Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and uses for combating or controlling invertebrate pests in turf, which comprises applying a mixture comprising alpha-cypermethrin and dinotefuran to the turf area, the invertebrate pests or their food supply, habitat or breeding grounds. The most common invertebrate pests in turf are certain worms, e.g. Armyworm, ants, e.g. fire ants, bugs and in particular white grubs, which are larvae of different kinds of insects, mainly of bugs. They usually live in the soil and damage the turf grass plants by feeding on their roots. The turf pests can be efficiently combated or controlled by the methods and uses of the invention.

Abstract: A system comprises a configurator for providing a configuration definition that specifies existing engineering designs and manufacturing capability of aircraft structures that have already been designed and manufactured; and a processor for accessing the configuration definition from the configurator and filtering the configuration definition according to customer specifications for a new aircraft. The filtering selects existing designs and identifies existing manufacturing capability to fabricate structures for the new aircraft.

Abstract: Providing for remote control of electronic devices at least in part utilizing a mobile radio access network (RAN) is disclosed herein. A control server is provided that can initiate an OTA message requesting control of a client device. The OTA message can be transmitted via the RAN to the client device, which can initiate a data network call upon receipt of the message. A data network address can be forwarded to the control server to facilitate data exchange between the server and client. The client can act upon and respond to commands issued by the server. As described herein, remote control of a client that does not maintain a persistent data network link can be conducted. Furthermore, key-mapping applications, DLL-based middle-ware, and other interface modules traditionally required to implement control of a remote device can be limited or avoided.

Abstract: A system comprises a configurator for providing a configuration definition that specifies existing engineering designs and manufacturing capability of aircraft structures that have already been designed and manufactured; and a processor for accessing the configuration definition from the configurator and filtering the configuration definition according to customer specifications for a new aircraft. The filtering selects existing designs and identifies existing manufacturing capability to fabricate structures for the new aircraft.

Abstract: Providing for remote control of electronic devices at least in part utilizing a mobile radio access network (RAN) is disclosed herein. A control server is provided that can initiate an OTA message requesting control of a client device. The OTA message can be transmitted via the RAN to the client device, which can initiate a data network call upon receipt of the message. A data network address can be forwarded to the control server to facilitate data exchange between the server and client. The client can act upon and respond to commands issued by the server. As described herein, remote control of a client that does not maintain a persistent data network link can be conducted. Furthermore, key-mapping applications, DLL-based middle-ware, and other interface modules traditionally required to implement control of a remote device can be limited or avoided.

Abstract: A linear actuator is provided comprising a housing, a rectangular elongate shaft operably coupled to the housing, and a scraper assembly. The shaft has a hardened bearing surface in sliding engagement with a hardened bearing surface of the housing, thus providing a hard-on-hard bearing between the shaft and housing, wherein the shaft is prevented from rotating with respect to the housing. The scraper assembly comprises first and second resilient members positioned within a recess of the housing, wherein one or more scraper blades are disposed between the first and second resilient members. A retaining member coupled to the housing generally compresses the first and second resilient members within the recess, therein biasing a scraping edge of the one or more scraper blades against the shaft bearing surface, wherein the retaining member, one or more scraper blades, and the first resilient member are operable to clear debris from elongate shaft.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a locating and clamping fixture is provided, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a drive pin that is linearly positionable along a first axis. The drive pin comprises a driver portion and a driven portion, wherein the driver portion is coupled to a piston of the fixture and the driven portion is coupled to a clamping arm of the fixture. The driver portion of the drive pin further comprises an annular groove, wherein one or more rollers are associated with the annular groove of the drive pin and a body of the fixture. The one or more rollers are operable to generally maintain a position of the clamping arm upon a loss of a driving force to the driver portion via an interface between the one or more rollers, the drive pin, and the body.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cushioning apparatus for a pneumatic device. The cushioning apparatus generally comprises a body, wherein a piston and cylinder reside therein, wherein the piston is operable to translate along a first axis. A first port associated with a first end of the cylinder is in fluid communication with an interior portion of the cylinder through a first cushioning hole, and a second port associated with a second end of the cylinder is in fluid communication with the interior portion through a second cushioning hole.

