Abstract: A method for making high temperature filter media is provided by melt-spinning a plurality of fibers of preceramic thermoplastic polymer to form a nonwoven textile web of the fibers, curing and cross-linking the thermoplastic polymer to a thermoset polymer, and thermally decomposing the thermoset polymer to ceramic. Between the melt-spinning step and the curing step, the web is formed to a filter pre-form in a green state while still pliable and malleable. The filter pre-form is cured without re-melting the thermoplastic polymer and without destroying morphology.

Abstract: A mower deck cleaning device for a rotary mower for removing clippings from the inside of the mower blade housing. A tubular conduit is mounted on the mower so as to extend through the deck of the mower. A garden hose may be attached to the conduit to flow water through the conduit. A rotor mounted on the conduit receives the water from the hose and projects a rotating pattern of pressurized fluid for cleaning the inside of the housing.

Abstract: A header of a crop harvester is equipped with a plurality of side-by-side arranged intake and mowing drums, including two adjacent intake and mowing drums at one side of a crop outlet of the header, which rotate such that the one closest the outlet rotates to deliver crop first inward and then to the rear directly into a conveying channel located at the rear of the closest intake and mowing drum, while the other drum rotates to deliver crop-first outward and then to the rear. A second crop conveying channel is located for receiving the crop harvested by the outer intake and mowing drums and for keeping this crop separate from that harvested by the inner intake and mowing drum until the separate streams merge at the crop outlet after being elevated there by a slope conveyor provided for lifting the crop from the working height of intake and cutting drums to the crop outlet, which is at a height above the working height.

Abstract: An elevated drawbar for a grain cart that can be attached to the rear end of an agricultural combine above the crop residue discharge opening. The elevated position of the grain cart drawbar allows the crop residue to be discharged under the drawbar. The crop residue can therefore travel unobstructed from the combine's discharge opening to the ground.

Abstract: A self-propelled forage harvester having a feed shaft through which the chopped material is delivered to a pair of conditioning rollers is disclosed. The width of the feed shaft converges on the way from the bladed drum to the pair of conditioning rollers. To direct the material out of the side regions towards the center evenly over the remaining width, there are provided drive-energy-free crop guide elements and are either in the form of plowshare-like guide elements or a contoured bottom. The chopped material mat in a crop discharge region is consistently thick.

Abstract: A cutting blade is provided having a blade body with a primary cutting surface and a direction of rotation. There is at least one secondary cutting surface displaced from the blade body and extending up therefrom. There is an at least one lead cutting surface located on the secondary cutting surface. The lead cutting surface has at least one portion facing substantially forward toward said the primary cutting surface. The portion can be a tip portion, but is turned so that the tip breaks a perpendicular plane drawn up from the blade body and extending radially along the length of the blade body.

Abstract: An article of furniture is made from elongated polymer filaments which are attached and woven onto a frame forming woven panels. Subsequent to the weaving and attachment process, the completed article is placed in an oven to heat set the resulting woven material. The polymer filaments may be monofilaments or plural filaments which are twisted together and then heat set to prevent their untwisting during the subsequent weaving process. The heat setting of the polymer filaments is achieved by heating to about the softening temperature or above of the polymer material.

Abstract: An article of furniture is made from elongated polymer filaments. The polymer filaments may be monofilaments or plural filaments which are twisted together and heat set to prevent their untwisting during the subsequent weaving process. The heat setting of the polymer filaments is achieved by heating the polymer material either before or after the twisting process.

Abstract: An article of furniture is made from elongated polymer filaments. The polymer filaments may be monofilaments or plural filaments which are twisted together and heat set to prevent their untwisting during the subsequent weaving process. The heat setting of the polymer filaments is achieved by heating the polymer material either before or after the twisting process.

Abstract: The measure for influencing the flow in the yarn guide duct is that the flow in the spindle channel is influenced after the fiber guide surface to the spindle cone and by the inlet opening into the spindle channel by means in such a way that the entrance behavior of the fiber ends and the spreading of the rear fiber ends occurs in weak or suppressed counter-flow or in co-flow and that said means are flow-active connections between the outflow channel and the spindle channel, e.g. passages by means of bores or by using fluid-permeable sintered materials.

