Abstract: An improved medicant delivery system 100 is disclosed wherein the carrier for the medicant is a fluid that can be atomized or vaporized by exposure to heat. The system provides for repeatable dose of medicant, can be stored in any orientation, and/or has an ability to maximize energy efficiency.

Abstract: A hydraulic energy recovery and a mechanical drive system in one unit that also provides integral mounting of hydraulic pump/motors for primary drive, secondary drive, and pumps for cooling, lubrication, and low pressure systems along with a mounting position for a power take-off device.

Abstract: A combined hybrid drive system and electro-hydraulic machine includes a hybrid drive system that is adapted to decelerate a rotatably driven mechanism, accumulate the energy resulting from such deceleration, and use the accumulated energy to subsequently accelerate the rotatably driven mechanism. An electro-hydraulic machine is operatively connected to the hybrid drive system and is adapted to be operated in one or more of a plurality of modes to improve the performance of the hybrid drive system.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus comprises a housing having a central axis; a plurality of radially-oriented piston-cylinder assemblies each including a cylinder supported by the housing and a piston movable within the cylinder, the piston separating radially inner and outer chambers within the cylinder; and valving and associated flow passages for individually controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the radially inner and outer chambers of each piston-cylinder assembly. The piston-cylinder assemblies are mounted to the housing for pivotal movement by trunnions provided with flow passages for connecting the piston-cylinder assemblies to inlet and outlet ports via the valving and porting.

Abstract: A powersplit transmission having a compact configuration that readily can be incorporated in a vehicle, particularly within the vehicle frame, includes (a) a mechanical transmission having a rotatable input shaft, a rotatable output shaft, and multiple gears for mechanically transmitting power between the input shaft and the output shaft; and (b) a hydraulic transmission containing a fluid for transmitting power between the input shaft and the output shaft. The mechanical transmission has a housing from which the input shaft and the output shaft extend. The hydraulic transmission includes first and second hydraulic units, each of which can function as a pump or a motor. The first hydraulic unit is coupled to the mechanical transmission system and the second hydraulic unit is coupled to the output shaft. The first and second hydraulic units are offset to the same side of the input shaft and the output shaft.

Abstract: A hydraulic energy recovery and a mechanical drive system in one unit that also provides integral mounting of hydraulic pump/motors for primary drive, secondary drive, and pumps for cooling, lubrication, and low pressure systems along with a mounting position for a power take-off device.

Abstract: A combined hybrid drive system and electro-hydraulic machine includes a hybrid drive system that is adapted to decelerate a rotatably driven mechanism, accumulate the energy resulting from such deceleration, and use the accumulated energy to subsequently accelerate the rotatably driven mechanism. An electro-hydraulic machine is operatively connected to the hybrid drive system and is adapted to be operated in one or more of a plurality of modes to improve the performance of the hybrid drive system.

Abstract: A hydraulic energy recovery and a mechanical drive system in one unit that also provides integral mounting of hydraulic pump/motors for primary drive, secondary drive, and pumps for cooling, lubrication, and low pressure systems along with a mounting position for a power take-off device.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive comprising multiple gear motors each having a gear motor output shaft, and a common gear engaged by the output shafts of the multiple gear motors. Each hydraulic motor has a characteristic sinusoidal torque ripple out of phase with the characteristic sinusoidal torque ripple of at least one other hydraulic motor for cancelling torque ripple and thereby reducing the torque ripple at the common gear.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for manufacturing a window covering 50 for an architectural opening. The apparatus includes a support structure handling assembly 92, an operating element handling assembly 94, and a vane handling assembly 96. The handling assemblies process the respective materials to an assembly station 100 to attach one portion of a vane 54 to the operating elements 56, and another portion of the vane 54 to the support structure 52, allowing movement of one portion of the vane 54 relative to other portion of the vane.

Abstract: A cooling fan drive apparatus with an integrated filter comprises a gear motor contained within a housing that includes internal passages through which hydraulic fluid can flow and structure configured to receive a filter such that the filter forms an integral part of the apparatus.

Abstract: A safety stop ball includes a post and a nut which travels along a spiral path relative to the post. The nut and the post are biased toward each other to retain the ends of lift cords. As the nut is displaced relative to the post, the lift cords are released.

