Abstract: A turbomachine face seal includes a turbine wheel with a cylindrical shaft extending from the turbine wheel, defining an axis of rotation. The shaft may include a heat throttle, such as a piston ring and groove assembly, or a shaft weld pocket having an annular heat choke groove. Circumscribing the shaft is a casing and a seal ring having a groove with a seal element. To cool the seal element, a pressurized oil jet is directed toward the casing, and impinges against the casing. The oil jet may be angled or parallel with the axis of rotation. The casing may be configured to trap oil from the oil jet to cool the seal element.

Abstract: A lift truck employs forward and reverse pedals connected through respective cams having different upper and lower cam profiles that engage to provide asymmetric reciprocal pedal motion. For example, first pedal depression causes a first cam upper profile to engage with a second cam upper profile and cause increased elevation of a second pedal, and first pedal depression causes a first cam lower profile to disengage with a second cam lower profile associated with the second pedal, such that first pedal depression is greater than the increased elevation of the second pedal.

Abstract: A dispenser system for applying multi-component adhesives or like substances to work surfaces in carpeting, roofing and like applications as well as a method of dispensing and applying multi-component adhesives to work surfaces.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system, method, and apparatus for securing electronic personal identifying information. The system enhances data privacy, by minimizing the amount of authentic personal identifying information that is shared with a third party. Namely, the system includes a database of known websites, apps, etc. that require personal identifying information to sign up—and then classifies whether any given type of information is strictly necessary to the functioning of the website. The system then generates placeholder “dummy” data for any fields that are required for signup, but are not strictly necessary for the website to function. The system allows for creation of several user profiles that vary the amount of authentic personal identifying information to be shared, based on the user's preferences. The system therefore helps to secure personal information in the event that, for example, the website later has a data breach.

Abstract: A lift truck employs forward and reverse pedals connected through respective cams having different upper and lower cam profiles that engage to provide asymmetric reciprocal pedal motion. For example, first pedal depression causes a first cam upper profile to engage with a second cam upper profile and cause increased elevation of a second pedal, and first pedal depression causes a first cam lower profile to disengage with a second cam lower profile associated with the second pedal, such that first pedal depression is greater than the increased elevation of the second pedal.

Abstract: A continuous mode conveyor cooking appliance utilizing hot air jet impingement and microwave energy for cooking prepared foods. The approach envisions a central microwave unit with a hot air jet impingement oven unit on each side of the microwave section and a conveyor system to carry the food items completely through the appliance from one end to the other and with the two hot air jet impingement ovens equipped with a designed combination of hot air jet impingement jets and solid pins to act as a microwave attenuation system to reduce microwave exposure to cooking personnel to completely safe levels.

Abstract: A system may include a processor that may execute computer-executable instructions that cause the processor to receive caller information regarding an incoming communication from a caller and receive a request from a user to route the incoming communication to a virtual assistant application. The virtual assistant application is configured to interact with the caller and determine whether the caller is associated a fraudulent caller activity stored on databases accessible by the processor. The processor may then receive an indication from the virtual assistant application that the caller is associated with the fraudulent caller activity and forward the incoming communication to another party in response to receiving the indication.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to monitoring sound in and around a vehicle to predict unsafe driving events, and using the sound information to detect and reduce unsafe driving conditions. A computing device receives information indicative of a sound in or near a vehicle. The sound information may be received via the vehicle itself or via a device. The computing device then determines whether there is an indication of an unwanted driving event. The computing device also receives vehicle operation data extracted from one or more vehicle sensors. The computing device then determines whether there is an indication of unsafe driving conditions, and if there is, the computing device may output a notice or alert via a notification system to alert the driver or, in certain embodiments, other parties via social media, text message, chat programs, and the like.

Abstract: A system, as an engine with a crankcase containing oil or a fluid mixed with oil, has a reservoir containing liquid that extends up to a level of the fluid. A dipstick support structure supports a dipstick on it so that the dipstick extends into the fluid past the level of the fluid, and so that the dipstick is manually removable from the dipstick support structure by a user. An electrical system is connected with the dipstick, and the electrical system electrically senses the level of the fluid based on an electrical characteristic of the dipstick that varies with the varying level of the fluid when the dipstick extends into it. The electrical characteristic may be capacitance of the dipstick detected by sequential charging and discharging of the dipstick to produce a square wave electrical signal the frequency of which corresponds to the level of fluid.

