Abstract: A well car for carrying shipping containers has a pair of end structures supported by rail car trucks, a pair of first and second spaced apart side beams extending between the end structures and a well defined therebetween. A container support cross member is mounted between the side sills in a position to support an end of a shipping container load carried within the well. The container support cross member may be a monolithic beam member with a attachment fitting formed at an end thereof. The attachment fitting is connectable to a side sill at a moment connection. The remaining end of the cross member is similarly configured and connected to the second side sill. Each end of the cross member has load bearing surface portions which may be used for supporting a corner of a shipping container. The moment connections permit a bending moment to be carried by the cross member between the first and second side sills.

Abstract: The invention relates to a patient's device having an at least unidirectional, wireless interface for receiving a data signal. The wireless interface is adapted to receive medical or operational data from a medical device, in particular an implantable medical device like a cardiac pacemaker or a cardioverter/defibrillator, a data communication interface for accessing a wide area network or a public telecommunication network or both. The device comprises an automatic routing/dialling module connected to the data communication interface, adapted to establish an automatic access to a modem connected to the data communication interface by automatically selecting one of a plurality of possible connection parameters. The connection parameters are selected from at least one of an individual modem, if more than one modem is connected to the data communication interface, and a prefix number for a remote access to a remote device over a public network automatically selecting a dial-up telephone number.

Abstract: The invention relates to stents made of a material with an elongation at rupture of 30% or less and with a tubular base body which entirely or in parts comprises structural segments which are interconnected in longitudinal direction of the stents by means of transverse connectors and in which the structural segments comprise a zigzagging or undulating structure of a brace which is wrapped around the longitudinal axis of the stent. Due to the mechanical properties of the materials used, adaptation of the stent design is required. This is achieved in that in a turning region of the zigzagging or undulating structure the brace comprises a straight bending section aligned in circumferential direction.

Abstract: A system for dispensing media discs comprising, in combination, a storage system for storing the media discs, a dispense system for dispensing the media discs to consumers, a disc transfer system for moving the media discs from the disc storage system to the dispense system, and a control system operably connected to the disc transfer system to selectively activate the disc transfer system to move the media discs from the disc storage system to the dispense system. An inventory management system is operably connected to the disc transfer system to selectively activate the disc transfer system to move selected ones of the media discs from the disc storage system to a holding location located outside the disc storage system for manual removal.

Abstract: A drive system suitable for use in a variable transmission with a plurality of rotatable and adjustable disk members, gear means adapted for contact with the plurality of disk members, carriage means for mounting the gear means and configured for axial movement along the axis of a rotatable drive shaft and a rotatable cone adapted for contact with the plurality of disk members, the cone and the conical gear means connected for relative rotation by the plurality of disk members, the disk members being adjustable transversely relative to the axis of rotation for maintaining positive contact with said rotatable cone.

Abstract: A container insert for taking up extra space may be placed in a container intended for storage and/or shipment of material to an end user. The insert may be generally longitudinal having a helical configuration that may be expanded and constricted for taking up different volumes of space within the container respective of the amount of material stored therein. The insert may also be elastically deformable or generally pliable and may absorb impact forces for preventing or minimizing damage to the material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a water reservoir with an inlet and an outlet which are compressively sealingly engaged with the water reservoir tank by utilizing the latent heat of extrusion of the extrudate to bond with the exterior surfaces of the inlet and outlet profiles.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of controlling strip geometry in casting strip having a rolling mill. A target thickness profile is calculated as a function of the measured entry thickness profile of the strip while satisfying profile and flatness operating requirements. A differential strain feedback from longitudinal strain in the strip is calculated by a control system by comparing the exit thickness profile with the target thickness profile, and a control signal is generated to control a device capable of affecting the geometry of the strip processed by the hot rolling mill. A feed-forward control reference and/or sensitivity vector may also be calculated as a function of the target thickness profile, and used in generating the control signal sent to the control device. The control device may be selected from one or more of the group consisting of a bending controller, gap controller and coolant controller.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for connecting an interconnectable plant tray to a complementary plant tray are provided. In particular embodiments of the present invention include an interconnectable plant tray comprising a tray having one or more sides and one or more storage receptacles. The tray further includes a connection region positioned along at least one of the sides for connecting the tray to a complementary tray, the connection region including a first portion and a second portion, the portions being separated by a notch. The tray also has one or more coupling members located along the first portion of the connection region, and one or more coupling receptacles for receiving coupling members of the complementary tray, the one or more coupling receptacles being located within the second portion of the connection region. In particular embodiments, the complementary tray is substantially identical to the interconnectable tray.

