Abstract: A bicycle including a front wheel, a rear wheel, and a frame supported on the front and rear wheels. The frame includes a hollow frame member having a wall with an opening, and a flexible bladder positioned in the hollow frame member. A stiffening member is positioned along at least a portion of the bladder to facilitate insertion of the bladder through the opening and into the frame member. The bicycle further includes a collar coupled to the open end of the bladder with at least a portion of the collar being positioned on an outer surface of the frame member. The bladder includes a first portion adjacent the open end and generally aligned with a first axis and a second portion distal to the open end and generally aligned with a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a non-stick cooking utensil, wherein protrusions are arranged on interior wall of the utensil to form a non-smooth surface, said protrusion has a height of 20-999 ?m and a projection area of 314-783431 ?m2 with respect to the interior surface of the utensil, the protrusions are so distributed that the total projection area of protrusions on the surface of the interior wall is about 10%-60% of the surface area, a coating film is formed on said non-smooth surface with protrusions. As compared with utensils with smooth surface, the sticking intensity and stickiness between foods and the utensil of present invention may be decreased by 60%-80%.

Abstract: Systems and methods for stabilizing a hybrid electric vehicle (“HEV”) towing a trailer. One system includes a regenerative braking system, a non-regenerative braking system, and a stabilization system. The stabilization system determines a direction of rotation and a speed of the HEV and compares the HEV's speed to a predetermined low speed threshold value and a predetermined high speed threshold value. The stabilization system instructs the regenerative braking system to brake at least one wheel when the speed is less than or equal to the predetermined low speed threshold value and instructs the regenerative braking system to brake at least one wheel opposite the direction of rotation and at least one of the regenerative braking system and the non-regenerative braking system to provide an extra stabilizing braking torque to at least one wheel opposite the direction of rotation when the speed is greater than the predetermined high speed threshold value.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for evenly filling or emptying at least one dosing chamber with a product. The device includes a dosing chamber disposed in a dosing disk, the product being dispensed into or emptied from the dosing chamber. A pressure generator impinges the dosing chamber with a predetermined pressure in order fill or empty the dosing chamber. A filter is disposed movably relative to the dosing chamber to assures that once the product has been dispensed, the product can be brought downward into the container to be filled. The filling of the container can be reinforcing by blown air or by transfer dies. The dosing chamber communicates, via the filter means, with the pressure generator. By application of an underpressure, the product to be dosed is dispensed into the dosing chamber. For cleaning the filter means, on the other hand, an overpressure pulse is applied, which improves product dispensing precision.

Abstract: A motorcycle including at least two wheels. The at least two wheels include a front wheel and a rear wheel, the rear wheel defining a rotational axis. The motorcycle includes an engine for driving at least one of the wheels. A radiator assembly includes a radiator configured to receive coolant from the engine and dissipate heat from the coolant. The radiator assembly further includes an inlet guide configured to direct air toward the radiator. The inlet guide has an inlet opening positioned closer to the rear wheel than the front wheel. At least a portion of the inlet opening is positioned below the rotational axis of the rear wheel.

Abstract: An adaptive cruise control including a lost target function. The adaptive cruise control is operable in at least one of three modes: a normal mode, a following mode, and a lost target mode. In the normal mode, a user-set speed is maintained by the user vehicle. In the following mode, the adaptive cruise control detects a slower moving target vehicle and maintains a particular distance behind the target vehicle. In the lost target mode, the adaptive cruise control recognizes that a target vehicle is no longer detected and zeroes the acceleration of the user vehicle for a particular delay time. After expiration of the delay time, driver override, or detecting a target vehicle again, the cruise control exits the lost target mode.

Abstract: A method of detecting a minispare tire in a vehicle having a vehicle control system. The method includes detecting a rotational velocity of each of a plurality of wheels of the vehicle; determining whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle based on the rotational velocities detected at each of the plurality of wheels; adjusting the vehicle control system if a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle; sensing a hydraulic pressure of a braking system of the vehicle; and suspending determination of whether a minispare tire is mounted on the vehicle if the hydraulic pressure exceeds a predetermined critical pressure level.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a battery charger for charging a battery (10), said battery charger comprising an AC/DC power supply means (1), a pulse width modulation controlled DC/DC converter (2) and a control unit (3) that is connected to the AC/DC power supply means (1) and the PWM-controlled DC/DC converter (2). The battery charger has a maximum output power while avoiding to blow up small battery packs if the control unit (3) is adapted to measure at least a voltage and a current at terminals of the battery (10) to be charged, calculate a power at the battery (10), compare the calculated power and the nominal maximum power of the AC/DC power supply means (1), and transmit a signal to the PWM-controlled DC/DC converter (2) to adjust a charging current supplied to the battery (10) based on the comparison result. A temperature at the battery can also be measured.

