Abstract: A material handling system for use in storing and moving goods within multi-level storage warehouses, ocean going vessels and the like wherein storage areas are provided on at least one of the levels and wherein goods are automatically transferred to and from the storage areas and between the various levels by self-propelled load transfer vehicles. The load transfer vehicles move across the surface of the various levels and are also movable under their own power within open vertical trunks between the levels to thereby move goods to any desired area within the system, warehouse or vessel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wind tunnel designed to operate along a vertical section such that air currents, generated by appropriate fans, meet in a vertical area wherein the air currents are capable of lifting objects in this vertical area. the lifting effect may be seen on the outside of the wind tunnel as the tunnel is built from translucent materials. The viewing and lifting of bodies in the vertical section of the tunnel allows both their display and for measurements to be taken of the bodies.

Abstract: An installation bracket system for use in combination with a length of crown molding for securing the crown molding adjacent to the junction of a wall surface and a ceiling surface, the installation bracket system including one or more installation brackets, each of the one or more installation brackets having first support member and a second support member, each of the support members having a mounting portion and an integrally formed supporting portion, the mounting portion having a base formed with apertures to receive fasteners therethrough for securement of the first support member and the second support member to the wall surface and ceiling surface, respectively, and a backing member extending between the first support member and the second support member, the backing member having a front surface, the crown molding being secured against the front surface of the backing member.

Abstract: A system and method for the safe storage of vehicles wherein a storage structure is provided having a first section in which vehicles are stored in vertically oriented cells with each vehicle being carried within a vehicle storage unit such that the units may be stacked one upon another and wherein at least one transfer vehicle is provided for selectively engaging and conveying the vehicle storage units along an overhead grid track system between the first section and a second section wherein the grid track system is at least partially oriented over a roadway such that the at least one transfer vehicle may be used to either lift or lower a vehicle contained within a vehicle storage unit relative to the roadway and move the vehicle storage unit to and from a storage position in one of the vertical storage cells of the first section of the storage structure.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus has a cooling section, a motor section, a suction section and control module. The motor section drives the suction section to draw vacuum air through inlet and exhaust vacuum air through outlet. The motor section also drives the cooling section to draw cooling air through cooling air inlet, and push it through the motor section to cool the motor section. The control module controls the operation of the motor section. The control module is located in the cooling air path after the motor section. The cooling air for the motor section also cools the control module. The cooling section, motor section, suction section and control module are integrally mounted to form a single unit.

Abstract: A device for forming a Jacquard type shed including a plurality of electric actuators (61) and control means (C1, C21) for controlling each actuator (61) suitable for generating a signal (S211) representative of a value of at least one parameter (A). The control means includes an analyzer (C?21) for analyzing, for at least one pick (dn), a design that corresponds to one or more picks. The control means also includes a unit (C?21) for determining a modification factor on the basis of the result of the analysis carried out by the analyzer (C?21), in order to modify the value of the parameter (A) as determined by a computer.

Abstract: This method for measuring the diameter of a circular track on a component comprises: a) a step (162) of moving the component along a measurement path, b) as the component is moving along the measurement path, a measurement step (170), for measuring at least one parameter, without contact with the component, c) a step (186) of determining the diameter of the circular track from the parameters measured. During step a) a robot continuously moves the component at an instantaneous speed that is never zero along the measurement path and an instantaneous acceleration that never changes sign along the measurement path.

Abstract: The coupling comprises a male plug (3) and a female element (2). A retaining latch (20) for retaining the plug (5) in the female element (7) is movable between a first position in which said latch (20) is capable of retaining the plug (5) engaged to a first depth in the female element (7) in which it is connected in leaktight manner to said female element, and a second position in which said latch (20) is suitable for retaining the male plug (5) engaged to a second depth that is smaller than the first depth. The latch (20) is configured in such a manner as to be returned (F3) towards the second position at least in part by positive pressure in a passage (4, 17, 26, 34) for purging the downstream pipe when the plug is at the second depth. In a variant embodiment, the coupling includes an adapter that the latch is suitable for retaining.

Abstract: A female coupling for receiving a male coupling element and including a female element and a body delimiting a receiving zone. The female element includes a passage having a reduced opening that is closed by a valve and a cylindrical bore for receiving a male connection element. The female element is connected to the body by a nut and a ring member that engage one another in a manner to permit radial displacement of the female element to the body in order to facilitate the alignment of an elongated axis of the male element with an elongated axis along the passage of the female element as the male element is inserted within the cylindrical bore of the female element.

