Abstract: The mechanical properties of a surface are measured by using a pointed tip on the end of a bendable cantilever such that with force on the other end of the cantilever the tip can be pushed into the surface using the bending of the cantilever as the measure of the constant force. The indentation, scratch, or wear created by the application of forces between the tip and sample is then measured with the same tip and cantilever by raising the cantilever off the surface and putting it into oscillation. The tip is then scanned over the area where the indentation was made with the tip tapping on the surface in order to image the surface.

Abstract: A method for blending and windrowing hot plant mix asphalt which has been deposited onto a roadway in preparation for paving the roadway utilizes a V-shaped plow formed by a first plowing member extending in a first direction, and a second plowing member extending in a second direction, with rearward ends of each of the first and second plowing member being connected at a vertex and the opposite forward ends being spaced apart to form the open side of the V-shaped plow. The V-shaped plow further comprises an opening in the vertex and a movable gate for adjusting the size of the opening in the vertex. The V-shaped plow is further provided with an attachment device for attaching the V-shaped plow to an earth moving implement, such as a front end loader. Movement of the V-shaped plow along the roadway causes the hot asphalt to be thoroughly blended and deposited from the opening into a perfect windrow having the desired amount of asphalt for paving the roadway at issue.

Abstract: A sports equipment carrier for carrying golf clubs and the like having a tubular substantially rigid body comprised of a sidewall that is ribbed or honeycombed along its longitudinal length for producing a high strength-to-weight sports equipment carrier body capable of being used as a golf bag and which is convertible to a shipping container when a removable substantially rigid lid is attached. In one embodiment, the carrier has a plurality of pairs of axially spaced apart radially extending transverse and annular ribs distributed along the longitudinal length of the body. In another embodiment, the ribbed sidewall comprises a single spiraling rib. In a still further embodiment, the sidewall is comprised of radially extending honeycomb cells forming a honeycombed portion that extends about a periphery of the carrier body and which is distributed the entire length of the sidewall.

Abstract: A pintle nozzle, preferably an unthrottled pintle nozzle, is provided in which a negative interference angle is formed between the conical tip of the nozzle needle and the mating conical valve seat so that the needle seat is located at the bottom of the valve seat rather than at the top. The resulting nozzle lacks any velocity drop downstream of the needle seat, even at very low needle lifts, so that virtually all of the energy used to pressurize the fuel is converted to kinetic energy. Spray dispersion and penetration at low needle lifts therefore are significantly enhanced. Fuel flow through the converging-diameter discharge passage located between the conical needle tip and conical needle seat also self-centers the nozzle needle at low lifts, thereby helping to assure a symmetric spray and to further enhance spray characteristics.

Abstract: A paving machine employs in combination a gravity feed HMA hopper and a tack spray assembly and storage tank. Use of the gravity feed hopper permits all HMA or other paving material stored therein to be discharged directly on top of the paving machine's distributing auger. Moreover, because the gravity feed hopper takes up a relatively small percentage of the horizontal area of the paving machine, a chassis of standard or near standard dimensions can receive a tack storage tank of sufficient capacity to permit the paving machine to operate an entire day without stopping the machine to refill the storage tank. Therefore, if used in conjunction with an HMA shuttling apparatus, the paving machine can simultaneously coat a surface to be paved with a tack material and pave that surface with HMA for prolonged periods of time without stopping to refill either the HMA hopper of the tack storage tank.

Abstract: Non-volatile memory cards in which the writing mechanisms are controlled by a microprocessor.To improve the coherence of the data elements recorded in the non-volatile memory files, the invention proposes to provide for a possibility of grouped control of several write operations (addition, updating or elimination of recordings). The successive operations are performed by the recording, in a non-volatile transaction space (TS), of the data elements corresponding to the state of the memory before each operation (especially former chainings (A7/16) of chained recordings). Then, a command for the comprehensive validation of the N operations, or on the contrary a command for comprehensive invalidation, is carried out, a validation or invalidation of individual operations being not permitted.

Abstract: A secured system of remote participation in interactive games with verification of the chronology of events relies on the counting, by a secured microprocessor (for example a microcircuit card), of consecutive periods of time of which the first one (Tr12) is initialized by a cryptographically secured message sent by the transmitter and the last one (Tr25) is ended by a connection of the games machine to the central computer of the transmitter for the forwarding thereto of the answer.

Abstract: A disk brake assembly having a friction disk mounted on the hub of a motorcycle wheel, the friction disk having an inner hub and an outer ring interengaged by a plurality of equally spaced offset arms connecting the outer ring to the inner hub. The angle of each arm being such that the heat generated in the outer ring causes the outer end of the arms to expand in relation to the expansion of the outer ring and to contract on cooling to return the outer ring to its original position.

Abstract: An electronic fingerprint sensor works by the detection of pressure, the ridge lines of the finger exerting a greater pressure than the valleys. The sensor has a matrix of pressure microsensors and electronic control and signal-processing circuits. It is made in an entirely monolithic form, according to techniques for the making of electronic circuits (deposition of thin layers, photo-etching, doping and thermal processing), both for the pressure detection part and for the signal-processing and control part. The matrix-type pressure sensor uses either piezoelectric resistors lying on an insulator layer stretched above a cavity or a variable capacitor or a microcontactor.

