with a chamber configured to change its volume depending on the movement of the first assembly relative to the second assembly and the movement of the button.

Abstract: A core assembly for a plate-and-fin heat exchanger includes a pair of core plates and a heat-absorbing member disposed within the passageway that secures the pair of core plates together. The heat-absorbing member defines a plurality of fins that each include one or more bending points, and each bending point creates two points of contact between a core plate and the heat-absorbing member.

Abstract: Exemplary air amplifiers described herein can utilize a high-pressure stream of gas to accelerate a low-velocity stream of gas to provide a high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. This high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas can generate unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through the air amplifier. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can passively and/or actively suppress, for example, diminish, re-tune, or even completely cancel, the unwanted noise as the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas propagates through these exemplary air amplifiers. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can include one or more absorption materials to passively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas. The exemplary air amplifiers described herein can generate multiple noise suppression waves to actively suppress the unwanted noise generated by the high-velocity, high-volume stream of gas.

Abstract: A sealed speaker enclosure for a bass speaker that is hand-insertable and removable from a hard-side motorcycle saddlebag. The body of the enclosure complements the interior space of the saddlebag making sealing contact with the interior walls of the saddlebag. The bass speaker faces the motorcycle side of the saddlebag within the shock absorber tower indentation overlapping and opening. A speaker grill overlays the opening in the shock absorber tower indentation of the saddlebag.

Abstract: A system and method of remotely enabling and disabling the starting of one or more vehicles using hardware components installed within a case and a data processing device (DPD), such as a smart phone, in logical communication with one of the vehicle and the case via a WAN, wherein an ignition request is relayed via the WAN to server which parses the ignition request into one or more encrypted ignition instructions, each encrypted ignition instruction sent to a separate vehicle exclusively associated with the encrypted ignition instruction.

Abstract: A snow vehicle is disclosed comprising a vehicle frame, a propulsion unit coupled to the frame, and a front ski steered by a steering mechanism. The snow vehicle has a chain coupling the sprocket of the propulsion unit and a chain tensioning device to take up the chain tension. The chain has a chain guide positioned below a lower run of the chain which directs the chain towards an upper run of the chain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the width of a strip or the widths of multiple strips being conveyed longitudinally through a sensing region of a gauge. The apparatus includes a correction bar that has very highly accurately machined edges and includes a laser point displacement sensor that traverses across the sensing region of the gauge of the invention. The method of the invention uses the correction bar by sensing its edge distance positions and using the data for the sensed edge distance positions and data for its highly accurately known edge distance positions to generate corrections for all distance positions continuously across the entire sensing region. Corrections are then made to sensed edge distance positions of a strip or strips being sensed by the gauge, regardless of the positions of the strip edges.

Abstract: A front end conveyor include a lower deck having a plurality of lower sheet supports, an upstream upper deck having an upstream end at the upstream end of the front end conveyor, a downstream end and a plurality of first upper sheet guides and a downstream upper deck having an upstream end, a downstream end at the downstream end of the front end conveyor, and a plurality of second upper sheet guides. The lower sheet supports and the upper sheet guides define a sheet transport path for moving sheets of material though the conveyor. The downstream end of the upstream upper deck and the upstream end of the downstream upper deck are independently pivotably mounted to the frame such that the upstream end of the upstream upper deck and the downstream end of the downstream upper deck shiftable toward and away from the lower deck.

Abstract: A system and process that are configured to prepare incoming hydrocarbon feedstocks for storage. For incoming ethane gas, the embodiments can utilize a plurality of vessels to distill the incoming feedstock to vapor and liquid ethane that is suitable for storage. The embodiments can direct the vapor to a demethanizer column that is downstream of the vessels and other components. The process can include stages for distilling an incoming feedstock at a plurality of vessels to form a vapor and a liquid for storage; directing the vapor to a demethanizer column; and circulating liquid from the demethanizer column back to the plurality of vessels.

Abstract: An additive composition for a diesel fuel, the additive composition comprising: (i) a first additive comprising one or more of: (a) the reaction product of a polycarboxylic acid having at least one tertiary amino group and a primary or secondary amine; (b) the reaction product of an ?, ? dicarboxylic acid or a derivative thereof and a primary amine; and (c) the reaction product of a polyamine and a fatty acid; and (ii) a second additive which is a terpolymer obtained by reacting monomers of: (x) an ?-olefin; (y) an ester of an unsaturated alcohol; and (z) a third monomer different to (x) and (y) comprising an alkene functional group.