Abstract: A displacement-controlled hydraulic system for installation on a multi-function machine, and multi-function machines equipped with the hydraulic system and having devices for propelling the machine, at least a first implement, and multiple actuators that perform multiple functions of the machine. The multiple actuators include first actuators that control the first implement and second actuators that control the propelling devices. The hydraulic system comprises multiple pumps for controlling the first actuators and optionally the second actuators, and valves that enable at least one of the pumps to sequentially control two of the multiple actuators and a corresponding two functions of the multiple functions performed thereby. None of the pumps sequentially controls the second actuators in combination with any of the first actuators.

Abstract: A product in which at least a portion of the product has a nanocrystalline microstructure, and a method of forming the product. The method generally entails machining a body in a manner that produces chips consisting entirely of nano-crystals as a result of the machining operation imposing a sufficiently large strain deformation. The body can be formed of a variety of materials, including metal, metal alloy and ceramic materials. Furthermore, the body may have a microstructure that is essentially free of nano-crystals, and may even have a single-crystal microstructure. The chips produced by the machining operation may be in the form of particulates, ribbons, wires, filaments and/or platelets. The chips are then used to form the product. According to one aspect of the invention, the chips are consolidated to form the product, such that the product is a monolithic material that may contain nano-crystals.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for cutting food products, in which the products are fed single-file by gravity through a cutting device comprising one or more cutting elements. The apparatus makes use of a device for contacting and positioning the products as they drop through a feed passage prior to encountering the cutting device so as to produce size-reduced products of more uniform size.

Abstract: A package receptacle system including a container having an interior storage compartment, a lower floor within the container for supporting a package placed in the compartment, and sidewalls extending upward from the floor to define an access to the compartment. An upper lid is pivotally attached to the container for closing the access when in a closed position. A feature hangs from the lid for inhibiting rain from entering the compartment when the lid is in a non-closed position. Raised features are present on the floor of the container for supporting a package placed within the compartment above any moisture that might be present on the floor. A feature is included for indicating a recipient's address, and/or a package within the compartment ready for pickup, and/or receipt of a package within the compartment from a delivery service.

Abstract: A micromachined fluid sensing device and a method for its fabrication. The sensing device incorporates a bypass passage, preferably an integral bypass passage within the device, that enables a volume of fluid to be delivered to the device, with a limited portion of the fluid passing through a passage within the device in which one or more properties of the fluid are sensed, such as but not limited to density, specific gravity, and chemical concentrations. The device is suitable for monitoring the fuel concentration in a fuel mixture for a fuel cell.

Abstract: A system and method for supplying thrust to a structure, such as a satellite or spacecraft, for the purposes of station keeping and attitude control of the structure in low-gravity (orbital) and zero-gravity environments. The system includes devices for emitting energy beams and targets impacted by the energy beams to cause ablation of the targets. The beam-emitting devices and targets are adapted to cooperate and cause the structure to selectively undergo translational and/or rotational motion in reaction to the motion of material ablated from the targets. The position, alignment, and/or attitude of the structure can thereby be controlled in a zero or low-gravity environment by selectively emitting the energy beams at the targets.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for packaging food products in a synthetic foil. The method generally comprising transporting the synthetic foil through a punching device in which perforations are made in the synthetic foil with high energy beams to yield a perforated foil. The perforations are made in the synthetic foil to achieve a perforation surface per surface unit of the synthetic foil set according to the food product to be packaged, and the perforation surface per surface unit of the synthetic foil is achieved by controlling at least one of the number and intensity of the high energy beams projected onto the synthetic foil. The perforated foil are then formed into packages, filled with the food product, and closed to enclose the food product.

Abstract: A pest control device and a method of deploying the device. The device comprises a housing provided with at least one opening which is closed or sealed by a material arranged to degrade in an environment in which the device is located, thereby allowing eventual access to the interior of the device. The method comprises providing the device with the temporarily sealed or closed opening(s), a pest behavior-modifying agent located in the interior of the device housing, and a feature for causing oscillatory motion of the housing while in free-fall motion. The device is then caused to fall from a height into or on to an area in which pest control is desired.

Abstract: A golf training apparatus to help golfers hit a golf ball more effectively and consistently. The apparatus includes a base with first markings along a first edge thereof to indicate positions for locating a golfer's feet adjacent the base, and second markings along an oppositely-disposed second edge of the base for indicating the location of a golf ball relative to the base. The apparatus further has an alignment member mounted for movement relative to the base and configured for selective alignment with any one of the second markings. A measuring member is mounted to the alignment member for measuring the distance between the base and the golf ball, and a light-generating device is mounted to the base for illuminating the golf ball.

Abstract: A process by which the end of a tube having at least one internal surface feature is reduced and at least a portion of the surface feature eliminated from the tube end while achieving accurate control of the outer diameter of the tube end. The process preferably makes use of a forming tool comprising an external die for reducing the outer diameter of a tube and a mandrel for deforming the internal passage of the tube. The process generally comprises forcing the external die over the end of the tube so that the outer diameter of the tube end is reduced and so that the mandrel is simultaneously inserted through the internal passage of the tube end. While the tube end remains within the external die, the mandrel is withdrawn from the internal passage of the tube end to eliminate the internal surface feature.

Abstract: A method and device for assessing the viscosity of a fluid. The method and device utilize a tube with a vibrating freestanding portion into which the fluid is introduced, and relies on sensing the influence that the fluid has on the vibrational movement of the tube to assess the viscosity of the fluid. For this purpose, the freestanding portion is preferably driven at or near a resonant frequency, movement of the freestanding portion is sensed, and the viscosity of a fluid within the tube is assessed by ascertaining the damping effect the fluid has on movement of the freestanding portion at or near the resonant frequency.

