Abstract: Multiple fuel charges are injected into a diesel engine combustion chamber during a combustion cycle, and each charge after the first has successively greater injection pressure (a higher injection rate) than the prior charge. This injection scheme results in reduced emissions, particularly particulate emissions, and can be implemented by modifying existing injection system hardware. Further enhancements in emissions reduction and engine performance can be obtained by using known measures in conjunction with the invention, such as Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR).

Abstract: A three-dimensional object may be imaged from several viewpoints distributed about the object, and the image obtained at each viewpoint may be stored in conjunction with the viewpoint's coordinates about the object. The object's image can then be transmitted for display over a client-server computer network, and the user may issue commands to manipulate the object, so as to very accurately simulate manipulation of the actual three-dimensional object. The client computer may display the object's image from one of the viewpoints. If the user then wishes to manipulate the object, the user will issue a command to the server to index from the coordinates of the first viewpoint to the coordinates of some adjacent viewpoint(s). The images of the adjacent viewpoints will then be displayed in a sequence corresponding to the order in which the coordinates of the viewpoints are indexed.

Abstract: A system and apparatus is disclosed for providing percutaneous images to assist in performing an accurate tissue biopsy and to locate nuclear medicine tracer uptake within a living being. The invention provides superimposed, simultaneous ultrasound and nuclear activity images to assist in performing accurate tissue biopsy for any procedure in which nuclear activity is used to localize possible pathological tissue. The apparatus includes a medical instrument having at least a pair of radionuclide detectors capable of detecting the depth of tracer uptake within a region of interest, which can include locating the sentinel lymph node in a breast cancer patient. The radionuclide detector is coupled to, and in operable association with, an ultrasound probe for percutaneous detection of anatomical structure about the area of maximum tracer uptake. The radionuclide detectors and the ultrasound probe are pivotally connected.

Abstract: The ball clamp coupler includes a coupler housing wherein a coupler socket is defined, with the coupler socket having a bottom socket opening to allow insertion of a hitch ball. A rear wall is also defined within the coupler housing interior adjacent the coupler socket. A ball clamp moves within the interior of the coupler housing between an open (uncoupled) state wherein the ball clamp is substantially removed from the coupler socket, and a closed (coupled) state wherein the ball clamp is substantially inserted within the coupler socket. During such motion, the ball clamp is guided against the rear wall, whereby engagement of the hitch ball will situate the ball clamp between the hitch ball and the rear wall. The ball clamp is driven by a clamp driving member which extends from the interior of the coupler housing to its exterior.

Abstract: An agility ladder for athletic training and exercise use is shown and described. The ladder has at least two elongated parallel railings spaced by rungs extending between the railings. The railings are preferably flexible so that they may be folded to collect the rungs into a stacked or bundled configuration. The collected rungs may then be mounted on an elongated handle for storage purposes. The rungs are slidably mounted on the railings so that they may be repositioned thereon, but a locking arrangement is also provided to allow the rungs to be firmly fixed in place on the railings.

Abstract: An occlusion device comprising an occluding barrier, anchor means and means for retaining orientation. Preferred embodiments comprise means for urging the anchor means into position.

Abstract: A positioning device comprising a securing system for securing equipment thereto. The device may be removably clamped to an elongate support structure, and shifted to different positions on the support structure by remote control.

Abstract: An asphalt stability testing vessel includes a container, an external heater, an internal heater, an agitator assembly, a temperature controller, and at least one sampling tube. The external heater is disposed on the outside surface area of the container. The external heater is surrounded by a thermal insulator. The internal heater is located inside the container and at substantially the bottom thereof. The agitator includes a motor, a shaft, and at least one propeller. The top of the container has at least one opening for the insertion of a sampling tube. The asphalt stability testing vessel is used to prepare modified asphalt binder for numerous stability tests. The tests include external heat without agitation, internal heat with high agitation, and internal heat without agitation. The values of complex shear modulus and phase angle obtained from the modified asphalt binder are analyzed for separation and degradation.

Abstract: A snowplow mount is provided wherein a vehicle mount extending from the plowing vehicle is affixed to a reversing table, which is in turn rotatably connected to a plow moldboard at one or more pivots. One of the moldboard or the reversing table includes a bearing thereon, the bearing having a bearing bore defined therein. The other of the moldboard or the reversing table includes a pin which is elastically journalled within the bearing so that the pin and bearing may both rotate with respect to each other as well as translate with respect to each other in radial directions (i.e., in planes which are generally parallel to the axes of the pin and the bearing bore). Thus, loading of the moldboard allows the moldboard to translate with respect to the reversing table at the pivot as well as rotate.

Abstract: A method of storing information on a material (preferably a shape memory alloy), including the step of heating a plurality of crystals of said material in order to effect a structural change in each said crystal, wherein the information stored on said material is encoded in the arrangement of changed and unchanged crystals. Preferably the structural change is a geometrical change in the crystals such as from rhomboidal to body-centered cubic. A method of reading information from such a material is provided, including the steps of scanning the surface of the material using an electron beam or a laser, analyzing the reflected electron beam or laser light, and decoding the information.

Abstract: A milking siphon positioner for repositioning milking equipment within a milking parlor is shown and described. A swing arm is pivotally mounted within a bearing so that it may swing in a swing arc defined in a plane which is at least substantially vertical. A milking siphon suitable for attachment to an animal's teats is carried on the swing arm so that it is repositioned by the swing arm; for example, the swing arm may reposition the milking siphon to milking platforms situated on opposite sides of milking parlors. The swing arm may be selectively affixed with respect to the bearing at selected angles within the swing arc, so that the swing arm (and milking siphon) can be locked into desired positions.

