Abstract: An apparatus and methods for changing the shape of a wing using a plurality of morphing structures. One example method includes coupling a plurality of morphing structures to each other. Each morphing structure includes an anchor, a plurality of hinges, a plurality of shape-memory alloy members wherein each shape-memory alloy member extends from the anchor to a different hinge, a plurality of springs wherein each spring extends from the anchor to a different hinge, and a plurality of rigid members wherein each rigid member extends between two hinges. The method further includes actuating the plurality of shape-memory alloy members in at least some of the morphing structures wherein the shape-memory alloy members contract when actuated to pull against the hinges and anchors within the actuated morphing structures to rotate the rigid members and change the shape of the actuated morphing structure.

Abstract: A headrest holder includes two tension pieces defined in the body portion thereof and a head portion. The two tension pieces, each including a protrudent portion, are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of that body portion, while being in a mutually facing relation, so that a headrest stay inserted in the headrest holder is retained between the two protrudent portions against wobbling. Further, those two tension pieces and either the head portion or a support bracket of seat frame establish three supportive points. Namely, the headrest holder inserted in the support bracket is retained against wobbling because the two protrudent portions and the headrest holder's neck portion closely contact the support bracket. Also, a headrest stay inserted in the headrest holder is retained against wobbling because the two protrudent portions and headrest holder's head portion closely contact the headrest stay.

Abstract: A method to evaluate, determine and optimize production parameters for a coating application of a UV cationic polymerizable coating system to a substrate is provided. The method is based on a simulation model which includes both shadow and dark cure processes. Both of an active center generation process and the active center diffusion process are mathematically described. In the model, the two processes are considered separately since they are driven by different fundamental phenomena and occur on different timescales. Evaluation or prediction of the effect of process variables on the curing of a cationic coating of a complex substrate according to the described method allows characterization and understanding of process variables which may save set-up costs and improve production efficiency.

Abstract: A multimedia assembly and an instrument panel assembly for use in an automotive vehicle are provided. The multimedia assembly includes a multimedia device and an auxiliary device. The multimedia device has a faceplate which is disposed on the outer surface of the instrument panel so as to be exposed to the cabin space of the vehicle. The auxiliary device is disposed beneath the multimedia device and hidden behind the outer surface of the instrument panel of the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided is a dendritic ethylene polymer. The polymer is a dendritic polymer of an ethylene/alpha-olefin-diene copolymer and a vinyl-terminated polyethylene. There is also provided a process for making a dendritic ethylene polymer. The process includes the steps of preparing a dendritic ethylene polymer by reacting ethylene/alpha-olefin-diene copolymer with vinyl-terminated polyethylene in the presence of a radical source. There is also provided a blend and a blown film that include the dendritic ethylene polymer.

Abstract: A plural-frequency capacitive occupancy sensing system comprises an antenna electrode and a detection circuit, which is configured to drive the antenna electrode at least with a first and a second signal at a first and a second frequency, respectively, so as to obtain at least a first and a second measurement value indicative of at least one of conductance, susceptance, resistance, reactance and capacitance between the antenna electrode and a reference node, at the first frequency and the second frequency, respectively. The detection circuit compares the capacitance between the antenna electrode and the reference node with a threshold capacitance, the threshold capacitance being derived from a difference between the first and second measurement values and/or the capacitance between the antenna electrode and the reference node being corrected based upon the difference between the measurement values. The detection circuit outputs an occupancy state signal depending on the comparison.

Abstract: A system for activating and deactivating a gear change in a vehicle. The system including a steering wheel, first and second paddle shifters coupled to the steering wheel or column, a switch having an activate state and a deactivate state and coupled to the steering wheel, a center console, an instrument panel, or an integrated display, and a locking mechanism connected to the first and second paddle shifters to inhibit movement or functioning of the first and second paddle shifters when the switch is in the deactivate state and to allow movement or functioning of the first and second paddle shifters when the switch is in the activate state as a stand-alone lock out method or integrated with an electronic lock out method.

Abstract: An apparatus for the preparation of thermoplastic plastics material to be recycled has two treatment stages following one after the other. At least two receiving containers, which are capable of being evacuated and which are attached in parallel to a receiving container of the second stage, are present in the first stage. A device is present by which an alternating batch-wise charging of the receiving container of the second stage takes place from the receiving containers of the first stage. The said device controls discharge members of the receiving containers of the preceding stage, which leads into a channel. A shut-off member is provided for each receiving container of the preceding stage in the said channel. The alternating device controls the shut-off members. The method of preparing thermoplastic plastics material, to be recycled, utilizes an apparatus of this type.

Abstract: An integrated process for producing naphtha fuel, diesel fuel and/or lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants. The integrated process includes an initial dewaxing of a feed under sour conditions, optional hydrocracking of the dewaxed feed, and a separation to form a first diesel product and a bottoms fraction. The bottoms fraction is then exposed to additional hydrocracking and dewaxing to form a second diesel product and optionally a lubricant base oil product. Alternatively, a feedstock can be hydrotreated, fractionated, dewaxed, and then hydrocracked to form a diesel fuel and a dewaxed, hydrocracked bottoms fraction that is optionally suitable for use as a lubricant base oil.

