Abstract: In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a fluid filtration assembly for a dishwasher system is described. The dishwasher system includes a tub defining a wash chamber configured to receive dishwasher contents. The fluid filtration assembly includes a filter assembly having a filter material, a filter fluid inlet, and a filter fluid outlet. The filter fluid inlet is in flow communication with the wash chamber and the filter material. The filter assembly further includes a cleaning fluid inlet that is configured to backflush the filter material. The filter fluid outlet is in flow communication with both the cleaning fluid inlet and the filter fluid inlet. The fluid filtration assembly further includes a valve assembly in flow communication with the cleaning fluid inlet through a first flow path.

Abstract: A spray assembly for an automatic dishwasher is described. The spray assembly includes a conduit for receiving pressurized washing liquid. The spray assembly further includes a spray body having two or more spray arms. Each spray arm has a plurality of orifices for distributing washing liquid throughout the dishwasher. The spray arms share a common central axis and are generally planar with one another. The spray arms each define a separate fluid path from the conduit to the orifices that is separated from the other fluid path(s) by one or more walls.

Abstract: A dishwasher spray arm assembly has a spray arm rotationally configured on a conduit. The spray arm includes a lower spray arm component mated with an upper spray arm component with an internal space defined between the upper and lower spray arm components. A bearing is interposed between the spray arm and conduit to conduct water from said conduit into the internal space, with the spray arm rotatably configured on the bearing. The bearing further includes a lower shaft section that mates with the conduit and an upper disc section sandwiched between the upper and lower spray arm components. A low-friction washer is disposed between the upper disc section and the lower spray arm component. The lower spray arm component and the disc section define a tortuous interference path for water to leak out from the internal space around the bearing.

Abstract: A gravity and flow operated diverter valve diverts liquid flow from one source to either of two output destinations. The valve includes a housing, an inlet opening, a first outlet opening and a second outlet opening. A valve member is located coaxially in the housing interior, the valve member having at least one flow path extending axially therethough, an exterior edge of the valve member and an interior surface of the side wall having a cooperating cam follower structure defining a cyclic path, the path having at least two no flow positions in which the valve member is spaced from the upper wall, and at least two flow positions in which the flow path in the disc selectively allows communication with one or both of the first and second outlet openings, the cyclic path arranged so that on successive liquid flows into the inlet opening the valve member cycles between the at least two flow positions to selectively direct flow out of one or both of the first and second outlet openings.

Abstract: Gravity and flow operated diverter valves are disclosed for diverting liquid flow from one source to either of two output destinations, the valves including a housing defining an inlet opening through a base wall, a first outlet opening through a first upper wall and a second outlet opening through a second upper wall. A valve member is movably suspended within the housing by a first end when no liquid is flowing into the inlet opening. The valve member is pivotable in a first direction to seal the first outlet opening and pivotable in a second direction to seal the second outlet opening. On successive liquid flows into the inlet opening the valve member automatically and alternatingly seals the first outlet opening and the second outlet opening. Related dishwasher designs are also disclosed.

Abstract: Gravity and flow operated diverter valves are disclosed for diverting liquid flow from one source to either of two output destinations, the valves including a housing defining an inlet opening through a base wall, a first outlet opening through a first upper wall and a second outlet opening through a second upper wall. The housing is operable in a configuration with the base wall arranged vertically beneath the first and second upper walls. A valve member has a first end, a second end, and a central portion, the valve member being movably suspended within the housing by the first end when no liquid is flowing into the inlet opening. The valve member is pivotable in a first direction to seal the first outlet opening and pivotable in a second direction to seal the second outlet opening.

Abstract: Gravity and flow operated diverter valves are disclosed for diverting liquid flow from one source to either of two output destinations, the valves including a housing defining an inlet opening through a base wall, a first outlet opening through a first upper wall and a second outlet opening through a second upper wall. The housing is operable in a configuration with the base wall arranged vertically beneath the first and second upper walls. A valve member has a first end, a second end, and a central portion, the valve member being movably suspended within the housing by the first end when no liquid is flowing into the inlet opening. The valve member is pivotable in a first direction to seal the first outlet opening and pivotable in a second direction to seal the second outlet opening.

Abstract: A control surface has one or more soft devices for which functionality may be assigned, a central processing unit (CPU), including operating code, for managing at least functionality of the soft devices on the control surface, and a network connection for connecting to one or more computerized appliances. The control code assigns individual ones of the one or more soft devices to specific functions of an individual one of the one or more computerized appliances. There may be a variety of different kinds of soft devices, and the functionality for the soft devices of the control surface may be determined by which application is frontmost on one of the computerized appliances.

Abstract: A frozen carbonated beverage apparatus includes a freezing cylinder that stores and freezes a low Brix frozen carbonated beverage. A beater including a helical member is moveable about an axis, and a stationary baffle is received within the beater. As the beater rotates, a scraper blade scrapes against the wall of the freezing cylinder to remove any frozen product from the wall. The helical member moves the frozen product within the freezing cylinder. The baffle prevents the mass of the product from collecting in the center of the helical beater and just rotating with the beater, assisting the blending of the frozen carbonated beverage and increasing the quality of the final product.

