Abstract: A developer cartridge including a frame, a developer carrying member, and an input gear member is provided. The frame includes a first side wall and a second side wall, and the first side wall and the second side wall extend in a length direction. The developer carrying member extends from the first side wall to the second side wall in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction. The developer carrying member includes a developer carrying member shaft rotatably supported by the first side wall and the second side wall, and the developer carrying member is rotatable about a first axis. The input gear member, for supplying a driving force for rotating the developer carrying member, is rotatably supported by the first side wall so as to be rotatable about a second axis. A first distance between the first axis and the second axis in the length direction is about 14.0 mm.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the light reflective properties of a sidewall of a pneumatic tire. The tire may include a pair of sidewalls radially extending from a central axis of rotation of the tire. The sidewalls may include an inner diameter and an outer diameter defining an external surface. At least one of the sidewalls may include an annular band formed on the external surface of the sidewall. The annular band may include a pair of spaced apart band edge surfaces, each including a first edge and a sinusoidal second edge that may help to reduce sidewall undulations and enhance the reflective properties of the sidewall, so that indicia formed on the annular band may be legible to a viewer. Additionally, the sidewalls may also include any type of indicia.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided that utilize a fluid to affect accumulations of water on a road surface in a path of a vehicle. The fluid can be water or an air-water mixture in the environment of the vehicle. A tire is used to gather the fluid. A structure, such as a fender, is disposed adjacent to the tire to focus the fluid that has been gathered by the tire into a spray. The spray is projected ahead of the tire to reduce the depth of, or substantially dissipate, the accumulations of water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting the shape of a contact region of a finite element model deformed against a contact surface. The contact surface may be a rigid body or another finite element model. The shape of a contact region is dictated by the node/element distribution in response to a simulated load. This procedure uses curve fitting to predict the boundary of a contact region for a specified load condition based upon an analysis of contact region shapes generated by finite element analysis for each load within a range of simulated loads. In this manner, the discrete nature of the contact region boundary associated with finite element analysis results at a single load is overcome using information derived from previous load simulations. The approach improves the accuracy and resolution of simulated contact shape boundaries without a corresponding increase in processing resources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing tire performance by generating accurate, timely tire-to-surface slippage information under any operational/environmental conditions and on any road and/or off-road surface without requiring instrumentation of the roadway. The approach is capable of storing generated tire-to-surface slippage information for later retrieval and analysis and/or capable of supporting dynamic, real-time collection and dissemination of generated data. One exemplary embodiment generates and disseminates tire-to-surface slippage information in real-time that is compatible with and may be formatted for use by any consumer vehicle control system as well as external test and analysis equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing tire performance by generating accurate, timely tire-to-surface slippage information under any operational/environmental conditions and on any road and/or off-road surface without requiring instrumentation of the roadway. The approach is capable of storing generated tire-to-surface slippage information for later retrieval and analysis and/or capable of supporting dynamic, real-time collection and dissemination of generated data. One exemplary embodiment generates and disseminates tire-to-surface slippage information in real-time that is compatible with and may be formatted for use by any consumer vehicle control system as well as external test and analysis equipment.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a tread portion having a pair of lateral tread edges, a pair of bead portions, a pair of sidewalls that each extend radially from one of the lateral tread edges of the tread portion to one of the bead portions, an inner liner, and a pair of sidewall inserts. Each of the sidewall inserts is disposed between one of the sidewalls and the inner liner. Each of the sidewall inserts includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are each made of high modulus, low hysteresis run-flat stock. Each of the sidewall inserts also includes a center portion made of sidewall stock disposed between the top and bottom portions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing tire performance by generating accurate, timely tire-to-surface slippage information under any operational/environmental conditions and on any road and/or off-road surface without requiring instrumentation of the roadway. The approach is capable of storing generated tire-to-surface slippage information for later retrieval and analysis and/or capable of supporting dynamic, real-time collection and dissemination of generated data. One exemplary embodiment generates and disseminates tire-to-surface slippage information in real-time that is compatible with and may be formatted for use by any consumer vehicle control system as well as external test and analysis equipment.

Abstract: The invention provides a locking mechanism having a catch with a first recess including a lateral wall that extends generally perpendicular to an applied load and an inclined portion that is inclined relative to the lateral wall. The locking mechanism can also include a guide block having a second recess. The guide block can further include a lock wedge that is slidably disposed within the second recess having a first inclined surface that corresponds to the inclined portion of the catch, a second inclined surface, and a contact surface. The guide block can also include a jam wedge that is slidably disposed within the second recess having an inclined surface corresponding to the second inclined surface of the lock wedge.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an information memory medium, and a network system are provided which can efficiently select the most appropriate printer from among a plurality of printers which are connected to the network, and perform a printing operation. This network system may include at least one server and a plurality of printers connected through a communication line. In the server, based upon a printing instruction which is transmitted from a computer, an inquiry signal is output to each printer. The printer to be used for printing is then selected based upon the information transmitted from a processor of each printer. Any processor which responds to the inquiry signal is an option selection for printing data from the network system, including an unknown processor or an upgraded processor.