Abstract: In a crawler belt comprising pairs of opposite links connected endlessly via pins press-fitted into the links, fixing surfaces of pins or links are successively pressed and deformed from the fixing surfaces in an axial direction along the circumferences inside or outside of openings of pin-press-fitting holes by means of local pressing in the axial direction, whereby the end portions of the pins or part of the circumferences of the openings in the links are expanded or narrowed in diameter. The expanded or narrowed portions are fixedly engaged with the opposing engaging spaces. The surface hardness of the expanded or narrowed portions is set to be lower than that of the other portions. With such structure and method, the links and pins can be easily and firmly connected with sufficient holding force in the axial direction, securing accurate, quick and easy fixing of pins and assembling of pins and links.

Abstract: An electromechanical thrust reverser actuation system that is designed with non-symmetric redundant channels is interfaced with an aircraft engine control system that is also redundantly designed. In one embodiment, the engine control system is also designed with non-symmetric redundant channels, and in another embodiment it is designed with symmetric redundant channels.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods to improve the performance and emission control of internal combustion engines equipped with nitrogen oxides storage-reduction (“NSR”) emission control systems. The system comprises a NSR catalyst, a fuel processor located upstream of the NSR catalyst, and at least one fuel injection port. The fuel processor converts a fuel into a reducing gas mixture comprising CO and H2. The reducing gas mixture is then fed into the NSR catalyst, where it regenerates the NSR adsorbent, reduces the NOx to nitrogen, and optionally periodically desulfates the NSR catalyst. The fuel processor comprises one or more catalysts, which facilitate reactions such as combustion, partial oxidation, and/or reforming and help consume excess oxygen present in an engine exhaust stream. The methods of the present invention provide for NSR catalyst adsorbent regeneration. Control strategies are provided to control the system and methods of the invention.

Abstract: A reducing agent dosing device for delivering a reducing agent into the exhaust gas system 8 of the internal combustion engine 2 of a motor vehicle, comprising a reducing agent tank 3 connected to the exhaust gas system 8 via a supply line 5, 7 with a dosing valve 6 for delivering a specific quantity of reducing agent. The dosing valve 6 is disposed at a distance from the exhaust gas system 8 in the supply line 5, 7 and the output of the dosing valve 6 terminates in a mixing chamber 7. Compressed air, provided by the charge air of a charging group 10 of the internal combustion engine 2, flows though the mixing chamber in the direction toward the exhaust gas system 8 to mix the reducing agent output with an air stream.

Abstract: A reducing agent dosing device for delivering a reducing agent into the exhaust gas system of the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The internal combustion engine has fuel carried along in a fuel tank with a fuel return line disposed between the internal combustion engine and the fuel tank. The reducing agent dosing device has a reducing agent tank connected to exhaust gas system of the internal combustion engine by a supply line. The supply line for is disposed such that it is in heat-conducting connection with the fuel return line of the internal combustion engine to heat the reducing agent carried in the supply line.

Abstract: When the determination result of failure determination at a start of AI (auxiliary air injection=supply) is that there is a possibility of a closing anomaly due to freezing, a reevaluation process 1 being a reevaluation after a warm-up is performed. When the determination result of determination at an end of AI is that there is a possibility of an opening anomaly due to freezing, a reevaluation process 2 being a reevaluation after a warm-up is performed.

