Abstract: The present invention relates to a fan guard which utilizes an associated electric motor body for increased support and rigidity. The fan guard includes an inner housing member which mounts to an electric motor body. A plurality of circumferentially spaced reinforcing ribs is each connected at an inner end to the inner housing member. Each reinforcing rib extends radially outward therefrom. A plurality of spaced fan guard ribs is connected at an inner end to the inner housing member and extends radially outward therefrom. A rim extends circumferentially around the plurality of fan guard ribs and is connected to an outer end of each of the fan guard ribs.

Abstract: A substrate having a barrier comprising a raised rim to prevent an in-mold coating from flowing into a gate pin assembly or substrate injection inlet area wherein a substrate is injected into the mold cavity. The barrier prevents cross contamination between a substrate resin orifice and the in-mold coating. A method for isolating an injection inlet area or gate pin assembly from in-mold coatings is also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for image classification. More particularly, the present invention provides a technique to classify an image as a picture, a graphic or a mixed mode image. The classification is based on an approximation of a segmentation. The approximation is HVQ-LUT-based and outputs classification maps indicating whether pixels are background, text or pictures. Said classification maps are filtered to eliminate odd isolated samples and the resulting count of picture, text and background pixel is analyzed before concluding whether the image has pictorial, graphical or mixed contents.

Abstract: A method of positioning a vehicle chassis of a stationary vehicle in approximate alignment with a predetermined datum is provided. The vehicle has an axle and a fluid suspension system. The fluid suspension system includes a control device, a pressurized fluid source and an exhaust passage. The pressurized fluid source and the exhaust passage are in fluid communication with the plurality of fluid suspension members through the control device. The vehicle also includes an electronic control unit operatively associated with the control device. The method including steps of providing an alignment sensor supported on the chassis for outputting a signal indicative of the orientation of the chassis to the electronic control unit and acquiring a signal output by the alignment sensor. Another step includes comparing the signal from the alignment sensor to alignment data stored in the electronic control unit.

Abstract: Toggle retainers are disclosed for toggle connection assemblies of conveyor pans of a chain scraper conveyor or guide troughs of a mining machine guide used in underground mining operations. The toggle retainers feature laterally open toggle pockets into which toggles can be readily inserted. The toggles have toggle heads that are connected in one piece with one another, with at least one of the toggle heads having a bolt tongue. A toggle retainer can be affixed to one of the toggle pockets by extending the retainer under one or more wall projections. The toggle retainer is designed so as to have multiple parts, with a bolt element, in the assembled state, extending over the bolt tongue and under the wall projections. To ensure a secure placement of the toggle in the toggle pockets, a filler element can be form-fittingly inserted between the bolt element and the back wall of the toggle pocket and connected to the bolt element via a screw joint.

Abstract: An electric arc welder for depositing weld metal along a groove between two edges of a metal workpiece where the welder comprises a first electrode driven by a first wire feeder toward a point in said groove, a second electrode driven by a second wire feeder toward the point and a main power source with a first output terminal connected to the first electrode and a second output terminal connected both to the second electrode and directly or indirectly to the metal workpiece to create a second electrode path and a workpiece path. The power source includes a high speed switching output stage for creating current with a selected AC waveform between the first and second output terminals where the waveform of the main power source is generated by a waveform generator controlling a pulse width modulator circuit to determine the current operation of the output stage.

Abstract: A torque measuring device for a rotating body includes: a rotary section integrally including a first flange, a second flange, and a hollow cylinder disposed between the first and second flanges; a plurality of torque detectors disposed at the inner circumference of the hollow cylinder; and a light receiving unit. The torque measuring device described above further includes: a light emitting element disposed at the rotational center axis of the rotary section and adapted to emit light based on an output from each of the torque detectors thereby sending an optical signal; a light branching unit to branch the optical signal into a plurality of subsequent signals; and a plurality of passages formed in the rotary section and allowing respective subsequent signals to exit out the rotary section and to be received by the light receiving unit.

Abstract: A welder using a circuit or method of changing polarity of an AC welding current comprising: the generation of a polarity changing signal, commanding a change in the polarity of the current a given time after generation of the polarity changing signal and reducing the given time upon detection of a short in the welding current.

Abstract: A stamped gate bar for a vending machine having an elongated body with opposing ends. The elongated body is formed first and second side walls extending from an integrally formed edge wall. A support member is disposed along at least one of the opposing ends, and an actuation member is also disposed along at least one of the opposing ends. A method of forming the gate bar from a sheet of metal is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a flat to stepped convex facing for grinding wheels used for the finished machining of parts, the apparatus including dressing wheels located only at the outer diameter of the Cubic-Boron-Nitride wheels to be dressed.