Abstract: Firstly, the tip portion of the braided sheath S3 exposed at the terminal thereof by stripping the outer jacket off S4 is widened into the shape of a funnel. Then the internal blades 9 disposed in the shape of a two-piece cylinder hold the periphery of the portion of the braided sheath not to be removed, and the cylindrical external blade 16 is inserted between the braided sheath S3 and the internal insulating material S2 to catch and cut the braided sheath S3 by means of the external blade 16 and the internal blades 16a and 9a.

Abstract: An intermetallic film thermocouple has an amorphous phase and a Seebeck coefficient above 900 .mu.V/.degree. C. Such thermocouples can be prepared by vapor-depositing an intermetallic and quenching the resulting intermetallic film.

Abstract: A system is provided for the detection of transition elements and/or rare earth elements in an aqueous sample which also contains high concentrations of alkali and alkaline earth metals. The system is effective for determination of transition elements and/or rare earth elements in sea water, industrial waste streams, biological fluids and biological issue samples.

Abstract: There is provided a rotor arrangement comprising primary blades 16 mounted on a support disc 15 and secondary blades 18 mounted on a support disc 17. The secondary blades are disposed between respective primary blades with some axial overlap. The set of secondary blades is movable relative to the set of primary blades so that each secondary blade can be moved between end positions abutting the associated pair of primary blades.

Abstract: A preform (70) has an open top portion (72), a cylindrical barrel portion (74) and a bottom portion (76) formed to close the barrel portion (74) at the end opposite to the open top portion (72). The preform (70) also has an internal partition wall (78) formed to extend across the interior of the barrel portion and from the bottom portion (76). In the transverse direction relative to the longitudinal center axis of the preform (70), the internal partition wall (78) has the maximum wall thickness (a2) at the connection (84) between the inner wall of the barrel portion (74) and the internal partition wall (78), the maximum wall thickness of the internal partition wall being gradually reduced toward the longitudinal center axis of the preform with the minimum wall thickness (a1) at a position (82) near the longitudinal center axis of the preform.

Abstract: An alloy comprising titanium, aluminum and niobium has a heterophase micrructure of an orthorhombic, Ti.sub.2 AlNb, phase and an omega-type, B8.sub.2, phase. An alloy is annealed to form the heterophase alloy with the orthorhombic and omega-type phases in thermodynamic equilibrium, and then cooled.

Abstract: A method of producing a dense compact of ultra-fine powder employs low temperatures and high pressures to produce a very dense, nearly ideally packed compact from a starting nano-sized powder. The final product is capable of being easily hot-pressed or sintered to full density.

Abstract: A co-precipitation synthesis of precursors to bismuth-containing ceramic superconducting materials is disclosed in which bismuth and at least one other approrpiate metal are dissolved in a non-aqueous acidic solvent, which are then recovered as a homogeneous dry powder. The mixed metal salts are co-precipitated from aqueous solution in the form of the corresponding homogeneous hydroxycarbonate precursor mixture by reaction with either sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate. The homogeneous precursor may be then converted to the BiCuSrCuO.sub.x ceramic by calcining the mixed hydroxycarbonate to a powder, compressing said powder into a green compact, sintering said green compact at a temperature of at least 750.degree. C., and cooling the ceramic material so produced at a controlled rate, preferably about 50.degree. C./minute.

Abstract: Aluminum hydroxides are used as solid lubricants for aluminum oxides, cercs and other materials having oxide surfaces. Aluminum oxide hydroxides and aluminum trihydroxides are preferred compositions for such lubricating purposes. In particular, the use of boehmite in an aqueous solution significantly reduces frictional coefficients between contacting surfaces.

Abstract: An electrodeposition process and a bath therefore are disclosed for performing the electrodeposition of hard smooth coatings of trivalent chromium. The electrodeposition process is accomplished energy efficiently. The bath includes chromium chloride as a source of chromium, citric acid to complex the chromium, and a wetting agent which is preferably Triton x-100. Preferably, bromide is also provided in the solution to maintain the hexavalent chromium production at the anode at a low level. Ammonium chloride is also preferably provided to improve the conductivity and also the current distribution in the bath. Boric acid is provided to advance the reaction kinetics. The pH of the bath is maintained at approximately 4.0 and the temperature is maintained at approximately 35.degree. C. Either a direct current or pulsed current is used for the deposition process. Hard smooth coatings of trivalent chromium are deposited through use of the process and the bath of the claimed invention.