Abstract: The present invention relates to a cable bead, the method of constructing the cable bead and a tire constructed by a process incorporating the cable bead wherein the cable bead is formed with a bead core wound from a single filament of bead core wire having a rubber or elastomeric coating, first annular wrap of bead wrapping wire helically wound around the bead core, and a coating of lubricant or fatty acid disposed about the bead core.

Abstract: An air separator system for separating shredded trash into relatively light material and relatively heavy material. An air stream is provided at an end of a conveyor. A splitter plate system comprises a rotating cylinder supported by a frame, and a splitter curtain hanging below the cylinder. The amount of light material which make it over the cylinder into a collection area can be controlled by adjusting at least one of a speed of the conveyor, an angle of the conveyor with respect to horizontal, an angle of the airstream with respect to the angle of the conveyor, a pressure of the airstream, a position of the airstream relative to the end of the conveyor, a distance between the bar and the conveyor, and a height of the bar with respect to a height of the conveyor.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for estimating signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) ? of a composite input signal e(t) on a phase-modulated (e.g., BPSK) communications link. A first demodulator receives the composite input signal and a stable carrier signal and outputs an in-phase output signal; a second demodulator receives the composite input signal and a phase-shifted version of the carrier signal and outputs a quadrature-phase output signal; and phase error ?E(t) contained within the composite input signal e(t) is calculated from the outputs of the first and second demodulators. A time series of statistically independent phase error measurements ?E(t1), ?E(t2), . . . , ?E(tk) is obtained from the composite input signal subtending a time interval ?t=tk?t1 whose value is small enough such that ?(t) and ?(t) can be taken to be constant in ?t.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling multiple tire components onto one or more tire building drums at a work station of a tire building system is disclosed. A first inner set of measuring drums is located at a first loading position between a second outer set of measuring drums at a second loading position. Tire components are loaded onto the first and second sets of measuring drums at the first and second loading positions. The first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second loading positions into first and second ready positions, respectively. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are alternatively moved from the first and second ready positions into first and second transfer positions, respectively, where the tire components are transferred to the one or more tire building drums. Then the first and second sets of measuring drums are retracted away from the first and second transfer positions, respectively, to the first and second ready positions.

Abstract: Gate oxides having different thicknesses are formed on a semiconductor substrate by forming a first gate oxide on the top surface of the substrate, forming a sacrificial hard mask over a selected area of the first gate oxide; and then forming a second gate oxide. A first poly layer may be formed on the first gate oxide, under the hard mask. After the hard mask is removed, a second poly layer may be formed over the second gate oxide and over the first poly layer. This enables the use of high-k dielectric materials, and the first gate oxide can be thinner than the second gate oxide.

Abstract: A DRAM cell in a substrate has a deep trench (DT) extending from a surface of the substrate into the substrate, a word line (WL) formed on the surface of the substrate adjacent the deep trench, and oxide (TTO) disposed in a top portion of the trench and extending beyond the trench in the direction of the word line. In this manner, when silicided, there is oxide rather than silicon on the surface of the substrate in a gap between the word line (WL) and a passing word line (PWL) disposed above the deep trench.

Abstract: A two-junction solar cell has a bottom solar cell junction of crystalline silicon, and a top solar cell junction of gallium phosphide. A three (or more) junction solar cell has bottom solar cell junctions of silicon, and a top solar cell junction of gallium phosphide. The resulting solar cells exhibit improved extended temperature operation.

Abstract: The present invention is a massage device (10) for massaging one or more body parts. The device includes a first paddle (61) extending outward from the side of a housing (78) that is rotatably mounted on a wobble bearing journal (56) of a wobble bearing (72, 74); a drive shaft (38) from a rotational motive device (32, 34) that is rotationally engaged with a passage (57) of the journal (56), wherein the passage (57) passes through the journal (56) at a non-zero wobble angle (?) measured between a rotational axis (RA) of the drive shaft (38) and the geometric axis of revolution (CS) of the journal (56); a detaining fin (62) attached to the housing (78) and encompassing a detaining rod (36); and a frame (40) that fixedly holds the detaining rod (36) and rotational holds the drive shaft (38).

Abstract: A tire building drum has a center section (720) and two end sections (722,724). Each end section is provided with an expandable bead lock assembly (726). The center section is preferably expandable. The expandable bead lock assembly comprises a carrier ring (CR) and a plurality of elongate links (K) extending between the carrier ring (CR) and a plurality of radially-expandable segments (S). When the carrier ring moves inward (towards the center section), the radially-expandable segments (S) move radially outward, urging a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced-apart finger segments (F) outward from a collapsed position to an expanded position, and at least one position therebetween. In an embodiment of the invention, the bead lock assembly comprises a cylinder and two pistons (P1, P2) disposed within the cylinder. The pistons are free to move axially within the cylinder, in response to pneumatic pressure.

