Abstract: A vehicle includes a fuselage, a wing, a pylon that is coupled to the wing, and a tractor tiltrotor. The tractor tiltrotor is coupled to the pylon and is located forward of the wing; the tractor tiltrotor tilts upwards during a hover mode. There is also a pusher tiltrotor where the pusher tiltrotor is coupled to the pylon and is located aft of the wing; the pusher tiltrotor tilts downwards during the hover mode. The tractor tiltrotor and the pusher tiltrotor rotate about a longitudinal and coaxial axis of rotation in a cruise mode.

Abstract: A system for combining six degree of freedom (6DOF) inputs, or positional and orientation inputs, from multiple 6DOF controllers in an augmented reality (AR) environment and/or a virtual reality (VR) environment is provided. In response to the detected movement of multiple controllers, and in particular, rotational movement of the multiple controllers providing user inputs in a virtual reality environment, the detected movements of the multiple controllers may be resolved to a single, common coordinate system to determine intended input to be applied to a selected virtual object in the virtual environment. The ability to resolve these inputs from multiple 6DOF controllers to a common coordinate system may provide a more natural user input mode, thus enhancing the user's experience.

Abstract: A system for combining six degree of freedom (6DOF) inputs, or positional and orientation inputs, from multiple 6DOF controllers in an augmented reality (AR) environment and/or a virtual reality (VR) environment is provided. In response to the detected movement of multiple controllers, and in particular, rotational movement of the multiple controllers providing user inputs in a virtual reality environment, the detected movements of the multiple controllers may be resolved to a single, common coordinate system to determine intended input to be applied to a selected virtual object in the virtual environment. The ability to resolve these inputs from multiple 6DOF controllers to a common coordinate system may provide a more natural user input mode, thus enhancing the user's experience.

Abstract: A method and system to numerically simulating structural responses of a highly compressible material such as foam in finite element analysis is disclosed. According to one aspect of the simulation, a new improved method for calculating structural responses is derived using the following assumptions: uniaxial loading and isotropic material. As a result of the new method, Ogden polynomial stress function f(?) is replaced by a tabulated function depending upon only a set of stress-strain curves obtained via uniaxial tension and compression tests. The method is implemented in a finite element analysis software product.

Abstract: A sweeper includes a sweeper body mounted on at least one pair of wheels. At least one brush is coupled to a forward end of the sweeper body for sweeping garbage from a ground surface and a suction device is coupled to the sweeper body. The suction device communicates with the forward end of the sweeper body. A garbage container assembly is mounted inside the sweeper body, for receiving garbage drawn into the sweeper by the suction device. A basket is movable into and out of the garbage container assembly and a lift mechanism is coupled to an underside of the basket. The lift mechanism is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the basket is tiltable to dump garbage contained in the basket.

Abstract: The invention relates to a database system comprising a plurality of stations (101, 102, . . . , 10n) communicating with one another. The data that is inserted or updated in an originating station is backed up in at least one other station referred to as a “receiving” station. Means are provided so that data of a determined kind can be backed up synchronously or asynchronously on another station depending on whether or not a pre-established criterion is satisfied. For example, data that is modified progressively is backed up asynchronously until the data has finished being modified, and is backed up synchronously once modification has been finished. Such data may be routing data in a telecommunications system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a walk-behind mobile sweeper for cleaning dust and collecting garbage from surfaces. The sweeper has a motorized cart maneuverable by a human operator, a flow-through collection apparatus supported on the cart for collecting garbage therein, a suction inlet located forwardly of the collection apparatus and a vacuum blower for creating air suction, the vacuum blower drawing garbage and dust via suction through the suction inlet and into the collection apparatus, wherein the vacuum blower is positioned downstream of the container such that garbage does not enter the vacuum blower. The walk-behind mobile sweeper is easily maneuverable, is compact and not only cleans dust and dirt from surfaces but also collects garbage which is further compacted or compressed within a bag. The sweeper can be configured not only as a walk-behind sweeper but also as a stand-on skateboard sweeper or as a ride-on sweeper.

Abstract: A valve device comprising a body (1), a closure member (2) operated by a shaft (3) guided through a neck (4) in the body (1), and a liner (5) provided with a flange (6) extending along part of the length of the neck (4). The sealing contact between the shaft and the bore may be improved by means of a clamping assembly (7, 8, 9) positioned around the flange (6) in a space (10) in the body (1). The size of the clamping assembly (7, 8, 9) is such that it exerts a force on the flange (6) and thereby on the shaft (3). The clamping assembly (7, 8, 9) is radially and/or tiltably movable in said space (10) relative to the body (1). Said device is particularly suitable for butterfly valves for use with corrosive and/or delicate liquids such as liquid chemicals and liquid foodstuffs.

Abstract: The method combines two known types of access: access by pointer and access by variable. These two types of access are made compatible by particular rules of managing the locks: "hold", "read lock", and "write lock". Application to software platforms, in particular those used for telecommunications systems.