Abstract: A shredder includes a shredder box having first and second opposite end walls, and first and second opposite side walls that extend between the first and second end walls. The shredder further includes a shredder rotor positioned within an interior of the shredder box, an access door that is pivotally moveable, and a control system for monitoring various parameters to operate the shredder. A side access region is defined between the first and second end walls when the access door is in the open position. The side access region provides access to the shredder rotor and includes an open region defined between the first and second end walls at the second side of the shredder. The open region has an open top which is free of obstructions extending between the first and second end walls.

Abstract: A system for facilitating an e-commerce transaction between a purchaser and a seller comprising a product catalog which includes product data, a seller product page which is adapted to display the product data and a negotiation button to the purchaser, a purchaser offer form which is adapted to receive an offer for a product displayed on the seller product page when the purchaser activates the negotiation button, and a purchaser offer processor which is adapted to receive the offer for a product displayed on the seller product page and automatically determine and convey an offer response. The offer response is determined using a pre-determined set of customizable rules. A method comprising installing a custom snippet, providing product data, generating a product catalog, configuring automation rules, receiving an offer from the purchaser, processing the offer, generating an offer response, and conveying the offer response.

Abstract: A method of providing a semiconductor device and a computer-readable medium having instructions for performing the method are disclosed. The method includes receiving a first wafer defect map that defines comparison regions and identifies visual defect locations for a wafer. A format of the comparison regions is determined, with the format chosen from a group including die-to-die, partial-shot-to-partial-shot and full-shot-to-full-shot. If the comparison format is not die-to-die, mapping information is received that provides die locations within the comparison regions. A wafer layout map is provided that identifies die locations within the wafer.

Abstract: A food product storage and vending kiosk includes a cold storage unit, an oven unit, and a transportation mechanism. The cold storage unit includes a plurality of food packages, an active shelving system storing the plurality of food packages, and a freezer. Each of the food packages includes a food product in a box. The oven unit includes a base oven deck for receiving the food product and rising to meet and seal with a main body to form a sealed oven cavity for cooking the food product. The transportation mechanism is for moving a food package out of the cold storage unit, onto an elevator platform that lifts the food package to the oven unit, pushing the food product from the box onto the base oven deck for cooking, and pushing the food product off of the base oven deck into the box and out of a delivery chute.

Abstract: Provided is a collapsible stock for mounting to the top surface of a firearm. It includes a sliding beam slidably attachable to the top surface and slidable between collapsed and deployed positions. A butt member is on the sliding beam and a latch is configured to releasably hold the sliding beam in at least the collapsed and deployed positions.

Abstract: A lift truck employs forward and reverse pedals connected through respective cams having different upper and lower cam profiles that engage to provide asymmetric reciprocal pedal motion. For example, first pedal depression causes a first cam upper profile to engage with a second cam upper profile and cause increased elevation of a second pedal, and first pedal depression causes a first cam lower profile to disengage with a second cam lower profile associated with the second pedal, such that first pedal depression is greater than the increased elevation of the second pedal.

Abstract: A three-dimensional model can be presented in a two-dimensional digital canvas on a computer display. User input directed at the three-dimensional model in the two-dimensional canvas can be received. The three-dimensional model can be manipulated in response to the user input. A two-dimensional view of the three-dimensional model can be displayed. Corresponding data structures for the model, the canvas, and the two-dimensional objects in the data structure can be maintained and updated. One or more additional techniques can also be utilized in a computer system, such as continuous user-controlled model rotation in a two-dimensional canvas; viewport autofit and non-autofit modes; rotating the model around a camera look-at point; ghosting outside the viewport; normalizing modeling units and values; preset buttons with on-button previews; user-defined view presets; and/or two-dimensional image substitution.

Abstract: Methods and devices for cooling systems (700) are provided that are in fluid communication with bleed air from a jet engine compressor. The cooling system can include: a first precooler (210) receiving bleed air from the jet engine compressor; a heat exchanger (730) downstream from the first precooler (210); a cooling system compressor (220) downstream from the first precooler (210), wherein the heat exchanger (730) and the cooling system compressor (220) are in separate flow paths from the first precooler (210); a cooling system precooler (230) downstream from the cooling system compressor (220); a VGT cooling system turbine (240) downstream from the cooling system precooler (230); and a discharge conduit (245) downstream from the cooling system turbine (240) and the heat exchanger (730). A bypass line (290) for bypassing the turbine can also be included.