Abstract: A liquid filled pressure/vacuum valve for underground storage tanks has a body having an inlet coupled to the UST and an outlet coupled to atmosphere. The valve has a suction zone disposed in the body and fluidly coupled to the inlet. The valve has a pressure zone disposed in the body and fluidly coupled to the outlet, with the suction zone in fluid communication with the pressure zone. The valve has a separator disposed in fluid communication with the outlet and the pressure zone, and a fluid that flows between the suction zone and pressure zone. The flow of fluid is determined by an increased force due to a pressure differential between the suction zone and pressure zone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 27, 2007
Date of Patent:
March 27, 2012
Assignee:
Franklin Fueling Systems, Inc.
Inventors:
Thompson W. Wyper, Milton Daniel McGill
Abstract: A connector, and coupling system, for portions of a belt for a conveyor system. A connector (10),(60) has inter-cooperating releasable coupling portions (11),(12),(61),(62). These can be provided at respective ends of edge portions of a conveyor belt to be coupled. The releasable coupling portion (male/female) of one belt portion is arranged to releasably couple to the corresponding respective coupling portion (female/male) for the end of a second belt portion. The connector system permits discrete sections of conveyor belt to be removed and replaced for maintenance or repair, or one or more belt sections to be removed or inserted to shorten or lengthen the belt as required.
Abstract: Multi-layer ground plane structures and methods of manufacture for integrated lead suspension flexures. A flexure in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an insulating layer, a plurality of traces on the insulating layer and a stainless steel base layer on the side of the insulating layer opposite the traces. The stainless steel base layer includes one or more void portions with voids in the base layer opposite the insulating layer from the traces and one or more backed portions with the base layer backing the traces. A plurality of first conductive ground planes are located between the stainless steel base layer and the insulating layer opposite the insulating layer from the traces at the backed portions of the stainless steel base layer. A continuous second conductive ground plane is located opposite the insulating layer from the traces at the void portions and backed portions of the stainless steel base layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 11, 2010
Date of Patent:
March 27, 2012
Assignee:
Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
Inventors:
Reed T. Hentges, Kurt C. Swanson, Peter F. Ladwig
Abstract: A solidification matrix includes a polycarboxylic acid polymer, sodium carbonate, and water. Exemplary polycarboxylic acid polymers include a polyacrylic acid polymer having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 100,000, a modified polyacrylic acid polymer having a molecular weight of between about 1,000 and about 100,000, and a polymaleic acid polymer having a molecular weight of between about 500 and about 5,000. The polycarboxylic acid polymer, sodium carbonate, and water interact to form a hydrate solid. The solidification matrix may be used, for example, in a solid detergent composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 8, 2010
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2012
Assignee:
Ecolab USA Inc.
Inventors:
Brenda L. Tjelta, Lisa M. Sanders, Michael E. Besse
Abstract: A mobile bearing knee prosthesis apparatus includes a tibial plate. The tibial plate includes a medial lobe and a lateral lobe conjoined in a dividing plane. The apparatus further includes a tibio-femoral insert and a stud-like protuberance extending from the tibial plate into the tibio-femoral insert. The stud-like protuberance includes a protuberance sidewall positioned in the tibio-femoral insert. The protuberance sidewall is bisected by the dividing plane and includes a pair of opposing eccentric convex arcuate portions, and the tibio-femoral insert is moveable relative to the tibial plate about an axis medially disposed from the dividing plane. A mobile bearing knee prosthesis apparatus includes a tibial plate and a tibio-femoral insert coupled to the tibial plate. The tibio-femoral insert includes a generally posteriorly positioned chamfered superior surface and defines a generally posteriorly positioned generally U-shaped space bounded at least in part by the chamfered surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 9, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2012
Assignee:
Zimmer, Inc.
Inventors:
Dwight T. Todd, Brian D. Byrd, James C. Harris, Kim C. Bertin, Linggawati Tanamal, Peter S. Walker
Abstract: Magnetic circuit comprising a gap bridging element made of a non-magnetic metal and a wound magnetic core comprising a plurality of stacked concentric ring layers of magnetic material having a high magnetic permeability. The magnetic core has a gap extending through a section of the stacked concentric ring layers of magnetic material, wherein the bridging element is welded to a lateral face of the wound magnetic core on either side of the gap. Welding connections between the bridging element and the magnetic core extend across the stacked concentric ring layers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 23, 2010
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2012
Assignee:
Liaisons Electroniques-Mecaniques LEM SA
Inventors:
Sylvain Demolis, Pierre Mariano Benedetti, Thierry Didier Chenavard
Abstract: The current invention provides processes and apparatuses for introducing slurry into underground geological formations thereby disposing of the slurry, while also sequestering carbon dioxide and collecting methane from the slurry.
