Abstract: A plastic sheet supplying apparatus for a thermoforming machine having an adjustable pin is proposed. Such a plastic sheet supplying apparatus for a thermoforming machine having an adjustable pin according to the present invention has the technical feature in which in a process in which a plastic sheet adhering to a material of a door trim is heated, fixing pins supporting a lower portion of an edge portion of the plastic sheet are configured to have adjustable positions so as to be moved in response to the change of the size of the plastic sheet caused by heating, so that the entire portion of the plastic sheet is uniformly heated and is also uniformly stretched without wrinkling, whereby the quality of a molded product is improved, and fabric consumption is reduced.

Abstract: A motor assembly for driving a pump (e.g., liquid pump) includes an electric motor with an output shaft. A motor frame houses the electric motor so that the output shaft protrudes from an end of the motor frame. A plate assembly is coupleable about the output shaft to the end of the motor frame. The please assembly has a cavity that houses motor drive electronics. The plate assembly further defines a duct that extends between a central opening and one or more openings on an outer radial wall of the plate assembly. A fan is coupled to the output shaft so that the plate assembly is disposed between the fan and the motor frame. Rotation of the output shaft by the electric motor rotates the fan, causing air to flow through the duct. Air flow through the duct inhibits heat transfer between the electric motor and the motor drive electronics.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for end-suction pumps that are adapted for a dual inlet impeller. Example end suction pumps includes a body casing with a pump housing, a single inlet, a single outlet, and a magnetically coupled drive to effectuate drive to the impeller in the body casing. Fluid flows to one side of the impeller (e.g., a right-eye side) via a primary flow path from an impeller inlet of the body casing, and also to another side of the impeller (e.g., a left-side eye) via a secondary flow path through a stationary shaft with a semi-hollow hydraulic passageway therein.

Abstract: Various connection units are disclosed. The connection unit can be configured to straighten a flow of air, such as to reduce the distance before the flow of air becomes substantially laminar. The connection unit can include a drag reduction unit. The drag reduction unit can be configured to redirect airflow to the center of the connection unit. The connection unit can include a wake diverting component configured to lift air away from the periphery of the connection unit and/or redirect the airflow towards a radial center connection unit.

Abstract: Various braking devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the braking device includes a support element, a block of friction material supported by the support element, at least one piezoceramic sensor supported by the support element and interposed between the block of friction material (and the support element, and a protective element located at the piezoceramic sensor and embedding the latter. The protective element can have one or more layers of resin-based material applied to protect the piezoceramic sensor and direct a predetermined part of the external compression force onto an area of the support element surrounding the piezoceramic sensor. In some embodiments, a signal transduction device is provided and includes at least one piezoceramic sensor supported on a support element and has an integral protective coating having properties of mechanical and temperature resistance.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for valve assemblies that include a valve body whose inner wall defines two ports and a controllable flow path that extends along the inner wall between the two ports of the valve body. Each port may be fitted with a corresponding gasket. A rotatable member disposed in the controllable flow path of the valve body may include a hemispherical-shaped body with a substantially flat disk-shaped surface portion, and a seal ridge formed about a perimeter of the substantially flat disk-shaped surface portion. During opening and closing operation, the seal ridge may be selectively engaged with either one of the gaskets reducing an initial contact surface, and thereby reducing friction between the rotatable member and the gaskets.

Abstract: There is provided a method of generating a control strategy based on at least three switching states of a matrix converter. The at least three switching states are selected based on at least a predicted output current, associated with each switching state, and a desired output current. In particular, mathematical transformations of a desired output current as well as output currents associated with each of a plurality of switching states are used to identify appropriate switching states.

Abstract: A friction material is discloses for a braking pad comprising a binder comprising a mixture of a phenolic resin or a phenol formaldehyde resin and of a thermoplastic. The total amount of said phenolic resin or phenol formaldehyde resin and of said thermoplastic is between 2 and 60% in volume of said friction material. The ratio in volume between phenolic resin or phenol formaldehyde resin and the thermoplastic is from 20 to 80% in volume. Preferably the thermoplastic has a melting temperature between 120° and 350° C. and comprises a polyamide or a thermoplastic polymer with N—H bond, either in the backbone or in the pendant group. More preferably the thermoplastic material is chosen in the group constituted by PA4, PA6, PA1, PA11, PA12, PA410, PA610, PA66, PA612.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods for a vehicle smart brake pad comprising a sensor such as a force sensing device, and a production process thereof. For example, a production process of a vehicle brake pad can include the following steps in time sequence: applying an electrical circuit a support plate; screen printing on the electrical circuit of at least a first electrode; screen printing on the at least first electrode of a sheet of piezoelectric material; screen printing on the sheet of at least a second electrode; applying a friction pad on the support plate; and bulk polarizing the sheet of piezoelectric material by a supply of power to the at least first and second electrodes.

Abstract: A Helmholtz resonator having a plurality of resonator chamber modules formed into an array. The array is configured to dampen sound. A module of the plurality of resonator chamber modules includes a first chamber and a second chamber. The first and second chambers have different lengths and are tuned to dampen different frequencies of sound.

