Abstract: A cabriolet includes a displaceable roof that can be secured in its closed position on a windscreen frame. To secure the roof, the cabriolet is equipped with at least two displaceable engagement bodies and at least one associated drive, which interacts with the engagement bodies to transmit the drive force via intermediary elements having a component that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The drive includes a drive member, which is generally parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle on the plane of the intermediary elements and which is used to displace a gear that controls the displacement of one or more intermediary elements by means of a coupling member that lies on the plane of the drive member.

Abstract: A process for selecting a surrogate part for metallic plating, the metallic plating of the surrogate part predicting results for the metallic plating of a new or predetermined part is disclosed. The process can include providing a reinforcement learning system having a memory circuitry and a processing circuitry. The memory circuitry can have a database with data associated with a plurality of surrogate parts and data associated with the predetermined part can be entered into the data input module. The processing circuitry can compare the data associated with each of the plurality of surrogate parts and the data associated with the predetermined part and select a surrogate part that affords predicting a plating result of the predetermined part.

Abstract: A brake disk lock having a lock body which has a first housing section and a second housing section which bound a receiving gap for the reception of a brake disk in a typically U-shaped arrangement. A locking bolt is provided at the first housing section and is movable along a closing direction from a release position into a closed position. In the closed position, the locking bolt engages into an engagement opening of the second housing section and closes the receiving gap. The closing direction of the locking bolt is aligned obliquely to the receiving gap of the lock body at an angle different from 90°.

Abstract: An anode material made from nanoparticles, said anode material including a homogeneous mixture of lithium-alloying nanoparticles with active support matrix nanoparticles, is provided. The active support matrix nanoparticle is a compound that participates in the conversion reaction of the lithium battery. The compound is preferably a transition metal compound, with said compound including a nitride, carbide, oxide or combination thereof. An electrode manufactured from the anode material preferably has a porosity of between 5 and 80% and more preferably has a porosity between 10 and 50%. The anode material nanoparticles preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 500 nanometers, and more preferably have a mean linear dimension of between 2 and 50 nanometers.

Abstract: A screen cleaning apparatus for use, for example, in connection with a discharge conduit of a sewage pumping station, may include a housing, a screen, a rake and a float. The housing may operate to contain a fluid (and/or define a container for the other components) and include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The screen may be positioned in the housing and define one or more apertures. The rake may also be positioned in the housing and have one or more protrusions, with each protrusion extending into a respective aperture in the screen. The float may apply a force to the rake so that the rake moves relative to the screen and in dependence upon variations of a volume of fluid received in the housing. Accordingly, the rake may rise and fall will the fluid level to remove debris from the screen.

Abstract: A high pressure fuel pipe construction for an internal combustion engine, such as a direct injection engine. A conduit for the fuel is open at each end and a ball having a throughbore is slidably positioned over one end of the conduit. A reinforcing sleeve is positioned inside the end of the conduit so that the sleeve extends entirely through the ball. The sleeve, ball and the end of the conduit are then brazed together to attach the ball and conduit together. A double chamfer is provided at one end of the ball throughbore to facilitate inspection of the brazing quality. Additionally, a loop is formed in the conduit and a dampener is attached to the loop.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus includes a four-point seat belt that has a pair of right and left shoulder webbings; and air belt portions that are respectively provided for the pair of right and left shoulder webbings. The air belt portions receive gas supplied from an inflator and then deploy so as to restrain a head H of an occupant P from moving forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A diagnostic device for a fuel vapor treatment system having: a canister that captures fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank; a purge passage for purging fuel vapor from the canister to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine; a purge valve provided in the purge passage to adjust a flow rate of fuel vapor; a processing device that depressurize an fuel vapor path extending from the fuel tank to the purge valve via the canister by a pump and performs a diagnostic processing for diagnosing a leak of fuel vapor from the fuel vapor path based on a change in pressure in the fuel vapor path during depressurization; and an angle detection device that detects an angle of inclination of the vehicle. The processing device determines, based on an inclination angle of the vehicle detected by the angle detection device, whether the diagnostic processing can be performed.

Abstract: A water craft (10) includes a hull (12) defining two cavities (18). An inflatable chamber (22) is arranged in each cavity (18), for displacing water from hull (12), in use, to increase the buoyancy of the craft (10). As the chamber (22) is inflated, it expands to reduce the free space available for water in the cavity (18), so as to directly expel water from the cavity (18). The chamber (22) can be deflated, in order to flood the cavity and thereby sink the craft (10). The craft (10) is intended to be operated in a normal buoyant mode and in a submarine mode, and includes propeller means (34). The craft may be in the form of a catamaran-type vessel, a jet-ski, or a submersible tank.

