Abstract: A head unit device for controlling motion of an object includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) and a piston. The piston is housed within the chamber and exerts pressure against the STF from a force applied to the piston from the object. The STF is configured to have a decreasing viscosity in response to a first range of shear rates and an increasing viscosity in response to a second range of shear rates. The piston includes at least one piston bypass between opposite sides of the piston that controls flow of the STF between the opposite sides of the piston to selectively react with a shear threshold effect of the first range of shear rates or the second range of shear rates.

Abstract: A blade grinder that includes a base unit having a housing. The housing encloses a drive motor and defines a receiving cavity. A battery receiver is defined along a portion of the housing and a battery is removably coupled to the battery receiver. A blade implement is disposed within the receiving cavity, wherein the blade implement is configured to be driven by the drive motor. A bowl is positionable in an operably disposed condition within the receiving cavity. A lid is couplable to the housing to retain the bowl in the operably disposed condition within the receiving cavity.

Abstract: A cordless appliance includes a blender having a base unit with a housing and an upwardly opening upper cavity. A drive connection is positioned within the upwardly opening upper cavity. The housing further includes a battery-receiving cavity that is configured to receive a removable battery. A motor is disposed within the housing of the base unit it is contemplated to be powered by the removable battery. A blender jar includes an upper collar in an interior cavity. A first lid assembly is configured to be coupled to the upper collar of the blender jar and includes a blade assembly and a drive connecting member. A second lid assembly includes a cap member removably received on an open aperture of the second lid assembly. The first and second lid assemblies are configured for limited rotation with respect to the blender jar for engagement of the same.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner assembly is provided that includes a body extending along an axis to a base connection end that includes a protrusion. A handle extends from the body opposite the base connection end. A dust collection portion includes a body connection end that includes a track with a lock passage extending perpendicularly from the track. The protrusion is located in the lock passage in a locked position and in the track in an unlocked position to selectively remove the dust collection portion from the body.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously and uniformly transferring micro quantities of liquid from a first plurality of separate cells to a second plurality of separate cells. Each of the first plurality of separate cells contain a liquid sample. Intake ends of a plurality of conduits are inserted into the first cells so that the intake ends of the conduits are immersed in the liquid samples. The conduits further including discharge ends. The discharge ends of the conduits are aligned with the second plurality of cells. A pressure differential is created between the first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells to cause micro quantities of the liquid samples to simultaneously and uniformly flow through their respective conduits and to the second plurality of cells.

Abstract: A robot system for evaluating the performance of a host computer system which has a plurality of host communication ports connectable to a corresponding plurality of user terminals. Prior to placing the host computer system into service with the user terminals, the robot system is used to emulate the user terminals and to emulate predefined computing tasks input to the host computer system for the user terminals. The master CPU in turn is connected to the plurality of smaller slave CPU's. The smaller slave CPU's are connected to the communication ports of the host computer system. Each of the slave CPU's emulate several user terminals by inputting various computing tasks to the host computer system.

Abstract: A joint is made from first and second vacuum spool pieces connected end to end. Each spool piece includes an inner conduit surrounded by and spaced from an outer jacket. Each outer jacket includes an expansion-contraction portion adjacent each end thereof. Each end portion of each jacket has a first member in sealing contact with a mating second member on the inner conduit for retaining a vacuum in the annular space. After two spool pieces are joined, the first and second members are shifted relative to one another so as to preclude any direct conductive heat leak path and permit the vacuum in the annular space of one spool piece to communicate with the vacuum in the annular space of the other spool piece.

Abstract: A hard surfacing alloy composition formed from an alloy containing correlated percentages of chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, columbium, titanium, carbon, silicon and iron, the balance being nickel. The alloy exhibits a good combination of hot hardness at elevated temperature and weldability.