Abstract: A traction device for applying traction to a patient's leg while supporting the patient's foot to avoid foot drop and heel or lateral malleolar pressure ulcers. The device includes a body having forefoot and lower leg portions, a continuous cavity within the forefoot and lower leg portions, and an anterior opening sized to permit a patient's foot and lower leg to pass therethrough into the cavity. The body supports the patient's lower leg so that the patient's heel is suspended within the cavity. Elements adjustably close the anterior opening and traction straps are removably attached to lateral regions of the body and extend from the forefoot portion. The interior surface of the cavity provides a sufficiently high friction interface with the patient's lower leg to prevent sliding of the body on the lower leg when full traction loads are applied through the traction straps.

Abstract: A method of forming tubing with integral fins oriented parallel to its length, and to a heat exchanger tube produced by such a method. The invention involves extruding a tube so that the tube has at least one internal longitudinal passage, an external surface having a cross-sectional shape in a plane transverse to the extrusion direction, and at least one integral fin parallel to the extrusion direction and extending in a direction away from the external surface of the tube. The tube may be one of a plurality of tubes assembled in parallel to a pair of manifolds, and such tubes are preferably oriented so that their integral fins are substantially parallel, with the fin(s) of a given tube extending toward an adjacent one of the tubes.

Abstract: A heat exchanger having a pair of manifolds and flat tubes for heat exchange between a first fluidum flowing inside the tubes and a second fluidum flowing outside of the tubes. The manifolds receive ends of the tubes and have an inlet and an outlet for introducing the first fluidum into the flat tubes and for discharging therefrom. Each manifold has at least two adjacent parallel channels with a partition wall therebetween. Each channel is further defined by at least a second wall, with at least part of the second wall having a curved surface. The partition wall defines two parallel substantially flat surfaces facing the channels. Each channel has a perimeter in cross-section defined by a continuous line having curved and straight portions.

Abstract: A system and method for managing the tension and maintaining registration between multiple webs in a web finishing system. The method involves transporting a first web and at least second web toward a finishing apparatus, comparing relative positions of registration marks on the webs, severing lengths of the second web in response to the relative positions, aligning each length of the second web with the first web, and then performing a finishing operation on the webs with the finishing apparatus. The system includes the finishing apparatus, devices for transporting the webs toward the finishing apparatus, devices for comparing the relative positions of the registration marks on the webs, a device for severing lengths of the second web in response to the relative positions, and a device for individually aligning each length of the second web with the first web before the webs encounter the finishing apparatus.

Abstract: A self-propelled sulky for attachment to existing non-self-propelled equipment,thereby enabling the equipment to be converted into a self-propelled equipment with a modular propulsion system. The sulky includes a frame, a motor mounted to the frame, wheels rotatably mounted to the frame, a device for transferring power from the motor to at least one of the wheels, a device for controlling the power transferring device and thereby the ground speed and direction of the sulky, a device for connecting the sulky to a rearward end of the non-self-propelled equipment to enable pushing of the non-self-propelled equipment with the sulky, and a support structure on the frame for supporting an operator in a standing position. The support structure is located and configured on the frame to enable the operator to selectively step onto the support structure to ride the sulky and step off the support structure to walk behind the sulky.

Abstract: Ski equipment that provides, preferably in combination, a toe release system for reducing the risk of knee injuries and a steering system for increasing turn performance. In the toe release system, the binding has a toe binding portion secured with a securing element at a forward position relative to a rear binding portion of the binding, and a release element that communicates with the securing element for releasing the toe binding portion in response to the application of pressure to the rear cuff of a boot secured with the binding, permitting movement of the toe binding portion away from the rear binding portion and thereby releasing a toe of the boot. In the steering system, the boot includes a tracking assembly that permits controlled flexing of the front and rear cuffs of the boot by applying forward and lateral pressure to the front cuff.

Abstract: A process of making a shaped product consisting of aluminium or an aluminium alloy comprising the steps of producing an intermediate object by extrusion or rolling and having at least one flat surface, coating the at least one flat surface with a brazing flux retaining coating which is composed of flux particles and a binder containing at least 10% by weight of a synthetic resin based, as its main constituent, on methacrylate homopolymer or a methacrylate copolymer, reshaping of the intermediate object into the shaped product and heating the shaped product to a temperature sufficient to provide at least one brazed connection between defined parts of the shaped products.

Abstract: A device for connecting together flat elements that are lying in a plane with at least one edge of a first of the flat elements adjacent at least one edge of each of second and third flat elements. The device is connected to the first flat element and comprises at least two hook-shaped organs, a first of which cooperates with a first contact on the second flat element and a second of which cooperates with a second contact on the third flat element. Each of the first and second hook-shaped organs is movable between a first position in which the flat elements are released from each other, and a second position in which the first and second hook-shaped organs engage the first and second contacts to cause edges of the first flat element to be pressed against edges of the second and third flat elements.

Abstract: A fastener system for connecting and releasing two elements. The system comprises a rod-shaped product with a male part and a female part, in which the male part is sized to be receivable in the female part. Either the male or female part is provided with a screw thread and the other is provided with at least one tooth such that, when the male and female parts are assembled, the tooth is engaged with the screw thread. The part equipped with the tooth comprises a strip extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, so that when the male part is pressed into the female part, the tooth is elastically distorted axially onto the screw thread, and the tooth shape and the screw thread prevent axial movement in the opposite direction.