Abstract: A particulate material is ground more efficiently using a mixture of at least two different sizes of yttrium-stabilized zirconia balls. The method facilitates preparation of photocatalysts with high activity.

Abstract: A playing card apparatus and method for discreetly displaying values on faces of playing cards while in a face down orientation to a player. The apparatus has a housing with a playing card support surface with an opening over which the playing cards are placed face down. A first mirror is positioned below the opening to reflect an image of the playing card values in one direction while in their face down orientation. A second mirror is positioned below the opening to reflect the image from the first mirror upwardly through the opening for discreet viewing by the player.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of supplying a gaseous fuel from a fuel storage vessel to a secondary device.

Abstract: A vehicle side mirror (10) that includes an internal case frame (30) having a spherical concave support portion (38) and a ‘T shaped’ retention post (40). The spotter mirror (28) also includes a backing plate (54) having a dish portion (56) with a center opening (58). The backing plate (54) is positioned against the case frame (30) so that the support portion and the dish portion (56) cooperate and the retention post (40) extends through the opening (58) in the dish portion (56). The spotter mirror (28) further includes a single piece retention ring (66) having ramped cam surfaces (72, 74) and leaf springs (78). The retention ring (66) is positioned within the dish portion (56) so that the retention post (40) extends through a center slot (58) in the ring (66). The retention ring (66) is rotated so that ramped cam surfaces (72, 74) push against a back surface of the post (40). The pointing direction of the glass (86) can be manually adjusted by rotating the dish portion (56) on the support portion (30).

Abstract: Methods and fuel systems to reduce evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel. A fuel tank contains fuel, a carburetor mixes air with the fuel from the fuel tank, and a plurality of fluid paths route fuel amongst and/or between the fuel tank and the carburetor. A valve actuation device stops flow of fuel in one or more of the plurality of fluid paths and the carburetor is adapted to be drained of fuel during engine shutdown to reduce or prevent evaporative emissions from the fuel system. The carburetor is preferably designed so as to minimize a volume of fuel contained therein.

Abstract: A spark plug having a particular firing end configuration that satisfies numerous dimensional ranges for improved performance. The spark plug generally includes a shell, an insulator, and center and ground electrodes, with the electrodes each having a copper core for improved thermal conductivity and a noble metal insert for improved erosion and corrosion resistance. The noble metal insert for the center electrode is preferably in the form of a cylindrical Ir-based tip, which is received within a complimentary recess formed in the center electrode. The noble metal insert for the ground electrode is in the form of a flat Pt-based pad attached to a surface of the ground electrode. Various dimensional ranges are provided for the various components of the spark plug assembly, both individually and in combination with other dimensions.

Abstract: A variable resistor assembly is preferably adapted for use with a fuel level sensor and includes an arcuate resistive area including a plurality of radially oriented and spaced apart conductive contact segments, and further includes a wiper including an arm and at least two contactors carried by the arm, wherein the at least two contactors are arranged on the arm such that the at least two contactors make contact with one of the conductive contact segments before breaking contact with an adjacent one of the conductive contact segments. Preferably, the at least two contactors are laterally offset with respect to one another and/or oriented at an angle with respect to the conductive contact segments.

Abstract: A fuel tank that is substantially impermeable to fuel vapor has a shell with an interior for holding fuel, an opening for receiving fuel into the interior, and a fill nipple with a barrier layer. The fill nipple has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passage extending between a pair of generally opposed ends of the fill nipple. One of the ends is attached to the shell such that the passage is aligned with the opening to allow fuel to flow through the passage and into the interior of the fuel tank. The fill nipple has an inner layer of material forming the inner surface, and an outer layer of material forming the outer surface, and has at least one intermediate layer of material forming the barrier layer. The intermediate layer is formed from a material that is different in composition from the inner and outer layers.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing mold charges into a mold of a compression molding machine includes a carrier, an arm pivotally mounted on the carrier and a mold charge pick-up cup on the arm at a position spaced from the carrier. The arm is pivotal on the carrier between a first position at which the arm is positioned to deposit a mold charge into a mold and a second position at which the mold charge pick-up cup is disposed to transport the mold charge. The carrier preferably is mounted for rotation around an axis. In some embodiments, a cam mechanism is coupled to the arm to pivot the arm as a function of rotation of the carrier. A spring may be coupled between the arm and the carrier for biasing the arm toward one of the first and second positions of the arm. In another embodiment, an actuator is carried by the carrier and coupled to the arm to pivot the arm with respect to the carrier. The arm preferably includes a passage for selective application of air and/or vacuum to the mold charge pick-up cup.

