Abstract: A vane ring assembly includes a lower vane ring (20), an upper vane ring (30), one or more guide vanes (80) positioned at least partially between the vane rings, and a spacer (50) positioned between the lower and upper vane rings (20, 30) for maintaining a distance between the lower and upper vane rings (20, 30). The spacer has a first end (52) with a first diameter, a second end (54) with a second diameter, and a middle section (56) with a third diameter. The third diameter is larger than the first and second diameters. The first and second ends (52, 54) of the spacer (50) are inserted at least partially into a first counter bore (22) and a second counter bore (32) formed in the lower and upper vane rings (20, 30). A nut (40) and a fastener (42) running through a central through hole (58) of the spacer (50) are used to connect the vane ring assembly to a turbocharger housing. A clearance (c) of greater than e.g.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a thermal liner sub-assembly comprising crimped, heat resistant fibers held in a state of compression by a binder adhered to at least one thermally stable flame resistant stabilizing fabric wherein, when the thermal liner is exposed to heat or flame, the liner increases its thickness by at least one hundred percent and the shrinkage of the liner is no more than ten percent. The invention also relates to use of such liners in protective fabrics, garments, and articles.

Abstract: A toasting appliance includes a cabinet housing a toasting chamber and a moveable heating element for heating a foodstuff located within the toasting chamber. The cabinet defines an opening through which the foodstuff is introduced into the toasting chamber. The appliance also includes a door moveable between an open position and a closed position for covering the opening and has a carriage attached thereto for receiving the foodstuff to be introduced into the toasting chamber when the door is in the open position and for supporting the foodstuff within the toasting chamber when the door is in the closed position. The appliance also has a coupling mechanism for coupling the door and the heating element such that movement of the door causes movement of the heating element relative to the carriage.

Abstract: A hoarding comprising wall elements and one or more wall supports, in which each wall support comprises a trough and a post, in which the trough is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first end and a second end, and in which in use the post is disposed substantially vertically at the first end of the trough, in which in use the post carries the wall elements, in which the trough is disposed behind the wall elements in use and is arranged perpendicular to the wall elements, and in which the trough carries ballast in use.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting a parameter of an object includes a probe, a first sensing member for detecting the parameter of an object to be sensed and a second sensing member for determining an orientation of the probe relative to the object to be sensed. The second sensing member communicates the orientation of the probe to a data acquisition device to minimize data analysis errors associated with inaccurate orientation information.

Abstract: A resealable pop-top beverage container is disclosed and claimed wherein a lift-tab is attached to the upper surface of the top of the container in a conventional manner such that when a finger-end of the lift-tab is raised, a swivel-end of the lift-tab forces a sealing plate to shear its connection to the edge of an access hole, thereby opening the access hole. The lift-tab of the invention includes a coating of a resilient material on at least its ventral side. When the lift-tab is rotated about a rotatable connector, the resilient material can juxtapose against the access hole thereby forming a reversible seal.

Abstract: A landscape edging system and device, and methods of installation and use thereof, wherein a J-shaped track system is installed in a trench along landscape edges, and wherein a pulley wheel attached to a rod is utilized to push the grass down onto a cutting edge of the track to execute the edging process, thereby simplifying the task of edging, eliminating risk of personal injury and allowing for essentially silent lawn care at any hour of the day, wherein decorative outer coverings may be incorporated along the track edging to simulate landscape features, such as rock or brick, and wherein lighted tubing may be installed within the track, thereby enhancing visual nighttime display and illuminating the landscape edge for aesthetic as well as safety reasons.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to track viral marketing. The resulting user interfaces can include a map that tracks propagation via a node tree or a geographic map that shows where media was viewed. The information may also be displayed as a cumulative or absolute tracking graph, which is based on various parameters, such as number of views, number of transmissions, rewards earned, etc. The systems and methods can track viral propagation through, e.g., email, social networking service or site messages or postings, and instant messages. Data used by the invention include URLs as received from a media transmission page form, the URLs pertaining to both the propagator and the recipient, time stamps at which the media was propagated and viewed, and so on.

Abstract: A landscape edging system and device, and methods of installation and use thereof, wherein a J-shaped track system is installed in a trench along landscape edges, and wherein a pulley wheel attached to a rod is utilized to push the grass down onto a cutting edge of the track to execute the edging process, thereby simplifying the task of edging, eliminating risk of personal injury and allowing for essentially silent lawn care at any hour of the day, wherein decorative outer coverings may be incorporated along the track edging to simulate landscape features, such as rock or brick, and wherein lighted tubing may be installed within the track, thereby enhancing visual nighttime display and illuminating the landscape edge for aesthetic as well as safety reasons.

