Abstract: A damper assembly includes a housing that defines an interior chamber. A rod is supported by the housing, and is at least partially disposed within the interior chamber. A piston assembly is attached to the rod within the interior chamber. The piston assembly separates the interior chamber into at least a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate defining at least one orifice, which interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The piston assembly includes at least one valve disc that is disposed adjacent a first face of the annular plate. An SMA device is disposed in contact with the valve disc. The SMA device is changeable between a first state and a second state, at a transition temperature, to control a bending stiffness of the valve disc to adjust a damping rate.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a housing that defines an interior chamber. A rod is supported by the housing, and is at least partially disposed within the interior chamber. A piston assembly is attached to the rod within the interior chamber. The piston assembly separates the interior chamber into at least a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate defining at least one orifice, which interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The piston assembly includes at least one valve disc that is disposed adjacent a first face of the annular plate. An SMA device is disposed in contact with the valve disc. The SMA device is changeable between a first state and a second state, at a transition temperature, to control a bending stiffness of the valve disc to adjust a damping rate.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a housing and rod supported by the housing. A piston assembly is attached to the rod, and is positioned to separate an interior chamber of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate that defines at least one orifice. The orifice interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The damper assembly includes a piezoelectric device that is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, in response to a control signal. When disposed in the disengaged position, the piezoelectric device does not affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice. When disposed in the engaged position, the piezoelectric device does affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice, to adjust a damping rate of the piston assembly.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a housing and rod supported by the housing. A piston assembly is attached to the rod, and is positioned to separate an interior chamber of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate that defines at least one orifice. The orifice interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The damper assembly includes a piezoelectric device that is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, in response to a control signal. When disposed in the disengaged position, the piezoelectric device does not affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice. When disposed in the engaged position, the piezoelectric device does affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice, to adjust a damping rate of the piston assembly.

Abstract: A pipe fitting includes a pipe fitting body having a first end in fluidic communication with a second end, the ends configured to receive a pipe. At least one of the first or second ends comprises a non-circular sectional shape having a low flow enhancement channel disposed at a bottom. The low flow enhancement channel is configured to comprise a first depth of a fluid that is greater than a second depth of the same fluid in a substantially circular section pipe where the non-circular sectional shape and the circular section pipe comprise substantially the same overall cross sectional area. A stand may be associated with the pipe fitting, the stand configured to accept the pipe fitting body in an orientation where the low flow enhancement channel is disposed at the bottom of the non-circular shape.

Abstract: A rear suspension road bicycle frame uses an integrated rear shock absorbing assembly installed in a typical diamond bicycle frame with a head tube, down tube, top tube, seat tube, tubular chainstays, tubular seat stays, brake bridge at the top of the seat stays connecting them, the shock absorbing assembly having an elastomer shock absorbing spring member with a slide affixed to the brake bridge, and a sliding bearing in the upper wishbone so that the preloaded spring member absorbs shock and the frame absorbs flexing tending to unload the spring member.

Abstract: A braid for desoldering a printed circuit board or electrical component having a lead-free solder formed from a plurality of solid metal strands bundled together to form a bundle in which a plurality of bundles are braided with one another to form a braid. The braid is formed having a single ply and is configured for desoldering the printed circuit board or electrical component having a lead-free solder having a melting point temperature in excess of 183° C. (about 361° F.).

Abstract: A rear suspension road bicycle frame uses an integrated rear shock absorbing assembly installed in a typical diamond bicycle frame with a head tube, down tube, top tube, seat tube, tubular chainstays, tubular seat stays, brake bridge at the top of said seat stays connecting them, the shock absorbing assembly having an elastomer shock absorbing spring member with a slide affixed to the brake bridge, and a sliding bearing in the upper wishbone so that the preloaded spring member absorbs shock and the frame absorbs flexing tending to unload the spring member.

Abstract: A bicycle frame having improved fatigue life of the frame. Cable entry/exit points for internally routed control cables are formed to produce strategically reduced stiffness zones so as to reduce peak stresses in the frame. Preferably, dimples are formed in the bicycle frame tubes with bulkhead walls deformed at an angle between 45 and 90 degrees and transverse to a line through the axial center of the tubes. Cable access holes formed in the bulkhead have a low friction plastic insert cable guide retained in the hole to provide aesthetic enhancement and weather seal for the tubing.

Abstract: The sculpture is created by accreting successive layers of a vitreous material under close temperature control on a core to form a solid unified mass and of depositing pellicular images on one or more of said layers; said images, which may be photographically generated, being variously sinuous, discrete, diaphanous, colored and spaced apart from each other in both radial and axial directions of the solid mass which constitutes the sculpture and which is characterized by said images apparently floating freely within the mass composing a general design, scene, display or decoration.