Abstract: An illuminated street sign illuminated by LEDs. A light engine comprising a light engine carrier, at least one LED, a heat sink and optionally a reflector and/or lens system is used to illuminate a street sign. The light engine can be retrofit into existing illuminated street signs after removal of the fluorescent tube, attached to the interior of conventional housings or be integrally formed with the housing of an illuminated sign. A pair of light engines are mounted in the housing at an angle to direct the light to the opposite side panel. Each light engine has a reflector. An additional reflector can be mounted n the base of the housing.

Abstract: A heater assembly heats media substrate in a printing system prior to imprinting a desired image on the substrate. A plate member engages the substrate and communicates thermal energy thereto for the heating. A laminar assembly is adhered to the plate member and includes a trace pattern for converting electrical energy to the thermal energy. A thermal storage member is interposed between the plate member and the trace pattern for distributing thermal energy throughout the thermal storage member. Two thermal fuses are serially connected, one at each end of the trace pattern and disposed relative to the thermal storage member for detecting an undesired temperature increase in the laminar assembly sufficient for opening the fuses and electrically isolating the heater assembly against a consequential thermal run-away causing insulation degradation and an electrical short between the trace pattern and the plate member.

Abstract: An integrated lamp/lamp electronics unit includes a lamp having a first end with first end electrical terminals, and a second end with second end electrical terminals. An end cap having an interior section is placed into electrical connection with the first end electrical terminals at the first end of the lamp. Lamp electronics are configured to control operation of the lamp and are connected only to the second end electrical terminals. The lamp electronics are carried on a circuit board having a configuration substantially matching the second end of the lamp portion. The circuit board is placed within the interior of a lamp electronics end cap, and the end cap is attached in a permanent relationship to the second end of the lamp.

Abstract: An output choke for a D.C. arc welder comprising a high permeability core with an inductance controlling air gap defined by first and second pole pieces terminating in first and second surfaces facing each other and each having two spaced edges with an intermediate area, said surfaces converging from said intermediate area toward each of said edges to generate a specific cross sectional shape for said gap wherein said choke is large enough to carry at least about 100 amperes of weld current.

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide is vaporized (20) and mixed (30) with ammonia gas in a ratio between 1:1 and 1:0.0001. The peroxide and ammonia vapor mixture are conveyed to a treatment area (10) to neutralize V-type, H-type, or G-type chemical agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, prions, and the like. The ammonia provides the primary deactivating agent for G-type agents with the peroxide acting as an accelerator. The peroxide acts as the primary agent for deactivating V-type and H-type agents, pathogens, biotoxins, spores, and prions. The ammonia acts as an accelerator in at least some of these peroxide deactivation reactions.

Abstract: An attachable and detachable continuously supplying ink container comprises two or more shell bodies that are separated from each other and substantially sealed. Each shell body is provided with an ink filling port having a cap, an air filter and an ink outlet port. Each shell body may form a continuously supplying ink container after it has been filled with ink. The ink container can supply ink to a corresponding print head or cartridge by means of a tube being connected with its ink outlet port. Each shell body of the ink continuously supplying container is provided with a connecting part for connecting an adjacent shell body of the continuously supplying ink container. Several shell bodies may be connected to each other and form a unit via the connecting parts. Accordingly, this provides convenience of use and a reduction of manufacturing cost and user cost.

Abstract: A smooth side trailer body or body structure comprised of a plurality of extruded panel members positioned adjacent one another. The extruded panels are arranged perpendicular to the floor of a trailer. The panels are held to the floor by a bottom rail. A top rail portion may be used to hold the panels together to form a more rigid wall.

Abstract: A floating liner for a container of welding wire which floating liner includes a tube having two ends and a passageway extending between the two ends. The floating liner is unsupported between the top of the container and the retaining ring. The floating liner is designed to provide structural support to the wire and added stiffness or rigidity to the wire to inhibit buckling of the wire, knot formation in the wire that can form between the retaining ring and the top of the container. The floating liner has a weight profile that causes one end of the tube to at least partially float above the top surface of a layer of welding wire or retaining ring in the container as the welding wire is paid out of the container.

Abstract: A user authentication information management method receives a meta-password from a user. A repository (34) lists network addresses (36) and associated handles (38), each handle having an associated encoded password. An authentication response from the user is intercepted. A modified authentication response is generated by identifying a network address to which the response is directed (208), searching for the identified network address (210) in the repository (34), identifying a handle (212) corresponding to the address based on the searching (210), decoding the password associated with the handle using the meta-password as a decoding key (214), and substituting the decoded password for the meta-password in the authentication response (216). The method also generates pseudo-random passwords (124) consistent with password rules (128). The repository (34) can reside on a client device (14), a proxy server, a local area network, or a security server having an Internet protocol (IP) address.