Abstract: A roofing system in a building structure having a ridge vent includes strips of composite material having a base material adapted to form a hermetic seal with the top surface of a roofing section and recesses in a top surface in which an air permeable material can be positioned. A strip is applied to roof sections adjacent to each side of a ridge vent so that a ridge cap can overlay the strips in spaced relation from the underlying roof sections and be sealingly secured to the roof sections. The strip material establishes a barrier between the ridge cap and the roof sections through which air can pass, but through which the passage of rain and insects is inhibited.

Abstract: A vehicle having an adjustable seating assembly and related method. One member of the seating assembly may be adjusted to provide a backrest to a straddle type seat of the vehicle. As such, when a carrier bed having an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, the one member may optionally be used to provide a wall portion of the carrier bed. The one member may also be adjusted to provide an extension to the straddle type seat. As such, when an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, the one member may optionally be used to at least partially cover a segment of the accessory platform. When an accessory platform is located rearward of the straddle type seat, an additional member of the seating assembly may be adjusted to provide a backrest to one or more of the straddle type seat or an extended straddle type seat. The additional member may also be adjusted to form a segment of the accessory platform.

Abstract: A system and method for providing direct-current power is described. In one embodiment a direct current voltage is converted into at least two regulated DC voltages, and a first of the at least two regulated DC voltages is applied across a first and second outputs and a second of the at least two regulated DC voltages is applied across the second output and a third output. And when a first impedance across the first and second outputs is less than a second impedance across the second and third outputs, current is received via the second output while delivering power to the first and second impedances.

Abstract: A rifle holder device for supporting a rifle in a position that is easy to grab for taking a shot is described. The holder device lets a hunter or shooting enthusiast carry a rifle with its weight supported on either his right or left hip. Rifles are rather heavy weapons. Should the hunter or shooting enthusiast carry one in his hands or arms for an extended period of time, his muscles can get fatigued. This makes it more difficult to get off an accurate shot in a timely manner. However, the present holder device puts most of the rifle's weight on the hunter's hip, thereby freeing his hands and arms from having to carry the rifle until it's time to take a shoot. Further, the present holder device is adjustable for carrying rifles of many different sizes.

Abstract: An alarm pull station includes a housing, an alarm indicator carried within the housing, an alarm activation mechanism carried within the housing, such that the alarm activation mechanism is adjacent to the alarm indicator, and configured to generate an alarm signal, and a sensor carried within the housing such that the sensor is configured to generate a signal in response to a sensed condition and the alarm indicator is activated in response to the signal generated by the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning polishing pads that utilizes an apertured conditioning disk for introducing operation-specific slurries, without the need for additional tooling, platens, and materials handling. The method and apparatus utilizes a vacuum capability to pull waste material out of the polishing pad and through the apertured conditioning disk to evacuate the apparatus through an outlet port. The apparatus also includes a force adjustment system for providing measurement and control of the force applied by the conditioning disk to the polishing pad.

Abstract: A product management display system for merchandising both larger and heavier products includes using a pusher mechanism along with one or more roller assemblies that, in combination, improve the merchandising of products on the shelves, especially on horizontal or non-inclined shelves or surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, the product management display system includes a pusher mechanism configured to urge product forward and toward the front of the shelf. At least one roller assembly is positioned beneath the product to be merchandised to assist the pusher mechanism in urging the product toward the front of the shelf.

Abstract: A composition includes a copolymer including a mixture of monomeric units having structures (A), (B), and (C), and one or more of structures (D) or (E): HSiO(3-a)/2(OH)a??(A) Si(3-b)/2(OH)b—CH2)n—SiO(3-c)/2(OH)c??(B) R1SiO(3-d)/2(OH)d??(C) MeSi(3-e)/2(OH)e??(D) R2SiO(3-f)/2(OH)f??(E) wherein a, b, c, d, e, and f are independently from 0 to 2, n is from 0 to about 10, R1 is a chromophore, and R2 is a hydrophilic group.

Abstract: Systems and methods process structures on or within a semiconductor substrate using a series of laser pulses. In one embodiment, a deflector is configured to selectively deflect the laser pulses within a processing window. The processing window is scanned over the semiconductor substrate such that a plurality of laterally spaced rows of structures simultaneously pass through the processing window. As the processing window is scanned, the deflector selectively deflects the series of laser pulses among the laterally spaced rows within the processing window. Thus, multiple rows of structures may be processed in a single scan.

