Abstract: A radial air intake device for an engine or a power unit that includes a ring-shaped filter for covering the radial air intake. The ring-shaped filter includes a first fixed part and a second mobile part which is movable with respect to the first fixed part through actuator elements, from a filtering position in which the whole radial air intake is covered by the ring-shaped filter, to a bypass position in which the second mobile part uncovers at least partly the radial air intake.

Abstract: A retractable hardtop for a vehicle including a front panel and an intermediate panel disposed behind the front panel in an extended position. A back panel supports a back light and is disposed below and rearwardly adjacent to the intermediate panel in the extended position. A pair of sail panels are disposed below the intermediate panel and engage opposite lateral sides of the back panel in the extended position but are separated from the back panel in the retracted position. A linkage connects the front panel, intermediate panel, and back panel to the vehicle. The front panel is shifted by the linkage over the intermediate panel and the back panel is shifted below the intermediate panel as the retractable hardtop is moved from the extended position toward a retracted position. A method of retracting a retractable hardtop as described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wireless seatbelt monitoring system and method is provided for informing a driver that a seatbelt that should be latched is unlatched. The system includes a wireless seatbelt assembly having a buckle equipped with a piezoelectric element and a transmitter. The transmitter sends a wireless seatbelt status signal when the seatbelt assembly is buckled by harvesting energy during the insertion process. The wireless seatbelt status signal is transmitted to a dedicated repeater module, which retransmits the wireless seatbelt status signal to a receiver. Based upon the wireless seatbelt status signal, the system informs the driver of the status of the seatbelt assemblies audibly, visually, or both.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for preparing silanes which possess an isocyanate function, in which the silanes, after their chemical preparation, are purified and, after the purification, are handled exclusively in an atmosphere with a relative air humidity below 10%.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that includes a haptic actuator operatively associated with a pedal assembly of the vehicle, a human-machine interface (HMI) for enabling the driver to select between a plurality of fuel savings settings, and a controller coupled to a data interface in the vehicle and the HMI interface for causing the haptic actuator to provide feedback to the driver when an aspect of vehicle operation crosses at least one of a plurality of speed and acceleration thresholds responsive to the HMI setting. Additionally, a coaching method provides haptic-based feedback that will not interfere with the operation of the vehicle. This method of closed-loop feedback provides a timely signal to the driver in a way that will encourage a change in driver style over time, such as backing off the accelerator pedal to accelerate at a lower rate and braking earlier with less intensity.

Abstract: An energy absorbing structure 10 for protecting an impacted body, such as a pedestrian 12. The structure has an incident surface that meets the pedestrian and has at least some expanded metallic structure 18. A pair of wall support surfaces 20, 22 lie substantially in-plane with respect to a normal component of the impacting force. They extend from the incident surface in a direction opposite to the direction of the impact. The substantially in-plane surfaces also have at least some expanded metallic structure. A pair of basal surfaces 26, 28 support the in-plane surfaces, and also have at least some expanded metallic structure.

Abstract: A late call forwarding method in the IMS centralized service. During a call setting up, an ICCF receives a call request from the CSCF serving the called user, called session A, and the ICCF acquires a called user's roaming number and initiates a call to the called user. After receiving the call request, the VMSC serving the called user triggers the late call forwarding service according its determination. A CAMEL service is triggered when the VMSC initiates a call to the forwarding target. The VMSC exchanges messages with the ICCF and informs the ICCE about session associated information and the forwarding reason. When the ICCF determines that the forwarding is needed, it sends a response to the session A does not send the response message, after a telecom application server (TAS) receives the indication, the TAS initiates a regular forwarding service.

Abstract: A folding top apparatus for a vehicle includes a movable folding top and a support arm assembly. The folding top has front and rear roof parts and a corner bow. The support arm assembly includes a drive arm pivotably connected to the front roof part and pivotably connected to a main bearing, a coupling arm connected to the corner bow and pivotably connected to the drive arm, and a control arm pivotably connected to the main bearing and displaceably connected to the coupling arm whereby swivel motion of the corner bow is influenced by the coupling arm and the control arm.

Abstract: The invention provides a knitted spacer fabric having a tightly knitted bottom layer, a more loosely knitted upper layer and pile yarns extending across the space between the lower and upper faces. Settable material, is introduced into the space between the upper and lower faces and can be caused to set by the addition of a liquid. Until set, the fabric is flexible and can be shaped but after the material in space has set, the fabric is rigid and can be used as a structural element in a wide range of situations.

Abstract: Base compositions for addition-crosslinking silicone compositions are continuously produced by, in a first stage, homogeneously mixing and kneading organopolysiloxanes and flowable prehydrophobized oxidic reinforcing fillers in a continuous kneading machine with kneading chambers arranged alongside one another. In a second, downstream, stage of the process, the compositions produced in the first stage are subjected to aftertreatment in a mixing apparatus in which the compositions have been subjected to a mixing procedure with introduction of shear force.

