Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are presented for facilitating remote wager communications using mobile communications devices while the devices are within range of an authorized lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, lottery transaction devices are equipped with multiple Bluetooth-enabled transceivers, a lottery server manages identifiers associated with the transceivers at each lottery transaction device, and issues an identifier of an available transceiver to a requesting mobile communications device at the time the mobile device desires to consummate a player's desired transaction. Portions of the desired transaction can be communicated to the lottery server separately from the Bluetooth network to limit the time spent by a mobile device communicating directly with the Bluetooth-enabled lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, the mobile device issues a disconnect call to the lottery transaction device directly after the desired lottery transaction has been communicated.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing an aluminum-based alloy sheet directly from a molten aluminum-based alloy is described. In a continuous caster, such as a belt-caster, and directly from the molten aluminum-based alloy, a substantially solid and substantially thin aluminum-based alloy strip, thinner than about 10 mm, is continuously cast and simultaneously cooled with a compression force on the solidifying aluminum-based alloy in a range of about 2 to about 3000 pounds per linear inch of alloy strip width. The substantially solid aluminum-based alloy strip can then be rolled, so as to obtain the aluminum-based alloy sheet. The process can include pulse heating the aluminum-based allowed sheet.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are presented for facilitating remote wager communications using mobile communications devices while the devices are within range of an authorized lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, lottery transaction devices are equipped with multiple Bluetooth-enabled transceivers, a lottery server manages identifiers associated with the transceivers at each lottery transaction device, and issues an identifier of an available transceiver to a requesting mobile communications device at the time the mobile device desires to consummate a player's desired transaction. Portions of the desired transaction can be communicated to the lottery server separately from the Bluetooth network to limit the time spent by a mobile device communicating directly with the Bluetooth-enabled lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, the mobile device issues a disconnect call to the lottery transaction device directly after the desired lottery transaction has been communicated.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal-based powder that is used in metal additive manufacturing, the method comprising: melting alloy metal precursors at a temperature above a liquidus temperature thereof until all alloy metal precursors are in liquid state, to produce a molten alloy; casting the molten alloy by transferring the molten alloy into a caster; cooling the molten alloy to a temperature of at least below the solidus temperature, at a cooling rate above about 50° C./s, to produce a cast alloy with a low density of precipitates; remelting the cast alloy with a low density of precipitates to produce a melted alloy; and forming the metal-based powder from the remelted alloy.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are presented for facilitating remote wager communications using mobile communications devices while the devices are within range of an authorized lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, lottery transaction devices are equipped with multiple Bluetooth-enabled transceivers, a lottery server manages identifiers associated with the transceivers at each lottery transaction device, and issues an identifier of an available transceiver to a requesting mobile communications device at the time the mobile device desires to consummate a player's desired transaction. Portions of the desired transaction can be communicated to the lottery server separately from the Bluetooth network to limit the time spent by a mobile device communicating directly with the Bluetooth-enabled lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, the mobile device issues a disconnect call to the lottery transaction device directly after the desired lottery transaction has been communicated.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are presented for facilitating remote wager communications using mobile communications devices while the devices are within range of an authorized lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, lottery transaction devices are equipped with multiple Bluetooth-enabled transceivers, a lottery server manages identifiers associated with the transceivers at each lottery transaction device, and issues an identifier of an available transceiver to a requesting mobile communications device at the time the mobile device desires to consummate a player's desired transaction. Portions of the desired transaction can be communicated to the lottery server separately from the Bluetooth network to limit the time spent by a mobile device communicating directly with the Bluetooth-enabled lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, the mobile device issues a disconnect call to the lottery transaction device directly after the desired lottery transaction has been communicated.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are presented for facilitating remote wager communications using mobile communications devices while the devices are within range of an authorized lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, lottery transaction devices are equipped with multiple Bluetooth-enabled transceivers, a lottery server manages identifiers associated with the transceivers at each lottery transaction device, and issues an identifier of an available transceiver to a requesting mobile communications device at the time the mobile device desires to consummate a player's desired transaction. Portions of the desired transaction can be communicated to the lottery server separately from the Bluetooth network to limit the time spent by a mobile device communicating directly with the Bluetooth-enabled lottery transaction device. In various embodiments, the mobile device issues a disconnect call to the lottery transaction device directly after the desired lottery transaction has been communicated.

Abstract: A system, device and method provide for the printing of an instant, scratch-off lottery ticket product on demand at a retail location. In various embodiments, a pre-activation printing process applies an active thermal layer and other coatings on a ticket substrate, but excludes any game indicia or security codes. An activator printer thermally applies game indicia and/or security code(s) at a retail location according to ticket selections made by a user and further according to data generated via a central host, wherein the activator printer applies the indicia and code(s) at least partially under one or more security coatings on the ticket substrate, where the coatings had been applied during the pre-activation process.

