Abstract: A charging device for connecting an electrical energy store of a motor vehicle to a charging station for electrical energy includes a charging cable having at least one line for conducting a charging current and at least one connection element via which the charging cable is connectable to a corresponding connection element between the energy store and the charging station. At least one latent heat store is provided on the charging cable and/or on the at least one connection element and can be used to absorb heat generated during the charging process.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermoplastic plastic component includes applying an amount of pigmented powder to a sheet of thermoplastic, heating the sheet of thermoplastic to a selected temperature, melting the amount of pigmented powder on the sheet of thermoplastic to form a coating, re-heating the sheet of thermoplastic to another selected temperature, positioning the sheet of thermoplastic over a pattern, and vacuum forming the sheet of thermoplastic to form the sheet of thermoplastic into the pattern.

Abstract: A method of forming a thermoplastic plastic component includes applying an amount of pigmented powder to a sheet of thermoplastic, heating the sheet of thermoplastic to a selected temperature, melting the amount of pigmented powder on the sheet of thermoplastic to form a coating, re-heating the sheet of thermoplastic to another selected temperature, positioning the sheet of thermoplastic over a pattern, and vacuum forming the sheet of thermoplastic to form the sheet of thermoplastic into the pattern.

Abstract: A portable sink includes a container for holding wash water, an inlet line to bring fresh water into the container, and an outlet line to remove wastewater from the container. A float valve on the inlet line maintains wash water at a selected level within the container. A faucet attached to the float valve may further provide a separate source of clean water to the user. The outlet line further includes a siphon to draw the wastewater from the container to a selected discharge location. The inlet and outlet lines may form an assembly with an inverted U shape so that the device may straddle the wall of a bucket so that no piping penetrations are made through the wall. The siphon preferably includes an airlock to prevent the ingress of air at the discharge end under conditions of less than maximum flow.

Abstract: A portable sink includes a container for holding wash water, an inlet line to bring fresh water into the container, and an outlet line to remove wastewater from the container. A float valve on the inlet line maintains wash water at a selected level within the container. A faucet attached to the float valve may further provide a separate source of clean water to the user. The outlet line further includes a siphon to draw the wastewater from the container to a selected discharge location. The sink may be provided with one or more handles and/or a caster assembly or dolly for ease of movement about the work area. The siphon preferably includes an airlock to prevent the ingress of air at the discharge end under conditions of less than maximum flow.

Abstract: A portable sink includes a container for holding wash water, an inlet line to bring fresh water into the container, and an outlet line to remove wastewater from the container. A float valve on the inlet line maintains wash water at a selected level within the container. A faucet attached to the float valve may further provide a separate source of clean water to the user. The outlet line further includes a siphon to draw the wastewater from the container to a selected discharge location. The inlet and outlet lines may form an assembly with an inverted U shape so that the device may straddle the wall of a bucket so that no piping penetrations are made through the wall. The siphon preferably includes an airlock to prevent the ingress of air at the discharge end under conditions of less than maximum flow.

Abstract: A portable sink includes a container for holding wash water, an inlet line to bring fresh water into the container, and an outlet line to remove wastewater from the container. A float valve on the inlet line maintains wash water at a selected level within the container. A faucet attached to the float valve may further provide a separate source of clean water to the user. The outlet line further includes a siphon to draw the wastewater from the container to a selected discharge location. The sink may be provided with one or more handles and/or a caster assembly or dolly for ease of movement about the work area. The siphon preferably includes an airlock to prevent the ingress of air at the discharge end under conditions of less than maximum flow.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention describe a memory device comprising a delay line and a feedback circuit coupled to the delay line. The feedback circuit has the capability to adjust a delay interval, which is then locked on the delay line. The feedback circuit is switched off after the delay interval is locked to reduce power consumption. The feedback circuit periodically switches on to adjust and lock the delay interval.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention describe a memory device comprising a delay line and a feedback circuit coupled to the delay line. The feedback circuit has the capability to adjust a delay interval, which is then locked on the delay line. The feedback circuit is switched off after the delay interval is locked to reduce power consumption. The feedback circuit periodically switches on to adjust and lock the delay interval.

