Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying granulate material in a hopper by controlling the amount of gas which flows through the hopper to heat and to dry the granulate. The control allows to use a minimum amount of gas for heating the granulate to the drying temperature and to dry it with an optimal low energy consumption. This effect is reached by controlling the amount of gas flowing through the drying hopper as a function of the temperature difference between the temperature of the heating gas leaving the drying hopper and the granulate to be heated.

Abstract: A quick-release fastener for releasably attaching the head to the shaft of a lacrosse stick includes a fastener body and a tension pin, affixed to and extending through the fastener body, the tension pin including a compression spring and one or more end caps, the end caps protruding from one end, or two opposite ends, of the fastener body, and the tension pin being arranged such that when the end caps of the tension pin are compressed against the spring, the end caps are recessed into the fastener body.

Abstract: A support system for a heavy sash that is laterally removable from between opposed window jambs includes a pair of sash support arms pivotally mounted on each sash stile and counterbalance shoes that engage the support arms to uphold the sash. The support arms, in inwardly dependent positions, can engage the shoes as the sash is lowered onto the shoes; and the support arms, in outwardly extending positions, support the weight of the sash on the shoes. Hooks dependent from the shoes can lock the shoes to the jambs during sash removal or replacement; and the sash support arms, the shoes, and the hooks are all preferably cut from metal extrusions.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a hydraulic tensioner for applying tension to a chain without external fluid pressure supply. The hydraulic tensioner includes a piston assembly comprising a piston with a hollow interior and a piston bore surrounding the piston. An end of the piston assembly is submerged in fluid. An inlet check valve, which controls an entry of fluid into the piston, is located below the fluid level. An outlet check valve, located at an opposite end of the piston assembly from the inlet check valve, controls an exit of fluid from the piston. A non-return mechanism is coupled to the piston such that the piston extends but does not retract more than an included backlash amount. Utilizing the motion allowed within this backlash amount, the tensioner acts as a self-priming pump.

Abstract: A full color fiber plasma display device includes two glass plates sandwiched around a top fiber array and a bottom fiber array. The top and bottom fiber arrays are substantially orthogonal and define a structure of the display, with the top fiber array disposed on a side facing towards a viewer. The top fiber array includes identical top fibers, each top fiber including two sustain electrodes located near a surface of the top fiber on a side facing away from the viewer. A thin dielectric layer separates the sustain electrodes from the plasma channel formed by a bottom fiber array. The bottom fiber array includes three alternating bottom fibers, each bottom fiber including a pair of barrier ribs that define the plasma channel, an address electrode located near a surface of the plasma channel, and a phosphor layer coating on the surface of the plasma channel, wherein a luminescent color of the phosphor coating in each of the three alternating bottom fibers represents a subpixel color of the plasma display.

Abstract: A VCT phaser for an engine having a housing, rotor and a spool valve. The rotor having a bore comprising an open outer end, an inner surface, and inner end having a vent port and arranged along the bore, an advance port, a common port, a retard port, and a lock port. The spool valve comprises a spool with a first land, a first groove, a second land, a second groove, and a third land, with the area between the inner surface of the bore and the first groove defining a first chamber, the area between the bore and the second groove defining a second chamber, and the area between the bore and the inner end of the spool defining a third chamber. A passage between the first groove and the second groove for fluid passage provides fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber and lock pin.

Abstract: A real-time control system having a fixed loop time is provided. The system includes an input having frequency ranging both above and below the fixed loop time; and a method for utilizing information provided by a pulse wheel and sensed by a sensor. The method includes the steps of: providing a rotating shaft; providing a pulse wheel rigidly affixed onto the rotating shaft; providing a sensor sensing an information out of the pulse wheel, the sensed information comprising a first information and a second information; and when the rotating rate of the rotating shaft is greater than a predetermined value, averaging at least two pulses wherein one of the at least two pulses being related to the first information and at least one pulse being related to the second information; thereby, the second information is used along with the first information for a more accurate representation of the information.

Abstract: A device such as a chain tensioner arm and the method of forming the same are provided. The device includes a top wearing member and a bottom structural member, in which the device is produced by forming the top wearing member and the bottom structural member in a single molding cycle.

Abstract: In a variable cam timing (VCT) system (10a) which has a feedback control loop wherein an error signal (36) relating to at least one sensed position signal of either a crank shaft position (24a) or at least one cam shaft position (22a) is fed back for correcting a predetermined command signal (12). The system further includes a valve (14) for controlling a relative angular relationship of a phaser (42); and includes a variable force solenoid (20) for controlling a translational movement of the valve (14). An improved control method comprising the steps of: providing a dither signal (38) sufficiently smaller than the error signal (36); as temperature varies, changing at least one parameter relating to the dither signal (38); and applying the dither signal (38) upon the variable force solenoid (20), thereby using the dither signal (38) for overcoming a system hysteresis without causing excessive movement of valve (14).

Abstract: A VCT phaser for an internal combustion engine with at least one camshaft comprising a housing, a rotor, a spool valve and a ring-shaped reservoir. The housing having at least one chamber and the rotor having at least one vane dividing the chambers into advance and retard. The spool valve is comprised of a spool mounted within a bore of the rotor. The reservoir is defined within the bore by an oil dam and at least one of the spool lands. The spool has a first position in which a chamber is coupled to the supply and the other chamber is exhausting fluid and a second position in which a chamber is coupled to the supply and the other chamber is coupled to the reservoir. When a torque reversal occurs, hydraulic fluid pooled in the reservoir is drawn into the other chamber when the spool is in the second position.