Abstract: A motor assembly for driving a pump or rotary device features a power plane with a circular geometry to be mounted inside a space envelope having a similar circular geometry formed on an end-plate between an inner hub portion and a peripheral portion that extends circumferentially around the space envelope of the end-plate. The power plane is a multi-layer circuit board or assembly having: a power layer with higher temperature power modules for providing power to a motor, a control layer with lower temperature control electronics modules for controlling the power provided to the motor, and a thermal barrier and printed circuit board layer between the power layer and the control layer that provides electrical connection paths between the power modules of the power plane and the control electronics modules of the control layer, and also provides insulation between the power layer and the control layer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying DC power to control circuitry of a matrix converter is provided. In certain embodiments, a matrix converter includes an array of switches having AC inputs for receiving a multi-phase AC input voltage and AC outputs for providing a multi-phase AC output voltage to a load, such as an electric motor. The matrix converter further includes control circuitry for opening or closing individual switches of the array, and a clamp circuit connected between the AC inputs and AC outputs of the array and operable to dissipate energy of the load in response to an overvoltage condition, such as an overvoltage condition arising during shutdown. The clamp circuit includes a switched mode power supply operable to generate a DC supply voltage for the control circuitry.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods for detecting and/or responding to the temperature of brakes are disclosed. Certain embodiments relate to inhibiting or preventing the overheating of the brakes of such vehicles, such as could occur when a hot runner condition is present.

Abstract: Method and plant for manufacturing braking elements such as vehicle brake pads. The plant can comprise a first station that applies an adhesive to a first face of a metallic element; a second station that applies to the first face of the metallic element a block of friction material; a checking station that verifies the presence of the adhesive by detecting the gray level of a plurality of points of at least one zone of the first face; and a processing unit that compares the gray level detected for each point with a first threshold value, counts the number of points that have a gray level that satisfies a relationship (which is a function of the threshold value,) and compares such a value with a second threshold value to discard those metallic elements for which the percentage calculated does not correspond to the second threshold value.

Abstract: A motor assembly for driving a pump or rotary device features a power plane with a circular geometry to be mounted inside a space envelope having a similar circular geometry formed on an end-plate between an inner hub portion and a peripheral portion that extends circumferentially around the space envelope of the end-plate. The power plane is a multi-layer circuit board or assembly having: a power layer with higher temperature power modules for providing power to a motor, a control layer with lower temperature control electronics modules for controlling the power provided to the motor, and a thermal barrier and printed circuit board layer between the power layer and the control layer that provides electrical connection paths between the power modules of the power plane and the control electronics modules of the control layer, and also provides insulation between the power layer and the control layer.

Abstract: Friction block or layer made of an asbestos free friction material, the friction material including, as composing materials thereof, inorganic and/or organic and/or metallic fibers, at least a binder, at least a friction modifier or lubricant and at least a filler or abrasive, wherein the asbestos free friction material also contains, as an additional composing material or additive, an hydrophobic wax, preferably present from 0.5% to 5% in volume, the asbestos free friction material block or layer possessing a hydrophobicity, defined as the time of absorption within the friction material of a liquid drop formed by 20+/?5 ?L of distilled water, of more than 60 minutes, so that the force to detach the friction block or layer from a metallic surface to which it has been made to stitch electrochemically is lower than 15 Nw.

Abstract: Technologies are generally described for holding an impeller of a pump assembly in place axially with an impeller locking collar by loading the collar against a ring element. In a centrifugal pump assembly, one side of the shaft has a larger diameter for the impeller to abut against. The other side of the shaft may be fitted with an impeller locking collar comprising two portions that can be threaded together and hold the impeller in place by tightening against a ring element such as a split ring or spiral lock. Anti-rotation to avoid loosening of the impeller locking collar may be achieved by providing counter threads against a shaft rotation. Secondary anti-rotation may be provided by one or more set screws in the impeller locking collar.

Abstract: Various antilock braking systems, devices, and methods using sensorized brake pads are disclosed. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method for improving the performance of an antilock braking (ABS) and anti-slip regulation (ASR) system of a vehicle. The method can include detecting the actual value of the coefficient of friction (e.g., between a tire and the ground), updating the coefficient of friction during braking using the braking torque data derived from at least one braking pad of each wheel, and adjusting brake force. For example, the brake force can be adjusted as a function of and/or to be approximately equal to the value of the actual tire-road friction during braking.

Abstract: Technologies are described for dual motion shutoff valve assemblies. In various examples, valve assemblies include a sequencing drive mechanism and an eccentric shaft mechanism operable to linearly retract the valve disk from a gasket surface to effectively reduce scratching and friction of the gasket surface during valve opening and closing operations. In some examples, the sequencing drive may include two interlocking concentric driver rings, a retaining housing, and roller lock pins. Three guided pins of the sequencing drive may be configured to prevent the valve from rotating, while also causing the valve to retract linearly from the gasket surface via the eccentric shaft. Following retraction, an inner driver of the sequencing drive may allow the roller lock pins to move and lock the outer driver, which in turn may lock the valve disk to the shaft and rotate along with the shaft, which may be a single or dual shaft.

Abstract: Technologies are described for a bonnet assembly of a diaphragm valve. The bonnet assembly may comprise a handwheel. The bonnet assembly may comprise a housing. The housing may include a housing base. The housing base may include a top, a bottom, and four sides. Body stud heads of body studs of a body assembly may be in contact with an edge of the top of the housing base. The bonnet assembly may be configured to secure to the body assembly with the body stud heads at least partially exposed.