Abstract: A drive unit for a motor vehicle, having an engine unit and an axle differential arranged on the engine unit, as well as having drive shafts for the vehicle wheels disposed at least partially in the crankcase. The separating plane between the crankcase bottom part and the oil bearing housing of the crankcase acts as the bearing for at least one drive shaft.

Abstract: A full-toroidal continuously variable transmission has a hydraulic actuator (20) for applying pressing force to a pair of disks (5, 15) through a roller (17). The hydraulic actuator (20) includes first and second oil chambers (23, 24). The pressing force of the hydraulic actuator (20) is produced by a pressure difference between the oil chambers (23, 24). A directional control valve (29; 29P; 29Q) connects a hydraulic pressure source (25; 25P; 25Q) to either of the oil chambers, and an oil tank (26) is connected to the other oil chamber. Each corresponding an intermediate section (27a; 27Pa, 27Qa) of a feeding path (27, 27P, 27Q) and intermediate section (28a; 28Pa; 28Qa) of a discharge path (28; 28P; 28Q) are connected by a communicational path (32; 32P; 32Q). A check valve (33; 33P; 33Q) for permitting a flow of operation oil only to the feeding path side (27, 27P, 27Q) is provided in the communication path (32; 32P; 32Q).

Abstract: An easily and quickly reconfigurable robot chassis with at least a pair of forward shafts and a pair of rearward shafts. A wheel is attachable to and removable from each drive shaft. A sprocket is also attachable to and removable from each shaft. A first pair of tracks each extend around opposing forward sprockets and rearward sprockets. A pair of forward track extenders are each removeably attachable to the chassis and each include a forward idler sprocket. A second pair of longer tracks each extend around opposing rearward sprockets, the forward sprockets, and forward idler sprockets. A pair of rearward track extenders are each removeably attachable to the chassis and each include a rearward idler sprocket. A third pair of still longer tracks each extend around opposing rearward idler sprockets, rearward sprockets, forward sprockets, and forward idler sprockets.

Abstract: A vehicle drive control device includes a continuously variable transmission mechanism (hereinafter referred to as CVT (6) of a torque control type capable of continuously varying a transmission gear ratio, and a controller (34) which controls operations of the CVT (6) and an engine (2). The controller (34) includes a first control section (43; 43A) which controls a torque of the CVT (6) based on a target transmission input torque (TTRN,T), and a second control section (44) which controls a torque of the engine (2) based on a target engine rotation speed (?e,T).

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of a mutagenic agent blocking DNA replication in the cell for inserting in vitro a nucleic acid of interest inside a predetermined nucleotide sequence present in a chromosome contained in a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell, said nucleic acid of interest being, prior to its insertion, included in a DNA vector which replicates in said prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell.

Abstract: A drive unit for a motor vehicle, having an engine unit and an axle differential arranged on the engine unit, as well as having drive shafts for the vehicle wheels disposed at least partially in the crankcase. The separating plane between the crankcase bottom part and the oil bearing housing of the crankcase acts as the bearing for at least one drive shaft.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for caching pixel data used in filtering edges of video macroblocks. Pixel data which are required to edge filter subsequent macroblocks are temporarily stored in a cache memory. When a macroblock is subsequently being processed, this cached pixel data is read out and used to filter the corresponding edge(s). By caching select pixel values rather than writing them to external memory, the number of memory accesses is dramatically reduced.

Abstract: An automated handling system for moving objects from one location to another location is provided with a self-mobile system having a grabber subsystem for grasping objects, including assemblies for movement in four directions, along X, Y and Z axes and through an angle ?. The system also has a translating carriage assembly for moving the grabber subsystem and power supply and drive systems. A sensing device, such as an imager, is provided to determine the geometric position of the objects and to move the grabber subsystem accordingly. Another embodiment of the system is provided as an accessory to a prime mover. It includes an alignment articulation system, a gross advance system, a tine storage system, a loading head system, and pot grabbers. This automated handling system can be used to move plant containers in nurseries from the ground to a trailer bed and/or from a trailer bed to the ground in a variety of container configurations.

