Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) metal object manufacturing apparatus is equipped with a vacuum system and a hold-down plate to secure a metal foil to the hold-down plate during manufacture of a metal object. The melted metal drops ejected by the apparatus to form the object bond to the metal foil to form the base layer of the object. When the vacuum system is deactivated after manufacture of the object is complete, the object and foil are removed from the apparatus intact and the foil not part of the base layer is trimmed from the object.

Abstract: A system includes a processor that executes computer executable components stored in a memory. The system includes a first component to receive data generated by at least one sensor. The system further includes a second component to generate an array that determines between activating one of a purge routine and a diagnostic routine on a printhead based on the array. The array is a function of the data. The system further includes a control component operable to selectively activate the purge routine on the printhead based on the determination.

Abstract: An object printing system facilitates the printing of articles of manufacture. The system includes at least one printhead, a transfer device, an ultraviolet (UV) radiator, a pressurized gas source operatively connected to the transfer device, a plurality of actuators, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the at least one printhead to form an image on a substrate, move the substrate bearing the image past the UV radiator as the controller operates the UV radiator to cure the ejected marking material partially to prevent ink movement, and operates the pressurized gas source to conform the substrate and partially cured ejected material to a shape corresponding to a surface of an object placed on the substrate to transfer the partially cured marking material onto the surface of the object. The transfer device can be an inflatable bladder or a molded vacuum chamber.

Abstract: 3-D printers include a transfuse station having at least one roller on one side of the ITB supporting the ITB, and a transmission device on the same side of the ITB. A platen is included that moves relative to the ITB. The ITB electrostatically transfers a layer made up of the different color build materials and the support material to the platen each time the platen contacts the other side of the ITB at the transfuse station (the side of the ITB opposite the transfuse station roller and transmission device) using vibration and charge devices; and this successively forms multiple layers of the build materials and the support material on the platen.

Abstract: An object printing system facilitates the printing of articles of manufacture. The system includes at least one printhead, a transfer device, an ultraviolet (UV) radiator, a pressurized gas source operatively connected to the transfer device, a plurality of actuators, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the at least one printhead to form an image on a substrate, move the substrate bearing the image past the UV radiator as the controller operates the UV radiator to cure the ejected marking material partially to prevent ink movement, and operates the pressurized gas source to conform the substrate and partially cured ejected material to a shape corresponding to a surface of an object placed on the substrate to transfer the partially cured marking material onto the surface of the object. The transfer device can be an inflatable bladder or a molded vacuum chamber.

Abstract: 3-D printers include a transfuse station having at least one roller on one side of the ITB supporting the ITB, and a transmission device on the same side of the ITB. A platen is included that moves relative to the ITB. The ITB electrostatically transfers a layer made up of the different color build materials and the support material to the platen each time the platen contacts the other side of the ITB at the transfuse station (the side of the ITB opposite the transfuse station roller and transmission device) using vibration and charge devices; and this successively forms multiple layers of the build materials and the support material on the platen.

Abstract: The present application provides a liquid fuel system for use with a flow of a liquid fuel and a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The liquid fuel system may include a number of fuel lines in communication with the combustor, a purge air inlet positioned about each of the fuel lines, a number of drain lines with each drain line in communication with a respective fuel line, and a number of drain valves with each drain valve in communication with a respective drain line so as to drain the flow of liquid fuel in the fuel lines via a flow of purge air through the purge air inlet and opening the drain valves.

Abstract: The present application provides a liquid fuel system for use with a flow of a liquid fuel and a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The liquid fuel system may include a number of fuel lines in communication with the combustor, a purge air inlet positioned about each of the fuel lines, a number of drain lines with each drain line in communication with a respective fuel line, and a number of drain valves with each drain valve in communication with a respective drain line so as to drain the flow of liquid fuel in the fuel lines via a flow of purge air through the purge air inlet and opening the drain valves.

Abstract: A wireless communication handset (10) having first and second movable coupled housing portions (20, 30) that rotate in corresponding first and second substantially parallel planes. The wireless communication handset is in a first operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a first angular configuration, the wireless communication handset in a second operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a second angular configuration, and the wireless communication handset in a third operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a third angular configuration.

