Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow about a vehicle. The system comprises a fluid flow control device, an obstacle sensor for detecting obstacles, and a controller. The fluid flow control device has a body with at least one surface and an actuation means in operative communication with the surface. The actuation means is operative to alter at least one attribute of the fluid flow control device in response to a control signal. The controller has control logic for generating the control signal in response to the obstacle sensor.

Abstract: An energy absorbing knee bolster for use in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed. An energy absorbing support structure is configured to support an instrument panel within a vehicle. The energy absorbing structure has a deployable tubular mechanism for absorbing occupant impact energy and an impact plate coupled to the tubular mechanism for absorbing occupant energy. An energy absorbing locking mechanism is disposed between the impact plate and the support structure. The locking mechanism is configured to encourage the collapse of the tubular means for absorbing energy in a telescopic fashion.

Abstract: A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.

Abstract: A modular engine assembly includes a cylinder bore block, a cylinder head disposed above the cylinder bore block, and a crankcase assembly disposed below the cylinder bore block. The crankcase assembly includes an upper carrier and a lower carrier each having a plurality of bearing portions therein being integral, unitary, and one-piece.

Abstract: A side impact protection system for a motor vehicle body having a stowed position and a deployed position, the system includes a first L-shaped rigid structure comprising a first portion and a second portion; a second L-shaped rigid structure comprising a first portion and a second portion; a synthetic cable fixedly attached to the second portions of the first and second L-shaped rigid structures, wherein the synthetic cable is made from a plurality of helically braided bundles of fibers selected from a group consisting of aramid fibers and liquid crystal polymer fibers characterized by strain-at-failure exceeding about 3 percent; and a deployment device in operative communication with the first portions of the first and second L-shaped rigid structures to selectively extend the first portion outwardly from the deployment device, and wherein in a stowed position the second portions are at about the same plane and in a deployed position the second portions are parallel and the synthetic cables form a web-like

Abstract: An actuator is adapted to selectively extend and retract a bumper member, the actuator is mounted at least partially within a tubular frame rail member of the motor vehicle. The main frame rail member may be of a standard length or of a shortened length. By mounting the actuator inside the tubular frame rail member, the bending stiffness is more effectively impacted by the outer tube of the actuator. An additional tubular frame rail member is optionally attached to the main tubular frame rail member. The actuator is mounted at least partially within the tubular frame rail member and at least partially within the additional tubular frame rail member. The wall thickness and cross-sectional shape of the additional tubular frame rail members may be adjusted to obtain a desired bending stiffness including the effect of the outer tube of the actuator.

Abstract: An energy absorbing knee bolster for use in an interior of a vehicle is disclosed. An energy absorbing support structure is configured to support an instrument panel within a vehicle. The energy absorbing structure has a deployable tubular mechanism for absorbing occupant impact energy and an impact plate coupled to said tubular mechanism for absorbing occupant energy. An energy absorbing locking mechanism is disposed between the impact plate and the support structure. The locking mechanism is configured to encourage the collapse of the tubular means for absorbing energy in a telescopic fashion.

Abstract: An actuator is adapted to selectively extend and retract a bumper member, the actuator is mounted at least partially within a tubular frame rail member of the motor vehicle. The main frame rail member may be of a standard length or of a shortened length. By mounting the actuator inside the tubular frame rail member, the bending stiffness is more effectively impacted by the outer tube of the actuator. An additional tubular frame rail member is optionally attached to the main tubular frame rail member. The actuator is mounted at least partially within the tubular frame rail member and at least partially within the additional tubular frame rail member. The wall thickness and cross-sectional shape of the additional tubular frame rail members may be adjusted to obtain a desired bending stiffness including the effect of the outer tube of the actuator.

Abstract: A pre-impact mode of a bumper system is provided by extending a bumper member outwardly and extending a stiffener member downwardly. Both the bumper member and the stiffener member are separately adapted to engage an object. The bumper system includes a bumper member movable between a retracted position and a laterally extended position. A stiffener member is movable between a retracted position and a downwardly extended position. An actuator mechanism is adapted to move the bumper member between the retracted and laterally extended positions and to cause the stiffener member to move between the retracted and downwardly extended positions as a result of moving the bumper member.

Abstract: A pair of holding arms which can be installed quickly and used to press a workpiece in a safe manner against a guide fence, regardless of the cuts made upon it, when the workpiece is moved past a shaper having cutter blades rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft. Each holding arm includes a rubber-faced roller, an elongated, solid rod of angular transverse cross-section, and a track-mounted post for supporting the rod in a horizontal position. Contact between the workpiece and the holding arm is made through the roller which is vertically mounted on one end of the rod. The post includes a clutch plate for locking the horizontal extension of the rod. Each roller can be quickly moved forward into contact with the workpiece without releasing the clutch plate. To move the roller backward—away from the workpiece, the user releases the clutch plate with one hand and pulls backward on the rod with the other.

