Abstract: The invention relates to an agent comprising vegetable oil, a hydrophilic colloidal metal oxide, a hydrophobic treated metal oxide and a mixture of polypropylene glycols, which, when added to pure edible fats or oils, provides same with a low spatter property when said oils and fats are used for the surface or deep frying of foods. Said antispattering agent does not alter the organoleptic properties or appearance of the oil or fat, such as smell, taste, color, transparency and stability at low temperatures, or produce any negative effects, such as the formation of scum during frying or the presence of particles.

Abstract: A driving flipper with a robotic arm and a method for protecting the robotic arm. A robotic platform having a main frame and at least one obstacle climbing flipper with a robotic arm. The robotic arm has a folded mode substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the obstacle climbing flipper. The robotic arm has an operational mode protruding away from the longitudinal axis in an angle of at least 45 degrees.

Abstract: An inflatable bed having a primary body, a backrest selectively inclinable relative to the primary body, a slit defined at a junction of the primary body and the backrest, and a pouch received in the slit to be selectively inflatable to move the backrest relative to the primary body. The slit is defined in a manner that when the pouch is inflated and the backrest is lifted by the pouch, friction of a bottom face of the backrest to a top face of ground where the inflatable bed is rested is minimized so as to facilitate the inclinable movement of the backrest relative to the primary body.

Abstract: A gangway for embarking and disembarking passengers comprises a first module with a plurality of ramps located at different heights and joined at their ends by union modules, defining an entrance and an exit towards a second module, and a pair of movable support structures located at opposite ends of the first module. The second module comprises a plurality of telescopic tunnels that can be extended relative to one another, one of the ends of the outermost tunnel being coupled to a cabin that can be coupled to the ship; a movable gantry structure that allows the height of the second module to be regulated; and a motor-less revolving platform coupled to the first and second modules and supported on a movable support structure that rotates about its own vertical axis.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods used for actuating downhole tools in which a ball is dropped from a surface of a wellbore until it contacts a ball seat of a downhole tool. The ball seat moves axially downward within the downhole tool and an expandable ball seating surface of the ball seat radially expands to pass the ball. The ball seat then moves axially upward within the downhole tool.

Abstract: A coating and devices using the coating are provided. The coating is applied in liquid form and dried or otherwise cured to form a durable adherent coating resistant to high temperatures and having optional hydrophobic properties. The coating formulation contains an aqueous formulation of silica, one or more fillers, and sufficient base, (e.g., potassium hydroxide), to have a pH exceeding about 10.5 during at least part of the formulation process. The formulation may contain a compound(s) that affects surface free energy, energy to make the cured coating hydrophobic. Such compounds include silanes containing halogens (e.g., fluorine or chlorine) and in particular silanes containing one or more hydrolyzable groups attached to at least one silicon atom and a group containing one or more halogens (e.g., chlorine or fluorine). A medical instrument (e.g., electrosurgical instrument) may be at least partially covered by a coating using the formulation.

Abstract: An artificial surfing facility for producing a standing wave, with an inclined ramp, to the upper end of which water is conveyed by at least one pump and at the lower end of which the water discharges into a wave pool. A standing wave is easily attained by there being an adjustable guide device in the wave pool at a distance from the bottom end of the ramp in the flow direction as a wave initiator. The wave pool, during operation of at least one pump, has a liquid level which is located above the liquid level of a main pool which surrounds the wave pool and the amount of water in the wave pool offers a defined resistance to the water flowing down the ramp so that the formation and height of the standing wave are influenced by the change of the flow velocity.

Abstract: The patron restraint system for amusement rides includes a locking receiver with a locking assembly for engaging a restraining strap. The engagement of the restraining strap in the locking receiver can be verified by a ride operator by visual or physical inspection, or by a sensor system indicating the locked or unlocked state of the locking receiver. A latching ratchet mechanism may be provided in the receiver to restrict movement of the restraining strap until it is released by the ride operator. The sensor system includes an acoustic sensor that detects alignment of an aperture with a piezoelectric acoustic emitter and an acoustic detector.

Abstract: The present application is to a method of sequentially drilling a number of frac sleeves in a down hole well. The design enables the removal of fracture sleeve pistons from between treatment zones without requiring drilling or milling of the sleeve while allowing for full flow of fluids after treatment. A number of plugs or pistons having sequentially smaller central bores allows for balls to sequentially be inserted through the tool to selectively close off the pistons to isolate one zone from another. A release tool may inserted into the tool to engage and unthread the plugs to open up the inner diameter of the tool to allow greater production flow through the tool. The plugs may have mating tabs and holes so that as each plug is unthreaded it falls to the next plug and engages so that each plug may sequentially be unthreaded from the sleeve.

