Abstract: Disclosed in an embodiment herein is a well plate system including a well plate device, including three plates disposed above one another. The two top plates include wells disposed therein which are in fluid communication with one another, and which when the device is in a resting position, the second plate rests on top of the third plate to create a fluid sealed well. The third plate includes fluid drainage openings, such that when the system is in an activated position, the plates are moved such that the fluid within the wells exits through these openings. The system can be fully automated, and can include one or more motors to control movement of the plates. The system can also operate manually with a hinge connected to the plates.

Abstract: A self-drilling screw (10) has a first cutting edge (21) provided exclusively in a radially inner region of the drilling tip (12), extending at a first acute angle (?1) to the longitudinal axis (L), and a second cutting edge (22) provided in radially outer region of the drilling tip (12) and extending at a second acute angle (?2) to the longitudinal axis (L), with a first enveloping conical circumferential surface (A1) which is defined by the first cutting edge (21) corresponding, with a maximum deviation of +/?10%, to a second enveloping conical circumferential surface (A2) defined by the second cutting edge (22), and with the first acute angle (?1) corresponding, with a maximum deviation of +/?5°, to the second acute angle (?2).

Abstract: A screw including a sealing washer assembly and a shank which defines a screw axis and has a thread in at least a portion thereof and whose one end is provided with a head. The sealing washer assembly is disposed on the shank and includes at least one sealing washer and a reinforcing washer, said reinforcing washer having a thickness, and the sealing washer assembly having a cumulative thickness is disclosed. The sealing washer assembly is spaced, along the screw axis, at a distance from an underside of the head facing the shank, said distance being greater than the thickness of the reinforcing washer and smaller than the cumulative thickness of the sealing washer assembly.

Abstract: A chipless thread-forming screw (10) has a thread-carrying shank (11) provided at its opposite ends with a tip (13) and a head (4), respectively, and having a diameter between 0.25 and 0.35 mm, with the shank (11) having at least one frustroconical section (21) extending from the tip (13) in direction of the head (14) and having, with respect to the thread root (22), a point angle (?) between 200 and 300, and a cylindrical section (25) extending between the frustroconical section (21) and the head (14), and with a starting line (23) of the thread (15) remote from the head (14) being spaced from the tip (13) by a distance (Lt) from 0 to 0.3 mm.

Abstract: A system-effected method for synthesizing speech, or recognizing speech including a sequence of expressive speech utterances. The method can be computer-implemented and can include system-generating a speech signal embodying the sequence of expressive speech utterances. Other possible steps include: system-marking the speech signal with a pitch marker indicating a pitch change at or near a first zero amplitude crossing point of the speech signal following a glottal closure point, at a minimum, at a maximum or at another location; system marking the speech signal with at least one further pitch marker; system-aligning a sequence of prosodically marked text with the pitch-marked speech signal according to the pitch markers; and system outputting the aligned text or the aligned speech signal, respectively. Computerized systems, and stored programs for implementing method embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-drilling screw (10) has a thread-carrying shaft (11), a head (15) provided at one of its ends, and a drilling tip (12) provided at another of its ends, opposite the one end thereof, with the drilling tip (12) having first and second cutting edges (21, 22) and first and second chip channels (24, 25) associated with the first and second cutting edges (21, 22), respectively, beginning at first and second start points (26, 27) at the free end (14) of the drilling tip (12), and located on opposite first and second sides of the drilling tip (12), with the first and second start points (26, 27) being spaced from the center (Z) of the drilling tip (12) by a mean distance (X) corresponding to from 0.01 to 0.15 of the drilling tip diameter (D), and being spaced from each other by a maximum distance (Y) corresponding to from 0 to 0.8 of the mean distance (X).

Abstract: A chiplessly thread-forming screw has a stem (11) at one end of which a tip (13) is provided and at another end of which a head (14) is provided, and which has a pointed conical section (21) extending from the tip (13) in a direction of the head (14), a cylindrical section (25) arranged between the first pointed section (21) and the head (14), a first cambered section (22) adjoining the pointed conical section (21) in the direction of the head, and a second cambered section (24) arranged between the first cambered section (22) and the cylindrical section (25) and an outer surface (16) of which has a second curvature radius (R2) unequal to the first curvature radius (R1) of the outer surface (12) of the first cambered section (21).

Abstract: A monitoring device in accordance with the disclosure stores a serial number list in non-volatile memory, the serial number list including data indicative of at least one valid serial number associated with one or more key fobs permitted to interact with the monitoring device. The monitoring device is configured to receive a wakeup signal via a key fob interface configured to communicate with a key fob. The monitoring device reads a serial number from a key fob via the key fob interface and searches the stored serial number list for data indicative of a valid serial number matching the serial number read via the key fob interface. The monitoring device reads action data from the key fob via the key fob interface, the action data being indicative of an action to be taken by the monitoring device. The monitoring device, in response to the read serial number matching a valid serial number of the stored serial number list, takes an action based on the action data.

Abstract: Monitoring systems in accordance with the disclosure store one or more reporting behavior profiles that include parameters that determine when a monitoring device associated with a shipping container initiates transmission of a status message to a remote location, e.g., an operations center, a government interface, or a commercial interface. At least a portion of the parameters of the reporting behavior profiles are dependent on a location of the monitoring system. The reporting behavior profiles can cause the monitoring device to initiate a message based on many conditions. For example, the report conditions can include when the present location deviates from a predetermined route of the reporting behavior profile, when the present location of the container remains unchanged for a certain time, when a security condition of the container changes, when an environmental condition of the container changes, etc.

