Abstract: A helicopter is fitted with a main rotor (1) having at least two blades (10, 20), each blade (10, 20) being provided with attachment elements (11, 21) for attaching it to a hub (2) of the rotor (1). The rotor is also fitted with one lift element (12, 22) per blade (10, 20), each lift element (12, 22) being mechanically linked to a single blade (10, 20) to vary the pitch of the single blade (10, 20) with which the lift element (12, 22) is linked.

Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle has a propulsion system including an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor each configured to operate in parallel and each configured to propel the vehicle individually. A rechargeable battery is configured to deliver power to the electric motor to enable the electric motor to propel the vehicle for a certain distance without operation of the ICE. The rechargeable battery is further configured to receive power from a household power outlet. A controller is configured to control the propulsion system to operate in either a normal emissions mode or a no-emissions mode wherein the ICE is disabled. The controller is further configured to direct the propulsion system to operate in the no-emissions mode in response to the broadcast of an external control signal.

Abstract: A hydraulic machine arrangement includes at least one hydraulic machine having a plurality of pistons reciprocating within corresponding cylinders. The pistons can be driven by a cam to operate the hydraulic machine as a pump, and they can drive the cam to operate the hydraulic machine as a motor. The hydraulic machine can be configured to selectively disengage a certain piston or pistons from the cam to operate at less than full displacement. Controlling the pressure in the cylinders corresponding to the disengaged pistons can be accomplished by a number of mechanisms, including selectively exhausting fluid from the cylinders, or using a jet pump to siphon off some of the fluid from a high pressure side of the hydraulic machine. Two of the hydraulic machines can be mounted together to help balance axial forces and eliminate the need for an expensive high capacity thrust bearing.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the amount of water in at least one fluid stream that is passed through a fuel cell stack comprises a humidifier arrangement, a sensor and a controller. The humidifier arrangement is operable to humidify the fluid stream. The sensor is disposed downstream of the humidifier arrangement and configured to measure at least one characteristic of the fluid stream. The at least one characteristic of fluid stream is indicative of the amount of water in the fluid stream. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor and to use the signal to determine a difference between an amount of water in the fluid stream and a target amount of water. The controller is operable to control the humidifier arrangement to control the amount of water in the fluid stream based on the difference.

Abstract: A container comprising a body (1), a lid (5) for the body (1), and a locking arrangement for securing the lid (5) to the body (1): the locking arrangement comprising a handle (23) which fits around at least a part of the periphery of the lid (5), and at least one locking device which connects the handle (23) to the lid (5) such that the lid (5) is movable by the handle (23), which is such that the locking device locks when the handle (23) is lowered with respect to the lid (5), and which is such that the lifting of the handle (23) away from the lid (5) causes the locking device (4) to unlock.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system and method are provided for detecting a slip condition between a vehicle tire and a road surface, processing contemporaneous vehicle data, such as torque or brake pressure applied, to determine a force of friction, and calculating a coefficient of friction. The coefficient of friction and location of the slip are broadcast to other vehicles driving in the proximity of the slip. The broadcasts may be utilized to notify drivers of slippery driving conditions at or ahead of the vehicle, and/or to limit torque and braking pressure applied to vehicle wheels to enhance traction and avoid slip.

Abstract: A vehicle having a vehicle body component and a body panel. The vehicle body component has a body mating feature. The body panel has a body panel mating feature that engages the body mating feature to secure the body panel to the vehicle body component.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an engine having at least two spark plugs per cylinder include controlling at least one actuator to alter combustion within a selected cylinder such that the combustion burn rate determined by ion sense current signals associated with the at least two spark plugs of the selected cylinder approaches a desired combustion burn rate. A desired combustion burn rate is determined based on current engine/vehicle operating and ambient conditions with ion sense signals from each spark plug analyzed to determine combustion timing relative to corresponding ignition timing. Ignition timing and/or other actuators are controlled in response to provide a desired combustion burn rate.