Abstract: A diesel particle filter for lowering the emission of particles contained in the exhaust gas of a Diesel engine, is disclosed with the impaction surface of the diesel particle filter is developed such that binding forces of the ash to filter is lowered. Therefore, the adhesion of noncombustible ash particles occurs, if at all, on the impaction surface of the diesel particle filter at only with such binding forces that more the ash particles can be removed from this surface of the diesel particle filter with a fluid and/or by vibrational effects.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and a device for the catalytic conversion of harmful substances contained in the exhaust gas of combustion engines, wherein the exhaust gas is forced to pass through a catalyst-carrying porous support. The support may be comprised of a catalytic material support itself, have a catalytic material coating its pores and/or have a catalytic layer on one or both of the surfaces through which the exhaust gas will travel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat shield for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The shield comprises three metal layers shaped to conform generally to the shape of a high temperature portion of said exhaust system; said metal layers having substantially the same shape and extending in face-to-face adjacency with one layer positioned between the other two layers; all three metal layers being substantially identical.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor comprising a housing having inlet and outlet ports and an access port for connecting a pressure fluid to an accessory of the motor, such as a brake. A shuttle valve integrally contained within the housing selectively communicates the pressure at one of the inlet port or the outlet port to the access port. In addition, the housing has at least two axial sections that are sealed at a parting line therebetween, and the shuttle valve is inserted through an opening in one section so that when the sections are joined, the opening is sealed at the parting line. A ring of bolts holds the sections together, and the shuttle valve is contained at least partially within the envelope formed by the ring.

Abstract: A MEMS actuator 1 comprising an actuator member 2 operably engaged by at least one actuator beam 4 and heating means 12 for heating the or each beam 4. The heating may cause expansion of the or each beam4, wherein the or each beam 4 has two ends A, A′ and the or each beam 4 is fixed at only one end A and wherein the expansion effects movement of the actuator member 2. The heating may cause thermal expansion of the beam 4 in one direction and longitudinal displacement of the beam 4 in the direction of thermal expansion, which longitudinal displacement effects movement of the actuator member 2. The beam 4 may act on the member 2 at a position in relation to a pivot point P so as to produce a torque which effects pivoting of the member 2 about the pivot point P. The actuator may have at least two actuator beams 4 and heating the at least two beams 4 may cause simultaneous expansion of the at least two beams 4, which simultaneous expansion effects movement of the actuator member 2.

Abstract: A control lever for operating a control system of a vehicle, such as a brake or clutch of a motorcycle, for example. The lever is especially useful with hydraulic control systems, for applying a force to a hydraulic piston of the control system. Preferably, the lever includes an engagement portion that contacts an end surface of the piston. The engagement portion may be free to rotate with respect to a body portion of the lever such that the engagement portion rolls across the end surface of the piston. Such an arrangement provides improved lever “feel” and substantially prevents transverse loading of the piston. The engagement portion may also include a protruding arm that engages the end surface of the piston, for use with hydraulic control systems where the piston is recessed within a housing.

Abstract: A method for precisely controlling the charge pressure in an internal combustion engine with an exhaust-gas turbocharger is disclosed. According to said method, the output or torque of the turbine is determined based on the outputs or torques of the compressor and the loss on the shaft and the selected set point for the correcting variable for adjusting the charge pressure is determined according to said output or said torque of the turbine.

Abstract: A system and method for determining EGR flow in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine include determining specific heat of the exhaust gas based on current engine operating conditions and determining EGR flow rate based on the determined specific heat and a signal provided by a sensor. In one embodiment, a species tracking model is used to determine the amount of various species within the exhaust gas which may include oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water, for example, to determine the current specific heat, which is compared to a reference specific heat for the sensor, the difference being used to adjust the sensor value and determine the EGR mass flow rate. The species tracking model uses a simplified combustion model to estimate the amount of each specie in the exhaust gas based on various engine operating parameters, such as fuel, air/fuel ratio, and turbo boost, for example.

Abstract: This invention proposes innovative techniques of NOx reduction in boiler operation through an adaptation of staged combustion in combustion boilers. In preferred processes, air is fed into an air separation unit, and a nitrogen-enriched stream is combined with air to produce a nitrogen-enriched first stage air stream, and at least a portion of an oxygen-enriched stream is mixed with air to produce an oxygen-enriched second stage air stream. A reduction in NOx and increase in efficiency is promoted by the inventive processes and systems.