Abstract: A valve (100), including a fluid inlet (102) and a fluid outlet (103) formed in a housing (101) is provided. The valve (100) includes a valve seal (209) and a resilient member (207). The resilient member (207) is coupled to the valve seal (209). The valve (100) can also include one or more shape memory alloy component (206) or another electrically actuated component that is coupled to at least a first end (214) of the resilient member (207).

Abstract: A valve (100) including a housing (101) has a fluid inlet (102) and a fluid outlet (205). The valve (100) includes a vibrating element (206) adapted to vibrate when energized. The valve (100) also includes an amplifying plate (207) that is coupled to the vibrating element (106). The amplifying plate (207) includes a fluid passage (208). The fluid passage (208) provides fluid communication between the fluid inlet (102) and the fluid outlet (205). The valve (100) also includes a sealing ball (209) located between the fluid inlet (102) and the amplifying plate (207). The sealing ball (209) is adapted to seal the fluid passage (208).

Abstract: A self-tapping screw is disclosed. The screw having a shaft bearing at least partially a thread, which shaft defines a longitudinal axis and on whose first end a drill point with a maximum width and on whose opposing second end a head are arranged, as well as having at least one first cutting edge and having at least one second cutting edge. A recess through which the longitudinal axis passes is arranged between the two cutting edges, with the minimum axial depth of the recess corresponding to at least 0.08 times the maximum width of the drill point.

Abstract: A screw including a sealing washer assembly and a shank which defines a screw axis and has a thread in at least a portion thereof and whose one end is provided with a head. The sealing washer assembly is disposed on the shank and includes at least one sealing washer and a reinforcing washer, said reinforcing washer having a thickness, and the sealing washer assembly having a cumulative thickness is disclosed. The sealing washer assembly is spaced, along the screw axis, at a distance from an underside of the head facing the shank, said distance being greater than the thickness of the reinforcing washer and smaller than the cumulative thickness of the sealing washer assembly.

Abstract: A self-drilling screw (10) has a thread-carrying shaft (11), a head (15) provided at one of its ends, and a drilling tip (12) provided at another of its ends, opposite the one end thereof, with the drilling tip (12) having first and second cutting edges (21, 22) and first and second chip channels (24, 25) associated with the first and second cutting edges (21, 22), respectively, beginning at first and second start points (26, 27) at the free end (14) of the drilling tip (12), and located on opposite first and second sides of the drilling tip (12), with the first and second start points (26, 27) being spaced from the center (Z) of the drilling tip (12) by a mean distance (X) corresponding to from 0.01 to 0.15 of the drilling tip diameter (D), and being spaced from each other by a maximum distance (Y) corresponding to from 0 to 0.8 of the mean distance (X).

Abstract: A self-drilling screw (10) has a first cutting edge (21) provided exclusively in a radially inner region of the drilling tip (12), extending at a first acute angle (?1) to the longitudinal axis (L);,and a second cutting edge (22) provided in radially outer region of the drilling tip (12) and extending at a second acute angle (?2) to the longitudinal axis (L), with a first enveloping conical circumferential surface (A1) which is defined by the first cutting edge (21) corresponding, with a maximum deviation of ±10%, to a second enveloping conical circumferential surface (A2) defined by the second cutting edge (22), and with the first acute angle (?1) corresponding, with a maximum deviation of ±5°, to the second acute angle (?2).

Abstract: A chipless thread-forming screw (10) has a thread-carrying shank (11) provided at its opposite ends with a tip (13) and a head (4), respectively, and having a diameter between 0.25 and 0.35 mm, with the shank (11) having at least one frustroconical section (21) extending from the tip (13) in direction of the head (14) and having, with respect to the thread root (22), a point angle (?) between 200 and 300, and a cylindrical section (25) extending between the frustroconical section (21) and the head (14), and with a starting line (23) of the thread (15) remote from the head (14) being spaced from the tip (13) by a distance (Lt) from 0 to 0.3 mm.

Abstract: A bucket is preferably injection molded plastic and has a flattened rear wall portion to which first and second spaced apart hooks are attached. The hooks are configured for attaching the bucket to a horizontal bar, such as the rail of a standard stock panel. The height of the bucket is such that the bucket spans the distance between adjacent horizontal rails of a stock panel. The spaced apart hooks also allow the hooks to be attached to a rail on either side of a post. Locking pins in each hook secure the bucket to the panel.

Abstract: A chiplessly thread-forming screw has a stem (11) at one end of which a tip (13) is provided and at another end of which a head (14) is provided, and which has a pointed conical section (21) extending from the tip (13) in a direction of the head (14), a cylindrical section (25) arranged between the first pointed section (21) and the head (14), a first cambered section (22) adjoining the pointed conical section (21) in the direction of the head, and a second cambered section (24) arranged between the first cambered section (22) and the cylindrical section (25) and an outer surface (16) of which has a second curvature radius (R2) unequal to the first curvature radius (R1) of the outer surface (12) of the first cambered section (21).

Abstract: For welding sheet-metal blanks coated with electrically conductive material, the thickness of the coating is measured with a measurement device. The welding current source controls the welding current I as a function of the film thickness reading obtained, to keep the power input into the weld zone essentially constant.

Abstract: A two-point attachment of the pusher on the toothed belt of a conveyor means in conjunction with a rocking lever causes the pusher to perform a rocking motion in the direction opposite to the conveying direction upon deflection of the toothed belt around a return wheel. This results in reduced vibration of the conveyor means and reduced risk of damage to the item conveyed before the pusher dips below the conveying plane (F).