Abstract: The present invention concerns thermal liner comprising crimped, heat resistant fibers held in a state of compression by a thermoplastic binder, wherein when the thermal liner is exposed to heat or flame, the liner increases its thickness by at least three times. The invention also relates to use of such barriers in protective fabrics, garments, and articles.

Abstract: The reader (1) for a utility meter is disclosed. The reader (1) is capable of receiving data, in a variety of different protocols, by either inductive coupling or by radio frequency transmission. The reader (1) is a hand-held device which comprises an inductive read nozzle (2), a RF module, a display (4), a keypad (5) a trigger switch (6), a handle (7) a communication port (8), a battery charging interface (9), a memory and a microprocessor. The reader (1) is capable of storing utility usage data in memory and/or downloading utility usage data to a computer through the communication port (8).

Abstract: A method for reducing or eliminating coding artifacts in video pictures processed using intra block prediction methods, for example, according to the H.264 standard. The causes of the coding artifacts are identified to be the intra prediction modes with prediction directions that are not in the direction of the raster scan. Filtering the affected blocks with a simple one-dimensional spatial filter will reduce or even eliminate these coding artifacts.

Abstract: A reader (1) for a utility meter is disclosed. The reader (1) is capable of receiving data, in a variety different communication protocols, by either inductive coupling or by radio frequency transmission. The reader (1) is a hand-held device which comprises an inductive read nozzle (2), a RF module, a display (4), a keypad (5), a trigger switch (6), a handle (7), a communication port (8), a battery charging interface (9), a memory and a microprocessor. The reader (1) is capable of storing utility usage data in memory and/or downloading utility usage data to a computer through the communication port (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst composition, a method of making the same and its use in the conversion of a feedstock, preferably an oxygenated feedstock, into one or more olefin(s), preferably ethylene and/or propylene The catalyst composition comprises a molecular sieve and at least one metal oxide, such as a magnesium oxide that, when saturated with acetone and contacted with said acetone for 1 hour at 25° C., converts more than 80% of the acetone.

Abstract: The invention provides low metal content molecular sieve catalyst compositions, processes for making such catalysts, and processes for using such catalysts in the conversion of an oxygenate into one or more light olefins. Preferably, the catalyst composition comprises a matrix material having a low metal content. By utilizing matrix materials having low metal contents, the amount of metal-catalyzed side reaction byproducts formed in a reaction system, particularly in an oxygenate-to-olefin reaction system, can be advantageously reduced.

Abstract: Composition has an indicating dye encapsulated by an encapsulating material. An encapsulated indicating dye can be combined with an organic substance absorbent and/or adsorbent. The composition, combination and/or a device having one or both of them can be used to indicate the presence of an organic substance by contacting the same with a sample, and, ascertaining whether an appropriate color release occurs to indicate the presence of the organic substance by contact of the organic substance with the composition, combination and/or device.

Abstract: An electric motor system includes an electric motor, a temperature sensor mounted therein capable of measuring a local temperature and generating a temperature related signal, and a processor configured to calculate an actual temperature of a rotor magnet from the temperature related signal, and an actual output torque from the actual rotor magnet temperature. A method for determining the actual output torque of a motor includes sensing a temperature within the motor, calculating a rotor magnet temperature from the sensed temperature, and calculating the actual output mechanical torciue from the rotor magnet temperature.

Abstract: A turbocharger arrangement for a variable geometry turbocharger including pivotable vanes (34) with each vane (34) having a respective vane bore (38) for receiving a vane post (28) into a vane first planar surface (80) and a respective actuation post (36) projecting outwardly from the first planar surface (80).

Abstract: A blindmate interconnect coaxial connector includes a center conductor, a thermally-conductive dielectric surrounding the center conductor, and an outer tubular conductor surrounding the dielectric. The dielectric transfers heat from the center conductor to the outer conductor, and the outer conductor includes heat transfer fins to radiate such heat. The center conductor is formed by first and second halves which mate within the axial bore of the dielectric. The outer conductor is formed of two mating sections. The center conductor and surrounding dielectric are inserted within the first mating section, and the second mating section is then mated with the first section to complete the assembly of the connector.

Abstract: A hoarding comprising wall elements and one or more wall supports, in which each wall support comprises a trough and a post, in which the trough is substantially rectangular in shape and has a first end and a second end, and in which in use the post is disposed substantially vertically at the first end of the trough, in which in use the post carries the wall elements, in which the trough is disposed behind the wall elements in use and is arranged perpendicular to the wall elements, and in which the trough carries ballast in use.