Abstract: In one example an electronic device includes a housing that includes an A/C input or DC input, and at least one circuit substrate that includes electronic circuitry, such as graphics processing circuitry that receives power based on the A/C input or DC input. The electronic device also includes a divided multi-connector element differential bus connector that is coupled to the electronic circuitry. The divided multi-connector element differential bus connector includes a single housing that connects with the circuit substrate and the connector housing includes therein a divided electronic contact configuration comprised of a first group of electrical contacts divided from an adjacent second group of mirrored electrical contacts wherein each group of electrical connects includes a row of at least lower and upper contacts. In one example, the electronic device housing includes air flow passages, such as grills, adapted to provide air flow through the housing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 13, 2007
Date of Patent:
March 20, 2012
Assignee:
ATI Technologies ULC
Inventors:
James D. Hunkins, Lawrence J. King, Raja Koduri
Abstract: A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. The ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features enhance the utility of the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 3, 2010
Date of Patent:
March 13, 2012
Assignee:
Polaris Industries Inc.
Inventors:
James Bergman, Larry Holter, Richard Nelson, Lionel Hoff, Doug Moman, Joshua J. Leonard, Mitchell D. Johnson, Richard Raymond Maki, Eric Bjerkelvedt, Bradley Robert Morisch, Brian D. Krosschell, Louis J. Brady, Michael D. Schneider
Abstract: An air intake system for a vehicle is disclosed. The air intake system may include a first plenum housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and a fluid directing member which receives air from the fluid inlet of the plenum housing and directs the air away from the fluid outlet of the plenum housing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 16, 2009
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignee:
Polaris Industries Inc.
Inventors:
Richard A. Fredrickson, Jerry A. Olson, Jason A. Eichenberger
Abstract: A system for supporting an anatomical structure of the pelvis includes a surgical implant for providing support to the anatomical structure of the pelvis. The surgical implant includes a first tissue anchor including a plurality of projections adapted for tissue fixation, a second tissue anchor including a plurality of projections adapted for tissue fixation, and a sub-urethral support having first and second ends, the first and second tissue anchors extending from the first and second ends of the sub-urethral support. The system also includes an introducer for delivering the first tissue anchor to a desired anchoring site of the pelvis.
Abstract: A remaining charge capacity of a battery having an initial charge capacity is monitored. The battery powers a remote implantable medical device (IMD) that includes an active state, during which the remote IMD performs at least one function, and an inactive state, during which the remote IMD performs no functions. An active state charge consumption is computed based on stored parameters associated with an operational charge consumption for each function, and an inactive state charge consumption is computed based on a leakage current associated with the inactive state and a time the remote IMD is in the inactive state. The active state charge consumption and inactive state charge consumption are subtracted from the initial charge capacity to determine the remaining charge capacity.
Abstract: An apparatus includes an implantable device, such as a chronically implantable device that has a device body. One or more chemical sensors are coupled with the device body. A drug eluting substance is disposed at a location including at least one of on, directly adjacent, or near the one or more chemical sensors, where the drug eluting substance prevents fibrotic growth on the one or more chemical sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 4, 2011
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignee:
Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
Inventors:
Qingsheng Zhu, Ronald W. Heil, Jr., Mudit Jain
Abstract: This disclosure presents methods and devices for treating a tear, rent, incision, defect, aperture or delamination of the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices can employ fixation delivery apparatuses, fixation apparatuses, patch delivery tools and patches positioned, at least in part, in or on aspects of an intervertebral disc for treatment of the intervertebral disc or its components. In some aspects, these techniques include the use of this includes a fixation apparatus that includes at least one bone anchor connected to at least one disc anchor by a shortenable elongate member.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 14, 2008
Date of Patent:
March 6, 2012
Assignee:
Anulex Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Ishmael Bentley, Matthew M. Burns, Joseph C. Cauthen, III, Brian L. Dukart, Rodney L. Houfburg, Lawrence W. Wales, Bradley J. Wessman
Abstract: An integrated lead flexure includes traces with windowed or reduced width portions. The flexure includes a metal base layer with a plurality of apertures, an insulating layer on the metal base layer, and one or more conductive traces formed on the insulating layer and extending over the metal base layer and the plurality of apertures. Backed portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over the metal base layer have a first width, and unbacked portions of the one or more conductive traces that extend over the plurality of apertures have a second width that is less than the first width.
Abstract: An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and a power steering unit supported by the frame. The power steering unit has an output shaft which is held at its free end in an aperture, and rotates within a bearing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 14, 2008
Date of Patent:
February 28, 2012
Assignee:
Polaris Industries Inc.
Inventors:
Richard D Ripley, Eric P Nault, Scott D Taylor