Abstract: A stimulator for electrically inducing a maximal seizure in a test animal for screening candidate anticonvulsant drugs is disclosed. A stimulator according to this invention includes stimulus generation and control circuitry for generating the stimulus, a display for displaying the duration of three phases of the induced seizure, and user input configured to allow the user to control delivery of the stimulus and to record seizure phase transitions to be displayed on the display. The stimulator may also include a foot switch, electrodes, a computer interface and an optional computer. A method of measuring the phases of an electrically induced seizure is disclosed. A method of analyzing the efficacy of a candidate anticonvulsant drug is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pair of holding arms which can be installed quickly and used to press a workpiece in a safe manner against a guide fence, regardless of the cuts made upon it, when the workpiece is moved past a shaper or the like having cutter blades rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft. Each holding arm includes a rubber-faced roller, an elongated, solid rod of angular transverse cross-section, and a track-mounted post for supporting the rod in a horizontal position. Contact between the workpiece and the holding arm is made through the roller which is vertically mounted on one end of the rod. The post includes a clutch plate for locking the horizontal extension of the rod. Each roller can be quickly moved forward into contact with the workpiece without releasing the clutch plate. To move the roller backward—away from the workpiece, the user releases the clutch plate with one hand and pulls backward on the rod with the other.

Abstract: A stimulator for electrically inducing a maximal seizure in a test animal for screening candidate anticonvulsant drugs is disclosed. A stimulator according to this invention includes stimulus generation and control circuitry for generating the stimulus, a display for displaying the duration of three phases of the induced seizure, and user input configured to allow the user to control delivery of the stimulus and to record seizure phase transitions to be displayed on the display. The stimulator may also include a foot switch, electrodes, a computer interface and an optional computer. A method of measuring the phases of an electrically induced seizure is disclosed. A method of analyzing the efficacy of a candidate anticonvulsant drug is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system is provided for delivering an unfocused laser beam through a first end of a fiber optic cable to a workpiece. The laser beam travels through the fiber optic cable and emerges from the second end of the fiber optic cable. The second end of the fiber optic cable is not covered with any coating or armor and has a polished exterior. The fiber optic cable is supported and guided by a blade which guides the fiber optic cable to the workpiece. The blade also provides cover gas and/or oxygen in the vicinity of the workpiece during welding or cutting operations.

Abstract: A blending/loading system wherein an elongated cylinder or fuel rod is positioned on a turntable underneath a series of hoppers containing the particulates to be blended/loaded. Separate transfer tubes from each hopper are aligned with the cylinder and are subsequently lowered into the cylinder. Upon lowering, the cylinder is rotated and nozzles at the ends of the transfer tubes are activated to discharge, disperse and mix the stored particulates into the rotating cylinder. As the cylinder fills up, the transfer tubes are withdrawn from the rotating cylinder until the desired amount of fill is reached. Afterwards, the nozzles block any additional flow from occurring as they are raised out of the cylinder.

Abstract: An insulated collapsible container suitable for a material handling box, equipment carrying case, food insulator, beverage insulator, trash receptacle, tote pail and the like, which is constructed from two flat blanks of structural material arranged for a high production rate. One blank forms a three sided collapsible structure including double walls, an inwardly folding bottom, a three position snap action lid hinge, an insert frame retaining clip, rim stiffeners, bail holes and hand holes. The remaining blank forms the mating insert frame around which two flexible liners are tightly placed, thus forming an insulating air entrapment therebetween. After pushing inward the bottom, container transformation from expanded to collapsed configuration is by inward movement of container sides. A flexible bail serves the dual purpose of container transport and retention of the collapsed state. The container is transformed from collapsed to expanded configuration by inward movement of front and back edges.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant spinneret, suitable for spinning filaments of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) from a viscous solution of the polymer in 98-100 percent sulfuric acid, is prepared from a plate of tantalum alloy or stainless steel which is clad on one face with a layer of pure tantalum. A spinneret blank is formed, counterbores are drilled through the plate and partially into the tantalum layer, the blank is annealed, spinneret capillaries are formed from the counterbores through the tantalum layer to the exit face of the spinneret, the face is polished to remove protrusions, and the face is hardened by heat-treatment in nitrogen. Uniform capillaries having a diameter of about 0.002 inch (0.05 mm) and a length greater than about 0.005 inch (0.13 mm) can be formed in spinnerets without breaking tools used in their production.