Abstract: A stowable, load-bearing apparatus is disclosed having at least two bi-stable strips. Each of the bi-stable strips is alternatable between a stable, extended conformation having longitudinal linearity and lateral curvature and a coiled conformation having longitudinal curvature and lateral linearity. The two bi-stable strips are intercoiled when in the coiled conformation, have opposing lateral curvature relative to one another when in the extended conformation, and when extended are directed into a load-bearing alignment by a structural alignment member.

Abstract: A seat assembly is provided having a side shield having a leading edge. The side shield adapted to cover at least a portion of the seat cushion of the seat assembly. The assembly further includes a seat cushion, the side shield positioned adjacent to the seat cushion, the seat cushion having an elongated trench adapted to receive the leading edge of the side shield so as to prevent the formation of a gap between the shield and the cushion portion thereby providing an aesthetically appealing appearance to the user. The seat cushion includes a side surface positioned adjacent to the side shield. The trench is further defined as a generally horizontal momentary discontinuous surface extending into the side surface of the seat cushion, the leading edge of the side shield resting within the trench. The side shield extends around the seat cushion to a front portion of the seat cushion and the trench adapted to accept the leading edge of the side shield at the front portion of the seat cushion.

Abstract: An inkjet printer that can improve image quality of printing than in a conventional technique is to be provided. An inkjet printer includes an inkjet head 40 that discharges ink droplets toward a print medium; an in-head ink heating unit that heats ink inside the inkjet head 40; and an out-of-head ink heating device 68 that heats ink in an ink supply passage to the inkjet head 40 at outside of the inkjet head 40, and the out-of-head ink heating device 68 is arranged at a position where the heated ink is supplied to the inkjet head 40.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a power circuit that includes a first switch circuit in parallel with a second switch circuit. The first switch circuit and the second switch circuit are coupled to a first driving node, a second driving node, a source node and a drain node via interconnections. The power circuit receives a control signal between the first driving node and the second driving node to control a current flowing from the drain node to the source node through the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit. In the power circuit, a first interconnection and a second interconnection of the interconnections are inductively coupled to balance the current flowing through the first switch circuit and the second switch circuit.

Abstract: An electric drive system includes a smoothing capacitor including at least one terminal, a bus bar electrically coupled to the at least one terminal, a thermoelectric device including a first side and a second side positioned opposite the first side, where the first side is thermally coupled to at least one of the at least one terminal and the bus bar, and a cooling element thermally coupled to the second side of the thermoelectric device, where the cooling element dissipates heat from the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: An aerocar includes a body and a multiple of wings. The multiple of wings can be selectively extendable away from a top portion of the body for a flight mode. The multiple of wings can be selectively retractable toward the top portion of the body for a roadable mode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating a hydrocarbon gas into a fraction containing a predominant portion of the methane or ethane and lighter components and a fraction containing a predominant portion of the C2 or C3 and heavier components in which process the feed gas is treated in one or more heat exchange, and expansion steps; partly condensed feed gas is directed into a separator wherein a first residue vapor is separated from a C2 or C3-containing liquid; and C2 or C3-containing liquids, at substantially the pressure of separation, are directed into a distillation column wherein said liquid is separated into a second residue is separated to recover a C2 or C3-containing product. The foregoing process is improved by cooling said second residue to partially condense it.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a replaceable fuel separation unit having a permeable substrate for separating a fluid source into at least two separate fluid streams, and delivering the two separated fluid streams to separate tanks.

Abstract: A bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam, a bumper energy absorber member coupled to a face of the bumper reinforcement beam, and a bumper cover reinforcement coupled to the bumper reinforcement beam, the bumper cover reinforcement including a base portion and an outward extending portion extending outward of the base portion in a vehicle longitudinal direction to an end, the bumper cover support portion including a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion, where the at least one of the horizontally extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle lateral direction and the vertically extending portion decreases in dimension in the vehicle vertical direction.

Abstract: A method including activating a biasing current source which provides a biasing current flowing through a biasing inductor electromagnetically coupled to a resonant inductor; waiting for the resonant inductor to reach a state of saturation; activating a voltage supply for applying a source voltage across a first and a second transistor connected serially, the resonant inductor being connected to a node between the first and second transistors and a driving gate of a driving transistor; determining a first control voltage for applying to a first gate of the first transistor and a second control voltage for applying to a second gate of the second transistor; and applying the first and the second control voltage to the first and the second gate, respectively, the application of the first and the second control voltage sending a current to the driving gate via the resonant inductor activating the driving transistor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for identifying and reporting failures of an analog to digital (A/D) conversion system. The systems and methods are configured to detect and report a failure of a preamplifier of the A/D conversion system and/or a failure of a A/D converter of the A/D conversion system. A high frequency component can be included in the input of an A/D converter. The A/D converter is configured to output a digital value to the A/D conversion system, wherein the digital value includes the high frequency component of the A/D converter input. The A/D conversion system is configured to determine an output status, including a frequency component and a corresponding amplitude, and to determine a failure of the A/D conversion system based on the determined output status. The A/D conversion system can report a change in, or a failure of, the A/D converter, and can operate or prevent operation of protection elements.

