Abstract: A system and method of stabilizing a vehicle are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect, a self-stabilizing vehicle having an articulated frame may generally comprise: a base frame portion coupled to one or more wheels; an operator frame portion to support an operator of the vehicle; a hinge assembly operably coupling the base frame portion and the operator frame portion; and a control unit to drive the hinge assembly causing the operator frame portion to rotate (relative to the base frame portion) about one or more hinge axes as a function of inertial data and speed data, and optionally steering control input signals. In some two-wheeled applications, both wheels are steerable; additionally, both wheels may be driven. Alternative vehicles are disclosed having one wheel and three wheels.

Abstract: A nozzle structure for discharging printing material onto a substrate is presented. The nozzle structure comprises a tubular member having a distal part that faces the printing plane when in operation and defining an elongated inner cavity along the tubular member for placement a filament printing material. The tubular member comprises light input ports on the proximal part thereof for directing light toward inner surfaces thereof. The tubular member has an elongated tube portion and a distal tip portion at the distal part thereof, configured and operable as a light guide trapping and guiding the input light along the tubular member in a general direction toward the distal part, thereby continuously transferring light field to distal regions of the elongated inner cavity. The distal tip portion is configured to allow the trapped light to escape towards the printing plane, thereby heating a location on the printing plane facing the nozzle.

Abstract: A storage holder for placement in a liquid or foam dispenser includes a liquid reservoir having an opening and a plug provided in the opening. The storage holder also includes a pump having a pump section and an inlet tube extending from the pump section. The storage holder further includes a spacer having an opening for the inlet tube, with the spacer being positioned between the pump section and the plug so that a defined distance is provided between the pump section and the plug. The spacer is fixed at a position relative to the plug and relative to the pump only by a clamping connection between the inlet tube and the plug. The spacer is not connected to the pump and the spacer is not connected to the plug such that spacer may be separated from the pump and the plug when the pump is pulled out of the plug.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods for obtaining a suspension arm for automotive vehicles, wherein certain embodiments comprise obtaining two identical parts to form a body, where each part is obtained by means of: a) cutting a metal or composite sheet forming a base plane, such that a central segment and two ends are defined, b) drawing at least one hole in each end, c) stamping each part forming in its central segment two flanges consisting of a first flange and a second flange located on opposite sides of the central segment and oriented perpendicular to the base plane, where said flanges have an asymmetrical arrangement with respect to a midplane passing through the geometric centers of the holes of the two ends and is perpendicular to the base plane, the second flange being separated from the midplane a distance equal to the separation of the first flange from the midplane plus a distance at least equal to the value of the thickness of the sheet or plate.

Abstract: A brake pad assembly is provided that includes a backing plate including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and at least one opening. Also included are a friction material associated with the backing plate and a shim plate having a first shim surface and a second shim surface, and a tab projecting from the second shim surface. The shim plate is securely fastened to the backing plate by inserting the tab into the opening such that the friction material, when plastic, embeds the tab inside the opening by flowing through the opening, and subsequently hardens around the tab.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus adapted to dilute pre-measured raw chemical material. The apparatus includes a tank selectively fluidly connectable to a source of pressurized diluent by a passageway and a first pump selectively fluidly connectable to the passageway. The first pump pumps the pre-measured raw chemical material from a first container through the passageway to the tank to mix with diluent in the tank. The apparatus also includes a second pump selectively fluidly connectable to the passageway. The second pump pumps the diluted raw chemical material from the tank through the passageway to a second container.

Abstract: The invention relates to the method for preparation of orally administrated insulin oil formulation comprising: dissolving an amount of insulin in an acidic aqueous buffer(A); adding A to liquid surfactant, the HLB value of which is between 10 and 20, with agitation to form a homogeneous solution(B); adding B to an oil, the HLB value of which is between 0 and 10, with agitation to form oil formulation. This invention has a simple process with low cost. After orally administrated, the formulation prepared with the process of the invention can resist the gastrointestinal degradation by digestive enzymes, and is easily absorbed for hypoglycemic effect.

Abstract: A system for cementing a tubular member in a well bore includes a cementing plug. The cementing plug includes at least one sensor. The system transmits a value measured by the sensor to a surface location. The system may transmit the value measured by the sensor through a cable connected between the plug and the surface location. Alternatively, the system may transmit the value measured by the sensor acoustically to the surface location.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing same-size discrete articles (P) comprises a holder (34, 36, 44) for holding a plurality of such articles in a stack, the holder having a top, a bottom (44, 46), and an exit opening (60) at the bottom, through which the lowermost article in the stack can leave the holder in a transverse direction. It further comprises means (38, 40, 16, 18) defining a pathway for guiding said articles from the exit opening to, and over, the top of the holder, with each article in the pathway pushing the article ahead of it along the pathway. The arrangement is such that the articles are visible while in transit along the pathway to the top of the holder.

Abstract: A machine for stacking articles such as wooden pallets comprises a frame for supporting a carriage assembly that can be raised and lowered under control of a motor and where the carriage assembly supports an article grasping machine that is slidably mounted on the carriage assembly allowing horizontal movement of the article grasping assembly relative to the carriage. When using the machine to stack wooden pallets, a pallet may be picked up at a first location and elevated and translated so as to overlay a top pallet on a stack of pallets before the one being carried is released.