Abstract: The present superstructure involves, for each upright, a spacer section bar (3), a hinge-bearing section bar (6), a hinge (8), a piston (13) that helps to lift the pane (1), and is completed by a gripper (9) for supporting the pane (1), a closing section bar (11) and a gasket; the section bar (3) has a box section so that it can be adjusted to be joined together with the section bar (6); each hinge (8) is fixed to the section bar (6) and at its end to be fixed to the gripper (9), bears conical guides (8.1) suitable for fitting the conical arms (9.1) situated on the gripper (9) itself; a gasket (12) is fixed to the gripper (9); where spherical panes (1) are involved, hinges (15) are used containing a body (15.1) and a connecting piece (15.2) that can be rotated with respects to the body (15.1) so that the panes (1) can be fitted on at different lengths of the circular arc.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for quickly characterizing the profile of a surface of a processed workpiece using a non-contact scanner, such as a laser scanner, in preparation for subsequent machining. The method determines the location of a plurality of features of a processed workpiece on a machine tool, and includes steps of reading a first list of approximate feature locations, defining a scan path based on the first list, scanning a profile of the workpiece along the scan path and calculating an actual location of each feature of the plurality of features based on the profile. The system and method are well suited to determine the location of features such as holes in welder header boxes.

Abstract: This children's carriage (1) comprises a frame (10) that supports a seat or the like for the child, equipped with a rear bar for pushing the carriage. The frame is equipped, at the front with a warning light controlled by means of a control switch provided on the push bar in order to limit the risks of collisions between the children's carriage and vehicles traveling in proximity thereto such as automobiles. In order to confer a good-looking aesthetic appearance to children's carriage, particularly at the warning light, the frame is equipped with a front wheel (18), which is supported on the ground and joined to the frame by a fork (22?) that is articulated with regard to the frame, an external housing (26) of the light (24) forming, at least in part, a decorative element in the area of the articulation of the fork with regard to the frame.

Abstract: A system and method for the safe storage of boats wherein a storage structure is provided having a first section in which boats are stored in vertically oriented cells with each boat being carried within a boat storage unit such that the units may be stacked one upon another and wherein at least one transfer vehicle is provided for selectively engaging and conveying the boat storage units along an overhead grid track system between the first section and a second section wherein the grid track system is at least partially oriented over a body of water such that the at least one transfer vehicle may be used to either lift or lower a boat contained within a boat storage unit relative to the body of water and move the storage unit to and from a storage position in one of the vertical storage cells of the first section of the storage structure.

Abstract: The inventive method consists in supplying motion instructions (300) at least including information about the path geometry (320) and load instructions (310) to a path generator (400), calculating an allied load signal (800), transmitting said applied load signal (800) to the path generator (400), calculating motion instructions (500) along the path in such a way that the deviation between the projection of the applied load on a tangent to said path and the projection of the instruction on said tangent is minimized and in transmitting said motion instructions (500) to means for actuating a robot (600). A device comprising means (200, 400, 700) for carrying out said control is also disclosed.

Abstract: The light articulation ball-joint comprises a metal inner ring and a metal outer ring, provided respectively with a spherical outer surface and a spherical inner surface. The ball-joint also comprises a first contact layer, applied to the spherical surface of one of the rings, and a second contact layer, applied to the spherical surface of the other ring. According to the invention, the first contact layer has a hardness which is less than the hardness of the second contact layer and a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the second contact layer, the first contact layer further being adapted to release particles of solid lubricant by friction with the second contact layer.

Abstract: The cartridge comprises two ceramic disks (20, 24) for regulating the temperature and flow of a mixture (M) of two entering fluids. In order to ensure that the temperature of the mixture remains lower than a predetermined value, the cartridge comprises thermostatic means (16) designed for, in the event of a high-temperature mixture, automatically shutting off, upstream from these disks, the circulation of the entering fluid (C) of the highest temperature.

Abstract: A system, process and method for data encryption and transmission are disclosed. By adopting the paradigm of a pre-paid self addressed express envelope end-users will interact with this invention in much the same way they interact with traditional delivery systems. They simply provide the content, and delivery takes place without any further user intervention. The encryption is a “software appliance”. This software already knows the identity of the sender and the receiver and the encryption key that is to be used; all it needs from the user is the information which is to be securely transported.

Abstract: The invention concerns a band not provided with a dilatable portion, characterized in that it comprises different successive separate zones (A, B, C) formed on its entire developed length, while forming a single-piece and single-unit assembly, and its two ends (1a), (1b) are specifically configured to form flexible nesting and position-locking male-female parts by defining a first head zone (A) and a second rear and anchoring zone (B) forming a main tip and integrated into each other, and between said two zones, the ring comprises a third intermediate connecting zone (C) with solid cross-section over the main part of its length, designed to be more specifically pressed on the part of the stomach to be enclosed.

Abstract: This machine for marking hollow parts comprises a marking member designed to be on contact in at least one line of tangency with a hollow part for it to be marked, and a first and a second mandrel capable of supporting respectively a first part to be marked and a second part previously marked. A control camera is placed at a focal length from the marked surface of the second part. The first mandrel is capable of moving the first part relative to the marking member and the movement of the second mandrel is slaved and identical to that of the first mandrel. The camera is capable of moving parallel to, and in synchronism with, the line of tangency between the marking member and the first part.