Abstract: A rate based model predictive controller for air path control for a diesel engine regulates turbine lift and EGR valve flow rate to specified set points by coordinated control of intake manifold air pressure and EGR valve flow rate. The controller utilizes a rate-based reduced order linear model for model predictive control.

Abstract: A multi-flute endmill including a cutting edge part having multiple cutting edges and flutes formed between adjacent cutting edges in a rotation direction around the tool axis O. A rake face of each cutting edge is formed from a rake face of an end cutting edge from the tool axis O side to the outer peripheral side of a shank, an adjacent rake face of a corner R edge that forms a surface different from the rake face of the end cutting edge, and an adjacent rake face of a peripheral cutting edge that forms a surface different from the rake face of the corner R edge. A gash is formed between the rake face of the end cutting edge and a flank of an end cutting edge that is adjacent on a forward side thereof in the rotation direction R.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for an autonomous vehicle includes circuitry configured to receive at least one route between a start location and a destination, display the at least one route on a first screen that allows selection of a first set of routes from the at least one route, receive a plurality of characteristics corresponding to each of the at least one route. Each characteristic of the plurality of characteristics is associated with a measure and a longest block within which each characteristic can be performed continuously. The circuitry further configured to divide a route of the at least one route to generate a plurality of segments based on the plurality of characteristics, and display the first set of routes, the plurality of characteristics corresponding to the first set of routes, the measure and the longest block corresponding to the plurality of characteristics on a second screen.

Abstract: A spray nozzle assembly (10) comprising a cap (30) which houses an inner assembly of nozzle inserts (40). The cap (30) is threadably engaged by complementary threads (31, 21) to a nozzle body (20). The nozzle body (20) and the cap (30) are therefore able to be mated in a controllable axially compressive relationship in which the threadable connection enables a large amount of finely controlled axial tensile or compressive force to be applied in either moving the cap (30) and nozzle body towards each other or away. It should be noted, however, that seat (70) restrict the extent of axial travel of the screwable parts (20, 30, 40) relative to and towards each other. This facility enables strong unwanted adhesive forces of glue-like or set flowable material to be broken so that the cap (30), insert assembly (40) and nozzle body (20) can be moved apart for servicing.

Abstract: Provided is a process for making non-phthalate plasticizers, by acylating an aromatic compound with a succinic anhydride to form a keto-acid, and then esterifying the keto-acid with C4-C13 OXO-alcohols to form a plasticizer compound. The aromatic rings of the aromatic compound may also be optionally hydrogenated.

Abstract: A problem is aimed to provide a liquid supplying technique that can efficiently perform liquid filling by a compact configuration, and an ink jet recording technique that uses this technique. As a solution thereto, in a liquid supplying device (20), a part of a first liquid ejecting passage is arranged at a higher position than a liquid storage (22), a second liquid ejecting passage includes a variable passage resistor (29), and a second opening (24) leading to the second liquid ejecting passage at the liquid storage (22) is arranged at a higher position than a first opening (23) leading to the first liquid ejecting passage.

Abstract: The system to facilitate purchase and dispense fuel from a dispensing site using a mobile device employs a site connector computer that administers a site database and provides a secure connection to the point-of-sale system. The site database stores site-specific information about the dispensing site including the site location and pump identifying information from which the number of pumps at the dispensing site may be ascertained. A mobile app server communicates with the mobile device and issues queries to the site database to obtain the pump identifying information. The mobile app server communicates the pump identifying information to the mobile device for use in making a pump selection. After pump selection by the user, the mobile app server issues a fuel purchase instruction that includes the pump selection identifier to a financial processing computer network.

Abstract: A fuel economy system for a vehicle. The vehicle has a power supply, an HVAC system that is operable to heat and/or cool an interior compartment of the vehicle, and a destination system that is operable to estimate a length of time or distance required for the vehicle to arrive at a destination on a predefined route. The system also includes an HVAC control system in communication with the HVAC system. The HVAC control system is operable to regulate a temperature of the vehicle interior compartment by increasing or decreasing power to the HVAC system such that the interior compartment is heated or cooled. The HVAC control system is also operable to automatically reduce power to the HVAC system per a predefined reduced power plan prior to the vehicle reaching the destination.

Abstract: A method of preheating a hybrid vehicle including storing reserve coolant in an insulated reservoir fluidly coupled to a coolant circuit of an engine of the hybrid vehicle; powering a fluid pump fluidly coupled to the coolant circuit with a power source external to the hybrid vehicle; pumping line coolant through the coolant circuit with the fluid pump; powering a heater thermally coupled to the coolant circuit with the power source external to the hybrid vehicle; heating the line coolant with the heater as the line coolant is pumped through the coolant circuit to increase a temperature of the line coolant; and mixing the line coolant with the reserve coolant to accelerate preheating of at least the engine of the hybrid vehicle.