Abstract: A quick-change tooling system includes a plurality of pickers each configured to pick specific items, and a plurality of magazines each configured to hold a stack of the items. A pick and place machine includes a carriage for moving the pickers between a picking location adjacent the magazine and a placing location. The carriage includes a quick-release clamp assembly that allows pickers for different items to be changed quickly and without the use of tools. The magazines and product support plates upon which items are also configured to be changed without the use of tools.

Abstract: A magnet arrangement for creating a magnetic field. The magnet arrangement includes a first magnet having a first surface defining a first pole and a second surface defining a second pole opposite the first pole, and a second magnet having a third surface defining a third pole and a fourth surface defining a fourth pole opposite the third pole. The second surface has a higher magnetic flux density than the first surface. The third surface has a higher magnetic flux density than the fourth surface. The second magnet is spaced from the first magnet to define a first gap between the second surface and the third surface. Magnetic field lines of the magnetic field run from the first surface to the second surface, from the second surface to the third surface through the first gap, and from the third surface to the fourth surface.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds and compositions of Formulas I-VII, and methods of using the compounds. The compounds can be used to prepare dye conjugates that are uniformly and substantially more fluorescent on proteins, nucleic acids or other biopolymers, than conjugates labeled with structurally similar known carbocyanine dyes. In addition to having more intense fluorescence emission than structurally similar dyes at virtually identical wavelengths, and decreased artifacts in their absorption spectra upon conjugation to biopolymers, the compounds can have greater photostability and/or higher absorbance (extinction coefficients) at the wavelength(s) of peak absorbance than such structurally similar dyes.

Abstract: A transmission assembly is powered by an electric motor and includes a transmission having an outer ring gear, a connector moveable relative to the outer ring gear between a first position, in which the connector is rotatable with the transmission in response to torque received from the motor, and a second position, in which the connector and the outer ring gear are non-rotatable, and a control mechanism operable to detect the operating current of the motor and compare the operating current to a threshold current. The control mechanism is operable to move the connector from the first position to the second position in response to the motor operating current exceeding the threshold current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel injector, in particular a common rail injector, for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector has a multi-part injection valve element, which is adjustable between a closing position and an opening position and includes a first part and at least one second part that is adjustable relative to the first part. The first and second parts are coupled to one another via a hydraulic coupler volume. According to the invention, it is provided that the first part is guided in the second part, or the second part is guided in the first part, and that the coupler volume communicates with an injector volume via at least one throttle arrangement. The throttle arrangement is embodied such that the volumetric through flow increases only disproportionately little with an increasing pressure difference between the coupler volume and the injector volume.

Abstract: A portable light tower comprises a base and a mast. The mast is movable between a first configuration in which the mast is stored substantially within the base and a second configuration in which the mast extends in an upright position from the base. A light source is disposed on the base and a reflector is positioned on an end of the mast opposite the base. The reflector is configured to reflect light from the light source toward the surroundings of the light tower.

Abstract: A fastener guide includes a shaft having a first end for transferring torque to a fastener and a second end for receiving a torque from an external source, the shaft including a threaded portion and an axial groove extending axially along the threaded portion. The fastener guide also includes a sleeve slidable axially with respect to the shaft, the sleeve having a first end proximate the first end of the shaft and a second end proximate the second end of the shaft, and a depth-adjustment ring having a threaded inner surface for engaging the threaded portion of the sleeve and a detent ring for selectively engaging the axial groove.

Abstract: Cleaning and disinfectant compositions are provided particularly for use with hard surfaces. The compositions include hydrogen peroxide and an acid or salt thereof which is resistant to oxidation other than phosphorous based acids. Replacement of phosphorous based acids with acids of the invention results in improved hydrogen peroxide stability while maintaining or increasing the efficacy of cleaning and antimicrobial activity of the compositions. Typically, acids of the invention include substituted or unsubstituted carboxylic acids such as R4—C (R2) (R3) —R1—COOH. Inventive compositions may further include surfactants, a chelating agent or sequestrant, a water soluble or water dispersible solvent, corrosion inhibitors and other adjuvants well known to those skilled in the art. There are further provided methods of use and methods of preparing inventive compositions.