Abstract: A method of isolating a memory location containing an obsolete value of a variable, in a shared memory of a computer, said location being referenced via a pointer for access in the context of a first transaction, a lock called a "hold" being placed on said location and being assigned to a single task, said hold preventing any other task from accessing said location. The method of the invention does not free the location containing the obsolete value, but it isolates it from transactions other than that transaction which possesses the first pointer. This allows the task owning the first pointer to continue to access said obsolete value. However, any transaction can access another value of the variable, without waiting, because the descriptor of said variable directs said transactions to a location which is freely accessible and contains said other value.

Abstract: A clack valve includes a housing having a circumferential groove. A rotatable valve disk is disposed within the housing. A gap of constant width at any axial cross-section through the disk is defined between the valve disk and the circumferential groove of the housing. A valve shaft passes from the rotatable valve disk into the housing. An elastic sealing cup has a passage opening for the valve shaft. The elastic sealing cup is disposed between the circumferential groove of the housing and the valve disk to seal the valve disk and the valve shaft against the housing. The elastic sealing cup has a curved circumferential flange to engage the circumferential groove. The curved circumferential flange has a material accumulation in a region of the passage opening. The material accumulation is created by an increase of a thickness of the curved circumferential flange to a maximum thickness in the region of the passage opening for the valve shaft.

Abstract: A method of assigning transaction identifiers assigns an identifier that is unique to each transaction, each transaction operating on data distributed across various stations. The method determines a first field of the identifier, having either a temporary value identifiable as such and unique to the station executing the application process that requested opening of the transaction if opening of the transaction is requested during an initialization phase or a value assigned by a first manager process specific to the station executing the requesting application process if opening of the transaction is requested after the initialization phase. The method also determines a second field having either a temporary value identifiable as such and unique to the set of stations if the opening of the transaction is requested during the initialization phase or a value assigned by a second manager process common to the set of stations if opening of the transaction is requested after the initialization phase.

Abstract: A transactional protocol allocates write intention locks at the time of access to a transaction modifying data stored in a memory. These locks do not prohibit the allocation of read locks to other transactions. The other transactions can therefore read the old values of the variables until the new values are written into the memory when the transaction is closed. The time for which reading of data being modified is prohibited is restricted to the time to write the new values into the memory. This protocol is of particular benefit if the memory is a volatile memory and the modified data is backed up in another, non-volatile memory. In this case, the protocol further keeps up-to-date a table stored in the non-volatile memory and containing the identifiers of current transactions. This table is used to ensure that the data is consistent after failure of the volatile memory and contributes to maintaining a minimal time of prohibition of reading of data being modified.

Abstract: A process for the improving the mechanical properties and the sealing properties of elastomer gaskets. The elastomer is prepared by adding to an elastomer composition, at the time of the preparation phase, fibers having an average length on the order of 2 to 12 mm. The elastomer is molded, by injection or by compression transfer, such that the orientation of the fibers in the elastomer is obtained by positioning and orienting of the nozzle or the channel inlets into the mold cavity. The fibers, embedded in the elastomer have an orientation that is, parallel to a surface against which a ridge of the closure device comes into contact and perpendicular to the closure device when the butterfly valve is shut.

Abstract: A process for the improving the mechanical properties and the sealing properties of elastomer gaskets. The elastomer is prepared by adding to an elastomer composition, at the time of the preparation phase, fibers having an average length on the order of 2 to 12 mm. The elastomer is molded, by injection or by compression transfer, such that the orientation of the fibers in the elastomer is obtained by positioning and orienting of the nozzle or the channel inlets into the mold cavity. The fibers, embedded in the elastomer have an orientation that is, parallel to a surface against which a ridge of the closure device comes into contact and perpendicular to the closure device when the butterfly valve is shut.

Abstract: Moulding compositions comprising a polyolefin, cellulose fibres and an unsaturated organosilane exhibiting a tensile elasticity modulus (E), measured at 100.degree. C., higher than 1250 MPa and a ratio G'/G" of their modulus G', representing their elastic response, to their loss modulus G", measured at 200.degree. C. and at a frequency of 0.1 rad/s (0.1 s.sup.-1), with a value of at least 0.80.

Abstract: Biaxially oriented rigid thermoplastic structures with multiple coextruded polymeric layers comprising a layer of vinyl chloride polymer and a coating layer of polymethyl methacrylate containing products absorbing ultraviolet radiation. The content of products absorbing ultraviolet radiation is such that the glass transition temperature of the coating layer does not exceed 105.degree. C., thus permitting an orientation in the range 95.degree.-110.degree. C.

Abstract: An adjustable feed block for a coextrusion die is provided. The feed block comprises a main central channel for conveying a main stream of molten thermoplastic material towards a coextrusion die, and at least one secondary channel, substantially parallel to the central channel, for conveying a second molten thermoplastic intended to form a local coating layer on the main stream. The downstream end of each secondary channel is inclined relative to the central channel and connected to a portion of the periphery of the said channel. The connection between the central channel and each secondary channel is laterally delimited by the ends of two adjustable slides which can be moved at right angles to the axis of the central channel. These slides make it possible to adjust, during operation, the position and width of the streams of thermoplastic deposited on the main stream.