Abstract: A system, device and method provide for the printing of an instant, scratch-off lottery ticket product on demand at a retail location. In various embodiments, a pre-activation printing process applies an active thermal layer and other coatings on a ticket substrate, but excludes any game indicia or security codes. An activator printer thermally applies game indicia and/or security code(s) at a retail location according to ticket selections made by a user and further according to data generated via a central host, wherein the activator printer applies the indicia and code(s) at least partially under one or more security coatings on the ticket substrate, where the coatings had been applied during the pre-activation process.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting in a door aperture of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a mounting element for mounting the apparatus in the door aperture. The mounting element is adapted to cooperate with a fixing disposed on the vehicle. The apparatus can include one or more seats for use when the vehicle is stationary. A method of mounting the apparatus to a vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting in a door aperture of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a mounting element for mounting the apparatus in the door aperture. The mounting element is adapted to cooperate with a fixing disposed on the vehicle. The apparatus can include one or more seats for use when the vehicle is stationary. A method of mounting the apparatus to a vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A twin-belt casting machine for casting metal strip. The machine is provided with a casting cavity which includes an upstream fixed casting region, in which the belts are in fixed convergent paths in contact with the cast slab, and an adjacent downstream portion in which the belts are adjustable between alignment with the fixed convergent paths and non-alignment therewith (being less convergent or divergent). When the adjustable portions of the paths are moved outwardly relative to the fixed convergent paths, the belts separate from the cast slab at differing predetermined points within the casting cavity. By adjusting the downstream portion of the casting cavity in this manner, the casting machine can operate at essentially constant throughput for a wide range of alloys while ensuring that the cast slab exiting the caster has a temperature within a predetermined range suitable for further rolling to produce sheet product.

Abstract: A method of casting an ingot of a metal having a susceptibility to hot-tearing while avoiding such hot tearing. The method involves co-casting a cladding metal on a surface of a metal core ingot as the ingot is being cast in a DC casting procedure. The cladding layer preferably contacts the core ingot at a position on the ingot surface where the metal of the ingot is incompletely solid, e.g. at a temperature between its solidus temperature and liquidus temperatures. The metal of the core ingot and the metal of the cladding layer are the same and, if they contain grain refiners, the are present in an amount of 0.005% by weight of the metal or less.

Abstract: A method of casting an ingot of a metal having a susceptibility to hot-tearing while avoiding such hot tearing. The method involves co-casting a cladding metal on a surface of a metal core ingot as the ingot is being cast in a DC casting procedure. The cladding layer preferably contacts the core ingot at a position on the ingot surface where the metal of the ingot is incompletely solid, e.g. at a temperature between its solidus temperature and liquidus temperatures. The metal of the core ingot and the metal of the cladding layer are the same and, if they contain grain refiners, the are present in an amount of 0.005% by weight of the metal or less.

Abstract: A method of casting an ingot of a metal having a susceptibility to hot-tearing while avoiding such hot tearing. The method involves co-casting a cladding metal on a surface of a metal core ingot as the ingot is being cast in a DC casting procedure. The cladding layer preferably contacts the core ingot at a position on the ingot surface where the metal of the ingot is incompletely solid, e.g. at a temperature between its solidus temperature and liquidus temperatures. The metal of the core ingot and the metal of the cladding layer are the same and, if they contain grain refiners, the are present in an amount of 0.005% by weight of the metal or less.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a multi-player and inter-player competitive wagering game in conjunction with a base game, such as a traditional wagering game such as Keno or other online lottery games. A group of players may all participate in the traditional wager game as a group, and the player in the group who has the best result in the base game may be awarded all or part of the total group winnings from the base lottery game.

Abstract: Some example embodiments of the present invention address growing demand by lottery customers for expanded gaming options and new gaming concepts. Example embodiments may include methods and systems for providing a shared centralized gaming host which implements software as a service concepts for lottery and other wagering games.

Abstract: A casting belt for using in a single-belt or twin-belt casting apparatus is disclosed. The casting belt is made of aluminum alloy such as an alloy from the AA5XXX and AA6XXX systems, preferably having a thickness in the range of 1 to 2 mm. The aluminum casting belt of the invention is suitable for casting non-ferrous and light metals such as aluminum, magnesium, copper, zinc and their alloys, especially aluminum alloys such as Al—Mg, Al—Mg—Si, Al—Fe—Si and Al—Fe—Mn—Si alloy systems. A belt casting machine and process using the aluminum casting belt of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved aluminum alloy fin stock is described having both a high strength and a high thermal conductivity. The fin stock contains 1.2-1.8% Fe, 0.7-0.95% Si, 0.3-0.5% Mn, 0.3-1.2% Zn and the balance Al, and is produced by continuously strip casting the alloy at a cooling rate greater than 10° C./sec. but less than 200° C./sec., hot rolling the strip to a re-roll sheet without homogenization, cold rolling the re-roll sheet to an intermediate gauge, annealing the sheet and cold rolling the sheet to final gauge. This fin stock has a conductivity after brazing of greater than 49.8% IACS.

Abstract: A method of producing an aluminum alloy fin stock material, comprising the steps of continuously strip casting an aluminum finstock alloy to form an as-cast strip, rolling the as-cast strip to form a sheet article of intermediate gauge, annealing the sheet article of intermediate gauge, and cold rolling the annealed sheet article of intermediate gauge to produce an aluminum finstock material of final gauge. The steps are carried out on a finstock alloy which comprises the following elements in weight percent: Fe 1.6 to 2.4; Si 0.7 to 1.1; Mn 0.3 to 0.6; Zn 0.3 to 2.0; Ti 0.005 to 0.040; incidental elements less than 0.05 each, total no more than 0.15; and the balance aluminum. The invention also relates to the finstock material so-produced which has good thermal conductivity, and is suitable for use in thin gauge (e.g. less than 100 &mgr;m, and preferably 60±10 &mgr;m).