Abstract: A vehicle rocker panel torsion lever configured to reduce intrusion in the event of a side impact, the vehicle rocker panel torsion lever including a rigid elongated member including a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be fixedly coupled to a rocker panel of a vehicle, the second end free-floating within a cavity defined by a B-pillar of the vehicle, the rigid elongated member configured to translate a linear external side-impact applied to the B-pillar to a rotational force applied to the rocker panel.

Abstract: A structure includes: a stone layer; and a laminate of a metal layer and a fabric overlying stone layer such that the metal layer faces the stone layer. The metal layer has embossments thereon forming venting channels.

Abstract: This invention provides a 3D laser capture system, and method for employing the same, that avoids a shadow effect and allows for straightforward set-up and use of the system in imaging the surface profile of an object. A camera is provided with a head assembly that includes a lens configuration and a pair of mirrors that generate two simultaneous views, of opposite object sides. The two views are projected by the mirrors and lens configuration onto discrete portions of the camera's image sensor. The separate images captured on each of the two portions of the sensor are both analyzed by the systems vision system processor, thereby allowing the processor's profiling algorithm to analyze the surface from two different viewing angles concurrently. Portions of the laser blocked in one view are generally visible in the other view. Alternatively, a second lens can be employed to provide a second field of view.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for generating high pressure air. The device comprises a block having an external surface and an internal surface, said internal surface defining an internal cavity in said block. A rotor located inside said cavity is capable of rotating about under the influence of wind energy. The block is capable of moving relative to the rotor in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the rotor so as to vary the position of the rotor within the cavity. A plurality of vanes extend from the rotor, and are coupled to the rotor in such a manner that, in every position that the block is capable of adopting relative to the rotor, the rotor is capable of rotating within the cavity while maintaining a seal between each vane and the internal surface of the block. There is a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet channel on an opposite side of the block to the gas inlet channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method of manufacturing an article. According to at least one embodiment, a set of manufacturing instructions is stored for a machine, and at least one of the manufacturing instructions is imputed into the machine. In addition, an article is manufactured with the machine in accordance with the input manufacturing instructions, and a realisation log which is indicative of the operations that the machine has actually performed in manufacturing the article is generated. Further, a report by comparing the realisation log with the stored set of manufacturing instructions is generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat accumulator composite material, a method for the manufacture thereof and a heat accumulator device. The object of the invention is therefore to provide heat accumulator materials, a method for the manufacture thereof and heat accumulator devices that exhibit high thermal capacities and heat accumulator capacities. The solution of the object is accomplished through a heat accumulator composite material that comprises a plurality of carbon particles and a thermally conducting material, wherein the material differs from the carbon particles. The manufacture of the thermal accumulator composite material according to the invention is accomplished by combining a plurality of carbon particles and a thermally conducting material for the formation of a mixture, and heating the mixture in a partial vacuum to a temperature above the melting point of the thermally conducting material.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for generating high pressure air. The device comprises a block having an external surface and an internal surface, said internal surface defining an internal cavity in said block. A rotor located inside said cavity is capable of rotating about under the influence of wind energy. The block is capable of moving relative to the rotor in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the rotor so as to vary the position of the rotor within the cavity. A plurality of vanes extend from the rotor, and are coupled to the rotor in such a manner that, in every position that the block is capable of adopting relative to the rotor, the rotor is capable of rotating within the cavity while maintaining a seal between each vane and the internal surface of the block. There is a gas inlet channel and a gas outlet channel on an opposite side of the block to the gas inlet channel.

Abstract: A process for producing silicon comprising reacting silica with a reducing gas comprising carbon monoxide, wherein the reducing gas does not contain elemental carbon. A reactor for producing silicon comprising a carbon combustion chamber for reacting carbon with oxygen to generate a reducing gas comprising carbon monoxide, wherein the reducing gas contains no elemental carbon; a reaction chamber for reacting the reducing gas containing no elemental carbon with silica, the reaction chamber communicating with the carbon combustion chamber; a temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the reaction chamber; a silica inlet port communicating with the reaction chamber for admitting the silica to the reaction chamber; and a silicon outlet port communicating with the reaction chamber for allowing the silicon to leave the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle filter assembly includes a housing, a cyclone-inducing structure and a self-cleaning trap mechanism. The housing has an inlet, an outlet and a trap aperture. The cyclone-inducing structure is disposed within the housing between the inlet and the outlet to separate particulate from gases passing through the housing from the inlet to the outlet. The self-cleaning trap mechanism is movably arranged with respect to the trap aperture to move between a closed orientation sealing the trap aperture and an opened orientation exposing the trap aperture to release particulate from the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle filter assembly includes a housing, a cyclone-inducing structure and a self-cleaning trap mechanism. The housing has an inlet, an outlet and a trap aperture. The cyclone-inducing structure is disposed within the housing between the inlet and the outlet to separate particulate from gases passing through the housing from the inlet to the outlet. The self-cleaning trap mechanism is movably arranged with respect to the trap aperture to move between a closed orientation sealing the trap aperture and an opened orientation exposing the trap aperture to release particulate from the housing.

