Abstract: The invention concerns a gripper device for gripping solid or hollow items, objects or bodies, which includes a supporting body (11, 11a) holding a plurality of gripper modules (12, 12a) positioned around the geometric axis of the body, parallel and spaced at an angle. Each module includes a flexible prehensible arch-shaped element (21, 21a) having an extrados in line with a radial slot (18, 18a) along one side of the housing and engaged by an actuator piston. All the prehensile elements are movable between a decontracted rest condition, in which their extradossis are retracted in the respective slots (18, 18a), and a compressed/contracted work condition, in which their extradossis protrude from the radial slots (18, 18a) to engage from time to time the item, object or casing to be gripped.
Abstract: The description relates to an exhaust gas purification system for exhaust gases that are emitted from an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine. In one embodiment, exhaust gases from the engine are separated into two streams. The two exhaust streams are processed differently so as to take advantage of different attributes of different aftertreatment devices.
Abstract: A method is provided for reducing degradation in a fuel cell assembly, including at least one fuel cell with a PBI membrane, during standby, operation. The method may include electrochemically consuming an oxidant from a cathode coupled to the PBI membrane in response to a disconnection of an external load and supplying fuel to remove or electrochemically consume any back-diffused oxidant to the associated fuel cell sufficient to replace or consume the back-diffused oxidant while the external load is removed, and/or also may include controlling a standby temperature of the fuel cell. In this way, it may be possible to avoid increased cell voltage decay associated with degradation of the PBI in a simple and cost effective system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 7, 2012
Date of Patent:
June 19, 2012
Assignee:
ClearEdge Power, Inc.
Inventors:
Yang Song, Zakiul Kabir, Craig Evans, Lin Qiu, Donald L. Maricle
Abstract: A computing device configured to execute computer code to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) for creating a multi-frame presentation is provided. The generated GUI may include a canvas pane configured to display a main frame and supporting frame icons representing a plurality of supporting frames of the presentation. The generated GUI may further include a connector tool operable within the canvas pane for creating a link between a source element and a target element, the source element being the main frame or an element of the main frame, the target element being a supporting frame or an element of a supporting frame, the link being defined by an associated linking script, the connector tool being operable to create the link via a click-and-drag action from the source element to the target element.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 12, 2008
Date of Patent:
June 19, 2012
Assignee:
Microsoft Corporation
Inventors:
Cheryl S. White, Douglas W. Herman, Casey A. Anderson, Bartosz Gulik, Patrick Schreiber, Ravipal Soin, Robert S. Dietz, Hana Kim, David Matthew Snow
Abstract: Systems and methods for personalized media recommendation are provided. One example system may include a media server including a media database containing a plurality of media tracks and a database schema defining multiple media styles. The media server may further include a media delivery engine configured to transmit media tracks to each of a plurality of media clients. The system may further include a feedback module configured to receive history data from each of the media clients. Further still, the system may include a recommendation engine configured to compute a plurality of user-specific style weights, and to select one or more recommended media tracks for each user, The recommendation engine may be further configured to send a recommendation message to the media client including media links to the recommended media tracks on the media server, to cause the media client to display the media links to a user.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 19, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Microsoft Corporation
Inventors:
Alexander Burba, Ivan Petrov Trindev, Zerelina R. Mukherjee, Nicole Simone DesRosiers
Abstract: A gas concentration-measuring device makes it possible to measure gas components in a gas sample. An interferometer, based on a dual-band Fabry-Perot interferometer (1), is provided with a transmission spectrum that can be set by a control voltage (38). The control voltage (38) of the dual-band Fabry-Perot interferometer (1) is synchronized over the course of time with the activation and deactivation of the radiation sources (11, 12).
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 19, 2010
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Drägerwerk AG & Co., KGaA
Inventors:
Peter Dreyer, Günter Steinert, Alfred Kelm, Christian Jäger, Livio Fornasiero, Hartmut Stark, Ralf Buchtal, Burkhard Stock, Ralf Döring, Anja Künzel, legal representative
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle having a plurality of axles and a lift mechanism configured to dynamically transfer weight from one axle to another. In one example, the method comprises, responding to an operating condition by adjusting the lift mechanism to provide a determined amount of lift, and in response to vehicle braking, a vehicle stall risk, poor infrastructure conditions, and/or a high vehicle penalty, reducing the determined amount of lift.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 7, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Bret Worden, Jeremy Thomas McGarry
Abstract: A method of operating an engine system is described in which a back-pressure valve of a low pressure EGR system can be modulated at a lower frequency during an EGR operation, and at a higher frequency when additional exhaust gas sensing is requested. Back-pressure valve modulation can therefore be used to promote exhaust gas mixing while providing EGR. Exhaust gas constituents in the mixed exhaust gas can then be sensed with higher accuracy by downstream exhaust gas sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 5, 2011
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Michiel J. Van Nieuwstadt, William Charles Ruona, Paul Joseph Tennison, Michael Hopka
Abstract: An emissions-control system of a vehicle is provided, having an SCR device disposed downstream of an LNT in the exhaust. During an enrichment interval to purge the LNG, a duration of an enrichment subinterval beginning after a sensor indicates rich breakthrough is adjusted in response to an aging of the LNT. In this way, it is possible to modify LNT regeneration based on catalyst performance and thereby generate sufficient ammonia for improved operation of the SCR device.
Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling access of application programs to an adaptive input device are described herein. One exemplary computing system includes an application programming interface executable on a computing device for controlling said access to an adaptive input device having a plurality of display regions. The application programming interface is configured to receive a display request from one of the application programs to display formatted output on the composite display and is further configured to apply at least a display sharing policy based on application-specific policy settings received from the application program for defining an application-specific area including at least one of the display regions. Further, the application programming interface is configured to generate formatted output based on the application-specific policy settings, and to send the formatted output to the application-specific area for display.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 22, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Microsoft Corporation
Inventors:
Robert D. Young, Daniel M. Sangster, Marc DesCamp, Scott M. Mail, Vincent Ball, Dennis Meinhardt
Abstract: A method and system for fuel vapor control in a hybrid vehicle (HEV). The HEV fuel vapor recovery system includes a fuel tank isolation valve, which is normally closed to isolate storage of refueling from storage of diurnal vapors. The method for fuel vapor control includes selectively actuating the fuel tank isolation valve during interrelated routines for refueling, fuel vapor purging, and emission system leak detection diagnostics to improve regulation of pressure and vacuum the HEV fuel vapor recovery system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 28, 2011
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Timothy DeBastos, John Michael Kacewicz, Scott Bohr, Russell Randall Pearce, Christopher Kragh, Patrick Sullivan, William Euliss, Michael Igor Kluzner
Abstract: Provided is an integrated gas panel apparatus which has excellent responsiveness, stabilizes gas concentration, and furthermore, can keep a conventional panel shape as it is. A panel body comprises at least a main flow channel block body for forming a main flow channel, and a branch flow channel block body for forming a branch flow channel. The branch flow channel block bodies are arranged on the both right and left sides to face each other by having the main flow channel block body at the center.
Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a vehicle and method of operation are described. In one example, the engine may operate in a two stroke cycle to provide increased engine torque when a recharging operation of the on-board energy storage device is requested. Further, a transition from a four stroke cycle to the two stroke cycle may be performed while maintaining the transmission in the previously selected gear ratio in response to a requested increase in charging or a requested increase in wheel torque as requested by the vehicle operator.
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for introducing a pig-like tool into an operating pipeline, such as a fluid pipe. According to the invention the pipeline is drilled during operation and the tool is injected into the pipeline through the drilled hole. During a corresponding tool removal from the pipeline a method is provided for prereconnaissance for the determination of a degree of contamination, cleaning, surveying, inspecting, repairing, etc. of pipelines by means of a corresponding, pig-like tool. The invention also relates to a device and a tool permitting the performance of the inventive method. Thus, otherwise unpiggable pipelines can be worked in a cost-efficient manner.
Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine are described. In one example system, hydrocarbons in engine exhaust gases may be stored during an engine cold start and later released into an intake manifold of the engine. The methods and systems may reduce engine hydrocarbon emissions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 16, 2009
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Moritz Klaus Springer, Thomas Lorenz, Helmut Hans Ruhland
Abstract: Fuel is evacuated from a fuel rail by directing liquid fuel from the fuel rail to a fuel tank and then by directing gaseous fuel from the fuel rail to a fuel vapor canister.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 28, 2010
Date of Patent:
June 12, 2012
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, LLC
Inventors:
Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
Abstract: A fire training system with improved ability to be handled and with the possibility of generating different flame aspects is provided. The fire training system has at least one liquid reservoir (1) and a regulating and control unit (2). The regulating and control unit (2) is connected to at least one distributor unit (5) via at least one electric line (3). The liquid gas reservoir (1) is connected to the at least one distributor unit (5) via at least one liquid gas line. (4). Each distribution unit (5) is provided with control valves that can be actuated for dispensing the liquid to downstream liquid gas discharge nozzles (6) and to an associated pilot burner (7), and with at least one sensor (8) for detecting the success of extinguishing. The liquid gas discharge nozzles (6) are arranged at a fire-resistant surface (9).
Abstract: A system for improving distribution of gases within an intake manifold of an engine is presented. The system may be used to improve engine air-fuel control. In one example, turbulence of gases entering an intake manifold is increased.