Abstract: A checker brick (10) with through passages for a hot blast stove has a top surface (12) and an opposite bottom surface (14) with a plurality of through passages (16) extending from the top surface (12) to the bottom surface (14). The through passages (16) allow fluids to circulate through the checker brick (10). Partition walls (18) are formed between neighboring through passages (16). The through passages (16) have a cross-section based on a hexagonal shape (20) with alternating convex (24) and concave sides (26).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to lubrication system having a reservoir having a body. A follower is moveably disposed in the body. The system further comprises an alarm system having an electrical switch operably associated with the follower. The alarm generates a signal when the follower is at a predetermined location in the body. The alarm system may generate a signal when the follower is at a lower location in the body such as when the reservoir has an amount of lubricant representing a predetermined amount of usage time remaining. The alarm system may also generate a signal when the follower is at an upper location in the body such as when the reservoir is filled with lubricant wherein the signal acts to automatically interrupt the fill of lubricant.

Abstract: A self-shield open magnetic resonance imaging superconducting magnet comprises five pairs of coils: shim coils, first main magnetic coils, second main magnetic coils, third main magnetic coils, and shielding coils. The five pairs of coils are symmetric about the center. The shim coils are arranged closest to the center point; the first main magnetic coils, the second main magnetic coils, the third main magnetic coils, and the shielding coils are arranged in sequence outside. The first main magnetic coils are connected with reverse current. The second and third main magnetic coils are connected with positive current for providing the main magnetic field strength. The shim coils are connected with positive current for compensating the magnetic field in the central region. The shielding coils are connected with reverse current for creating a magnetic field opposite to the main magnetic field for compensating the stray magnetic field in the space.

Abstract: Methods are provided for characterizing crude oils, crude fractions, or other potential feedstocks for forming lubricating base oils in order to determine the suitability of a feedstock for lubricating base oil production. One type of characterization is to determine the isoparaffin, naphthene, and/or aromatics contents of the distillate portion of a feedstock. A second characterization is to determine the viscosity index of a distillate portion of a feedstock after dewaxing the distillate portion to a target pour point.

Abstract: A process for making a hyperbranched polyethylene. The process has the steps of (a) reacting a multifunctional acrylate monomer with an ?,?-diene monomer in the presence of a first catalyst to form an alternating acrylate/diene copolymer and (b) reacting the alternating acrylate/diene copolymer with a late transition metal ?-diimine catalyst to form a multi-nuclear initiator for chain walking polymerization of ethylene. There is also a process for forming a multi-nuclear initiator. There is also a hyperbranched polymer.

Abstract: A system for controlling gear changes in a vehicle. The system includes a steering wheel and a detent mechanism having an idle location, a first location, and a second location, the detent mechanism is coupled to the steering wheel. The system also includes a paddle shifter coupled to the steering wheel and the detent mechanism, the paddle shifter having an idle position with no associated function when the paddle shifter is in the idle location, a first operating position with an associated first function when the paddle shifter is in the first location, and a second operating position with an associated second function when the paddle shifter is in the second location. The associated first function is different from the associated second function.

Abstract: A foam-filled panel is provided. The foam-filled panel can have a substrate layer with a padded area, an unpadded area, an opening within said unpadded area, and a bounding region between the padded area and the unpadded area. A skin can extend across the padded area of the substrate layer and a foam layer can be present between the padded area of the substrate layer and the skin. In addition, a disposable foam injection port is attached to the substrate layer at the bounding region of the padded area and can extend into and be an obstruction to the opening. The disposable foam injection port can be in fluid communication with the foam layer and unattaching the disposable foam injection port from the substrate layer can remove the obstruction to the opening.

Abstract: A solar battery module has a structure in which a solar battery cell formed by a transparent electrode, a power generating element, and a back electrode is formed on a substrate, and it is sealed with a resin material such as EVA. However, there has been a problem that water enters from a gap between the substrate and a resin sealing material, thereby resulting in the corrosion of the resin or the solar battery cell. A barrier layer made of inorganic substances having portions in contact with the substrate and the second electrode is provided. Here, the barrier layer is formed by laminating at least SiO2 and an inorganic layer having a lower density than SiO2, and the film having a lower density than SiO2 is directly formed on the substrate and the second electrode.

Abstract: In a blast furnace plant, at least three regenerative heaters are cyclically operated on blast and on gas: while a regenerative heater is operated on gas, hot flue gas is produced and caused to flow through the regenerative heater so as to heat the heat storage elements; and while a regenerative heater is operated on blast, process gas, i.e. a CO-rich fraction of the top gas, is blown through the regenerative heater so that the process gas takes up heat from the heat storage elements, such that during a changeover of a regenerative heater from on-blast to on-gas operation, the regenerative heater is purged from process gas using flue gas collected after having flown through at least one of the regenerative heaters.