Abstract: A controllable coupling assembly including a coupling member and an overrunning coupling and control assembly utilizing same are provided wherein a set of actuators are supported on a control member of the assembly for movement therewith to move or pivot respective struts received within pockets of the coupling member. Apparatus is responsive to a control pressure signal to exert a control force on the control member to cause the control member to move from its first position which corresponds to a first mode of the coupling assembly to its second position which corresponds to a second mode of the coupling assembly. The coupling assembly may be an overrunning clutch assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for improving the performance of a radial compressor 36 forming part of an inlet system of an engine 10 is disclosed in which the configuration and positioning of a flow management device 137 used to generate pre-whirl is optimized so as to produce a pressure drop below a maximum acceptable level. An inlet duct ‘I’ connected to the radial compressor 36 has a tapered end portion so that a flow management device 137 of a larger diameter d2 can be accommodated than the diameter d1 of an inlet port ‘IP’ to the radial compressor 36.

Abstract: A permanent-magnet electrical machine is disclosed in which the rotor has a fixed back iron and movable back iron segments. When the movable back iron segments are in a first position, such as in contact with the fixed back iron, the field strength is high. When the movable back iron segments are in a second position in which the movable back iron segments are displaced away from the fixed back iron, the field strength is low. The ability to weaken the field strength causes the constant-power, speed ratio to be increased and thereby increases the utility of the motor for applications in which a wide speed range is desired. The disclosure applies to both permanent-magnet motors and generators. In an alternative embodiment, the stator ring is provided with a fixed portion and at least one movable stator segment.

Abstract: A system provides a task scheduler to define a priority queue with at least one window and a queue-window key. Each window is an ordered collection of tasks in a task pool of the priority queue and is identified by the queue-window key. The task scheduler sets a task-window key equal to a user-window key when the user-window key is greater than the minimum queue-window key. The task scheduler can further set the task-window key equal to the minimum queue-window key when the user-window key is less than the minimum queue-window key. A maximum task limit per user for each window and a priority increment for the user-window key are further applied to ensure fair scheduling.

Abstract: A power providing system includes at least one inductive power outlet configured to be movable behind an extended surface. The inductive power outlet includes a primary inductor configured to couple inductively with a secondary inductor wired to an electric load. The inductive power outlet is mounted upon a positioning mechanism upon which the primary inductor may be moved behind the extended surface.

Abstract: An inclined-slit spectrograph includes a light source, an inlet slit, a grating and a detector including window through which the light beam diffracted by the grating is transmitted with part of the diffracted light beam generating reflections on the window or between the window and the sensitive surface of the detector. A rectangular inclined inlet slit compensates for spectral resolution losses.

Abstract: One aspect includes a system for monitoring a vehicle's health status. The system comprises a vehicle monitoring computer system configured to (1) receive information associating a cell phone with a vehicle, (2) receive vehicle diagnostic information including vehicle conditions, (3) automatically determine a severity status for the vehicle conditions based on pre-defined severity status values, and (4) if the severity status for any vehicle condition exceeds a pre-defined severity threshold value, automatically transmit a text message to the cellular telephone. Another aspect includes a system for detecting and monitoring a vehicle's health status. The system comprises (1) a vehicle monitoring computer system and (2) a vehicle computer system configured to communicate wirelessly with a cellular telephone located within a vehicle or its vicinity to transmit diagnostic information to a telecommunications network for communication with the vehicle monitoring system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical device (1) suitable for combining first and second pitch control orders for controlling the blade pitch of at least one rotary assembly, the device comprising a carrier structure (10) suitable for being fastened to a support (5) by at least one main fastener pin (13) about which said carrier structure (10) is capable of performing a pivoting movement. In addition, the device includes at least one connection lever (20, 30) per rotary assembly, and at least one secondary fastener pin (25, 35) per connection lever (20, 30), said secondary fastener pin (25, 35) being secured firstly to said carrier structure (10) and being fastened secondly by rotary means (26, 36) to the connection lever (20, 30).

Abstract: A method for remote medical consulting includes collecting diagnostic data using at least one wearable device contoured to at least a portion of a person's hand, transmitting the diagnostic data to a remote location, transmitting audio data and video images of the patient to the remote location, and communicating diagnosis and/or treatment information to the patient based at least in part on the diagnostic data. The treatment information may include a prescription electronically transmitted to the patient or a pharmacy. The method includes billing of the patient via credit or debit card, bank account, or a third party, such as an insurance company. The diagnostic data as well as the audio and video data may be transmitted wirelessly via cellular or satellite communication networks and/or using a wide area computer network such as the internet.

Abstract: A hybrid engine installation (200) includes drive element (204) suitable for driving a mechanical element (BTP, BTA) in rotation. In addition, the hybrid engine installation is remarkable in that it includes at least one gas turbine (253, 254) and at least one electric motor (201) mechanically linked to the drive element (204) to drive it in rotation.