Abstract: A rotation-preventing slide is provided for a linear actuator which includes a housing which defines an internal bore and a piston-rod assembly which linearly moves within the internal bore in response to fluid pressure. The rotation-preventing slide is connected to and moves with the piston-rod assembly within a guide defined by the housing and has a geometry (e.g., polygonal, rectangular, square) which prevents rotation of the piston-rod assembly. The slide may include a bearing block and an attachment member which extends through an opening in the bearing block and which is removably attached to the piston-rod assembly whereby the slide's bearing surface (e.g., the bearing block) may be easily replaced. The guide may be a guide slot position parallel to, but axially offset from, the internal bore.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a locating and clamping fixture for locating and clamping a workpiece, wherein the fixture comprises a generally hollow body and a floating clamping arm. A first cam follower is located within the body, and a drive pin comprising a second cam follower and having a first axis associated therewith is moveable within the body along the first axis. The floating clamping arm comprises a first cam surface, a second cam surface, and a gripping portion, wherein the first cam surface and the second cam surface are operable to respectively engage the first cam follower and the second cam follower. Upon an application of a driving force by the drive pin, the clamping arm is operable to rotate and linearly translate with respect to the body via a translational movement of the drive pin along the first axis, wherein the gripping portion of the clamping arm is operable to extend over the workpiece and to clamp the workpiece to the body.

Abstract: A gate (50) for a vibratory conveyor (10) is provided. The conveyor includes a conveyor bed (26) that has a surface portion defining an aperture (52). The gate includes a cover plate (54) which is in contact with the conveyor bed and arranged for movement between a first position covering a first portion of the aperture and a second position covering a second portion of the aperture (e.g., between an open position and a closed position). The gate further includes a loading system (57, 72) coupled to the cover plate to exert a force urging the cover plate into contact with the surface portion of the conveyor bed. The gate still further includes a carriage assembly (55) coupled to the loading system for moving the cover plate between the first and second positions. Material conveyed on the conveyor bed can fall through the uncovered portion of the aperture to be thereby diverted from the conveyor bed.

Abstract: A gate (50) for a vibratory conveyor (10) is provided. The conveyor includes a conveyor bed (26) that has a surface portion defining an aperture (52). The gate includes a cover plate (54) which is in contact with the conveyor bed and arranged for movement between a first position covering a first portion of the aperture and a second position covering a second portion of the aperture (e.g., between an open position and a closed position). The gate further includes a loading system (57, 72) coupled to the cover plate to exert a force urging the cover plate into contact with the surface portion of the conveyor bed. The gate still further includes a carriage assembly (55) coupled to the loading system for moving the cover plate between the first and second positions. Material conveyed on the conveyor bed can fall through the uncovered portion of the aperture to be thereby diverted from the conveyor bed.

Abstract: An industrial automation robot including a locating member (e.g., a robotic arm), a gripper movable by the locating member to a position aligned with a workpiece, and a pair of jaws attached to the gripper's slides for engaging the workpiece. A driving interconnection between the gripper's slides and the gripper's drive assembly moves the slides towards each other when a drive rod is rotated in a first direction and moves the slides away from each other when the drive rod is rotated in a second direction. The driving interconnection between the slides and the driving assembly preferably further insures synchronous movement of the slides, and thus the jaws, relative to the frame when the drive rod is rotated.

Abstract: A piston and cylinder assembly for use in actuating a locating pin for sheet metal provides stability for a pin mounted thereon against side to side movement and rotation. To this end the assembly includes a cylinder body assembly with an internal bore and a piston axially slidable within the bore. A piston rod is connected with the piston, and the rod has a free end for connection of a sheet metal locating pin. A first guide surface is formed within the cylinder body assembly and a second guide surface is formed on one of the piston and piston rod, the first and second guide surfaces cooperating to prevent rotation of the piston and piston rod as the piston and piston rod slide axially with respect to the cylinder body assembly. The first and second guide surfaces preferable are internal and external splines. First and second bearings are connected to the cylinder body assembly and support the piston rod for straight line movement. The first and second bearings being located on opposite sides of the piston.

Abstract: A parallel gripper for use in automated material handling is designed for use both in a clean room environment and in an abrasive atmosphere. The gripper includes a housing with air operated pistons which drive slides mounted on the outside of the housing. The pistons are connected to the slides by drive bars that pass through purge chambers. These chambers may be held at a pressure that is above or below the ambient depending on the environment. A seal is placed between the slide and the housing, the seal being made of a material that has a low coefficient of friction and which will cold flow under pressure, for example, TEFLON. The gripper is assembled and the purge chamber pressurized so that normally no air passes by the seal. When a particle of dirt gets under the seal, the pressure difference across the seal drives the dirt in the desired direction: outward when the gripper is used in an abrasive environment or inward when the gripper is used in a clean room environment.

Abstract: A reloading apparatus for automatically supplying staples to a stapler. A supply of staples is retained on a plurality of rails which are fixed to a cylindrical support member which is rotatably mounted on a common frame with the stapler. The staples are sequentially fed from the rails of the reloading apparatus to the stapler by a pneumatically powered follower which moves toward the stapler on a feeding stroke and returns to the opposite side of the rails after the staples on a rail have been fed into the stapler. An indexer then rotates the cylindrical support to align another rail with the follower to feed the staples on the other rail into the stapler. A pneumatic control coordinates the stapler and the reloading apparatus.