Abstract: A recliner mechanism for use with a vehicle seat having a floor striker engaging bottom and a pivotally associated seatback. A seatback is pivotally secured to a fixed support and includes an arcuate lower surface upon which are defined teeth. A pawl is pivotally secured to the support and includes an upper surface with additional inter-engaging teeth when the seatback is in an upright position. A release cam secures to the support proximate a recessed underside location of the pawl and maintains the pawl in locking engagement with the seatback sector in a first position. The release cam rotates to cause the pawl to pivot out of engagement with the seatback, allowing it to pivot to a dump position opposing the seat bottom and concurrent with the seat bottom releasing from the floor striker and tumbling to a forward rotated position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vertical mill comprising a grinding track (1) and at least one grinding roller (2). The grinding track (1) is provided with a central zone (Ia) made of a harder material and two laterally adjacent edge zones (Ib, Ic) made of a softer material. The width (a) of the central zone (Ia) is smaller than or equal to the width of the grinding roller (2).

Abstract: A method for fabricating multi-sheet structures in which a first sheet is arranged on a planar support and a blowing agent is placed on at least one selected portion of the first sheet. A second sheet is positioned over the first sheet so that the second sheet overlies the selected portion of the first sheet and the first and second sheets are then secured together by friction stir welding in a pattern which encloses the selected portion of the first sheet. Additional sheets may be secured together in a like fashion. Thereafter, the sheets are heated to a temperature sufficient to decompose the blowing agent.

Abstract: A process for forming a lamination stack of superposed metallic laminations, comprising the steps of: providing a locking lamination having locking openings adjacent to respective projecting tabs; providing a passage lamination with passage openings, each having a deformed edge portion; axially aligning and fitting each tab of the locking lamination through a passage opening of the passage lamination; and pressing each tab against an adjacent face of the passage lamination, until each tab is contained in a respective passage opening of the passage lamination and partially seated on an edge portion of the passage opening, deformed to the inside of the locking opening of the locking lamination, axially locking the latter to the passage lamination.

Abstract: A split displacer piston assembly (1) in conjunction with a Stirling engine is disclosed. Said assembly comprises of two main parts, displacer dome (8) and displacer base (9). Within the displacer dome there are several heat shields (10). The displacer base has a piston ring assembly (12) installed in an outer perimeter groove and fixed between the displacer base and displacer dome is a displacer guide ring (11). In order to service and or replace these parts rapidly, the displacer dome and displacer base are fastened by threaded engagement.

Abstract: A convertible top assembly for a motor vehicle includes a rear panel, a front panel and a pair of outer side panels. The front panel is movably coupled to the rear panel and movable relative to the rear panel between an extended position extending between the rear panel and a windshield header of the vehicle and a retracted position stacked with the rear panel. The outer side panels are movably coupled to the rear panel for movement between a use position extending outwardly from opposite sides of the rear panel and a stowed position disposed inwardly from the use position. The convertible top assembly further includes a linkage operatively connecting the front panel and outer side panels so as to cause movement of the outer side panels between the use position and the stowed position in response to movement of the front panel between the extended position and the retracted position, respectively.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel protease, a polynucleotide encoding the protease, and a fibrinolytic agent comprising the same. The protease is obtained from a new gene source by using metagenomic library technology, and can replace the conventional fibrinolytic agent.

Abstract: A continuous, emergent, anytime process clusters input documents according to a similarity function within a node-based, distributed computing environment, for example, within a client/server environment. An agent (DAg) assigned to each document determines whether its document should remain at a node or be moved to another node to increase similarity clustering. An agent (SAg) assigned to each node may be operative to manage storage requirements within its node, and/or manage communications between the nodes of the environment as the DAgs operate. Typically a move request is issued to another node if it is determined that clustering would increase by moving a document to that node. In such an instance, the SAg assigned to that other node would probabilistically consider the move request in view of other such requests in sequence to avoid overloading. To enhance performance, documents may be preprocessed and given values representative of similarity.

Abstract: A suction muffler for a small refrigeration system, the muffler including an enclosed equalizing chamber acting upon a tubular connector and a fluid communication between the equalizing chamber and an acoustic chamber. The assembly simultaneously minimizes the noises of gas pulses inside the suction muffler and the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the tubular connector.

Abstract: Roller actuating device for flattening machines used for metal products in the shape of sheet metal, strips or the like, also used with similar machines for other applications, comprising a device for transmitting motion to driven rolls (8), extremely functional and capable of transmitting higher torques as well as their independent control. Such device overcomes the frequent problems concerning the space available for installing gimbal adapters. This can be achieved by using adapters (4) provided with teeth which, with the same flange diameter, are able to provide higher torques, and in any case, can be used in any applications in which it is necessary to have reduced operating angles of the adapters.

