Abstract: A hair styling appliance has first and second arms coupled together for reciprocal movement towards and away from each other, and arranged to receive hair within a region between each other. A plenum is disposed within at least one of the first arm and the second arm, the plenum including an air inlet for receiving airflow from a fan unit and an air outlet for emitting airflow towards hair within the region. A heater is disposed adjacent the air outlet for heating the airflow before it is emitted, wherein the heater includes a heating element that extends repeatedly across a heating region.

Abstract: A system for generating and authenticating remote sensing imagery includes a remote sensing platform. The remote sensing platform includes an imaging sensor and a hardware logic device that is directly coupled to the imaging sensor. The hardware logic device receives image data from the imaging sensor and generates a cryptographic signature based upon the image data. The hardware logic device outputs a signed image that includes the image data and the cryptographic signature. A computing device operated by a downstream user receives the signed image and can determine whether the image data has been modified from its original content based upon the cryptographic signature.

Abstract: Systems and methods applicable, for instance, to federal spend search engines and user interfaces. Data operations can transform and enhance raw federal spend data. Further, users can be presented with information that can be understood and consumed at a glance.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission includes a hydraulic pump, a top housing that houses the hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor. An endblock sub-assembly has a pump running face for interfacing with the hydraulic pump, and a motor connection portion for interfacing with a hydraulic motor. The enblock sub-assembly forms a porting manifold for communicating hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor includes an internal rotor set, and the hydraulic motor is secured to the endblock sub-assembly in a manner that permits rotation of the rotor set. The top housing is fixed to the endblock sub-assembly such that the housing and endblock sub-assembly form a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. The motor connection portion of the endblock sub-assembly supports the hydraulic motor externally to the top housing. The hydrostatic transmission is suitable for incorporation into various light vehicle categories, including zero-turn radius vehicles.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, methods and apparatuses for the development of relevant connections among parties. A connections data set is developed from data sources that show meaningful relationships among parties. In the case of parties involved in the M&A field the data set is derived from M&A deals, from which companies, individuals and deals are collected. A user interface is further provided to efficiently search and display connection information.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission includes a hydraulic pump, a top housing that houses the hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor. An endblock sub-assembly has a pump running face for interfacing with the hydraulic pump, and a motor connection portion for interfacing with a hydraulic motor. The enblock sub-assembly forms a porting manifold for communicating hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor includes an internal rotor set, and the hydraulic motor is secured to the endblock sub-assembly in a manner that permits rotation of the rotor set. The top housing is fixed to the endblock sub-assembly such that the housing and endblock sub-assembly form a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. The motor connection portion of the endblock sub-assembly supports the hydraulic motor externally to the top housing. The hydrostatic transmission is suitable for incorporation into various light vehicle categories, including zero-turn radius vehicles.

Abstract: A thermal inspection system includes a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to internal passage(s) of a component. The system includes an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows. The system further includes at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component and a processor operably connected to the imager. The processor determines the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time. The flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time. The processor compares the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values to determine if the component meets a desired specification.

Abstract: A thermal inspection method is disclosed. The inspection method includes disposing a component in a wind tunnel configured to create a predetermined Mach number distribution for an external surface of the component. A gas is supplied at a known temperature T into the wind tunnel to create an external flow of gas over the external surface of the component in accordance with the predetermined Mach number distribution. The inspection method further includes directly or indirectly measuring one or more external surface temperatures of the component to generate an external surface temperature distribution for the external surface of the component and using the external surface temperature distribution to perform a quality control inspection of the component. A thermal inspection system is also provided.

Abstract: A thermal inspection system includes a fluid source configured to supply a warm flow and a cool flow, indirectly or directly, to internal passage(s) of a component. The system includes an imager configured to capture a time series of images corresponding to a transient thermal response of the component to the warm and cool flows. The system further includes at least one flow meter configured to measure the warm and cool flows supplied to the component and a processor operably connected to the imager. The processor determines the transient thermal response of the component around a transition time. The flow supplied to the component switches from the warm flow to the cool flow at the transition time. The processor compares the transient thermal response around the transition time with one or more baseline values or with an acceptable range of values to determine if the component meets a desired specification.