Abstract: According to the invention, there is disclosed a leg stretching device 10 characterized by a leg support arm 34 mounted to a primary shaft 36 at a first end, the leg support arm having a leg support 38 secured to the leg support arm at a second end; and structure for rotating the primary shaft from an initial position to a final position so that the leg support arm moves through a range of about 30 to 70 degrees and preferably about 40 to 60 degrees. In addition, there are provided structure for adjusting the location of the initial position of the leg support arm 34. In addition, the length of leg support arm 34 is adjustable.

Abstract: An expandable tire building drum, having alternating fixed (226, 326, 426) and expanding (228, 328, 428) segments (e.g., 24 of each) in a center section (220, 320, 420) of the drum. The expanding segments are axially-extending and circumferentially spaced from one another, and are contoured (have recesses, or grooves) to accommodate tire components such as sidewall inserts. Two different mechanisms for expanding the center section are described. A first mechanism includes two wedge elements (358) which are axially moveable away from one another to expand the center section. Ramp elements (348) associated with the expanding segments (328) may thus be moved radially outward. Rubber bands (358) provide a restoring force for collapsing the center section. A second mechanism includes two guide rings (458) which are axially moveable towards one another for expanding the center section, and away from one another to collapse the center section.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for predicting the propensity for a RMT steer tire to have irregular tire tread wear. The method comprises the steps of: providing a RMT steer tire to be tested; placing measurement points upon a ground engaging surface of selected circumferential tread ribs of the tread of the RMT tire; progressively rolling the RMT steer tire across a first planar side of a transparent plate whereby the progressive movement of a footprint image of the RMT steer tire is imposed upon the first planar side of the transparent plate; recording the progressive movement of the marked measurement points in the footprint image of the RMT steer tire imposed upon the first planar side of the transparent plate; determining the amount of lateral movement of each of the marked measurement points in the footprint image; and if any measurement points exhibit lateral movement beyond 0.060 inches, predicting that the RMT steer tire will have irregular tire tread wear.

Abstract: An exercising device is described that permits exercising the arms and/or legs of a person, such as a wheelchair-bound person. The device has a drive shaft to which foot pedals are mounted. The foot pedals are mounted off of the axis of rotation and at an angle to the axis of rotation such that when a person's feet are strapped to the foot pedals and the drive shaft is rotated, the feet will circle the axis of rotation and will cause circular motion of the ankles. Arm exercising members are attached to the drive shaft will cause an oscillatory pivotal motion of the arm exercising members.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed a method of stabilizing the output signal of a system that detects microbiological growth in a sealed sample container that contains a sample which may contain an unknown microorganism. One embodiment relates to a method of providing a sealed sample container which contains a fluid mixture of a culture broth, the sample, and at least one poising agent for stabilizing the base line pressure within a headspace above the fluid mixture in the sample container. By monitoring pressure changes within the headspace of the sealed sample container, the presence of microbiological growth within the sealed sample container as a function of the change of the pressure in the headspace is indicated.

Abstract: The innermost carcass ply of a runflat tire (50) having a radial carcass ply is a discontinuous ply (52) that includes two portions (52a, 52b) each disposed within one of the sidewalls (43, 45). In one embodiment, each of the two discontinuous ply portions is composed of two layers (64, 66) of cross-biased cords (65, 67) which are disposed between the two wedge inserts (58b, 59b) in each sidewall. In another embodiment, the two portions (72a, 72b) of the discontinuous ply (72) are composed of wavy metal cords. In a third embodiment, a runflat tire incorporating either embodiment of the discontinuous ply (92a, 92b) is built using the locked, tie-in construction for the carcass ply.

Abstract: A method of forming a transistor comprises disposing a planar platform (or pedestal, or layer) of silicon atop a support structure of oxide which is atop a substrate; forming gate structures both atop and beneath the planar platform; and forming source and drain diffusions within the planar platform. The gate structures which are formed beneath the planar platform may smaller than the planar platform, and may be aligned with the gate structures which are formed atop the planar platform. A transistor formed by the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for stabilizing a fire building drum wherein the fire building drum has two ends, is permanently supported at a single cantilever support end, and the remaining end is a free end. The method comprises providing a free end support engaged with the free end to stabilize the tire building drum by restricting lateral movement of the free end; and freeing the free end by temporarily retracting the free end support when desired, e.g., to enable application of annular fire components on the tire building drum, or to enable removal of a built tire from the fire building drum. Preferably, the free end support allows rotation of the fire building drum while the free end support is engaged with the free end. A preferred embodiment uses overtravel of actuator linkages stopped against an extension stop to lock the free end support in place, engaged with the free end, to stabilize the tire building drum without requiring continued power input.