Abstract: Arrangements and methods for welding wire payoff sources. A tapered core and base plate, optionally along with a wire guide insert, are configured with a payout drum package and a cover containing a welding wire stack such that the welding wire may be payed off smoothly from the wire stack during an arc welding operation, without the welding wire flipping or tangling.

Abstract: A convertible seat that has both a seat and bed position. The convertible seat includes a stationary bed section and folding bed section that pivots relative to the stationary bed section. The folding bed section serves as the seating surface when the seat is in the seat position and the foot end of the bed when the seat is in the bed position. An air mattress is located between the stationary bed section and folding bed section when the seat is in the seat position. Inflation of the air mattress causes the folding bed section to pivot outward to create the bed position.

Abstract: A car seat for transporting a child in an automobile is described which is convertible from a rear-facing infant carrier into a forward-facing toddler carrier by the inclusion or removal of a separable headrest. The car seat features a belt adjustment system as well as a crotch belt adjustment system in addition to front and rear restraint attachment components.

Abstract: A system and methods for facilitating the automatic distribution of acquired images within a medical facility. Apparatus capable of displaying digital images within two or more operatories is provided. Apparatus capable of scanning scannable image media is also provided, to read an encoded identifier and a captured image from each of the scannable image media. The encoded identifier of any given scannable image medium is associated with one operatory of the medical facility. Apparatus capable of transmitting a read image to the apparatus capable of displaying digital images within a particular operatory in dependence on the read associated identifier is further provided.

Abstract: A hollow conduit, being primarily round, or having n sides wherein n is greater than or equal to three, and process for making the conduit is described herein. The hollow conduit is comprised of a polymer inner conduit having a pair of opposed ends and an interior and exterior surface. An overmolded corrugated polymer is bonded between at least a portion of the ends and at least a portion of the exterior surface of the inner conduit. The overmolded polymer has at least one flexible position retaining means at least partially embedded within. The flexible position retaining means within the overmolded polymer may be a metallic wire. The inner conduit may be a thermoset, and the overmolded corrugated plastic may be a thermoplastic.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for continuous casting of thin cast strip including removing oxides from the casting surface of each casting roll by contacting the casting surface of each casting roll with a rotating brush between the nip and the casting area, determining the temperature in segments along the casting roll surfaces or across the cast strip adjacent the nip, and delivering gas adjacent the casting surface between the rotating cleaning brush and the casting area regulated in segments corresponding to the determined temperature in the segment to control the quality of the strip produced. The gas delivery adjacent the casting surface between the rotating brush and the casting area may be done in at least five segments along the casting roll, and the temperature determination step may be done in a continuum such as by a scanning pyrometer. The temperature determination of the cast strip may be done between 0.2 and 1 meter from the nip.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques and compositions for arc welding consumables such as electrodes that reduce the energy otherwise required for the welding. Particularly, the techniques and electrode compositions can reduce the extent of contamination of weld metal in an arc welding operation. The techniques and compositions promote exothermic reactions during the welding process which reduce the energy otherwise required of the arc. Lower energy arcs can be of shorter length, which thereby reduce the potential for weld contamination by agents from the atmosphere or shielding gas. The techniques and compositions can also be used to selectively tailor shape of the resulting weld, achieve particular weld deposition rates, achieve particular cooling rates and thus influence weld properties, and also enable formation of certain phases in the weld metal.

Abstract: A situation analysis system for detecting and tracking moving objects within a limited space over a predetermined time period and for analyzing object combinations and episodes in relation to time as well as situations during the period of time, includes at least one tracking unit which has at least one sub-unit which is arranged and oriented to detect the limited space and moving and stationary objects disposed therein, and a central position data processing unit which for each real object determines a global position of the object in the detected space and generates a global object identification and an associated time-dependent global position data set. Each tracking unit has a data transmission unit connected to the central position data processing unit and allows bidirectional communication so that the central position data processing unit can simultaneously transmit data to each at least one tracking unit.

Abstract: A steel sheet having (a) a dual phase microstructure with a martensite phase and a ferrite phase and (b) a composition containing by percent weight: 0.01% to 0.2% C; 0.3% to 3% Mn; 0.05% to 2% Si; 0.1% to 2% Cr; 0.01% to 0.10% Al; and 0.0005% to 0.01% Ca, with the balance of the composition being iron and incidental ingredients. Also, the steel sheet is made by a batch annealing method, and has a tensile strength of at least approximately 400 MPa and an n-value of at least approximately 0.175.