Abstract: An over filling interdiction valve, fitted within a fluid tank, the valve comprising a housing furnished with a first fluid inlet at a bottom end thereof and a first fluid outlet at top end thereof, a float member located within the housing and being displaceable along its longitudinal axis between the first inlet and the first outlet. The float member comprises at its bottom end a second fluid inlet and near its top end a second fluid outlet. Sealing means are associated at a top end of the float member for sealing the first fluid outlet and biasing means are provided within the housing for biasing the float member towards the first fluid outlet.

Abstract: In the design of transcutaneous energy transfer devices variation in spacing between the coils results in energy transfer efficiency changes. These changes may have other causes. It is proposed to use an autotuning circuit and a voltage control circuit in cooperation with feedback from the internal coil in order to better maintain energy transfer levels as desirable. The feedback is typically provided via IR communication; however, when skin is highly pigmented, IR communication is inefficient. A method and system for using RF signals to accomplish the communication is disclosed.

Abstract: A removable interface cushion for a prosthetic limb is adapted to be snugly fitted within a prosthetic limb outer socket over the interconnection components which connect the outer socket to the upright assemblies. The interface cushion is adapted to abut and provide comfort to the wearer's residual limb when the socket is worn on the residual limb, because the interface cushion is formed from an elastomeric material and has a substantially concave proximate surface. The interface cushion also includes a cavity in the distal end of the cushion for receiving the interconnection components; and the mouth of the cavity has an annular projection extending therefrom which is adapted to abut the inner surface of the socket to create an airtight seal between the interface cushion and the inner surface of the socket when the cushion is snugly fitted into the distal end socket cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering fasteners, such as nails, screws and rivets from a supply source to an automatic fastener driver comprises an elongated flexible wire helix whose pitch is such that fasteners can be supported by their heads between adjacent convolutions. One end of the elongated helix is coupled to a vibratory bowl feeder that feeds individual fasteners in a desired order and orientation into a holding station. The opposite end of the wire helix is positioned over an inlet chute leading to a fastener holding chuck and the distal end of the helix is adapted to be driven through 360.degree. by an indexing motor upon each actuation of the fastener driver. In this fashion, for each nail that is dropped from the distal end of the helix into the driver's inlet chute, another nail is picked up at the holding station and advanced in incremental steps along the length of the helix.

Abstract: A device for driving nails in at least one selected nailing pattern into an arrangement of components is disclosed. The device includes a frame, a retaining means for retaining an arrangement of components to be nailed in the frame, a nailing means comprising a plurality of movable nailing heads for delivering nails in the selected nailing pattern to the arrangement, a nail delivery means for delivering nails to the nailing heads, means for causing at least one of the nailing heads to move in a direction transverse to a machine direction relative to the nailing surface during a nailing operation, means for causing the nailing heads to move in a machine direction and in an opposite direction relative to the arrangement of components and means for causing the nailing heads to move in a direction normal to a machine direction.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for improving operating efficiency of a hydraulic actuator loop and an improved hydraulic actuator loop. The method includes transferring hydraulic fluid between a first and a second hydraulic actuator when the actuators are disengaged from a load and transferring hydraulic fluid from an energy source to each of the actuators separately when the actuators engage the load. The method also includes transferring fluid from the energy source to the first actuator when the actuators are approaching the load and transferring fluid from the first actuator to a drain when the actuators are retracting from the load.

Abstract: A chuck device for driving nails into boards includes a nail-driving mechanism and a staging mechanism for positioning the nails to be driven by the nail-driving mechanism. A driving mechanism drives both the nail-driving mechanism and the staging mechanism for positioning the nails. A countersink control mechanism positioned between the staging mechanism and the driving mechanism provides the capability for selectively changing and fixing a distance between the staging mechanism and the driving mechanisms and a distance between the staging mechanism and the nail-driving mechanism.

Abstract: A descent controller (30) for lowering a load along a rope (32). Controller is a friction cylinder or capstan (31) of a length adapted to receive a plurality of turns of rope (32) between top and bottom end plates (34, 35) adjacent the upper and lower ends of said cylinder which overhang the cylinder (31) and define radial slots (40, 41) sized to loosely receive the rope. An upwardly narrowing tapered slot (44) defined diametrically through the capstan (31) receives and releasably grips the rope. An annular clamp ring (48) is slidably mounted on the cylinder (31) and defines a radial aperture (49) which loosely receives the rope as it exits from the tapered slot (44). A spring (41) biases the ring (48) upwardly along the said friction cylinder (31) for releasably wedging the rope (32) in the tapered slot.

Abstract: An ablation catheter is provided with an elongated member or shaft and a plurality of helically-shaped cutting wires attached to the shaft to form a cutting basket. Each of the cutting wires has a section formed as a circumferentially subscribing arc and together the wires present a circumferential cutting area of an essentially cylindrical configuration. Obstructing matter on the inner surface of a vessel cavity, such as a blood vessel or the like, is separated from the surface as the catheter is moved through the vessel. The catheter may be inserted in a vessel in a standard fashion using a wire guide which extends through a longitudinal passageway in the shaft and a hub interconnecting the basket wire. The shaft and basket together may be contained in an outer sheath to facilitate insertion.

Abstract: An egress and evacuation harness consisting of a single piece of strong, flexible material cut to a generally sector-shaped T-shaped pattern, the ends of which are secured together to form a seat. A shoulder strap secures a wearer in the seat.