Abstract: An aircraft comprising a plurality of fuel tanks in each wing is arranged such that each fuel tank is provided with a venting pipe connected to a single venting chamber. The venting chamber is itself located in a central fuel tank located in the wing centre-box and is thus located inwardly of at least two of the fuel tanks. The venting chamber has two venting pipes each being connected via a respective surge tank in each wing to the exterior of the aircraft.

Abstract: Baroreflex activation is achieved by providing suitable control signals to a baroreflex activation device. A method comprises establishing a therapy interval (possibly on the order of minutes to hours, or possibly of indefinite duration), within the therapy interval, establishing a plurality of dose intervals, and generating an electrical output signal. The electrical output signal has a time dependence such that the average electrical power applied to the baroreflex activation device differs between first and second portions of at least some dose intervals. Another method comprises establishing a series of therapy interval portions, during at least some therapy intervals, establishing a plurality of burst intervals (perhaps having durations commensurate with an interval between heartbeats), and generating an electrical output signal.

Abstract: A vibrating inertial rate sensor has operational elements that define axes that are rotationally offset or “skewed” from a node or anti-node reference axis. The skew may be relative to separate node or anti-node reference axes, or take the form of an element that is “split” about the same node axis. Both the drive signal and the sense signal may be resolved from a common set of sensing elements. The drive elements may also operate on a skewed axis angle to rotationally offset the vibration pattern to affect active torquing of the gyroscope. Skewed drive elements may be combined with skewed or split elements on the same device. The skewed sensing scheme may be applied to vibratory systems having one or more node axes. The skewed drive scheme may be applied to vibratory systems having two or more node axes to affect active torquing.

Abstract: Treads for a track having at least one face, front or rear, that is uneven due to the presence of steps, indentations, or projections for example, thus providing a multi-edge ground contacting surface. The treads may further have an increasing cross section from a top part thereof to a bottom part thereof, the top pan having a section smaller than the bottom part.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to provide an active headrest which will not over-push the head of a passenger. For this purpose, the invention provides a headrest controller for moving a part (20A) or whole of a headrest (20) of a vehicle seat toward a head of the passenger to reduce the distance between the headrest (20) and the head in the horizontal direction by predicting or detecting a crash to the rear of the vehicle, including a head position detecting unit (11) for detecting a predetermined state of approach or state of contact of the headrest (20) to or with the head during the movement of the headrest (20) and a control circuit for stopping the headrest based on a detection signal from the head position detecting unit (11).

Abstract: An elastic sieving method and corresponding large-sized elastic vibration screen. The present invention utilizes a screening surface and a separate sieving machine. A screen mat located on the sieve box is connected to multiple small rectangular screens. While the machine is vibrating, the resonation of screen rods located on the screen mat connected by small rectangular screens are initiated to screen the material and to cause the vibration of the whole vibration screen and realize the conveyance and lamination of materials. Because the screening surface is in a state of resonance, the vibration strength is strong enough to prevent the screen meshes from becoming plugged, allowing for high sieving efficiency. A bearing in the sieving mechanism is installed with a vibration damping ring, placing the bearing in a resonant state, allowing for a low dynamic stress level, which satisfies the process requirement for large-sized vibration screen excitation units with a screening surface as wide as 4800 mm.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed by which the blood pressure, nervous system activity, and neurohormonal activity may be selectively and controllably reduced by activating baroreceptors. A baroreceptor activation device is positioned near a baroreceptor, preferably a baroreceptor located in the carotid sinus. A control system may be used to modulate the baroreceptor activation device. The control system may utilize an algorithm defining a stimulus regimen which promotes long term efficacy and reduces power requirements/consumption. The baroreceptor activation device may utilize RF-coupled or other electrodes to activate the baroreceptors. The electrodes may be adapted for connection to the carotid arteries at or near the carotid sinus, and may be designed to minimize extraneous tissue stimulation.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus related to a motorized platform for use in creating three dimensional images. The motorized platform includes a symmetrical steering system such that a digital camera remains focused upon a desired image target as the motorized platform is advanced. The symmetrical steering system includes a three-wheel arrangement providing a constant radius path around the image target. A pair of steerable wheels located on an inside edge of the motorized platform are operably connected with a steering linkage assembly such that the steerable wheels are angularly adjusted to define the constant radius path. A drive wheel is operably connected to a motor assembly for propelling the motorized platform along the constant radius path. A digital camera can be mounted to a tripod attached to the motorized platform and the digital camera can be operably controlled either manually or automatically as the motorized platform is advanced.

Abstract: A system and method for determining instantaneously the three-dimensional coordinates of large sets of points in space is disclosed. This system uses two or more CCD cameras (or any other type of camera), each with its own lens and pinhole. The CCD's are all arranged so that the pixel arrays are within the same plane. The CCD's are also arranged in a predefined pattern. The combination of the multiple images acquired from the CCD's onto one single image forms a pattern, which is dictated by the predefined arrangement of the CCD's. The size and centroid on the combined image are a direct measure of the depth location Z and in-plane position (X,Y), respectively. The use of a predefined pattern enables high speed computation through simple algorithmic procedures. Moreover, the use of CCD cameras allows for the recording of such datasets at the corresponding image frame rate, thus opening the use of the invention to the mapping of dynamical systems.

Abstract: A method for generating a sound giving a sensation of depth by applying, after extraction, a transfer function quadrille onto electric sound signals on the left and right thereof. The transfer functions simulate the trajectories taken by the sound associated with the electric signal to be processed in order to reach two receivers, if this sound was emitted in air. The signals that have been processed, one by one, by one of the four transfer functions of the quadrille, are combined with each other, then the sound signal thus obtained is mixed with the original electric sound signal to be processed after a temporal reset.

Abstract: A method of deriving a calibration filter for electromagnetic data is provided. The method comprises providing a source (21, 22) of electromagnetic radiation and subsequently measuring components of the source electromagnetic field (23, 24, 25) at a receiver when the source is sufficiently close to the receiver that the down-going signal dominates over the up-going signal reflected from features below the receiver. Such a measurement can be used in frequency domain analysis (26, 28, 29) to extract the down-going signal component and derive a calibration filter for the receiver. The method is repeated (27, 30) for each receiver used in an electromagnetic sounding survey.

Abstract: Determining instantaneously three-dimensional coordinates of large sets of points in space using apertures associated with cameras or camera parts. An embodiment associates information from the apertures with different portions of the imager, so that portions on the imager do not overlap.

Abstract: A shim adapted for positioning on the upper surface of at least one wing of an aircraft. The shim restores an aerodynamic profile of the wing at the position of a zone of transition between structure fastening the wing to the fuselage of the aircraft and the upper surface of the aircraft. The shim enables a seal to run from the fastening structure to the upper surface of the wing, in eliminating the zones at which the seal may break open. An aircraft provided with such a shim is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting lead adequacy and quality is disclosed. The system includes leads attached to a package having known electrical or optical characteristics. The package is adapted to interface with a testing device that allows the operator to ascertain whether the leads are appropriate for the desired task. This allows the testing of the lead set without the need to remove it from the package. The system of the present invention generally includes packaging of known electrical or optical characteristics, a package testing interface, and a lead testing assembly including hardware and/or software to determine whether the leads in question fulfill the desired characteristics. The lead testing assembly may be freestanding or may be incorporated into an existing testing instrument.