Abstract: An identification label that can be used to identify an individual media element within a media collection comprising a plurality of medial elements is provided. The identification label comprises a label surface having a two-dimensional symbol provided on the label surface and an attachment surface that can be used to attach the label to a media element of a media collection. The two-dimensional symbol comprises encoded information that can be used to identify the medial element within the media collection and may include additional information as desired. Also, a method of identifying an individual media element within a media collection is provided. The method comprises the steps of associating a predetermined media element of a media collection comprising a plurality of media elements with a two-dimensional symbol and displaying the two-dimensional symbol on a portion of the predetermined media element.

Abstract: Determining cook-off time for a weapon is disclosed. A method determines a first barrel temperature next to a first energetic, such as a propellant charge, of ammunition within a gun barrel, and determines a second barrel temperature next to a second energetic, such as an explosive charge, of the ammunition. If the ammunition did not properly fire, the method determines a first cook-off time of the first energetic based on the first temperature next to the first energetic and the first energetic's type, and a second cook-off time of the second energetic based on the second temperature next to the second energetic and the second energetic's type. The first and second times may be determined by using one or more finite-difference heat transfer models. If either or both of the first and second times are less than a threshold, a warning-related action is performed to users of the weapon.

Abstract: The present invention provides an embalming weighted positioning device for maintaining and/or restoring a cadaver in a substantially normal lifelike appearance before, during, and after the embalming process, comprised of a flexible, conformable adherent container having a front surface, a back surface, two sides and two ends, wherein each side and each end can be either concave-shaped or convex-shaped, thus allowing for the nesting of two or more containers. Additionally, the container can have a fill spout defining an opening in the front surface or back surface of the container for filling or emptying the container with particulates and/or air before, during or after the embalming process, wherein the fill spout has a removable cover closing the opening.

Abstract: A high-security card includes a card body having a perimeter and at least one face. At least one two-dimensional binary information symbol is located within the perimeter of the card body and on the face. A system incorporating the high-security card includes at least one high-security card and at least one card reader that is responsive in use to the symbol of the card. The reader generates a signal that is indicative of the symbol. A decoder receives the signal from the reader, and converts the signal into a human-readable authentication display.

Abstract: An armature for a selectively engageable and disengageable coupling and a method of making the armature are provided. The armature includes a substantially annular body that is disposed about a first axis. The body may be formed by stamping or fine-blanking. One side of the body is hardened through a nitriding process. A grinding wheel is then applied at an angle to the same side of the body along a diametrical line of the body extending perpendicular to the first axis. As a result, the body is configured so that the thickness of the body increases as the distance from the diametrical line increases. In particular, the thickness of the body varies along each cross-section taken along the line from a minimum thickness at the innermost portion of the cross-section to a maximum thickness at the outermost portion of the cross-section. The inventive armature reduces galling, and the resulting noise, that occur during burnishing of couplings incorporating the armature.

Abstract: An armature for a selectively engageable and disengageable coupling and a method of making the armature are provided. The armature includes a substantially annular body that is disposed about a first axis. The body may be formed by stamping or fine-blanking. One side of the body is hardened through a nitriding process. A grinding wheel is then applied at an angle to the same side of the body along a diametrical line of the body extending perpendicular to the first axis. As a result, the body is configured so that the thickness of the body increases as the distance from the diametrical line increases. In particular, the thickness of the body varies along each cross-section taken along the line from a minimum thickness at the innermost portion of the cross-section to a maximum thickness at the outermost portion of the cross-section. The inventive armature reduces galling, and the resulting noise, that occur during burnishing of couplings incorporating the armature.

Abstract: An armature for a selectively engageable and disengageable coupling and a method of making the armature are provided. The armature includes a substantially annular body that is disposed about a first axis. The body may be formed by stamping or fine-blanking. One side of the body is hardened through a nitriding process. A grinding wheel is then applied at an angle to the same side of the body along a diametrical line of the body extending perpendicular to the first axis. As a result, the body is configured so that the thickness of the body increases as the distance from the diametrical line increases. In particular, the thickness of the body varies along each cross-section taken along the line from a minimum thickness at the innermost portion of the cross-section to a maximum thickness at the outermost portion of the cross-section. The inventive armature reduces galling, and the resulting noise, that occur during burnishing of couplings incorporating the armature.

Abstract: A method for preparing a flexible or semi-flexible polyurethane foam by reacting an organic polyisocyanate with a polyol in the presence of urethane catalyst, water as a blowing agent, optionally a silicone surfactant, and a cell opening additive characterized in that the cell opening additive comprises an aqueous dispersion of particles comprising a wax substance and optionally an emulsifier, at least 35% of the particles having a size of 0.2 to 5 microns and a melting point which ranges from 0 to 55.degree. C. below the maximum foam exotherm temperature.

Abstract: An electrical device in which a first resistive element which is composed of a first electrically non-linear composition is in electrical contact, and preferably in physical and electrical contact, with a second resistive element which is composed of a second composition which has a resistivity of less than 100 ohm-cm. The first composition has a resistivity of more than 10.sup.9 ohm-cm and contains a first particulate filler. The second composition contains a second particulate filler which (a) is magnetic and electrically conductive, and (b) is aligned in discrete regions in the second polymeric component. The device also contains first and second electrodes which are positioned so that current can flow between the electrodes through the first and second resistive elements. Devices of the invention have relatively low breakdown voltages and can survive high energy fault conditions.