Abstract: Steam generation apparatus and methods are presented that are dedicated to oxygen-enriched air combustion of a fuel, wherein the oxygen concentration of the oxygen-enriched air may range from just above 21 percent to 100 percent. One apparatus comprises an oxygen-enriched air preheater through which oxygen-enriched air flows and exchanges heat indirectly with flue gas, creating a preheated oxygen-enriched air stream. The apparatus further comprises a boiler having a radiant section and a convection section, and other heat transfer units adapted to handle reduced flue gas flow rate and higher temperature flue gases than comparable air/fuel combustion boilers, thus allowing a smaller heat transfer surface area, a more compact design and a higher efficiency.

Abstract: A gas turbine has a cooling air system supplying air for cooling a high temperature part of the gas turbine and a spray air system supplying air for spraying fuel into a combustor and is formed so that a part of high-pressure air compressed by a gas turbine compressor is used as air of the cooling air system and spray air system, wherein a heat exchanger and a boost compressor are arranged downstream of the outlet of compressed air of the gas turbine compressor, and the boost compressor is composed of a parallel connection of a compressor driven by the turbine shaft and ae compressor driven by a driven source other than the turbine shaft, and pressurized air from the boost compressor is used as air for the cooling air system and the spray air system.

Abstract: An energy storage gas-turbine electric power generating system includes a liquid air storage tank for storing liquid air, a vaporizing facility for vaporizing the liquid air stored in the liquid air storage tank, a combustor for generating a combusted gas by combusting the air vaporized by the vaporizing facility and a fuel, a gas turbine driven by the combusted gas generated in the combustor, and a gas-turbine generator connected to the gas turbine for generating electric power. The system further includes a pressurizing unit for pressurizing the liquid air stored in the liquid air storage tank up to a pressure higher than a pressure of air supplied to the combustor to supply the liquid air to the vaporizing facility, an expansion turbine driven by expanding the air vaporized by the vaporizing facility and an expansion-turbine generator connected to the expansion turbine for generating electric power.

Abstract: In the operation of gas turbine engines, it is an ever increasing goal to reduce the amount of harmful elements contained within the emissions of the engine. It is also desirable to provide a method and system that is capable of being utilized to retrofit existing gas turbine engines. In particular, it is of primary importance to reduce the amounts of nitrogen oxides contained within the emissions. Many times, reduced emissions comes at the cost of decreased flame operability. The present invention provides airflow to the pilot fuel line of a combustor in order to reduce the total harmful emissions, yet at the same time allow improved flame stability.

Abstract: A tube-type vortex reducer for the conduction of cooling air in a compressor 1 of a gas turbine with at least one radial secondary air tube 2 arranged in a disk interspace 3, includes a deflector arranged in a discharge area of the secondary air tube for the deflection of the secondary air flow into an axial direction or away from an axial direction.

Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine is provided which includes a plurality of liner segments and a support shell. The support shell includes an interior and an exterior surface, a plurality of mounting holes, and a plurality of impingement coolant holes extending through the support shell. Each liner segment includes a panel and a plurality of mounting studs. The panel includes a face surface and a back surface, and a plurality of normal or inclined coolant holes extending therethrough. The back surface of the panel has a surface profile for improving the heat transfer properties of a liner segment without substantial increase in pressure drop across the combustor.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a miniature thermodynamic device that can be constructed using standard micro-fabrication techniques. The device can be used to provide cooling, generate power, compress gases, pump fluids and reduce pressure below ambient (operate as a vacuum pump). Embodiments of the invention relating to the production of a cooling effect and the generation of electrical power, change the thermodynamic state of the system by extracting energy from a pressurized fluid. Energy extraction is attained using an expansion process, which is as nearly isentropic as possible for the appropriately chosen fluid. An isentropic expansion occurs when a compressed gas does work to expand, and in the disclosed embodiments, the gas does work by overcoming either an electrostatic or a magnetic force.

Abstract: A cooler box includes a box member that has a hermetically closable cooling chamber formed inside it and that insulates heat and a cooling device that cools the interior of the cooling chamber. The cooling device is a Stirling-cycle refrigerator. Here, using a Stirling-cycle refrigerator as the cooling device helps realize a cooler box that can be operated from an easily available low-capacity, inexpensive power supply and that can cool a to-be-cooled article to a low temperature comparable with that produced by a freezer.