Abstract: A rail road freight car truck has a truck bolster and a pair of side frames, the truck bolster being mounted transversely relative to the side frames. The mounting interface between the ends of the axles and the sideframe pedestals allows lateral rocking motion of the sideframes in the manner of a swing motion truck. The lateral swinging motion is combined with a longitudinal self steering capability. The self steering capability may be obtained by use of a longitudinally oriented rocker that may tend to permit resistance to deflection that is proportional to the weight carried across the interface. The truck may have auxiliary centering elements mounted in the pedestal seats, and those auxiliary centering elements may be made of resilient elastomeric material. The truck may also have friction dampers that have a disinclination to stick-slip behavior. The friction dampers may be provided with brake linings, or similar features, on the face engaging the sideframe columns, on the slope face, or both.

Abstract: A welding system for performing a short arc welding process between a advancing wire electrode and a workpiece. The system comprises a power source with a controller for creating a current pulse introducing energy into the electrode to melt the end of the electrode and a low current quiescent metal transfer section following the end of the melting pulse during which the melted electrode short circuits against the workpiece; a timer to measure the actual time between the end of the pulse and the short circuit; a device for setting a desired time from the pulse to the short circuit; a circuit to create a corrective signal based upon the difference between the actual time and the desired time; and, a circuit responsive to the corrective signal to control a given parameter of the current pulse.

Abstract: A method and systems for capturing digital intra-oral images, while automatically determining a location of an intra-oral sensor placed within a mouth of a patient, is disclosed. A spatial frame-of-reference is established with respect to teeth within the mouth of the patient. An intra-oral digital imaging sensor is placed within the mouth of the patient adjacent to at least one tooth within the mouth that is to be imaged using the intra-oral sensor. Spatial location information is automatically generated such that the spatial location information defines how the intra-oral sensor is placed with respect to the spatial frame-of-reference. A digital image of at least one tooth is acquired using the intra-oral sensor and the spatial location information is automatically associated with the acquired digital image. The associated spatial location information may be used to automatically correlate the acquired image to a tooth or teeth within the mouth and/or to automatically orient the acquired image for display.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of adjusting a room air in a first room wherein the room air is supplemented continuously or at recurring intervals of time by nitrogen or a nitrogen-bearing, carbon dioxide-poor gas mixture in such a way that the proportion of oxygen in the room air is less than 20.9% by volume and the proportion of carbon dioxide of the room air is less than 1% by volume, wherein at the same time at least a slight overpressure in relation to an outside atmosphere surrounding the room is set in the room.

Abstract: A merchandising display system has modular sections that have removable display pallets. Cabinet modules, spacer modules, fixed modules, and slat-wall modules assemble together in a multitude of various combinations to create different merchandising displays. Cabinets may include merchandising displays on the inside and outside of the cabinet. Removable display pallets facilitate stocking and reconfiguring product displays. Fiber-optic lighting illuminates the pallets.

Abstract: A heat shield is disclosed comprising a formed sheet having a thickness, an exterior shielding surface, and an interior shielded surface, wherein the exterior shielding surface comprises a multiplicity of protruding perforations. The protruding perforations comprise protrusions increasing surface area and generating turbulent flow, and small openings through the shield to allow convection air flow to pass through.