Abstract: The present invention provide apparatus, systems and/or methods for use in controlling a distributed network of main powered devices and battery powered devices. The devices control the operation of one or more appliances. In one embodiment, an adaptive network comprises a main powered device, a battery powered device and a network control device. The network uses a wireless network protocol that includes at least one of a group, network, unit, group flag, mood and/or mask identifier. The network may include a data storage device having a data structure comprising a listing of at least one battery powered device with which the main powered device can communicate on the network, and/or a connectivity rating and ranking of networked devices. The network may also include: a network traffic manager, a routing and a controller identifier.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus comprises a housing having a central axis; a plurality of radially-oriented piston-cylinder assemblies each including a cylinder supported by the housing and a piston movable within the cylinder, the piston separating radially inner and outer chambers within the cylinder; and valving and associated flow passages for individually controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the radially inner and outer chambers of each piston-cylinder assembly. The piston-cylinder assemblies are mounted to the housing for pivotal movement by trunnions provided with flow passages for connecting the piston-cylinder assemblies to inlet and outlet ports via the valving and porting.

Abstract: In a variable displacement type hydraulic pump/motor assembly including at least one internally movable component, such as a yoke, a swashplate, and the means for moving the swashplate, the improvement includes imparting on this component absolute location indicia markings and the addition of an optical/electronic sensor unit capable of reading such indicia markings fixedly located on a housing of the pump/motor assembly and including an optical read head extending into the housing interior and located at a spaced distance from the indicia markings for reading same, relative to a reference location, and producing a signal indicative of the absolute position of the movable component. The signal can then, in turn, be used for controlling the displacement of the pump/motor assembly. A method for determining the absolute component position is also set forth.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming fabrics for use, by way of example, in coverings for architectural openings includes a system for handling single or multi-layered fabrics by suspending the fabric from a lift tower, threading the fabric through various clamp systems within a housing for the apparatus, and subsequently forming horizontal rows of hobbles, tunnels, and/or attached rings by gripping and releasing the fabric with a vacuum clamp, upper and lower clamps, and a tucker blade clamp while a reciprocating tucker blade forms horizontal tucks in the fabric. The tucks which are selectively treated by forming a tunnel or attaching guide rings. Hobbles can also be formed in one layer of the fabric through use of the vacuum clamp which gathers a portion of one layer of the fabric while the other layer is handled differently. In doing so, hobbles are formed between tucks in the fabric with the hobbles establishing a fabric resembling a Roman shade.

Abstract: A gear pump comprising a gear chamber having opposite side walls; a pair of gears disposed within the gear chamber with teeth thereof meshed with one another, the meshed teeth forming a trap region in which fluid becomes entrapped during rotation of the gears; inlet and outlet chambers on opposite sides of the meshed teeth of the gears and separated from one another by the meshed teeth of the gears; a ripple chamber; and a first passage connecting the ripple chamber to the trap region, whereby the trapped high pressure fluid will flow from the trap region to the ripple chamber to dampen the otherwise generated high pressure pulse.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for forming a fabric for an architectural opening covering. The apparatus comprises a joining section, an accumulator, a cutting station, and a stacker. The joining section is configured to join together first, second, third and fourth material strips into a fabric strip. The accumulator is configured to accumulate the fabric strip upon leaving the joining section. The cutting station is configured to sever the fabric strip into an upstream fabric strip and a first downstream fabric strip. The stacker is configured to join the first downstream fabric strip with a second downstream fabric strip to form the fabric.

Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening includes a fabric adapted to be extended across the opening or retracted adjacent one side of the opening. The fabric has one fixed edge along one side of the opening and an opposite movable edge. The movable edge is guided by a flexible metal tape disposed in a generally Z-shaped configuration that extends slidably along the movable edge of the fabric and in opposite perpendicular directions at opposite ends of the movable edge for variable lengths.

Abstract: An improved retractable covering for an architectural opening includes an improved mounting bracket, an improved limit stop to prevent over-retraction and over-extension of the retractable covering, an improved battery pack mounting bracket for attaching a power supply to a head rail of the retractable covering, an improved battery pack mounting apparatus for attaching a battery pack to a head rail, an improved control system for the retractable covering, and an improved method of using a wireless remote control or a manually operated switch to activate a motor to control the configuration of the covering, including the extension or retraction of the covering, and the transmissivity of the covering. The disclosed improvements are field retrofittable.