Abstract: Known method suitable for implementation in a computer program product for VCT closed-loop control system generally includes an integrator to eliminate the steady state error. A novel method suitable for implementation in a computer program product includes a set point filter as well to reduce the closed-loop control overshoot. Low cam torque frequency can reduce the stability of a closed-loop control system when combined with the integral action, and it can also compromise the effect of set point filter. This novel method addresses these two issues by identifying the cam torque direction and pausing control updating when there is no torque available at the desired direction.

Abstract: In a variable cam timing (VCT) system that has a crank shaft coupled to at least one cam shaft. The system has at least one timing gear associated with the crank shaft or a cam shaft. The timing gear includes at least two groups of toothlike projections including a first group having a first distance to the center of the wheel, and a second group having a second distance to the center of the wheel. The first distance is different from the second distance. Whereby torsional energy for torque actuated purposes is increased for the VCT system. The system may further include a resonator which is positioned upon the at least one cam shaft, the resonator including at least one mass and at least one elastic element. Whereby torsional oscillation of the at least one cam shaft at a predetermined engine speed range is increased.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for the hypothermic preservation of cells, tissues and organs. In particular, the invention provides methods for the hypothermic preservation or storage of cells, tissues or organs in the vitreous state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a field emission display constructed using an array of fibers and an orthogonal array of emitter electrodes. Each fiber in the fiber array contains an extraction electrode, spacer, a high voltage electrode and a phosphor layer. The array of emitter electrodes consists of carbon nanotube emitters attached to conductive electrodes. The emitter electrodes are separated using non-conductive fibers. A getter material in the form of a wire is placed within the array of emitter electrodes to maintain a high vacuum within the display.

Abstract: A lead frame disposed within the confines of an engine cover, having an insulating portion and an electrically conducting portion. The conducting portion has at least one electrically conducting interconnect. Both the insulating portion and the electrically conducting portion form an integral piece for retaining and accurately positioning devices within an internal combustion engine. The lead frame includes a plurality of retaining elements for retaining or positioning of at least some of the devices; and an electrical connector member extending outside the confines of the internal combustion engine, the electrical connector member having a plurality of electrically conducting terminals in electrical communication with at least some of the devices within the internal combustion engine by means of the at least one electrically conducting interconnect, whereby at least some of the devices are retained and accurately positioned within the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A hinge assembly (1) used for a foldable cellular telephone, wherein a pair of abutment members (5, 6) are forcibly rotated by the biasing force of a bias means (7) to a neutral position where the center parts of the projection (54) and the recess (64) of the abutment members are generally aligned with each other in circumferential direction, the projection is brought into contact with the recess at both side parts of the abutment members in circumferential direction when the pair of abutment members are rotated to the neutral position, and the outer surface of the projection and both side surfaces of the recess in circumferential direction should desirably be formed in an arcuate surface and an outwardly projecting arcuate surface, respectively.

Abstract: A blade-type tensioner for applying tension to a chain comprising a base, an arcuately shaped blade shoe having a chain sliding face, a spring provided on a back side of the blade shoe, and a guide member. The blade shoe has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, where the proximal end portion is swingably supported on the base, and the distal end portion is slidably supported on a slide plate of the base. The slide plate is arcuately shaped to form a concavely arcuate arc face on an opposite side of the distal end portion of the blade shoe, and the distal end portion of the blade shoe has a convexly arcuate arc face corresponding to the concavely arcuate arc face of the slide plate. The distal end portion of the blade shoe is guided by a self-aligning action of the concavely arcuate arc face of the slide plate in such a way that the distal end portion is centrally positioned in a lateral direction on the slide plate.

Abstract: The present invention alters the flow path at the inlet of the sheet glass forming apparatus to improve quality. The bottom of the downcomer pipe is preferably shaped to alter the character of the vortex flow in the quiescent flow zone between the pipes. In another embodiment, a bead guide provides hydraulic stresses that are in opposition to the surface tension stress and thus reduces the influence of surface tension on the formation of thick beads on the edges of the sheet. The present invention also measures the temperature of the glass by immersing thermocouples in the glass, at locations where any defects caused by the immersion are in the glass that forms the unusable edges of the sheet. In another embodiment, the support structure for the trough is altered to substantially reduce the aging of the trough due to thermal creep.

Abstract: This storage media case has a base formed with a bottom wall sized and shaped to receive a disc and with peripheral rim walls further defining the disc-receiving portion of the base. Its lid is provided with its own set of rim walls that overlap the rim walls on the base when the lid is closed and thereby help to protect the disc from invasive contact. Mating hinge assemblies are formed at the back of both the base and lid. These assemblies allow the hinge elements to be snapped together with the lid registered over the base. The geometry of the base hinge assembly allows expansion room for the hinge clevis members on the lid to spread apart and snap over the hinge pins only when the lid is registered in a nearly closed position over the base. When the lid is opened, its hinge devises move down into narrower recesses in the base so that the base prevents the hinge devises from spreading.