Abstract: A modular vehicle rack system having a rack holder and rack constructed and arranged to allow easy interchange of racks on the rack holder while allowing a rack mounted on the rack holder to be swung away from the rear of a vehicle to provide substantially unobstructed access to the vehicle rear. The holder has an upwardly extending pin located away from a tongue of the holder that telescopically receives a complementary sleeve of the rack enabling a rack to be quickly and easily mounted on the holder in a manner that permits it to be swung away from the vehicle rear to provide access. The rack preferably includes an integral handle that permits it to be easily grasped and maneuvered to enable racks to be quickly and easily mounted on or removed from a holder. The rack construction includes a swing arm support rail forming part of a cargo or equipment truss that can be flexibly arranged to carry many types of equipment and cargo making the rack design extremely flexible and versatile.

Abstract: Systems and methods for high efficiency illuminators are described.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval machine has a telescopically extendible shuttle assembly which includes a plurality of linearly movable plates and a plurality of shuttle guide roller assemblies which accommodate non-linearities in the guide surface and other variations in clearance between the shuttle guide rollers and the corresponding guide surfaces of the shuttle assembly. Each shuttle guide roller assembly includes a spring, preferably a die spring, which biases the guide roller towards the guide surface but which permits limited deflection of the roller when it encounters bows, bumps, or other variations in linearity in the guide surface. The pre-tensioned guide rollers provide wear compensation, center the shuttle plates on their tracks, and assure adequate guidance of the shuttle plates during shuttle telescoping while preventing premature wear of the shuttle guide roller bearings and/or the guide surfaces.

Abstract: The casting roll includes a hub (2) and a shell (3) which are arranged coaxially, and two flanges (5, 6) for supporting and radially centering the shell on the hub. Each flange includes a frustoconical part (51, 61) which cooperates with a corresponding frustoconical surface (34, 35) of the bore in the shell, the frustoconical surface being located in a region (A) where the internal diameter variations of the shell due to the expansion deformations are substantially zero.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an LCD with a collimated backlight and a non-Lambertian diffuser are described.

Abstract: An event-driven control system controls movement of a base and carriage of a storage and retrieval machine. The control system is microprocessor-based and includes a motion controller, a machine control task, an input/output interface, an input/output task, and a microprocessor that executes the machine control task and the input/output task. In operation, a plurality of interrupts is issued to the machine control task in response to events which occur in an operating environment of the storage and retrieval machine. To respond to the interrupts, at least one subroutine in response to the reception of each interrupt. The execution of the subroutines controls movement of the base and the carriage of the storage and retrieval machine. Movement of the base and the carriage of the storage and retrieval machine (1) is substantially entirely controlled by issuing and responding to the interrupts as different events occur in the operating environment that cause the interrupts to be issued.

Abstract: A lift table includes a support table assembly mounted on a scissor arm mechanism. The support table assembly is raised and lowered automatically upon the imposition or removal of loads so that the height of the plane on which articles are being handled remains generally constant. Raising and lowering is effected via a lift spring assembly that acts without the assistance of any pneumatic or hydraulic actuators. The scissor arm mechanism of the lift table has angled arms and low-friction rollers to facilitate raising and lowering of the support table assembly and optimizing operation of the lift spring assembly. The resulting mechanically operated lift table is simple, reliable, and can be easily transported from location to location.

Abstract: A self-righting stabilizing adaptor for a floating waterfowl decoy comprises a relatively wide, flat hollow body, with a central slot extending through a substantial portion of the adaptor for slidingly attaching it to the keel of the decoy. The adaptor effectively lowers the center of gravity of the decoy so that, in the event the decoy is placed onto a body of water upside down, the decoy will tip upright. The adaptor is filled with ballast water flowing through water inlet and outlet orifices on the edges of the adaptor, which stabilize the manner in which the decoy floats on the surface of the water.

Abstract: A method and heating system for a hose and dispenser wand of a hot melt mix applicator uses a three phase heating element powered by a generator to heat the hose and wand to maintain hot melt mix material within the hose and wand in a flowable state. To selectively energize the generator to control heat input, the heating system has (1) a controller in communication with a temperature sensor carried by the hose or wand, and (2) an output in communication with a generator control input. The generator control input enables operation of the generator to be controlled by the controller for controlling heating of the hose and wand. The heating element is a cord having a first wire receiving a phase of the three phase current, a second wire receiving another phase of the current, and a third wire receiving another phase of the current, with the cord being wrapped about the hose and wand in a helical configuration.

Abstract: A hybrid hydraulic electronic unit injector (HEUI) assembly, having some characteristics of an accumulator-type assembly and some characteristics of a non-accumulator type assembly, is produced by designing the volume (V.sub.ACC) of the passageway downstream of an existing blowback prevention check valve of the assembly to be between 1.0 and 10.0 times the maximum quantity Q.sub.MAX of fuel injected during an injection event. The resulting hybrid assembly 1) exhibits a rising injection rate during at least the initial stages of the injection event and therefore exhibits benefits generally associated with non-accumulator type HEUI assemblies, and 2) exhibits a falling rate injection during at least the final stages of the injection event and therefore exhibits benefits generally associated with accumulator-type HEUI assemblies. The percentage of the injection event taking place under a falling rate increases generally proportionally with the ratio V.sub.ACC /Q.sub.MAX.

Abstract: A disc refiner for thermo-mechanical pulping of wood chips or other fiber source for papermaking has annular refiner discs with a plurality of axially protruding radially extending curved refiner bars. Curved bars in the refiner zone should resist erosion and corrosion. Each disc has a region of bars which curve in the direction of rotation, and a region which curves away from the direction of rotation. Two identical refiner discs are mounted to rotate with respect to one another. Because of the bar curvature, processed stock experiences different angles of bar intersection as the pulp progresses from the inside of the refiner plate to the outside of the refiner plate, yielding a reduced hit on the pulp where opposed refiner bars curve in opposite directions. Where refiner bars on opposed plates curve in a like direction as they pass over one another there is a hold back action on the stock in that region.