Abstract: A thermal cycler for controlled heating and cooling of biological samples uses eight Thermoelectric Coolers (TECs), positioned between a metal sample plate and a heat sink (2). By altering the polarity of the applied current through the TEC, the temperature of the sample plate can be raised or lowered. When uniform heating and cooling of the sample plate is required, all eight TECs are connected in series and in the same polarity. To produce temperature gradients across the sample plate, the relative polarity of individual TECs is changed or they are bypassed altogether.

Abstract: A microtool mount includes an elongated finger terminating in a tip. The finger has a pair of valley edges from which valley walls descend to terminate in a valley floor, thereby defining a valley between the valley walls and floor. The valley extends from the tip along a path parallel to at least a portion of the length of the finger. A microcapillary or other rodlike microtool may be accommodated within the valley, and a fastening member, preferably a magnet, may be removably affixed to the finger above the valley to maintain the microtool within the valley. The valley edges are preferably planar along at least a portion of the length of the finger so as to allow the magnet to more firmly affix to the finger.

Abstract: A ball clamp trailer coupler for engaging a standard vehicle hitch ball includes a coupler housing wherein a forward coupler socket is defined, and a ball clamp which is movably situated within the coupler housing rearwardly of the coupler socket. The clamp has a clamping face which faces the coupler socket, and the clamping face slopes downwardly as it extends forwardly to conclude at a frontwardly-protruding lower clamping face edge. The clamp also includes a ramp face which slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the lower clamping face edge. When the coupler is lowered onto a hitch ball with the coupler located too far forwardly, i.e., so that the hitch ball is situated beneath the clamp, the hitch ball will contact the ramp face to push the clamp rearwardly out of the coupler socket rather than into the coupler socket (as will occur where the ramp face is not present).

Abstract: A flower stem cutting apparatus includes a cutting receptacle wherein a cutting chamber passage is defined, with the cutting chamber passage extending between an open cutting chamber top (wherein plant stems may be inserted for cutting) and an open cutting chamber bottom (from which cut plant stem ends may fall). A cutting blade is movable across the cutting chamber passage, whereby the blade may cut any plant stems therein. A cutting chamber floor is provided, with the cutting chamber floor being movable across the cutting chamber passage below the cutting blade so that it may, when actuated, at least substantially obstruct the cutting chamber passage. As a result, plant stems may be inserted within the cutting chamber passage until they rest on the cutting chamber floor, at which point the cutting blade may be actuated.

Abstract: An animal enclosure cover may be provided on an animal enclosure (such as an aquarium) to prevent the escape of animals therein. The animal enclosure cover includes a stationary panel and one or more clamping members, wherein the clamping members are used to affix the stationary panel atop the animal enclosure. The stationary panel is bounded by a peripheral frame having opposing upper and lower surfaces. Each clamping member similarly has opposing upper and lower surfaces, and the clamping member upper surfaces are shaped to extend in parallel relation to at least a portion of the peripheral frame of the stationary panel. The stationary panel may therefore be fit on the top rim surface of the enclosure rim of the animal enclosure, and each of the clamping members may be fit below the enclosure rim with the upper surfaces of the clamping members being aligned in parallel spaced relationship to the lower surface of the stationary panel.

Abstract: A tubular graft/stent includes a tubular sheath (10) having at intervals along its length a plurality of ring-like rigid members (11), which are attached to the sheath around their respective circumferences and are made of a shape memory material, so that when the members (11) change shape the sheath (10) adopts a new cross section in conformity with them along its whole length. The members may be discontinuous to allow the adoption of a contracted shape in the martensitic phase and an expanded shape in the austenitic phase. A graft may also have a side tube (14) which can be inverted so as to be housed within the sheath.

Abstract: The invention involves a variable valve timing actuator that allows the opening and closing of engine valves to be variably and individually controlled without using a camshaft. The invention utilizes energy regeneration so energy delivered to a valve while accelerating it is recovered while it is decelerating. Regeneration is preferably provided by potential energy storage devices such as springs. Energy losses are made up by adding energy to the actuator while the valve is stationary (or nearly so) in an open or closed state. This is done by (1) moving the spring seats in relation to the valve, thereby “charging” the springs in relation to the valve, and/or by (2) moving the valve with respect to the spring seats to “charge” the springs with respect to the valve. This energy addition is extremely efficient because it is performed after the potential energy within the springs has already been expended and the valve is sitting stationary in its open and closed positions.

Abstract: A vehicle wash system is shown and described which is particularly suitable for use in in-bay washing devices, i.e., tunnels or supporting frameworks wherein vehicles are parked and washed while they are stationary. Chemical lines supply chemicals (such as detergents, waxes, etc.) to water lines, and the chemicals and water are mixed in downstream mixing modules. The mixing modules are preferably provided in the form of vessels having enlarged flow areas, and may contain baffles or other turbulence generators therein. The chemical/water mixtures leave the mixing modules in post-mix lines to which gas supply lines may be connected for the purpose of generating foam, which is then delivered in the wash bay from a downstream delivery system. The downstream foam pressure has little or no effect on upstream mixing of chemicals and water, and thus foam having highly uniform properties is generated.