Abstract: The present invention is a dynamically steerable mono belt apparatus and includes a first pivotable body element in communication with a second pivotable body element. A first pivot mechanism is attached to and positioned between the first pivotable body element and the second pivotable body element to allow the first pivotable body element to pivot in a first pivot plane of movement with respect to the second pivotable body element. The present invention also includes a continuous belt element formed as a loop and continuously rotatable in a first plane of rotation around the first pivotable body element, the first pivot mechanism and the second pivotable body element. The continuous belt element is flexible in the pivot plane of movement, such that when the first pivotable body element is pivoted, via the first pivot mechanism, in the pivot plane of movement, the continuous belt element is flexed.

Abstract: An automated handling system for moving objects from one location to another location is provided with a self-mobile system having a grabber subsystem for grasping objects, including assemblies for movement in four directions, along X, Y and Z axes and through an angle &thgr;. The system also has a translating carriage assembly for moving the grabber subsystem and power supply and drive systems. A sensing device, such as an imager, is provided to determine the geometric position of the objects and to move the grabber subsystem accordingly. Another embodiment of the system is provided as an accessory to a prime mover. It includes an alignment articulation system, a gross advance system, a tine storage system, a loading head system, and pot grabbers. This automated handling system can be used to move plant containers in nurseries from the ground to a trailer bed and/or from a trailer bed to the ground in a variety of container configurations.

Abstract: The present invention is a dynamically steerable mono belt apparatus and includes a first pivotable body element in communication with a second pivotable body element. A first pivot mechanism is attached to and positioned between the first pivotable body element and the second pivotable body element to allow the first pivotable body element to pivot in a first pivot plane of movement with respect to the second pivotable body element. The present invention also includes a continuous belt element formed as a loop and continuously rotatable in a first plane of rotation around the first pivotable body element, the first pivot mechanism and the second pivotable body element. The continuous belt element is flexible in the pivot plane of movement, such that when the first pivotable body element is pivoted, via the first pivot mechanism, in the pivot plane of movement, the continuous belt element is flexed.

Abstract: Replacement of software in an operating computer system, and in particular, synchronization of state transfer between processes within the old software to processes within the new software. The synchronization of state transfer between processes executing in the old and the new software includes the following steps: preparing the old static process within the old software for a forthcoming shutdown, activating it for the state transfer, preparing the new static process within the new software to take over, transferring all resource objects in the old static process to the new static process; ordering the old static process to remove all services, terminating the old static process; and committing the new static process to take over, indicating that the new static process is the sole owner of all the resource objects previously claimed from the old static process.

Abstract: A hydraulic control unit is provided which has a housing made of a light metal and connection devices for the connection with hydraulic conduits. In order to reduce the danger of damage to the housing in the area of the connection devices, a plate made of steel for accommodating the connection devices is held on a flange surface of the housing.

Abstract: A shifting arrangement for a manual transmission having several forward gears and at least one reverse gear has a shift rotor that is rotated to shift the transmission gears. For this purpose, the shift rotor is connected by way of a cable pull with a shift lever. By moving the shift lever forward or backward from a neutral position, the shift rotor is rotated by way of a step-by-step system. In order to ensure a secure shifting of the reverse gear with a clear assignment for the driver and a protection against an unintended shifting, the reverse gear is operated by moving the shift lever in a second channel which is separate from the forward-gear shifting channel. For this purpose, the shift lever is connected by way of a second cable pull with a preselection shaft. By rotating the preselection shaft, coupling elements can be adjusted between the shift forks and the shift rotor irrespective of their shifting position.

Abstract: The shifting arrangement for a manual transmission, in which at least one transmission gear can be engaged or released by the simultaneous control of two shifting elements (synchronizing clutches), comprises two rotor elements which have guideways and are guided on a shifting shaft. One of the two rotor elements is non-rotatably but axially displaceably connected with the shifting shaft and is displaceable relative to the other rotor element.

Abstract: A method of replacing hair to a delineated area of the human scalp to which, after surgically preparing the area, suturing is surgically embedded along an annular pathway. The suturing segmentally comprises a buried infra-length and neighboring supra-lengths surrounded by a tubular resinous sleeve which lies downwardly against the scalp skin layer. An apt connector means is attached to the resinous sleeves and to which connector the replacement hair might be attached.