Abstract: This liquid applicator (10) provides a container (14) having a valve assembly (50). The valve assembly (50) includes a unitary closure (12) having a passage with a partition (28) dividing the passage into first and second portions (26) and (27) providing a valve opening. A plunger (16) provides a valve element which has an intermediate tapered portion (29) received within the partition (42) opening to provide flow of liquid from the container (14). A spring (20) overfits the plunger (16) and engages a retainer (22) at the end of the closure (12) and a nib (18) interfits the closure first passage (25) to engage the plunger (16) to provide longitudinal movement of the plunger (16) to open the valve assembly (50) to dispense liquid from the container (14) and into the nib (18) when pressure is applied to move the plunger (16) out of the valve opening.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the structure (10A, 10B) of a patterned nanoscale or near nanoscale device (“nanostructure”) is repaired and/or enhanced by liquifying the patterned device in the presence of appropriate guiding conditions for a period of time and then permitting the device to solidify. Advantageous guiding conditions include adjacent spaced apart or contacting surfaces (12, 13A, 13B) to control surface structure and preserve verticality and unconstrained boundaries to permit smoothing of edge roughness. In an advantageous embodiment, a flat planar surface (12) is disposed overlying a patterned nanostructure surface (13A, 13B) and the surface (13A, 13B) is liquified by a high intensity light source to repair or enhance the nanoscale features.

Abstract: A wheel end assembly for a vehicle includes an axle tube and a housing secured to the end of the axle tube. A hub includes a drive flange located axially outward from the housing and a spindle projecting from the drive flange into the housing. The hub spindle has a substantially solid body with drive splines about an external surface of the spindle. Rolling elements are located between the hub spindle and the housing for enabling the hub to rotate about an axis. The hub includes an inner race defining an inner raceway located around and carried by the hub spindle for engagement with the rolling elements. An axle shaft is positioned within the axle tube and includes splines that are coupled to the external drive splines of the hub. The axle shaft includes a substantially hollow end positioned within the housing having the shaft splines positioned within an inner surface of the hollow end of the axle shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing a machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system to measure an orientation of one or more vehicle supporting surfaces of a vehicle lift system, and to measure and compensate one or more vehicle measurements relative to the vehicle supporting surface of the vehicle lift system.

Abstract: An educational device is provided which can be used to teach arithmetic. The educational device comprises a track having a scale on an outer surface of said track. The scale is comprised of a plurality of evenly spaced apart unit markings, the markings being spaced apart by a unit length. Blocks are provided which are slidingly received on the track. Each block has a length based on the unit length, and indicium is provided on the each block to identify the length of the block in unit lengths. When a set of blocks is positioned on the track, the end of the last block will line up with a unit marking on the scale representing the overall length of the set of blocks in “units”, and hence showing the sum of the lengths of the set of blocks placed on the track. By adding and removing blocks to the track, addition and subtraction “facts” can be visually taught.

Abstract: A printing and binding apparatus (1) is disclosed which can print on demand, bind, and trim a perfect bound book. The apparatus includes one or more text page printers (110, 200) and a color cover printer (114). The text page printers print the text pages of a book and form the text pages into a book block (BB). The color cover printer (114) prints a cover for the book. The book block and the cover are delivered to a binding station at which the spine (S) of the book block is adhesively bound to the cover. The bound book is then delivered to a trimming station (TS) at which excess margins (are trimmed from the book. A method of printing and binding a perfect bound book on demand is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of admission control for authorizing a submission of a broadcast message to a broadcast target area includes receiving a broadcast message record including the broadcast message and the broadcast target area for the broadcast message and validating the authority of a broadcast message originator originating the broadcast message record as a function of a broadcast message originator parameter. The method also includes identifying a broadcast transmission network providing broadcast message transmission to broadcast message receiving devices located within the broadcast target area and validating the broadcast transmission network against a broadcast transmission network parameter. The method further includes forwarding the broadcast message record to an output interface associated with the broadcast transmission network for transmission to the broadcast message receiving devices within the broadcast target area.

Abstract: A speed sensor for a wheel end that has an interior that is substantially isolated from an atmosphere around the wheel end. The speed sensor is carried by a housing of the wheel end for monitoring the rotation of the wheel end and indicating the angular velocity of the wheel end. The speed sensor includes a cable leading from the sensor to a location remote from the wheel end and further includes leads that transmit a signal and a sheath that encloses the leads. The sheath is open enough to allow a fluid to flow through its interior. A vent channel provides communication between the interior of the wheel end and the interior of the sheath on the cable.

Abstract: A tray for a product vending machine including a flat base upon which product to be vended may be placed. A plurality of walls are attached to the base which define rows into which product is organized. A channel within the flat base houses a threaded shaft. The threaded shaft threadingly attaches to a product drive member.

