Abstract: An electric drive axle of a vehicle includes an electric motor having an output shaft. An idler assembly is drivingly coupled to the electric motor and a differential. The idler assembly includes a first gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a first gear ratio and a second gear-clutch assembly to facilitate a second gear ratio.

Abstract: A computer based system for immigration compliance auditing includes executable program instruction sets configured for: processing and analyzing immigration compliance verification documentation for a set of employees associated with an employer, where such documentation includes Form I-9s and related information; identifying statutory and technical/procedural Form I-9 compliance violations; mapping identified Form I-9 statutory compliance violations and technical/procedural compliance violations to categorical types of statutory compliance violations and technical/procedural compliance violations, respectively; automatically generating an immigration compliance violation liability estimate for the employer in a manner correlated with occurrences of categorical types of statutory compliance violations and occurrences technical/procedural compliance violations; generating an immigration compliance audit report; and possibly managing immigration compliance violation remediation procedures.

Abstract: Disclosed are exemplary remote programming systems, software and methods for use in remotely programming field devices, such as engines, power generators, controllers, and data sensors, and the like. A (wired or wireless) communications link interconnects a processor and a remotely located server. The processor comprises a program memory and firmware that is loaded into the program memory. The processor is coupled to a nonvolatile memory device and apparatus for communicating over the communications link. The remotely located server contains a source code file comprising updated firmware for the processor. Software or a method is provided that initiates a process wherein the updated firmware is transferred from the server to the processor and the updated firmware is stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A computer desk includes a plurality of shelves that is coupled to at least one of a pair of stanchion members. Each of the shelves is hingably coupled to at least one of the stanchion members for facilitating folding of the shelves into a storage position. Each of the shelves is for supporting objects when the shelves are in an extended position. Each of the stanchion members has a slide rail. A sliding shelf is slidably coupled to the slide rail of each of the stanchion members such that the sliding shelf is slidably adjustable with respect to the stanchion members of the frame assembly. The sliding shelf is for supporting a keyboard of the computer system. The sliding shelf is removable from between the stanchion members when the shelves are folded into the storage position.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating individual flat articles of random thickness from one end of a stack of such articles and delivering separated articles, on command, to a transport device. Included in the apparatus is a pick-off device having a friction surface drivable in a direction of article delivery and oriented to engage an exposed surface on one article at the one end of the stack and advance the one article in the direction of delivery, an anti-doubling device for restricting advancing movement of other articles by the pick-off device, a delivery device having a drivable friction nip for pulling a separated article from the pick-off device in the direction of article delivery, and a control system for operating the pick-off device and the delivery device to position each separated article in the friction nip in readiness for delivery, on command, to the transport device.

Abstract: In a mail sorting system, a transport/stacker module comprises a plurality of mailpiece carriers included in a conveyor moving in an endless serpentine path through a plurality of distributed sorting sites. Each carrier is provided with a door at each of the longitudinally carrier ends, which are opened to permit the raking of mailpieces from laterally arranged compartments of the carrier into underlying bins at the sorting sites by selectively actuating separate rakes of a rake mechanism stationed at each sorting site. The carrier doors are constructed to provide longitudinal extensions of the carrier floor, thereby minimizing the spacing between the carriers in the conveyor while preserving a requisite interior longitudinal dimension of the carrier when the doors are closed.

Abstract: A computer color monitor portable testing apparatus includes a programmable microprocessor storing a software program and producing timing and control signals in response to operation of the program to generate selected color patterns on a selected one of different types (CGA, EGA and VGA) of color monitors to be tested, a pair of connectors one of which can be selected for connecting with a selected one of the different types of color monitors to be tested, and a mode selector switch connecting the microprocessor with the connectors and being actuatable for selecting the different operational modes for testing the different types of monitors.

Abstract: A transport/stacker module provides for a vertical stacking of mail bins. Carriers traveling in a transport path have openable and closable doors at both ends, and a frame of the transport/stacker module is provided with cam actuators to open the doors after the carriers pass turnaround areas and close the doors before the carriers enter the turnaround areas. A rake mechanism disposed above each bin is provided with a snubber which engages a mail piece prior to rake tines of the rake mechanism.

Abstract: A bowling ball having hard and inflexible flake materials arranged in a substantially interlocking relationship and located at or just below the outer surface of the bowling ball to form a substantially continuous interlocking armored layer about the bowling ball which causes it to have an appreciably greater resistance to penetration by a Shore D Hardness test needle than a bowling ball of identical composition but without the flake type materials. Sufficient resistance to penetration by the Shore D Hardness test needle gives a durometer hardness of at least seventy-two. The flake materials have an average size of from -100 mesh to 40/100 mesh and comprise between one to ten percent by volume of the bowling ball's outer shell admixture.

Abstract: A bowling ball having an inner core and at least one thermosetting resin shell which contains sufficient lightweight particles, such as unicellular borsilicate glass spheres, having a diameter within the range of from about 10 to 100 microns and evenly dispersed therethrough to reduce the weight by volume of the shell by at least five percent below that of a similar volume of said thermosetting resin without said lightweight particles. The lightweight particles appearing on the outer surface of the shell will create a finely pitted texture.

Abstract: A bowling ball having a thin viscous film deposited upon its surface from within the ball for increasing the coefficient of friction between the ball and the bowling lane. The film comprises a saturated plasticizer incorporated into the ball at the time of manufacture that slowly exudes from the outer shell over an extended period. The method comprises preparing a resin blend capable of being cured into a tough, durable material and mixing the resin blend with a plasticizer which is miscible with the liquid phase resin blend, but incompatible with the solid phase. Catalysts are admixed and heat is applied to the mixture to cure the resin blend into a tough and durable outer shell.

Abstract: A bowling ball having a thin viscous film deposited upon its surface from within the ball for increasing the coefficient of friction between the ball and the bowling lane. The film comprises a saturated plasticizer incorporated into the ball at the time of manufacture that slowly exudes from the outer shell over an extended period. The method comprises preparing a resin blend capable of being cured into a tough, durable material and mixing the resin blend with a plasticizer which is miscible with the liquid phase resin blend, but incompatible with the solid phase. Catalysts are admixed and heat is applied to the mixture to cure the resin blend into a tough and durable outer shell having a 72 Shore D hardness.

Abstract: A central processor exercises on-off power control over a number of widely spaced loads and determines the status of the loads through a system which includes a transmitter-receiver terminal at each load and a common data bus connecting the central station to all of the transmitter-receivers. Each receiver has a unique address and the processor addresses one of the receivers by sending a message consisting of the receiver's address plus a command signal over the bus. A valid message consists of two sequential transmissions of the unit's address and the combination of command signals that accompany these addresses determines the function that is enabled at the receiver. All transmissions are serial and repeaters interposed in the bus restore signal levels and provide power to nearby terminals.