Abstract: A thermoacoustic refrigeration device employs a gas-vapor mixture as the working fluid. As a result, the refrigeration device operates according to a modified thermoacoustic refrigeration cycle that adds a condensation-vaporization cycle to the thermoacoustic cycle. The resulting modified refrigeration cycle increases the efficiency of heat transport by harnessing the translational motion of the vapor, as well as the usual acoustic oscillations, to transport the heat energy from one end of a thermal stack to the other.

Abstract: A dispenser for soft-drinks and ice has an integral ice maker. The compressor and condenser for the ice making refrigeration system are located remotely from the ice making apparatus. Thus, the dispenser with an integral ice maker does not emit noise and heat from the compressor and condenser in the customer service areas where ice and soft drinks are dispensed. Refrigerant vapor is drawn from a receiver and is used for defrosting in the harvest portion of the ice making cycle. The dispenser also has an internal heat exchanger for cooling carbonated water and syrup prior to dispensing a soft drink. There is also an ice maker and dispenser, having a refrigeration system in which ice-making components and an ice dispenser are located near a customer-service area, while the hot and noisy refrigeration components are located remotely.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an external loop nonfreezing heat exchanger for cooling a heat transfer fluid with cryogenic fluid. The cryogenic fluid is first pre-vaporized with the spent cryogenic fluid. The heat transfer fluid is then cooled by the vaporized cryogenic fluid instead of the cryogenic fluid feed directly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for freezer defrost, which are particularly suited for an automated system, include the formulation of algorithms utilized for this purpose. The algorithms are included in the firmware of an embedded controller and operate the freezer defrost cycle at temperature lows for increased efficiency. An application of the freezer defrost method and apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, with a compressor, an outdoor fan, and a reversing valve all in the outdoor unit. A thermostat is added to the outdoor unit with one side of the thermostat connected to a high voltage line for either a compressor or a magnetic contactor and the other side connected to a high voltage line for either an outdoor fan or a reversing valve. A signal collection circuit in the indoor unit is connected to a high voltage line for the outdoor fan when the other side of the thermostat is connected to the outdoor fan and to a high voltage line for the reversing valve when the other side of the thermostat is connected to the reversing valve. The thermostat sends a signal to the electronic control board when the defrosting operation should be terminated.

Abstract: An air conditioner control system comprises an outdoor unit having a compressor controlled by pulse-width modulation, and a plurality of indoor units. Each of the plurality indoor units has an indoor control unit to calculate a respective required individual cooling capacity, and an indoor communication circuit unit through which the required individual cooling capacity calculated is transmitted. The outdoor unit has an outdoor control unit producing a duty cycle control signal in response to the required individual cooling capacity transmitted from the indoor units to control the capacity of the compressor, and an outdoor communication circuit unit to communicate the indoor communication circuit unit of respective ones of the plurality of indoor units.

Abstract: In a hybrid compressor for a vehicle where a vehicle engine is stopped when the vehicle is temporally stopped, a pulley, a motor and a compressor can be driven in independent from each other, and are connected to a sun gear, planetary carriers and a ring gear of a planetary gear. A rotational speed of the motor is adjusted by a controller, so that a rotational speed of the compressor is changed with respect to a rotational speed of the pulley. Accordingly, production cost of the hybrid compressor and the size thereof can be reduced, while a cooling function can be ensured even when the vehicle engine is stopped.

Abstract: In one aspect, a fill tube assembly for supplying water to an icemaker is described. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises a grommet comprising and inlet and an outlet, and a fill tube configured for coupling to the grommet outlet. The fill tube comprises a slot extending from one end thereof. In another embodiment, the assembly comprises tape at least partially wrapped around a portion of the fill tube for facilitating heating at least the fill tube portion.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an air-cargo container (1), which is equipped with a modular refrigerating unit (24). The refrigerating unit (24) is attachable into the container shell in substantially one piece. Preferably, a control unit (26) for the modular refrigerating unit (24) is also provided as one single module. The refrigerating unit (24) comprises the entire enclosure of an airflow path around an icebox, and is preferably mounted at a small distance from the wall (20) and ceiling (10) of the container (1). Simple positioning elements facilitate the actual positioning and mounting procedure. The refrigerating unit (24) preferably comprises sealing flanges which during mounting by the positioning elements automatically are fitted into elements at the container wall (20). A manufacturing method is also disclosed, which comprises mounting of modular units (24, 26) into a shell of an air-cargo container (1).

