Abstract: A trailer includes a housing including an internal frame and an external frame. The external frame is coupled to the internal frame. In certain embodiments, the internal frame is positioned between interior panels and exterior panels of the housing. In certain embodiments, the external frame is spaced from exterior panels.

Abstract: A trailer includes a housing including an internal frame and an external frame. The external frame is coupled to the internal frame. In certain embodiments, the internal frame is positioned between interior panels and exterior panels of the housing. In certain embodiments, the external frame is spaced from exterior panels.

Abstract: A sofa bed is configured to be switched between a sofa configuration and a bed configuration. The sofa bed includes a base frame, a middle frame rotatably coupled to the base frame, a seat-and-foot frame rotatably coupled to the middle frame, a back-and-head frame rotatably coupled to the base frame, and a spring coupled between at least two of the base frame, the middle frame, the seat-and-back frame, and the back-and-head frame.

Abstract: A drill rod clamping system for securing a drill rod in a selected position. The drill rod clamping system has a hollow spindle with an upper portion that defines axial slots and a base portion that defines at least one radial opening. A plurality of jaws are moveable radially inwardly to a drill rod gripping position and radially outwardly to a drill rod releasing position. Each jaw is received within a respective axial slot of the hollow spindle. An actuator moves the plurality of jaws between the drill rod gripping position and the drill rod releasing position. A compressed gas spring assembly exerts force on the actuator to close the jaws. A hydraulic operator exerts force on the actuator to overcome the force of the compressed gas spring assembly to open the jaws. The radial openings of the base portion of the spindle permit flushing of material flowing within the spindle.

Abstract: Drill rod alignment devices, systems, and methods for aligning a drill rod with a drill string in a hand-free manner. A drill rod alignment device can have an arm assembly, rod engagement assembly, and a receiving channel secured to the rod engagement assembly. The arm assembly is moveable from a parked position to a deployed position, and the rod engagement assembly is moveable from an open position to a closed position. With the arm assembly in the deployed position, the drill rod alignment device contacts a drill rod and receives a portion of the drill rod within the receiving channel. The arm assembly is moveable to a closed position in which the drill rod is secured within the receiving channel.

Abstract: A drill rod clamping system for securing a drill rod in a selected position. The drill rod clamping system has a hollow spindle with an upper portion that defines axial slots and a base portion that defines at least one radial opening. A plurality of jaws are moveable radially inwardly to a drill rod gripping position and radially outwardly to a drill rod releasing position. Each jaw is received within a respective axial slot of the hollow spindle. An actuator moves the plurality of jaws between the drill rod gripping position and the drill rod releasing position. A compressed gas spring assembly exerts force on the actuator to close the jaws. A hydraulic operator exerts force on the actuator to overcome the force of the compressed gas spring assembly to open the jaws. The radial openings of the base portion of the spindle permit flushing of material flowing within the spindle.

Abstract: A drill rod clamping system for securing a drill rod in a selected position. The drill rod clamping system has a hollow spindle with an upper portion that defines axial slots and a base portion that defines at least one radial opening. A plurality of jaws are moveable radially inwardly to a drill rod gripping position and radially outwardly to a drill rod releasing position. Each jaw is received within a respective axial slot of the hollow spindle. An actuator moves the plurality of jaws between the drill rod gripping position and the drill rod releasing position. A compressed gas spring assembly exerts force on the actuator to close the jaws. A hydraulic operator exerts force on the actuator to overcome the force of the compressed gas spring assembly to open the jaws. The radial openings of the base portion of the spindle permit flushing of material flowing within the spindle.

Abstract: A sofa bed is configured to be switched between a sofa configuration and a bed configuration. The sofa bed includes a base frame, a middle frame rotatably coupled to the base frame, a seat-and-foot frame rotatably coupled to the middle frame, a back-and-head frame rotatably coupled to the base frame, and a spring coupled between at least two of the base frame, the middle frame, the seat-and-back frame, and the back-and-head frame.

Abstract: A drill rod clamping system for securing a drill rod in a selected position. The drill rod clamping system has a hollow spindle with an upper portion that defines axial slots and a base portion that defines at least one radial opening. A plurality of jaws are moveable radially inwardly to a drill rod gripping position and radially outwardly to a drill rod releasing position. Each jaw is received within a respective axial slot of the hollow spindle. An actuator moves the plurality of jaws between the drill rod gripping position and the drill rod releasing position. A compressed gas spring assembly exerts force on the actuator to close the jaws. A hydraulic operator exerts force on the actuator to overcome the force of the compressed gas spring assembly to open the jaws. The radial openings of the base portion of the spindle permit flushing of material flowing within the spindle.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an optical communications module includes an upper housing portion mated to a lower housing portion with an optical port projecting through an opening in a front surface of the mated assembly. Electronic circuit housed inside the mated assembly can lead to electromagnetic interference (EMI) leakage through a front surface of the mated assembly, especially through the opening that accommodates the optical port. An EMI shield, which is used to address the EMI leakage, includes an annular array of resilient metal fingers that press against a metal flange of the optical port, and also includes at least two peripheral edges each incorporating an array of resilient metal fingers that press against a metal portion of the mated assembly. An interdigital spacing in the annular array and/or the array of resilient metal fingers is defined on the basis of a wavelength associated with the EMI radiation.

Abstract: Drill rod alignment devices, systems, and methods for aligning a drill rod with a drill string in a hand-free manner. A drill rod alignment device can have an arm assembly, rod engagement assembly, and a receiving channel secured to the rod engagement assembly. The arm assembly is moveable from a parked position to a deployed position, and the rod engagement assembly is moveable from an open position to a closed position. With the arm assembly in the deployed position, the drill rod alignment device contacts a drill rod and receives a portion of the drill rod within the receiving channel. The arm assembly is moveable to a closed position in which the drill rod is secured within the receiving channel.