Abstract: A method for measuring a flow rate through a cooling hole of a film cooled part includes the steps of 1) measuring a transient thermal response of an internal surface temperature corresponding solely to an inside portion of a cooling hole for a film cooled part resulting from a flow of fluid through the part, the fluid having an initial temperature that is different from an initial temperature of the film cooled part, 2) mathematically characterizing the transient thermal response, and 3) determining the cooling hole flow rate from the mathematical characterization.

Abstract: The personal dental care unit provides a single device for the storage and containment of most articles used in personal dental care in the household, e.g., toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss. The device attaches to a wall at a convenient location near a bathroom sink or the like, and includes a mechanism for affixing a tube of toothpaste therein and dispensing the toothpaste efficiently. Opposed rollers grip the tube and squeeze toothpaste from the tube as they are advanced by a roller advance screw along the tube. The tube is supported by a support bracket which is adjustable for different sizes of tubes. The tube and mechanism are enclosed in a cover, with the cover including a rack for holding toothbrushes and a receptacle for holding a small packet of dental floss. The cover may be provided with any form of complementary or contrasting decor or pattern, as desired.

Abstract: The personal dental care unit provides a single device for the storage and containment of most articles used in personal dental care in the household, e.g., toothpaste, toothbrushes, and dental floss. The device attaches to a wall at a convenient location near a bathroom sink or the like, and includes a mechanism for affixing a tube of toothpaste therein and dispensing the toothpaste efficiently. Opposed rollers grip the tube and squeeze toothpaste from the tube as they are advanced by a roller advance screw along the tube. The tube is supported by a support bracket which is adjustable for different sizes of tubes. The tube and mechanism are enclosed in a cover, with the cover including a rack for holding toothbrushes and a receptacle for holding a small packet of dental floss. The cover may be provided with any form of complementary or contrasting decor or pattern, as desired.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for an Entrepreneur to start an Internet business by creating an Entrepreneur's web site using tools provided at a Facilitator's web site. The method allows the Entrepreneur to access the Facilitator's web site, register a desired available domain name, trademark the domain name, design an Entrepreneur's web site accessible via the domain name, design a similar appearing store front web site to handle commercial transactions, copyright the Entrepreneur's web site, offer hosting services for the Entrepreneur's web site and submit the Entrepreneur's web site to one or more search engines. Tremendous synergies may be achieved and serious pitfalls avoided in creating the Internet business by receiving overall guidance and assistance from one web site, i.e. a Facilitator's web site, in performing these processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for an Entrepreneur to design and integrate an Entrepreneur's web site and a store front web site using tools provided at a Facilitator's web site. The method allows the Entrepreneur to design an Entrepreneur's web site and a store front web site using substantially similar, and preferably identical, templates available on the Facilitator's web site. This process allows an Entrepreneur to quickly design a professional looking virtual web site that seamlessly integrates their Entrepreneur's web site with a store front web site designed for handling electrical commerce. Tremendous synergizes, such as the elimination of multiple entries of data, may be achieved and serious pitfalls avoided by receiving overall guidance and assistance from one web site, i.e. a Facilitator's web site, in performing these processes.

Abstract: A toy rotating gear accessory which may be used in conjunction with a gyroscopic top. The accessory has a supporting body with a number of apertures passing through it. One or more circular gears may be removably attached to the supporting body by segmented flexible members located on the top surfaces of the gears. The flexible members may be inserted into or slid out of the apertures in the supporting body by simply bending the members. After the gears are attached to the supporting body, they are free to rotate with respect to the body. Protuberances located on the top surface of each gear help to reduce friction between the gears and the supporting body. Supports located on the bottom surfaces of the gears support the accessory on a horizontal surface. During play, a child may insert the rotating portion of a gyroscopic top into a cylindrical bore located on the upper surface of one of the gears. This causes the gear to rotate and the entire accessory to rotate about the center of the gear.