Abstract: A system and a process for energizing loads through a control unit, said loads being energized from a power network, said system comprising: connecting elements, each including a processing unit operatively connected to a respective power switch so as to lead the latter to opening and closing conditions, de-energizing and energizing a respective adjacent load that is electrically coupled to the connecting element; a pair of electrical conductors connected to a power network for energizing the loads and which are disposed so as to define an energizing means which is common to the connecting elements and to the control unit; and a signal conductor not galvanically isolated from the power network and which is common to the processing units and to the control unit, connecting them so as to allow the control unit to instruct, through the processing units and through coded electrical signals, the opening and closing of each respective power switch.

Abstract: An impact crusher includes a crushing chamber, a rotor mounted in the crushing chamber, and an apron having an impact surface, said apron being movably positioned within the chamber. The apron is pre-loaded to oppose forces generated within the crushing chamber. The apron is free to move away from the rotor in the event that the forces generated within the chamber exceed a predetermined threshold. During normal use, the apron is suspended within the chamber against a mechanical stop, and the apron is free to return to its initial suspended position after the removal of uncrushable material from the chamber.

Abstract: A suspension ECU 13 calculates a target characteristic changing coefficient a_new for changing a target characteristic, which is represented by a quadratic function, by use of the maximum actual roll angle ?_max generated in a vehicle body during the current turning state and a turning pitch angle ?_fy_max which is a fraction of an actual pitch angle ? generated as a result of turning, and changes the target characteristic by use of the coefficient a_new. Subsequently, the suspension ECU 13 calculates the difference ?? between the actual pitch angle ? and a target pitch angle ?h corresponding to the actual roll angle ? on the basis of the changed target characteristic, and calculates a total demanded damping force F to be cooperatively generated by the shock absorbers so as to reduce the difference ?? to zero.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a screw on lighted attachment for use with a fish wire, and which includes a conical body constructed of a durable and selectively transparent material, this further being adapted to being mounted to a remote end of the fish wire. A tip location of the body is configured with an eyelet portion formed there-through, and to which an end of a second retrieval wire is secured. An illuminating element, such as a light emitting diode, is housed within the body with a power source incorporated into the body and communicating with the LED element for activating the same to illuminate an area surrounding an inserted location associated within the body.

Abstract: A tactor system transforms cable motion to tactor motion. A housing defining a plane is adapted for placement proximate to the skin of a user. A cable is operative to deform a tactor element in the housing, causing a portion of the element to move outwardly from the plane of the housing, thereby imparting a tactile sensation to the user's skin. For example, tension on the cable may cause a strip of flexible plastic or other suitable material to bend at a living hinge that moves outwardly from the plane of the housing. The cable may be driven by an actuator including. Two or more tactor elements may be disposed next to each other or in the same housing, with different elements being activated at different times to enhance the apparent frequency of the stimulus. For example, a reciprocating mechanism may be used to operate a pair of tactor elements out of phase with respect to one another.

Abstract: Vise pliers with duck bill jaws and a brake attached thereto, having utility as a vise pliers tool and/or as a handheld sheet metal brake.

Abstract: In making frangible objects, including lead-free bullets and other projectiles, powdered metal primary and powdered ceramic secondary phases are mixed and densified at an elevated temperature such that the ceramic phase forms a brittle network. Any combination of metal and ceramic phases may be used to achieve desired chemical and physical properties. Any appropriate mixing, forming, and/or thermal processing methods and equipment may be used. Degrees of frangibility, strength, and toughness can be adjusted to suit a given application by precursor selection, degree of mixing, relative amounts of metal and ceramic phases, forming method, and thermal and mechanical processing parameters.

Abstract: A microwave antenna system having a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array having two spaced ends. A phase shifter is electrically connected to a first group of at least two adjacent antenna elements at one end of the array and is also electrically connected to a second group of at least two adjacent antenna elements adjacent the other end of the array. Individual phase shifters are connected to individual middle antenna elements for at least several of the antenna elements between the first and second groups of antenna elements. A switch selectively electrically connects a phase delay line in series between the phase shifter and the second group of antenna array elements to effectively double the number of good beam positions of the antenna array.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enantioselective epoxide hydrolase proteins isolated from marine microorganisms, which has high enantioselectivity to various epoxide substrates, and a method of preparing the epoxides with high enantio-purity by using the epoxide hydrolases. The enantioselective hydrolase protein of the present invention can be applied for the preparation of enantiopure epoxides with high bioactivity at a high yield.