Abstract: A bracket for coupling a component to a vehicle including a mounting structure defining an aperture is disclosed. The bracket has a first portion including at least one mounting structure clip configured to engage the mounting structure about a periphery of the aperture. The bracket also has a second portion including a component clip configured to engage the component.

Abstract: A process for obtaining one or more metal fluoride or metal oxide compounds from treatment of a feed material containing aluminium ore, includes the steps of contacting the feed material with a fluorine acid solution to form gaseous silicon fluoride and aqueous soluble metal fluorides and/or metal fluosilicates, processing the aqueous reaction products to form a solid reaction product containing metal fluorides, processing to remove low boiling point compounds and heating said solid reaction product to a temperature to drive off metal fluoride in gaseous form. The feed material may include aluminium ores and/or titanium ores, coal or other carbonaceous materials containing mineral impurities, or other minerals such as mica. Processes for the production of aluminium and titanium compounds are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying inorganic materials by treating the materials with a solution of hydrogen fluoride in aqueous hydrofluorosilicic acid. The process involves treating an inorganic material containing at least two species, to at least partially separate a first species contained in the material from a second species contained in the material, and comprises treating the material with a fluorine acid solution comprising aqueous hydrofluorosilicic acid and hydrofluoric acid (HF), such that the first species is converted to a product selected from the group consisting of a fluoride, a fluorosilicate and mixtures thereof, and such that the second species is at least partly unreacted, and separating the second species from the product.

Abstract: The present invention generally pertains to hydro-mechanical transmission using fixed displacement motors and pumps in conjunction with two or more mechanical differentials to accomplish continuously variable transfer ratio change and a means to seek the operating point of peak efficiency. In addition a hydraulic transmission is described that uses only one differential. In addition, an all-mechanical by-pass feature is included to allow the operation of road vehicles at high speed for extended periods at high efficiency. A means is described to provide for mechanical stability under all operating conditions. One intended application is a hydraulic transmission system for vehicles using hydraulic regenerative braking. The all mechanical by-pass allows operation in an “overdrive” and “free-wheeling” mode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article, the method comprising: storing a set of manufacturing instructions for a machine; inputting at least some of the manufacturing instructions into the machine; manufacturing an article with the machine in accordance with the input manufacturing instructions; generating a realization log which is indicative of the operations that the machine has actually performed in manufacturing the article; and generating a report by comparing the realization log with the stored set of manufacturing instructions.

Abstract: CAMMS is a system of hardware and software to enable emergency responders to exchange information and communicate with each other in crisis-response situations. CAMMS creates a “Mesh” network on an ad-hoc basis, without user intervention, and allows all users on the mesh to engage in audio-video conferencing, telephone calls, exchange text messages, computer files of any type including images, movies and documents, as well as to discover and view IP Video Camera feeds, and to provide gateways to other networks and whiteboard conferencing. CAMMS is designed around industry standards for increased interoperability with other systems, and is configured to allow non-technical emergency response personnel to utilize all of its features.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for inserting a previously compressed resilient stopper into a bottle and includes a plunger unit having a protrusion; a compressor having a first and second portion with the first portion having a first cavity that has a first aperture and a second aperture and with the second portion having a centering guide. The protrusion has a protrusion length sufficient to push the stopper along the first cavity so as to partially insert the stopper into a mouth of the bottle when the mouth is held against the centering guide. The first cavity has a dimension that compresses the stopper so that it fits into the mouth of the bottle when the stopper is pushed along the first cavity, while permitting the extraction of the compressor away from the stopper and the bottle without extracting the stopper from the mouth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for purifying inorganic materials by treating the materials with a solution of hydrogen fluoride in aqueous hydrofluorosilicic acid. The process involves treating an inorganic material containing at least two species, to at least partially separate a first species contained in the material from a second species contained in the material, and comprises treating the material with a fluorine acid solution comprising aqueous hydrofluorosilicic acid and hydrofluoric acid (HF), such that the first species is converted to a product selected from the group consisting of a fluoride, a fluorosilicate and mixtures thereof, and such that the second species is at least partly unreacted, and separating the second species from the product.

Abstract: A machine can be accessed and controlled with the help of an interface device. The customizable interface device contains device elements that define features relating to the external representation and internal functionality of the interface device, as linked to one or more machines. An operator can use a configuration station to implement single or reoccurring queries that interact with the interface device and corresponding machines. In particular, the queries target the configuration of device elements in the interface device. The process can include temporarily unloading unused features from active memory and mirroring property changes initialized by a source. An emulator can assist in the configuration process by providing a preliminary software representation of the interface device hardware. A user can develop, test, and reconfigure functions on the emulator before loading the finalized platform to the interface device.