Abstract: A signal and information transmission system for communications or radar and a method of achieving distortionless transmission of linear phase shift keying signals amplified by nonlinear power amplifiers or distorted by up-converters and RF circuits or the channel. Error correcting codes are used to jointly overcome both the distortion by the power amplifiers or up-converters and RF circuits or the channel and the noise. The modulator generates properly pulse shaped PSK signal, which does not have constant envelope. The signal-to-distortion power ratio is maximized to be above 20 dB at the fully saturated power amplifier output. The simplest linear receiver is provided to demodulate the received signal in the presence of radio distortion, channel distortion and noise. The decoder makes decision in the presence of radio distortion, channel distortion and noise.

Abstract: A reflectometry method and apparatus for gathering meaningful reflectance data indicative of one or more characteristics of a substance being grown on a horizontal substrate within a reaction chamber. The apparatus includes an external light source which shines light into the chamber through an opening having a shutter for selectively permitting or preventing the light from passing in and out of the chamber through the opening. A detector receives light that reflects off the substance and exits the chamber through the opening. During operation, the substrate is rotated about an axis substantially normal to the growing plane within the reaction chamber to ensure uniform deposition of the substance thereon. The shutter momentarily opens in synchronicity with the speed of revolution of the substrate such that substantially the same discrete area of the growing substance is illuminated so as to eliminate the effects of precession on the measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus for compression molding sealing liners in premade closure shells includes a shell loader for presenting premade closure shells in sequence, a mold charge placement device for placing charges of liner material into the premade shells, and a vertical wheel molding machine for receiving the closure shells in sequence from the loader and compression molding the mold charges to form sealing liners within the closure shells. The vertical wheel molding machine preferably includes a wheel mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis and a plurality of angularly spaced molds disposed around the wheel. Each of the molds preferably includes a first mold segment and a second mold segment disposed radially outwardly of the first mold segment. One of the first and second mold segments, preferably the second mold segment, includes a nest for receiving a premade closure shell.

Abstract: A fuel supply module may include a reservoir and a fuel filter carried by the reservoir. In one implementation, the filter assembly may be pivoted relative to the reservoir when the fuel pump module is inserted through an access opening of the fuel tank. Thereafter, when the fuel pump module is mounted to the fuel tank, the filter assembly may pivot to a second position angularly displaced from the first position. In another implementation, the position of the filter assembly is fixed relative to the reservoir.

Abstract: A child-resistant compact for dispensing product on blister cards includes a first portion having a first panel hinged to a first clamp for capturing an end of a first blister card, and a second portion having a second panel hinged to a second clamp for capturing an end of a second blister card. The first and second clamps are connected to each other such that the first and second panels form a chamber for enclosing the blister cards. At least one child-resistant latch is on the periphery of the panels for opening one or both panels with respect to the clamps for access to the blister cards.

Abstract: A hand lever fixture has a support body which can be attached to a handlebar, on which support body a hand lever and an over-center spring are pivotably mounted, said hand lever being effectively connected to a master cylinder and said over-center spring being effectively connected to the hand lever, which over-center spring, when the hand lever is in a position between a dead center position and an end position, generates a lever moment on the hand lever, said lever moment acting in the direction of the end position. The hand lever is split into a main lever which can be acted upon manually and an auxiliary lever pivotably mounted on the support body, at the end of which auxiliary lever the over-center spring is articulated while an auxiliary force resulting from the over-center spring lever moment can be transmitted to the master cylinder via its other end.

Abstract: An operator station is positioned on the outside of a machine tool on the same side of the machine as the tool magazine and the automatic tool changer, to improve the ergonomics of the machine by keeping the tool loading access as close as possible to the operator. This location also allows easy visual access to the tools in the magazine and in the ready position in the tool changer. An angled “tunnel” window passing across the front of the tool magazine and the Y-axis column allows direct visual observation of the working zone of the machine tool from the operator station. A door on the side of the machine allows access from the operator station to a utilities panel located just inside of the door permitting ready operator access to switches, valves, fill points, filters and gages that are located on the panel.

Abstract: A capacitive discharge ignition (CDI) system that can be used with a variety of light-duty internal combustion engines, including those typically employed by lawn, garden, and other outdoor equipment. According to one embodiment, the CDI system includes an ignition module having a first switching device that shorts a charge coil during an initial portion of a charge cycle. Subsequently, the first switching device is turned ‘off’ so that a flyback charging technique charges an ignition capacitor. A second switching device is then used to discharge the ignition capacitor and initiate the combustion process.

Abstract: A road surface scanning device and method for scanning a section of road in order to acquire road surface data, which in turn can be used to create a mathematical model of the road. In one embodiment, the road surface scanning device includes a frame, a carriage movably mounted to the frame, a scanner movably mounted to the carriage, and a pair of electric actuators that can move the scanner across the road surface. Information from adjacent scanner passes are electronically stitched together and, in a similar manner, information from adjacent surface segments are electronically joined to form a mathematical model of the road. Various techniques can then be used to process the road surface data and prepare it for use by other software applications.