Abstract: A replacement oil pump plate for attachment to an original equipment manufacture oil pump within a transfer case for elimination of mechanical wear by replacing the abrasive aluminum tabs formed on the oil pump with low-friction plastic tabs is disclosed. The present plastic tab design redistributes the surface-to-surface contact between the magnesium transfer case and the aluminum pump tabs away from the original wear points so that any necessary weld repairs to the transfer case will not be disturbed. The present replacement pump plate is provided in a kit format including a pump plate, machine screws, plastic tabs, and installation instructions. The present invention also describes a method of installing the pump plate kit on the original equipment manufacture oil pump subassembly.

Abstract: An article of manufacture includes a cemented carbide piece and a joining phase that binds the cemented carbide piece into the article. The joining phase includes inorganic particles and a matrix material. The matrix material is a metal and a metallic alloy. The melting temperature of the inorganic particles is higher than the melting temperature of the matrix material. A method includes infiltrating the space between the inorganic particles and the cemented carbide piece with a molten metal or metal alloy followed by solidification of the metal or metal alloy to form an article of manufacture.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for decelerating and temporarily accumulating a hot rolled product moving longitudinally along a first axis at a first velocity V1. The apparatus comprises a curved guide with an entry end aligned with the first axis to receive the product, and with an exit end spaced radially from the first axis and orientated to deliver the product in an exit direction transverse to the first axis. The curved guide is rotatable about the first axis in a direction opposite to the exit direction of the product and at a speed at which its exit end has a second velocity V2 lower than V1 and such that the product is delivered from the exit end as a helical formation of rings and at a third velocity V3 equal to V1?V2. A cylindrical drum is arranged to axially receive the helical formation of rings and to rotate about the first axis in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the curved guide and at a speed such that the product is unwound from the drum at the third velocity V3.

Abstract: Composition and process for low temperature curing of polyuretdione-polyol compositions in which the polyuretdione is prepared from a polyisocyanate with isocyanate groups and a polyol containing primary hydroxyl groups. The catalyst for the composition and process is an amine catalyst containing the group —N?C—N—, being aprotic, having a pKa greater than 20 and upon addition to the liquid coating composition causing a phase-change of the coating composition from liquid to solid at 25° C. and 1 atm. within one week.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal photo-alignment agent and a liquid crystal photo-alignment film manufactured using the same. The liquid crystal photo-alignment agent includes an epoxy compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, and a polymer including a polyamic acid, a polyimide, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing fresh water, having a plurality of desalination processes in parallel where raw water or pre-treated raw water is treated by a first semi-permeable membrane unit, and the resulting permeate of which a pH is raised is treated in the second semi-permeable membrane unit, comprising: temporally, in part of desalination process A; lowering a pH of raw water or pre-treated water to be supplied to a first semi-permeable membrane unit A1 and to make a pH of the resulting permeate of the first semi-permeable membrane unit A1 lower than that of feed water of a second semi-permeable membrane unit B2 in desalination process B to be supplied to a second semi-permeable membrane unit A2; and mixing the permeate obtained from the second semi-permeable membrane unit A2 with the permeate obtained from the second semi-permeable membrane unit B2 in said desalination process B.

Abstract: Systems and methods for container analysis and tracking. A method includes scanning a plurality of items by a first data processing system to generate x-ray image data of the items, each of the plurality of items having a unique identifier. The method includes performing a computer implemented image recognition process on the x-ray image data to identify the items. The method includes interactively reviewing the x-ray image data with a human operator by a second data processing system, including displaying the x-ray image data to the human operator. The method includes recording the result of the human operator's review. The method includes determining, for each item, if the results from the computer implemented image recognition process and interactive review meet criteria for items that are exceptions that should not be shipped, and storing an exception indicator for each item using the respective unique identifier.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise obtaining and analyzing data from at least one discrete machine, automatically determining relationships related to the data, taking corrective action to improve machine operation and/or maintenance, automatically and heuristically predicting a failure associated with the machine and/or recommending preventative maintenance in advance of the failure, and/or automating and analyzing mining shovels, etc.

Abstract: A structure and arrangement for improving the accuracy and efficiency of an angular rate sensing gyroscope is herein disclosed. Voltage pick-off conductors are applied to an area of the surface of a resonating element of an angular rate sensing gyroscope that is subject to substantially zero stress when the gyroscope is rotationally stationary. Actuator conductors are similarly applied to a resonating element at a location bounded by areas of the resonating element subject to substantially uniform levels of stress when the gyroscope is rotationally stationary. A method for improving the voltage response of a piezoelectric resonating element is also disclosed.