Abstract: A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heating element (10) connected between a first (21) and a second (22) node, and a capacitive sensing network connected to the heating element to apply an oscillating voltage thereto and to derive the capacitive load of the heating element. A common mode choke (16) connects the first and second node to a third (23) and fourth (24) node, respectively. The capacitive sensing network comprises an oscillator (28), AC-coupled to the third and/or the fourth node to drive oscillating voltage into that node, and a transimpedance amplifier (32), which has a first input to receive the oscillating voltage as reference voltage and a second input operatively connected to the heating element. The transimpedance amplifier maintains a voltage on its second input equal to the reference voltage by driving a current into the second input. An output signal (44) indicates the AC component of the current driven into the second input.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 22, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 14, 2015
Assignee:
IEE International Electronics & Engineering S.A.
Abstract: An adjustable drill is provided comprising a drill body having at least one face surface with a plurality of serrations provided therewith. The drill further has at least one cartridge having a cooperating plurality of second serrations, to be driven with the drill body when assembled therewith. The at least one cartridge includes at least one insert pocket, and at least one insert is releasably affixed in the insert pocket provided in the cartridge. In further examples, the adjustable drill may have a central cutting system in combination with the adjustable cartridge type system, wherein the central cutting system may be modular. There may also be provided a modular type of holder arrangement to provide flexibility to adapt the system for various applications.
Abstract: An in-oil gas concentration measuring system comprises: gas extracting which extracts an in-oil gas from an insulating oil sample; component detecting which detects gas components of the in-oil gas extracted by the gas extracting; extracted-gas concentration calculating which calculates, on the basis of data detected by the component detecting, extracted-gas concentrations of the gas components being detected; extracted-gas concentration storing which stores information on the extracted-gas concentrations calculated by the extracted-gas concentration calculating as a result of two or more extractions performed by the gas extracting, the information being stored in each of the extractions; and in-oil gas concentration calculating which calculates in-oil gas concentrations of the gas components on the basis of the extracted-gas concentrations thus stored in the extracted-gas concentration storing.
Abstract: A cyclic process for selectively separating hydrogen sulfide from a gas mixture including CO2 is operated by contacting the gas mixture under sorption conditions with a non-aqueous sorbent comprising a basic non-protogenic nitrogenous compound to react the H2S with the basic compound so that the H2S can be sorbed by the compound. The compound containing the sorbed H2S can then be subjected to desorption conditions by which the H2S is desorbed and the sorbent readied for another sorption step in the cycle. The basic nitrogenous compound can be carried on a porous solid sorbent, e.g., a solid oxide such as alumina, silica, silica-alumina, zeolites, or a mesoporous and/or macroporous solid oxide. The process may be operated using a pressure swing, temperature swing, partial pressure swing, purge displacement, or a combination thereof between the sorption and desorption portions of the cycle, preferably in a rapid cycle operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2012
Date of Patent:
April 14, 2015
Assignee:
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
Inventors:
Daniel P. Leta, Preeti Kamakoti, Jack W. Johnson, Peter I. Ravikovitch, Harry Deckman
Abstract: The application discloses an organic Rankine Cycle system with a generating unit, a condenser for condensing an organic work fluid, a feeder pump for circulating the organic work fluid and an evaporator (14) for evaporating the organic work fluid. The generating unit comprises a high-pressure screw expander and a low-pressure screw expander, which are connected in series, wherein the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander are mechanically connectable to a generator, which is provided between the high-pressure screw expander and the low-pressure screw expander. The ORC system comprises a by-pass line for bypassing the high-pressure screw expander. The bypass line comprises a control valve for opening and closing the by-pass line.
Abstract: Method of preparing a particle dispersion within a polymer is disclosed. The dispersion may include core shell rubber particles and the polymer may include epoxies. The particles are capable of being substantially dispersed within the polymer so as to substantially inhibit agglomeration of the particles. Mechanical properties, such as toughness are improved while glass transition temperature and viscosity are not substantially impaired by the presence of the particles.