Abstract: A centrifugal water pump for use in a diesel engine cooling system provides an improved water pump construction including multiple features which combine to provide increased operating life for the supporting and wearing components of the pump. The improvements include one or more of: a water seal system is provided having a stationary seal and a rotating seal made of silicon carbide with at least one of the seals having embedded lubricant; an o-ring added to the stationary seal ensures that pressurized water does not get past the stationary seal; metallic bearing seals and covers to prevent leeching of the lubricant from the bearing; optimized spring force on the rotating seal; tapered shaft impeller interface to minimize torsional stresses on these components from the keyway design of the prior art; and the housing engine oil inlet is removed to prevent the direct flow of hot, dirty, and contaminated oil from damaging the water pump bearings.

Abstract: A railroad freight car may have a body for carrying lading. The body may be a gondola car body. The car body may include a decking or floor structure, and may include longitudinally extending side beams bordering the floor structure. The connection of the side beams to the floor structure may be may without the use of a dedicated side sill. The car body structure may include cross-bearers and side beam stiffeners that are joined together by structural knees. The car body may also include clean out ports to facilitate cleaning of the lading receptacle.

Abstract: A roadway guardrail system including a rail, a plurality of support posts, and a plurality of fasteners assembly to redirect an impacting vehicle and dissipate a portion of the impacting vehicle's energy. Block-outs may be positioned in between the rail and support posts. A plurality of support posts each includes a slot extending along its length aligning with apertures in the rail and engaging with the rail through the apertures with fasteners including reinforcing members slidable along the slots in the posts. Alternatively, the rail has a plurality of laterally extending slots aligning with apertures in support posts and engaging with the support posts through the apertures with fasteners including reinforcing members slidable along the slots.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in processing raw material (e.g., iron bearing material) include a linear furnace apparatus extending along a longitudinal axis between a charging end and a discharging end (e.g., the linear furnace apparatus includes at least a furnace zone positioned along the longitudinal axis). Raw material is provided into one or more separate or separable containers (e.g., trays) at the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus. The separate or separable containers are moved through at least the furnace zone and to the discharging end where the processed material is discharged resulting in one or more empty containers. One or more of the empty containers are returned to the charging end of the linear furnace apparatus to receive further raw material.

Abstract: A system and method for generating text data from graphical image information of a first data form and passing the generated text data to another data form is disclosed. The system comprises a computer-based platform configured to obtain search criteria data from a current data form of interest and search an operating system of the computer-based platform for at least one other data form having first data that match the search criteria data to identify any matching data forms. The computer-based platform is further configured to perform an image capture operation on at least one predefined area of any matching data forms to form at least one captured image. An optical character reading operation is performed on the at least one captured image to generate at least one instance of second data and the at least one instance of second data is passed to the current data form of interest.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for performing pan-oral imaging. A plurality of data points are generated which are representative of spatial positions of an actual dentition of a patient with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system. A fitted curve through at least a portion of the spatial positions of the dentition is computed using the plurality of data points. A pan-oral image acquisition trajectory is then computed with respect to a defined spatial coordinate system using the fitted curve. A pan-oral image of the dentition is then acquired along the pan-oral image acquisition trajectory.

Abstract: Arrangements and methods for welding wire payoff sources. A tapered core and base plate, optionally along with a wire guide insert, are configured with a payout drum package and a cover containing a welding wire stack such that the welding wire may be payed off smoothly from the wire stack during an arc welding operation, without the welding wire flipping or tangling.

Abstract: An improved anchor device or fastening member which is particularly suited for use in the attachment of various fixtures and equipment to masonry, concrete, and other hard and/or friable substrates includes a head and a shank depending therefrom. The shank has a first threaded portion having a predetermined thread angle and a predetermined hardness, and a second threaded portion having a predetermined thread angle and a predetermined hardness. The first threaded portion is proximate to the head and the second threaded portion extends from the first threaded portion. The thread angle of the first threaded portion is different than the thread angle of the second threaded portion. In addition, the hardness of the first threaded portion is softer than the hardness of the second threaded portion. This provides for a more ductile anchorage when the fastening member is engaged with the substrate.