Abstract: A nested cooler system for temporary storage of perishable food stuffs and more particularly to articles for convenient, temporary storage of human breast milk and infant formulas. The inner and outer coolers jointly or independently receive the perishable foodstuffs and freezable gel packs for cooling the perishable foodstuffs. The gel packs can be frozen and thawed several times and temporarily keep containers of milk within an acceptable temperature range to prevent spoilage. The gel packs fit within pockets in the coolers to maintain proper positioning of the gel packs relative to the bottles.

Abstract: A portable cooler having a body portion, including a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, and a pair of opposing side portions. The body portion defines an internal cavity. The cooler includes a lid portion that is in communication with the body portion. The internal cavity has at least one partition member disposed therein that is lying generally parallel to the bottom face. The at least one partition member divides the internal cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion. The at least one partition member includes a plurality of holes formed therein such that ice can be positioned with the contents of the cooler in the upper portion and water can flow through the plurality of holes to accumulate in the lower portion as the ice melts.

Abstract: Oxygen-containing gas comprising no more than about 50 mol % oxygen is fed (150) to an auxiliary separation column (40) in a multiple column cryogenic air distillation system comprising at least a higher pressure (“HP”) column (10) and a lower pressure (“LP”) column (30) for separation into nitrogen-rich overhead vapor and oxygen-rich liquid. Oxygen-rich liquid is fed (154) from the auxiliary column (40) to an intermediate location in the LP column (30). The auxiliary column (40) is refluxed with a liquid stream from or derived from the HP column (10). One advantage of the invention is that the diameter of the upper sections (II, III) of the LP column (30) need no longer be larger than the diameter of the rest of the column system thereby increasing the capacity of the column system (under the constraint of a defined maximum column section diameter).

Abstract: A decorative object, particularly jewelry such as a ring, includes an annular body on which is slidably mounted a movable member having the shape of a sleeve. Slideways are provided in a hollow annular space of the annular body and coact with shoes secured to the sleeve. Thus, the sleeve does not touch the visible external surface of the annular body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prongless setting for mounting a gemstone and a method of manufacturing the same. The setting includes a base that is formed from a flat piece of metal, which is bent into the shape of a box having an open top. Two arcuate members are provided along the top edges of the box. A gemstone is placed into the open top of the box and the two arcuate members are bent over the top of the stone to retain it in the setting. The present invention further provides for the method of stamping the blank that is suited for bending into the setting described above. Finally, the present invention provides for forming a chain using a plurality of settings and gemstones that can be further incorporated into a finished piece of jewelry.

Abstract: A silica glass member for semiconductor in which each concentration of Fe, Cu, Cr and Ni is 5 ppb or less and the concentration of an OH group is 30 ppm or less and which has a viscosity of 1013.0 poise or more at 1200° C. is provided as a silica glass member for semiconductor having high heat-resistance and higher purity.

Abstract: A neutral blue-green heat treatable and matchable glass laminate or I.G. unit employs a layer system whose visible transmittance increases by at least 4% during heat treatment and whose &Dgr;E*ab is less than about 3.0 and &Dgr;a* is less than about 0.7. The sputter coated layer system includes a silver layer sandwiched between nichrome layers and thereafter layers of Si3N4.

Abstract: The level of precious-metal inclusions in glass products, e.g., glass substrates for liquid crystal displays, is reduced by stirring molten glass in a stir chamber (11) under conditions such that the magnitude of the shear stress &tgr; on the chamber's wall (19) and on the surfaces of the stirrer (13) is reduced while at the same time, the Q•E product for the system is kept high, where Q is the flow of glass through the stirring system and E is the system's stirring effectiveness.