Abstract: A multiple speed transmission includes an input and output; a first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, each gear set including a sun gear, a ring gear, a carrier, and pinions supported on the carrier and meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear; a first epicyclic gearing assembly including the first gear set, the second gear set, a first clutch, a second clutch, a first brake, and first, second, third and fourth rotating members, said first clutch being operable to couple said first rotating member to the input, said second clutch being operable to couple said second rotating member to the input, and said first brake being operable to hold said fourth rotating member against rotation; and a second epicyclic gearing assembly including the third gear set, the fourth gear set, a third clutch, a second brake, a third brake, and fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth rotating members, the third rotating member being secured to the eighth rotating member, said third clutch being operable to couple said sev

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting audio signals. Frequency modulated carrier signals that each have an audio signal are mixed. The mixed signal is converted into a low voltage signal into which a feed voltage is coupled. The coupled signal is transmitted through a single line of a transmission cable to an audio signal infrared transmitter unit.

Abstract: A plug-in vehicle includes a vehicle body having an outer panel, a propulsion unit such as an electric motor, a rechargeable battery, a recharging port supported on the outer panel to receive power from an external electric power source, and a display subassembly connected to the battery. The display subassembly has a plurality of lights positioned around the recharging port to illuminate the recharging port and to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a condition of the battery.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a runtime versioning facility which allows for managing its configuration so that modifications made during runtime are propagated and take affect without restarting the system or a portion thereof. This allows the potential for 100% uptime while upgrading such systems. This also provides a system capability to process multiple configuration versions, and to be able to process such versions even while such versions are changing during operation of the information processing systems. For example, a system such as a registry server capable of transactional configuration changes is provided which manages its configuration so that modifications made during runtime are propagated and take affect without restarting the server.

Abstract: Semiconductor wafers of silicon are produced by pulling a single crystal from a melt contained in a crucible and slicing semiconductor wafers from the pulled single crystal, heat being delivered to a center of the growing single crystal at the boundary with the melt during the pulling of the single crystal, a CUSP magnetic field applied such that a neutral surface of the CUSP magnetic field intersects a pulling axis of the single crystal at a distance of at least 50 mm from a surface of the melt. An apparatus suitable therefore contains a CUSP field positioned such that a neutral field intersects the axis of the crystal in the crucible 50 mm or more from the melt surface.

Abstract: A method is provided for assembling a vehicle frame from hydro-formed tubular metal components. Each hydro-formed component has a surface feature that is complementary to a surface feature on an adjacent component. The complementary surface features allow the hydro-formed components to be interlocked together. The components are permanently joined by a plurality of welds. A front hoop, a rear hoop and right and left side hoops may be assembled and joined together to form the passenger compartment portion of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A power, split tailgate system is provided that allows each of an upper and a lower tailgate door to be simultaneously or independently driven between open and closed positions. The tailgate system may be operated in a chauffer mode where the lower tailgate door is opened to allow for the storage of luggage and other materials and in a manner that limits exposure of the passenger compartment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to a device for controlling and adjusting the ground clearance (h) of an aircraft (1) provided with at least one undercarriage (30), said undercarriage (30) being provided with a damper-actuator (2) for performing a damping function and a function of retracting said undercarriage (30). The method is remarkable in that control means (10) automatically activate adjustment means (11, 12) for adjusting the length of said damper-actuator (2) so as to maintain said ground clearance (h) at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A device and method for simultaneously manipulating multiple data storage cartridges or other storage elements in a storage library. The device housing includes an opening for receiving data storage cartridges. A gripping mechanism extends from the opening. The gripping mechanism is adapted to grip a data storage cartridge to be retrieved and to urge the data storage cartridge into the opening. One or more transport mechanisms are attached to one or more inner walls of the housing. The transport mechanisms are adapted such that once a data storage cartridge moves into the opening, the transport mechanisms will urge the data storage cartridge further into the opening until the data storage cartridge is held within the housing. The data storage cartridge can be moved further into the housing such that the gripping mechanism is free to collect additional cartridges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel derivatives of epirubicin, pharmaceutical composition comprising these derivatives, and uses of epirubicin and its derivative for treating HCV.

Abstract: A gear actuation mechanism for an automatic transmission, comprising: a motor; first and second gear actuation shafts; means of selecting one power path from each of two sets of power paths in response to rotation of the first and second actuation shafts, respectively; and means of alternately driveably connecting the motor to either the first gear actuation shaft or the second gear actuation shaft.

Abstract: For each of a plurality of interconnected gates forming one or more non-critical timing paths through a logic block, a gate size may be selected based on (i) a gate delay, (ii) a change in gate delay and gate power associated with downsizing the gate to a next available gate size, and (iii) signal arrival times at one or more inputs and outputs of the gate to minimize power consumed by the logic block while maintaining a specified cycle time.