Abstract: Improvements in the efficiency of two charge pump designs are presented. As a charge pump switches between modes, capacitances are charged. Due to charge sharing between capacitances, inefficiencies are introduced. Techniques for reducing these inefficiencies are presented for two different charge pump designs are presented. For a clock voltage doubler type of pump, a four phase clock scheme is introduced to pre-charge the output nodes of the pump's legs. For a pump design where a set of capacitances are connected in series to supply the output during the charging phase, one or more pre-charging phases are introduced after the reset phase, but before the charging phase. In this pre-charge phase, the bottom plate of a capacitor is set to the high voltage level prior to being connected to the top plate of the preceding capacitor in the series.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder contamination prevention system for preventing large and small contaminants from entering into a hydraulic cylinder, including a hydraulic cylinder rod cover for underwater use with at least one automatic valve for preventing water circulation between the outside environment and the enclosed environment of the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is stationary, egress of water from the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is retracted, and ingress of water into the cylinder rod cover when cylinder is extended, and an external and abrasive cylinder rod scrubber.

Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.

Abstract: Particular aspects provide devices and methods for adjustably and reversibly engaging a line (e.g., fishing lines, ropes, string, cable, wire, cords) at an engagement position and/or for demarcating positions/spans along a line. The inventive line-stop members are reversibly disengagable, and thereby slidably adjustable and positionable along a line, and can be used to define a user-selectable range or span. Particular embodiments comprise: an elongated line-clamping member having at least one pair of line-clamping arms and having a longitudinal axial bore suitable to allow slidable passage of a line therethrough; and a cylindrical engagement collar having a collar channel therethrough and slidably positionable along the line-clamping member, and suitable and positionable to reversibly hold the line-clamping member in a line-clamping/engagement position, and suitable and positionable to reversibly disengage the line-clamping member from the line-clamping position to reversibly disengage a line.

Abstract: A continuous plating system with mask registration is disclosed herein that uses drums and rollers with protruding pins which engage with guide holes in a masking belt and a lead frame. Through engagement with the pins the masking belt is keyed to the lead frame as the lead frame passes through a plating solution tank.

Abstract: A mixing drier in the form of a spherical mixer comprises an upper vessel shell and a lower vessel shell which can be closed together in a separation plane. A stirrer having a stirrer shaft and stirring elements is affixed to the upper vessel shell. The stirrer axis is inclined to the vertical. The separation plane is perpendicular to the stirrer axis. The stirring elements are located below the separation plane. A hinge is located in the separation plane and allows the vessel of the spherical mixer to be opened for cleaning.

Abstract: Particular aspects provide novel strike indicators attachable to fishing lines, that are reversibly disengagable therefrom and thereafter slidably along the line. Particular embodiments comprise: a buoyant main body having an axial channel with corresponding end surface openings; an retention member seat (e.g., groove, ridge, etc.) running around the main body surface; and at least one line retention member receivable and retainable by the seat, and operative with the seat to retain a line passing therebetween at two points. The retention member is displaceable from the seat by sufficient line tension, thereby disengaging the slidable strike indicator. Particular embodiments comprise two strike indicator stop members attachable at user-selectable line positions, and operative to delimit a slidable range of a disengaged slidable strike indicator. Novel methods for fishing, with a slidable reversibly detachable indicator, at a depth greater than the length of a fishing rod are presented.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing biodiesel fuel, i.e., alkyl ester, from vegetable and/or animal oil. A transesterification catalyst is prepared in a base catalyst tank by spraying alkyl alcohol under pressure through jets at metal hydroxide pellets until the pellets have fully reacted with the alcohol. The oil is heated and transesterified in the presence of alkyl alcohol and the transesterification catalyst in a closed, recirculating transesterification flow system under slight cavitation to yield product alkyl ester and product glycerol. Cavitation is achieved by permitting air to enter the transesterification flow system through an adjustable air inlet valve. When permitted to stand, product alkyl ester forms an upper layer that is decanted and subjected to purification steps, to remove particulates and alkyl alcohol from the product alkyl ester, and a lower layer of product glycerol is drained away.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for immediately immunizing an individual against any molecule or compound. The present invention comprises an immunity linker with at least two sites; (1) at least one first binding site that binds to an immune response component in an individual that has been pre-immunized with a universal immunogen, and (2) at least one second binding site that binds specifically to a desired compound or molecule, the target.

Abstract: A method of recommending songs to a listener. The method obtains a set of feature values for each of a plurality of songs. Whenever a playback event is generated for a song, a first reward and a Mood State Value (“MSV”) based on a set of parameters are determined. Each feature value associated with the song is associated with the MSV and for each feature value, a second reward is calculated based on the first reward and is assigned to the feature value. A current MSV is determined and any songs having a feature value identical to a feature value associated with the current MSV are identified. For each song identified, a cumulative reward is calculated by totaling the second reward assigned to any feature values associated with the current MSV that are also associated with the song. Finally, one or more songs are recommended based on their cumulative rewards.

Abstract: A magnetic latching solenoid having a coil assembly, a ferromagnetic core slideably fitted to linearly translate upon excitation of the coil assembly by a pulse of electric current, a stationary electromagnetic pole positioned in line with the ferromagnetic core, at least one flux conductor and a frame, all forming a magnetic flux circuit. A contact area between a face of the ferromagnetic core and a face of the stationary electromagnetic pole is reduced by respective recesses in the ferromagnetic core and the electromagnetic pole, each recess having opposing inclined walls extending from the respective face to a common apex defining a depth of the recess, and forming a residual planar surface of concentrated flux density surrounding the recesses.

Abstract: A cargo loader operable to load cargo into an opening of an enclosed trailer. The loader has an elongated bed with a front portion and a rear open portion. The opening of the trailer is positioned adjacent to the rear open portion of the bed. A pair of sidewalls flank the rear open portion and define an interior cargo receiving area. A carriage is moveably mounted to the bed and coupled to a drive assembly operable to move the carriage between the front portion and the rear open portion. The carriage is positioned on the front portion to allow cargo to be loaded into the cargo receiving area. The carriage is configured to push a ram longitudinally along the bed to push the cargo inside the cargo receiving area into the opening of the enclosed trailer.

Abstract: An exercise device including at least one positionable component configured to be positioned by a user. The exercise device includes a frame to which a collar is mounted. The positionable component includes a member slidably received within the collar that may be positioned therein by sliding. A locking assembly is coupled to the collar and operable to lock the member in a selected position within the collar, release the member from the locked position, and when released, allow the member to slide within the collar. The locking assembly includes a cam pivotably mounted to the collar and a cam follower assembly selectively biased by the cam against a portion of the member disposed inside the collar. The locking assembly also includes a pair of engagement members disposed inside the collar opposite the cam. The engagement members are moveable relative to one another and biased by the cam against member.

Abstract: A caster mount assembly for a front caster of a wheelchair. The assembly includes a first rotatable body having a first plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures and a second rotatable body having a second plurality of non-uniformly spaced apart apertures. The first and second rotatable bodies may be rotated relative to one another along a common axis of rotation to align a selected one of the first apertures with a selected one of the second apertures. The first rotatable body is non-rotatably coupled to the second rotatable body by a first coupler after the selected first aperture and second aperture have been aligned. A bearing fork assembly is non-rotatably coupled to the second rotatable body for rotation therewith. The second rotatable body may be rotated to orient an upright pivot pin of the bearing fork assembly substantially perpendicular to a support surface.