Abstract: As one of the examples, one of the main features is that the setup is small enough that it can live with the camera full-time, and carried around by the user. The legs fold into a very compact size that fit within the footprint of the camera, used for any type camera, e.g. compact point-and-shoot camera, camera phone, or SLR camera. The tripod can then live unnoticed on the bottom of the camera, until a shot requiring a tripod is needed. Then, the legs can be deployed to act as a firm stand. Another one of the main features of this tripod is that all the legs do not share a common end-point or pivot-point. This allows the legs to form a very wide stable platform, even when they are short. In general, for N legs, some legs may have common end-points or pivot-points, but not for all N legs. (N is a positive integer, greater or equal to 3.) This invention can be applied to any camera (e.g.

Abstract: As one of the examples, one of the main features is that the setup is small enough that it can live with the camera full-time, and carried around by the user. The legs fold into a very compact size that fit within the footprint of the camera, used for any type camera, e.g. compact point-and-shoot camera, camera phone, or SLR camera. The tripod can then live unnoticed on the bottom of the camera, until a shot requiring a tripod is needed. Then, the legs can be deployed to act as a firm stand. Another one of the main features of this tripod is that all the legs do not share a common end-point or pivot-point. This allows the legs to form a very wide stable platform, even when they are short. In general, for N legs, some legs may have common end-points or pivot-points, but not for all N legs. (N is a positive integer, greater or equal to 3.) This invention can be applied to any camera (e.g.

Abstract: An electronic assembly (20) having an insulated metal heat sink (10) and a method of manufacturing the electronic assembly (20). The electronic assembly (20) has a heat dissipater (11), a dielectric material (12), and a conductive layer (13). A semiconductor chip (21) is attached to the insulated metal heat sink (10). Heat generated by the semiconductor chip (21) is conducted to the conduction surface (14) of the heat dissipater (11). In one embodiment a convection surface (16) of the heat dissipater (11) is present and the heat is transferred from the convection surface (16) of the heat dissipater (11) to a fluid by convection. The fluid is directed by a manifold (64).

Abstract: A plastic drum for the storage of liquid or other flowable materials and suitable for industrial applications. The drum consists of a circular side wall, a flat top wall and a bulged bottom wall. The top wall includes a threaded fill hole and a threaded vent. Each hole is surrounded by an upstanding undercut lip. A circular flange is located at the juncture of the top wall and the side wall. The flange extends above the plane of the top wall and beyond the outer periphery of the side wall. The walls of the drum are each of the same thickness. The circular side wall includes a plurality of elongated arcuate depressions equidistantly spaced about the periphery thereof to form strengthening ribs. The bottom wall includes a peripheral ledge projecting downward to form a planar base for the drum. The center of the bulged portion of the bottom wall is coplanar with the base. A slot is provided in the flange about the top wall.

Abstract: A first transistor is responsive to a control signal, for turning-on to conduct current to the base of a second transistor, for turning-on the second transistor for conducting a relatively high-magnitude range of current up to a predetermined limited magnitude of current. If the current reduces to below the high-magnitude range, the first transistor turns off, and the second transistor is responsive to the control signal for continuing conduction through its main current path of a relatively low-magnitude range of current with a relatively low value of voltage thereacross.

Abstract: Transistor and thyristor devices having paralleled main current paths are responsive to a control signal, for turning-on the transistor for conducting up to a predetermined limited magnitude of current, and the thyristor for conducting current of a magnitude greater than this limited magnitude. If the current reduces to below the predetermined limited magnitude, the thyristor turns off, and the transistor continues conducting current through its main current path down to a relatively low value of voltage thereacross.

Abstract: A circuit for applying turn-on and turn-off signals to the gate electrode of a gate-turn-off (GTO) controlled rectifier, responsive to whether a control signal is or is not supplied via a single control-signal line. The control signal is amplified to apply one of the turn-off and turn-on signals, and a one-shot supplies the other of the turn-off and turn-on signals responsive to the cessation of the control signal.

Abstract: A dual-function aircraft is disclosed having a fuselage shaped like an airfoil, a series of airfoils of shorter chord length arranged in tandem and disposed below the fuselage to provide additional aerodynamic lift, and a downwardly movable rear wall and a pivoted forward airfoil which forms a plenum chamber under the fuselage and produce a cushion of air during the ground mode. Transition from the ground effect mode to the flight mode is made in flight by simultaneously lowering the tandem of airfoils, lifting the rear wall and altering the angle of attack of the forward airfoil.