Abstract: A pesticide granule is provided that includes a base carrier particle. A liquid pesticide coating is applied to the particle surface. The coating may contain adjuvants. The coating has sufficient tack to adhere a second powdered pesticide to the carrier particle. The usage of tackifying agents to render the particle surface tacky enough to adhere powdered pesticide is reduced or eliminated. The powdered pesticide is sized to a mean diameter of less than 10% of the carrier diameter to promote adhesion. The synergistic rapid acting pesticide delivery associated with the granule results in the usage of less pesticide to control a given pest with reduced environmental impact. Bifenthrin is a representative of the liquid pesticide.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot having an adjustable height heel includes a frame portion with an ankle link pivotally supported on the frame portion at a first pivot axis. A detent rod is pivotally connected to the ankle at a second pivot axis, and a detent member is pivotally affixed to the frame portion at a third pivot axis. The detent member is selectively operable to receive and releasably retain a length of the detent rod therein so that the length of the detent rod extending between the second and third pivot axes may be selectably adjusted. When the length of the rod is so adjusted, the angular relationship of the frame portion and the ankle link is changed thereby changing the heel height of the foot. The detent mechanism may be activated by various means including fluidic means, mechanical means, electromechanical means, and the like.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting a future position of a horizon time Th of an automotive vehicle. The method determines the position of the vehicle at time T0 using GPS and the speed, acceleration and angle of the steering wheel at time T0 from appropriate sensors on the vehicle. A nonlinear mathematical model utilizing these factors is then created while the position of the vehicle at time T0+Th is determined through numerical integration of the mathematical model using an adjustable step size Tstep. The step Tstep is modified adaptively in accordance with the accuracy requirements of the vehicle.

Abstract: According to an internal combustion engine fuel injection control apparatus and control method, when an operating region of the engine shifts from a fuel cut region in which no fuel is injected to a low load region in which a small amount of fuel is injected, or visa versa, at least one pilot injection is executed ahead of a main injection in the low load region, and the number of pilot injections is determined according to the engine coolant temperature. This injection control makes it possible to ensure drivability while suppressing the amount of HC produced.

Abstract: A toy device for use in entrapping an object including a handheld implement exhibiting at least a barrel which supports a propelling mechanism and a trigger which, further upon depressing, actuates the propelling mechanism. A projectile includes a stem and a pair of mutually hingedly supported and opposingly actuation pads, the stem being supported upon the barrel and in contact with the propelling mechanism. Upon being discharged, the pads are actuated from a first position to a second rotated position, such as through the action of a lanyard extending from the handheld implement to a release plate associated with the projectile, and in order to entrap the object such as a winged insect.

Abstract: A failure diagnosis system that erases diagnostic information applied to a vehicle that includes an ECU for that stores a vehicle identification number (VIN) and diagnostic information (hereinafter, referred to as “VIN storage ECU”), and an ECU that does not store the vehicle identification number but stores the diagnostic information (hereinafter, referred to as “other ECU”) is characterized by being constructed so as to erase the diagnostic information stored in the VIN storage ECU and also erase the diagnostic information stored in the other ECU in connection with the writing of the vehicle identification number stored in the VIN storage ECU.

Abstract: A cargo securing apparatus for holding cargo to the bed of a vehicle such as a pickup truck includes a one-piece body and straps. The body has a first horizontally extending portion, a second vertically extending portion and a third angled portion. The horizontal portion extends either under or over the cargo. The vertical panel extends along the end of the cargo. Straps are used to secure the body to the vehicle.

Abstract: An audio/video production system is implemented on a PC-based platform, preferably utilizing various forms of removable magnetic, optical, or magneto-optical storage media. Specially modified cameras or other sources provide digitally data-compressed audio and video program materials in two formats, a first format having a higher data-compression ratio and intended for use in off-line systems to develop edit decision lists, and a second format having a lower data-compression ratio and intended for use in on-line editing and to produce the final representations of the programs. Off-line editing decisions may thus be developed on a PC using removable storage media, and final representations of the programs may be produced on-line in accordance with stationary-head or rotary-head digital-tape-based formats, such as DAT, 6-mm or 8-mm tapes. In an alternative embodiment, automatic and unattended editing, or extended program playback of more than 40 hours duration of digital video, is available.