Abstract: A system for securing moldings to associated roof ditches of a vehicle moving down an assembly line. The system comprises a plurality of rollers coupled to a plurality of lift booms. The lift booms include suitable means for raising and lowering the lift booms relative to an associated vehicle roof surface as well as means for permitting the lift boom to free float during at least a portion of an application cycle. The lift boom also has weights affixed to the lift boom proximate to the rollers with gravity producing force necessary to adhere the molding to the vehicle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 18, 2012
Date of Patent:
April 14, 2015
Assignee:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A system for managing an electric power delivery system is disclosed that includes a set of remote intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) and a central IED. The remote IEDs may be configured to obtain information related to operating frequencies and power consumption levels loads included in the electric power delivery system. The central IED may communicate with the remote IEDs to determine which loads are associated with a sub-grid of the electric power delivery system and whether to disconnected certain loads. Based on this determination, the central IED may direct the remote IEDs to disconnect loads from the electric power delivery system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 1, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 14, 2015
Assignee:
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
Abstract: A method, system, device and computer readable medium for adaptively warning a driver includes detecting a behavior of the driver, the behavior including engagement in a secondary activity, which is an activity other than driving a vehicle. Based on the detected behavior, a level of engagement in the secondary activity is estimated, and, based on the estimated level of engagement in the secondary activity, the driver's level of perception of an external hazard is determined. A warning alert for the driver, when the level of perception is below a threshold is actuated. A reaction of the driver to the actuated warning alert is determined. Based on the reaction of the driver to the actuated warning alert, the warning alert is adjusted, and the warning alert is terminated when the level of perception becomes above the threshold because of the reaction of the driver to the actuated warning alert.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 2012
Date of Patent:
April 14, 2015
Assignee:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A reagent and its method of production are provided. The reagent includes at least one zero-valent atom, whether metal, metalloid, or non-metal, in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling a mixture which includes an elemental (i.e. zero-valent) material and a hydride. In some cases, the elemental material is a non-metal such as carbon. The reagent can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of elemental nanoparticles composed of zero-valent metal, metalloid, or non-metal.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 5, 2014
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metallic element atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metallic elemental nanoparticles.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 19, 2014
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A methanol conversion process comprises contacting a feedstream comprising methanol, optionally with dimethyl ether or other oxygenates with a catalyst comprising a physical mixture of a molecular sieve, preferably an intermediate or small pore size zeolite such as an MFI zeolite, with a basic metal oxide to provide extended catalyst cycle life by reducing the incidence of coke formation. The process may be applied to the methanol-to-gasoline (MTG), methanol to distillate (MOD), methanol-to-olefins (MTO), methanol-to-chemicals (MTC) and combination processes such as the MTO/OCP Process.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 4, 2013
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
Inventors:
Luc Roger Marc MARTENS, David M. MARCUS, Teng XU
Abstract: A pressure-sensing device is for use in an underground well. The pressure-sensing device includes a pressure sensor arranged at least to sense whether a pressure in the well is below or above a given limit value, and a signal generator arranged to generate an acoustic signal in a well body in the well in response to a sensed pressure from the pressure sensor exceeding said limit value. A method is for measuring pressure in an underground well. A use of a pressure-sensing device is to monitor the pressure between two spaced-apart barrier elements in an underground well.
Abstract: Electrodes employing as active material metal nanoparticles synthesized by a novel route are provided. The nanoparticle synthesis is facile and reproducible, and provides metal nanoparticles of very small dimension and high purity for a wide range of metals. The electrodes utilizing these nanoparticles thus may have superior capability. Electrochemical cells employing said electrodes are also provided.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 19, 2014
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 4, 2013
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 19, 2014
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. In some instances, the composition includes a first zero-valent metal atom and a second zero-valent metal atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metal alloy nanoparticles.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 19, 2014
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
Abstract: A composition and its method of production are provided. The composition includes at least one zero-valent metallic element atom in complex with at least one hydride molecule. The method of production includes ball-milling an elemental metal in a high-surface area form, with a hydride. The composition can be useful as a reagent for the synthesis of zero-valent metallic elemental nanoparticles.
Type:
Application
Filed:
May 5, 2014
Publication date:
April 9, 2015
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.