Abstract: An optical communications module includes a housing that accommodates at least one optical receptacle having a cylindrical connector portion. The module further includes at least one deformable constraining member made of a material having a Young's modulus that allows the deformable constraining member to take on an initial deformity upon application of a compression force, but permits only a partial reversal of the deformity upon reduction or removal of the compression force. The initial deformity is created when the deformable constraining member is pressed against the cylindrical connector portion during assembly of the module. The initial deformity includes a deformed contour portion that conforms to at least a part of the cylindrical connector portion of the optical receptacle and prevents wiggling of the cylindrical connector portion after the cylindrical connector portion is pushed during assembly into an alignment notch provided in a lower housing portion of the module.

Abstract: A device includes a pressure container, a pressure reducer, and a valve. The pressure container contains a liquid container deformable under pressure. The pressure reducer provides a liquid which bears with a first (e.g., lower) pressure against a first connector of the pressure reducer and with a second (e.g., higher) pressure at a second connector of the pressure reducer. The first connector is connectable to the liquid container, and the second connector is accessible from outside the pressure container. Due to the pressure reducer, liquid from the liquid container can be provided with a second pressure at the second connector. The valve adds a gas to at least part of the interior space of the pressure container remaining after receipt of the liquid container, the gas having an overpressure, such that a liquid in the liquid container bears with the first pressure against the first connector.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a mutual capacitance touchscreen comprising a first set of electrically conductive traces arranged in rows or columns and a second set of electrically conductive traces arranged in rows or columns arranged at right angles with respect to the rows or columns of the first set, where the first and second sets of traces are electrically insulated from and interdigitated respecting one another, and gaps between the first and second sets of traces form boundaries between the first and second sets of traces that undulate and that are not straight or linear. Other embodiments of a mutual capacitance touchscreen are also disclosed, such as “mini-diamond” sensor array patterns and sensor array patterns that may be manufactured at low cost.

Abstract: A computing system is configured to accept bid rules from merchants for the placement of ads for a plurality of products. The bid rules comprise a bid amount, a rule definition and a priority. The bid amount may be an absolute bid or it may be relative to base advertising rate. The rule definition comprises criteria for describing products to determine when the bid rule is applied to a product for sale. The priority indicates whether the bid rule applies to a particular product when the rule definition of more than one bid rule could be applied to a product. The computing system is also configured to generate a list of product offers based at least in part on the bids. The system may also generate reports for merchants.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of circuits and methods for capacitively coupling touchscreen electrode terminals to terminals of a flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board, without physically attaching the touchscreen electrode terminals to the flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals by means of conventional electrical connection bonding materials or agents such as anisotropic conductive film or solder. The flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals are spaced apart from, or placed in physical contact with, corresponding ones of the touchscreen electrode terminals, but are not soldered or otherwise physically attached to the touchscreen electrode terminals by conventional electrical connection bonding materials or agents such as anisotropic conductive film or solder.

Abstract: A device includes a pressure container, a pressure reducer, and a valve. The pressure container contains a liquid container deformable under pressure. The pressure reducer provides a liquid which bears with a first (e.g., lower) pressure against a first connector of the pressure reducer and with a second (e.g., higher) pressure at a second connector of the pressure reducer. The first connector is connectable to the liquid container, and the second connector is accessible from outside the pressure container. Due to the pressure reducer, liquid from the liquid container can be provided with a second pressure at the second connector. The valve adds a gas to at least part of the interior space of the pressure container remaining after receipt of the liquid container, the gas having an overpressure, such that a liquid in the liquid container bears with the first pressure against the first connector.

Abstract: A computing system is configured to accept bid rules from merchants for the placement of ads for a plurality of products. The bid rules comprise a bid amount, a rule definition and a priority. The bid amount may be an absolute bid or it may be relative to base advertising rate. The rule definition comprises criteria for describing products to determine when the bid rule is applied to a product for sale. The priority indicates whether the bid rule applies to a particular product when the rule definition of more than one bid rule could be applied to a product. The computing system is also configured to generate a list of product offers based at least in part on the bids. The system may also generate reports for merchants.

Abstract: In a method for producing a heat exchanger tube bundle for a heat exchanger of an electrochemical energy accumulators, heat exchanger channels and an intended profile are incorporated into material strips by deep drawing. A forward-flow distribution aperture is incorporated into a first such material strip from step b) (first heat exchanger plate), and return collecting apertures are incorporated into a second such material strip, forming first and the second heat exchanger plates. The latter are aligned in such a manner that webs of the two heat exchanger plates border each other, and the heat exchanger channels form heat exchanger tubes. The heat exchanger plates arranged in this manner are joined together to form a heat exchanger tube bundle. A corresponding pressure welding apparatus, a heat exchanger tube bundle, a heat exchanger module, a heat exchanger with two or more heat exchanger modules, and an electrochemical energy accumulator with a heat exchanger of this type are also disclosed.

Abstract: A computing system is configured to accept bid rules from merchants for the placement of ads for a plurality of products. The bid rules comprise a bid amount, a rule definition and a priority. The bid amount may be an absolute bid or it may be relative to base advertising rate. The rule definition comprises criteria for describing products to determine when the bid rule is applied to a product for sale. The priority indicates whether the bid rule applies to a particular product when the rule definition of more than one bid rule could be applied to a product. The computing system is also configured to generate a list of product offers based at least in part on the bids. The system may also generate reports for merchants.