Abstract: A vehicle includes: a driver seat connected to a frame of the vehicle and disposed in a cockpit area; a dashboard disposed in front of the driver seat; a cargo bed supported by the frame and having a front wall, left and right walls and a cargo bed supporting surface surrounded in part by the front, left and right walls, the front wall having a movable portion that is movable to selectively cover a pass-through opening that communicates an internal space of the cargo bed to the cockpit area; and an extension receptacle disposed in the cockpit area, the extension receptacle being aligned with (i) the dashboard in a longitudinal direction and (ii) the pass-through opening in a lateral direction, the extension receptacle being configured to receive items therein that are inserted from the cargo bed through the pass-through opening and into the cockpit area of the vehicle.

Abstract: Insulated panels having suitable surface members separated by an inner layer of insulated foam are used for the walls and as structural members for the floor and roof of a building structure. A rigid frame supports the wall, floor and roof insulated panels. The wall insulated panels are supported on the exterior of the frame by rigid brackets with the insulated panels being suitably flashed or capped.

Abstract: Source criteria associated with a first set of one or more sources may be obtained such that electronic files defining media content generated by any source in the first source set include source information that satisfies the source criteria. The source information in electronic files may be compared with the source criteria to determine whether the electronic files were generated by any source in the first source set. Electronic files determined to have been generated by any source in the first source set may be presented to a user through a graphical user interface of a media player application. Electronic files determined to not have been generated by any source in the first source set may be hid from presentation within the graphical user interface of the media player application.

Abstract: Method and system for thermal treatment by heat induction of a metal piece on a targeted zone. According to the method, the thermal treatment is carried out using a thermal element mounted on a robotic system for moving the thermal element along a cyclical trajectory on the targeted zone so as to heat the target zone and minimize the temperature deviations over the targeted zone.

Abstract: A system and a method for intelligently managing waiting lists and other similar lists for service providers are disclosed. The system is configured for customer to request the scheduling of at least one appointment, to schedule one or more appointments of a customer, to store the information related to the customer in a database, to manage the different intelligent waiting list, to prioritize one or more appointments on the different waiting lists and to confirm and notify the customer when an appointment is automatically assign. Generally, the system is configured to be used over a communication network such as the Internet to allow a customer to be electronically notified of the scheduling of an appointment.

Abstract: A system and a method for intelligently managing waiting lists and other similar lists for service providers are disclosed. The system is configured for customer to request the scheduling of at least one appointment, to schedule one or more appointments of a customer, to store the information related to the customer in a database, to manage the different intelligent waiting list and to confirm and notify the customer when an appointment is automatically assign. Generally, the system is configured to be used over a communication network such as the Internet to allow a customer to be electronically notified of the scheduling of an appointment.

Abstract: System and method for tridimensional cartography of a structural surface. Two wires are extended in front and along the structural surface so as to define a reference surface. A measuring unit comprising a laser arrangement and a camera is moved in front of the structural surface so as to progressively scan the surface. Tow distinct light planes directed toward the structural surface are projected by means of the laser arrangement. Images of the structural surface containing lines resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the structural surface and four reference points resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the wires are captured by means of the camera. The images are processed to determine the 3D coordinates of the lines defining the mapping in a reference system bound to the reference surface considering the position and the orientation of the measuring unit based on the reference points.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for tapping molten metal from below a molten electrolyte layer less dense than the metal is described. The apparatus comprises a pipe comprising a protruding enlarged wall portion at an operative end which is immersed in the molten electrolyte and metal during tapping operation. The enlarged wall portion helps to minimize entrainment of electrolyte residue from the electrolyte/metal interface during tapping. The orientation of the enlarged wall portion may be in the general direction of the crucible.

Abstract: System and method for tridimensional cartography of a structural surface. Two wires are extended in front and along the structural surface so as to define a reference surface. A measuring unit comprising a laser arrangement and a camera is moved in front of the structural surface so as to progressively scan the surface. Tow distinct light planes directed toward the structural surface are projected by means of the laser arrangement. Images of the structural surface containing lines resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the structural surface and four reference points resulting from an intersection of the light planes with the wires are captured by means of the camera. The images are processed to determine the 3D coordinates of the lines defining the mapping in a reference system bound to the reference surface considering the position and the orientation of the measuring unit based on the reference points.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for tapping molten metal from below a molten electrolyte layer less dense than the metal is described. The apparatus comprises a pipe comprising a protruding enlarged wall portion at an operative end which is immersed in the molten electrolyte and metal during tapping operation. The enlarged wall portion helps to minimize entrainment of electrolyte residue from the electrolyte/metal interface during tapping. The orientation of the enlarged wall portion may be in the general direction of the crucible.

Abstract: The panoramic camera according to the invention has a housing having first and second sections, coaxial with a rotation axis. The second section can be driven in rotation about the axis with respect to the first section by a motor connected to a gear. A lens is mounted on the second section of the housing and is both perpendicular and radial to the axis. A linear CCD array is placed at the focal point of the lens in order to capture the images transmitted by the lens. An analog-to-digital converter is connected to the CCD array to convert the analog signal generated by the CCD array into digital information. The digital information is stored on a hard disk drive, and includes data corresponding to the azimuth of the camera. Finally, a micro-computer controls the rotation of the housing, sends a control signal to the analog-to-digital converter to digitize the image and sends a control signal to the hard disk drive to save the digital information generated by the converter.

Abstract: A wall retention system for abutting against and retaining a mass of earth, comprising in combination: (a) a set of flat facing slabs, each facing slab having an outer flat surface and an inner, reinforced surface. The facing slabs are edgewisely interlocked to form a single continuous wall structure. Foundation slabs abut on the ground, and support the lower portions of the facing slabs wherein the facing slabs are supported in generally upright condition. A number of elongated brace bars are provided, integrally carried at their inner ends by the facing slabs reinforced surface and transversely projecting therefrom at vertically spaced intervals. These tension members embeddingly anchor into the mass of earth to be retained. Hence, large horizontal loadings from the mass of earth can be sustained by the wall retention system, without compromising the angularity of the facing slabs relative to ground level.