Abstract: This self-closing, sliding door assembly is used for a cabinet having a front opening and a pair of doors each mounted for movement in upper and lower tracks. A counterweight is attached to each door by a sash-line having a vertical length attached to the counterweight and a horizontal length attached to an associated door. The sash-line is guided from the vertical to the horizontal by a pair of pulley bracket assemblies one being mounted to a cabinet wall in a vertical plane and the other being mounted to a cabinet wall in a horizontal plane. The sash-line is retained on the pulleys by the pulley brackets during movement of the counterweight to guard against slip off the pulleys.

Abstract: The present invention relates to automotive vehicle brake lathes configured for resurfacing brake rotor components, and in particular, to an improved on-car brake lathe apparatus and a method for reducing vibrations during resurfacing of brake rotor components with a brake lathe having a variable speed spindle motor, an output spindle rotationally driven by the variable speed motor adapted to couple the brake lathe to the brake rotor component, and at least one adjustable cutting tip adapted to engage a surface of the vehicle brake component.

Abstract: A cushion comprising an array of individual suspension elements arranged in a pattern wherein one embodiment the longitudinal axis of each suspension element in the array is positioned at a right angle or parallel to the longitudinal axes of the adjacent suspension elements. Each suspension element has a displaceable load-bearing surface, a first end wall, a second end wall, and an optional bottom wall, with load-bearing surface and recited walls defining an inner chamber. The material thickness of the load-bearing surface generally is greater than the material thickness of the end walls whereby the end walls deflect outwardly toward the load-bearing surfaces of adjacent support elements under load. The load-bearing surface can have a substantially arch-shaped, elliptical or rectangular cross-section and may be constructed from different materials to make a composite suspension element.

Abstract: A modular container (2) for a flat display panel (3) has a mounting shelf (55) for the panel and power means (48) for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and vertical channels (108) or geared tracks in the container positioned to receive side edges of the panel and adjustable laterally to accommodate panels of different widths. A modular container for a flat display panel has a mounting shelf for the panel and power means for selectively raising and lowering the mounting shelf and remotely controlled power means (32, 76), for moving said container with respect to a seated or recumbent person.

Abstract: A wheel end (A) has a housing (2, 70, 80, 90) and a hub (4) provided with a spindle (32) that projects into the housing, and the hub rotates relative to the housing on an antifriction bearing (6) located between the housing and hub spindle. The housing has a tubular core (12, 72, 82, 92) that encloses the bearing and ring mounts (14, 74, 84, 94) spaced outwardly from the core and also webs (16,76,86,96) that connect the ring mounts to the core. A road wheel (B) is attached to the hub and rotates with the hub relative to the housing. The housing is secured to a suspension upright (C) at its ring mounts. The core deflects relative to the ring mounts, owning to forces and moments transferred through the bearing from the suspension upright to the road wheel and vice versa, and the magnitude of those forces and moments are reflected in signals derived from strain sensor modules (SM) attached to the webs of the housing.

Abstract: A corner module for an automotive vehicle includes a suspension upright, a wheel end, and a CV joint. The wheel end has a housing that is secured to the suspension upright and a hub that is provided with a flange to which a road wheel is attached and also spindle that projects from the flange into the housing. In addition, the wheel end has a tapered roller bearing located between the housing and the hub spindle. The CV joint drives the hub through a coupler ring or an inboard bearing cone that fits around and is engaged with the hub spindle, all through mating splines. The CV joint may have a stub shaft that projects from the bell through the hub spindle to clamp the CV joint and hub spindle together. Torque is transferred to the hub spindle at a large diameter through the bell of the CV joint. When present, the stub shaft serves merely to hold the CV joint and hub spindle together and thus may exist at a small diameter.

Abstract: The performance of a worm assembly seal is improved by (1) the use of a hardened steel worm with a bronze worm gear; (2) a tribological coating on one or both of the worm thread or spiral and the gear teeth; 3) a tribological coating on one or both of the input or output shaft or shaft sleeves; or (4) a tribological coating applied to the worm thread, the gear teeth, the input and output shafts or shaft sleeves, or combinations thereof. In each of the approaches, the worm, worm gear, and input and output shafts or shaft sleeves can have surface finishing treatments. Additionally, in each of the three approaches, carbon or carbon/nitrogen concentration gradients can be added to the worm.

Abstract: A method for measuring the imbalance characteristics of a rotating body, and for determining if an application of at least one imbalance correction weight in only one of two identified imbalance correction weight planes is sufficient to reduce the measured imbalance characteristics of the rotating body to an acceptable residual imbalance level.

Abstract: A computer facilitated method of requesting a spectral analysis of a sample having an unknown concentration or purity, performing an energy absorption analysis of the sample to obtain spectral data regarding the analysis and comparing the spectral data to a stored spectral data regarding the analyses of the samples having a predetermined concentration and purity to determine the concentration or purity of the sample having an unknown concentration or purity. The spectral analysis is performed on site where the sample is prepared or administered using a portable analytical apparatus and provides a real time report of the concentration or purity of the sample. The apparatus requires only a small sample size.