Abstract: A fishing accessory that includes a housing and an alerting mechanism for alerting a fisherman when a fishing line connected to the activation switch of the alerting mechanism is being tugged on by a fish. The housing includes a housing having a pair of attachment clamps securable to a fishing rod. The alerting mechanism includes multiple types of alarm outputs that may be selected in various combinations by a user.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a hitch and receiver system provides at least an additional vertical box receiver when a conventional box receiver of the vehicle hitch is in use to provide draw bar support for the hitch ball. In a second embodiment, an additional horizontal box receiver is also provided for the hitch and receiver system. The additional box receivers are used to hold and support various accessory devices. In some cases the hitch ball can be used to tow a trailer without removal of the accessory device. The unique accessory device of this invention includes one of a hitch guide accessory device, an access platform and step accessory device, and a cargo cage accessory device. The combination of a hitch and receiver “system” and an accessory device provides the “assembly” of this invention.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a hitch and receiver system provides at least an additional vertical box receiver when a conventional box receiver of the vehicle hitch is in use to provide draw bar support for the hitch ball. In a second embodiment, an additional horizontal box receiver is also provided for the hitch and receiver system. The additional box receivers are used to hold and support various accessory devices. In some cases the hitch ball can be used to tow a trailer without removal of the accessory device. The unique accessory device of this invention includes one of a hitch guide accessory device, an access platform and step accessory device, and a cargo cage accessory device. The combination of a hitch and receiver “system” and an accessory device provides the “assembly” of this invention.

Abstract: A wireless communication handset (10) having first and second movable coupled housing portions (20, 30) that rotate in corresponding first and second substantially parallel planes. The wireless communication handset is in a first operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a first angular configuration, the wireless communication handset in a second operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a second angular configuration, and the wireless communication handset in a third operating mode when the first and second housing portions are rotated to a third angular configuration.

Abstract: A resilient prestressed honeycomb structure comprises a honeycomb core having a plurality of abutting partition walls forming opposed hollow-cell faces defining planar surfaces and a face sheet secured to one of the planar surfaces. The partition walls or the face sheet is air-permeable, and at least one of the hollow-cell faces has been compressively deformed laterally along its planar surface to provide a substantially continuous cushioned face portion. The cushioned face portion is sufficiently resilient to cushion substantially all surfaces of a body in contact therewith. When one of the hollow-cell faces is compressively deformed, the air-permeable partition walls or the air-permeable face sheet allows air to flow therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for crushing panels including a conveyor for moving the panel with respect to a compression assembly including a plurality of crushing elements which may be positioned at different heights with respect to the conveyor for incrementally crushing at least a portion of the panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a resilient prestressed honeycomb structure from a honeycomb structure having opposed hollow-ell faces defining opposed planar surfaces. The apparatus comprises a conveyor for conveying the honeycomb structure and a compression apparatus for compressively deforming at least a portion of the honeycomb structure. When the honeycomb structure is conveyed past the compression apparatus, the compression apparatus compressively deforms one of the planar surfaces of the honeycomb structure to form a resilient prestressed cushioned face portion. The compression apparatus comprises a plurality of parallel and elongate compression rolls for compressively deforming the honeycomb structure to form the resilient prestressed cushioned face portion.

Abstract: The lighting device and method of this invention makes the wheel well areas of a vehicle available for displaying messages and graphical indicia. The lighting device also allows the wheel well to be illuminated during normal and emergency repairs when insufficient light is available. The lighting device further enhances the appearance of the vehicle and will attract the attention of others. The lighting device can have a sensor to monitor the rotation of the tire and has a pulse modulator to synchronize light flashes from a flash generator with information a sidewall of the tire. The tire will appear to be stopped. A stroboscopic flash tube is used to provide bright flashes of light for a short duration to illuminate the wheel well including the tire. A number of different indicia can be displayed on each tire by modulating the frequency and the phase angle of the light flashes.

Abstract: A measuring device consisting of a container or vessel is disclosed in this invention to provide a safe, accurate and fast means to obtain a desired quantity of a fluent material. The fluent material can be any liquid or grandular material that has a relatively flat top surface. The container has a first volumetric portion that contains an exact volume when filled to the level of an overflow weir. A small overflow volume is allowed to pass over the weir into a second volumetric portion of the container. A diaphragm separates the two volumetric portions and is positioned within the container to allow the exact volume to be discharged without discharging the overflow volume. The overflow volume is safely returned to a bulk source container to conserve the fluent material. Only limited dexterity is required to quickly obtain an exact volume; as a safety lip is provided above the top surface of the fluent material which is limited by the weir height above a base of the container.