Abstract: A continuous variable clutch is provided. The continuous variable clutch includes a first sheave member and a second sheave member. The first sheave member includes a first central hub and a first conical-faced surface extending radially from the first central hub. The second sheave member includes a second central hub and a second conical-faced surface that extends radially from the second central hub. The second central hub of the second sheave member is received in a cavity of the first central hub such that the first conical-faced surface of the first sheave member facing the second conical-faced surface of the second sheave portion. The second central hub moving axially within the first central hub based on an amount of torque on the continuous variable clutch. The first sheave member and the second sheave member further forming a central passage to receive an input shaft of a transmission.

Abstract: A power strip assembly may include a power strip having a housing that includes multiple sockets for receiving power plugs and that includes a connection interface. Multiple control modules are interchangeably attached to the connection interface, each configured to control a different function or functions with respect to the sockets. One such function may include providing timing for a period of time for which power is supplied to a socket. Another function may include to meter or record power consumed by respective sockets, or to provide remote control capability of the sockets. Multiple switches may be connected with respective sockets that determine whether the power strip or a connected control module controls a function with respect to the respective sockets. A control actuator may be connected with each switch, that when actuated, forces control to pass from the main power source to the control module.

Abstract: An armrest adjustment device includes an armrest arranged at a top surface of an armrest support. The lower part of the armrest support is connected to a chair seat. The armrest can be adjusted to move forward and backward in relation to the chair seat. A first component is mounted in the armrest. The first component is assembled with and fixed on the armrest support so that the armrest can be moved forward and backward in relation to the first component. Moreover, a second component is arranged between the armrest and the armrest support. Instead of the first component, the second component is assembled with and fixed on the armrest support. Thus the armrest is moved in the left/right direction in relation to the second component.

Abstract: A wear resistant ceramic coated aluminum alloy article. The article is made by a method including the steps of: a) immersing the article in an aqueous electrolyte containing from about 1.5 to about 2.5 grams per liter of alkali metal hydroxide and from about 6.5 to about 9.5 grams per liter of alkali metal silicate. No more than 1 g per liter of alkali metal pyrophosphate is present and no more than about 0.05 percent of hydrogen peroxide is present, and b) applying an alternating current through the electrolyte using the article as one electrode where a second electrode includes at least one of an electrically conductive container or an immersed separate electrode, where applied EMF is selected to provide a current density of from about 15 to about 25 A/dm2, for a sufficient time to obtain a wear resistant ceramic coating having a thickness of from about 125 to about 150 ?m.

Abstract: A method of merging a plurality of disparity maps. The method comprises calculating a plurality of disparity maps each from images captured by another of a plurality of pairs of image sensors having stereoscopic fields of view (SFOVs) with at least one overlapping portion, the SFOVs covering a scene with a plurality of objects, identifying at least one of the plurality of objects in the at least one overlapping portion, the at least one object being mapped in each the disparity map, calculating accuracy of disparity values depicting the object in each the disparity map, merging depth data from the plurality of disparity maps according to the accuracy so as to provide a combined depth map wherein disparity values of the object are calculated according to one of the plurality of disparity maps, and outputting the depth data.

Abstract: An earmuff assembly includes a headband consisting of two headband elements each having two constraint lugs bilaterally located on one end and a coupling portion located on the opposite end, the coupling portion of one headband element being inserted through a groove on each constraint lug of the other headband element for allowing adjustment of the length of the headband, two ear cups, two connection devices that connect the coupling portions of the headband elements to the ear cups such that the angular positions of the ear cups are adjustable in the X-axis direction as well as in the Y-axis direction relative to the headband, and a soft fabric material covering the ear cups for optimal wearing comfort.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a counter for tracking and communicating a number of plug drops through a longitudinal bore; a plug element adapted to be dropped into the longitudinal bore; and a valve defining a plug seat to be disposed within the longitudinal bore to catch the plug element when the plug element is dropped and when the number of plug drops as communicated by the counter exceeds a predetermined number. A method, includes: dropping a plurality of plugs down a longitudinal bore in which a plurality of plug seats are disposed; counting the number of plug drops from within the longitudinal bore; and catching one of the plugs at a preselected one of the plug seats when the number of plug drops exceeds a predetermined number.

Abstract: The invention relates to a milk fat substitute and to a method for producing same from a vegetable oil using a fractionation method, which is suitable for use in the production of products such as ice cream, biscuits, cakes, bread-making products, reconstituted milk, milk formulas, cheeses and other products.

Abstract: A vehicle for use in arctic environments, the vehicle comprising a hull for accommodating people, and a pair of rotatable propulsion screws connected to the hull for propelling the vehicle on water, ice, snow and land. Each propulsion screw comprises a shaft having at least one blade helically disposed therearound.