Abstract: A multiplayer chess apparatus and method of play is disclosed. The apparatus consists of 108 hexagon-shaped tiles and 54 tokens. The tiles are arranged to create a field of play with the shape of a 6-tile by 7-tile hexagon. The tokens are placed on the tiles in three sets, one for each of three players. The tokens represent standard chess pieces on one side, and the reverse sides represent variant chess pieces. During play, according to the method of play, tokens can be moved, stacked, unstacked, or removed from play. Tiles can also be removed from play. The shape of the field of play, the use of tokens for chess pieces, and the method of play facilitate resolution of the petty diplomacy problem in chess. The apparatus can be adapted for use by more than three players.

Abstract: Managing subscriber vehicle data in a vehicle data management system includes receiving and storing vehicle data, associating at least one client class with at least one corresponding targeted data format, receiving a client data request from a client, determining a client identity based on the client data request; and providing targeted data to the client responsive to the data request. The targeted data format is based on the determination of the identified client requesting the client data. An article for managing subscriber vehicle data in a vehicle data management system is described having a computer readable modulated carrier wave embodying means embedded in the modulated carrier wave for storing received vehicle data, means for associating at least one client class with at least one corresponding targeted data format, means for determining a client identity based on a received client data request and means for providing targeted data to the client responsive to the data request.

Abstract: A damper for reducing vibration in a least a portion of a component during inertia welding. The damper includes a generally annular body having a spiral slot formed therein.

Abstract: An imaging system including is described. The imaging system includes a radiation source configured to generate a beam, a collimator configured to collimate the beam to generate a collimated beam, and a detector configured to detect the collimated beam. The collimator is one of a first collimator with a curved contour proportional to a contour of the detector, a second collimator with blades, where slopes of two oppositely-facing surfaces of at least one of the blades are different from each other, and a third collimator having at least two sets of plates, where the plates in a set pivot with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method and system for configuring trigger parameters for captured test fleet vehicle data collection. The method includes selecting at least one vehicle identifier from a captured test fleet database, associating at least one trigger condition with the at least one selected vehicle identifier in the database, associating at least one vehicle parameter to be collected at an occurrence of the at least one associated trigger condition with the selected vehicle identifier in the database, and sending the at least one associated trigger condition and the at least one associated vehicle parameter from the database to a telematics unit of at least one test vehicle associated with the vehicle identifier via a wireless connection.

Abstract: An annular air baffle disposed in a cavity of a rotatable gas turbine engine part includes an annular split ring supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fins. The cavity is closed at a radially outer diameter and open at a radially inner diameter of the part. The ring and the fins may be integrally formed in one piece. The fins may have common surfaces with the ring and the common surfaces may be circular cross-sectional surfaces of the ring and radially outer rounded corners of the fins. The fins may have triangular cross-sectional shapes with first, second, and third sides, rounded first radially inner corners between the first and second sides, rounded second radially inner corners between the second and third sides, and the radially outer rounded corners between the first and third sides. The fins may extend radially inwardly from the annular split ring.

Abstract: A method is directed to providing a custom message set within a vehicle message service system. The method includes receiving at least one vehicle message service request, determining at least one set of vehicle parameters based on the at least one received vehicle message service request, requesting at least one vehicle message for each of the at least one set of vehicle parameters from a database, and generating the custom message set responsive to the vehicle messages. The method may further include transmitting the generated custom message set to a vehicle client. The step of generating the custom message set responsive to the received vehicle parameters may include receiving a vehicle message for each of the at least one set of vehicle parameters from the database and producing an object including the vehicle messages.

Abstract: A damper for reducing vibration in a least a portion of a component during inertia welding. The damper includes a generally annular body having a spiral slot formed therein.

Abstract: This invention deals with a multipurpose material-handling device. It is possible to quickly modify the backbone beam dolly to perform a variety of material-handling tasks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maximizing fluid retrieval from a fluid container when using a fluid retrieval device. A medical container is provided which includes a container body to hold a volume of medicinal fluid, and a container nozzle coupled to the container body. The nozzle has an opening to permit passage of a fluid retrieval device into the container body. The container includes a fluid pooling structure that guides the volume of medicinal fluid towards a target pooling region in response to a gravitational force, thereby optimizing the fluid retrieval therefrom.

Abstract: A cell current limiting circuit includes a current-limiting device that electrically couples a cell to a battery terminal. A bypass current path is in parallel with the current limiting device and is selectively interruptible by a switch. A switch control circuit is capable of sensing if the battery terminal is electrically coupled to a selected host. The switch control circuit closes the switch if the battery terminal is electrically coupled to the selected host and opens the switch if the battery terminal is not electrically coupled to the host.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing an image of a scanned object comprises the steps of collecting object data by scanning the object with a laser beam and detecting the light passing through the object; collecting perimeter data of the object during the scanning step; transforming the object data to parallel ray geometry; correcting the projection data using the perimeter data; and backprojecting the data in image space.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle assembly includes a plurality of nozzle segments and a nozzle support for supporting the nozzle segments. Each nozzle segment includes an outer band, an inner band and at least two vanes disposed between the outer and inner bands. A retention flange extends radially inwardly from the inner band and has a first hole formed therein. The nozzle support includes a recess formed therein and a mounting flange extending therefrom. The mounting flange is disposed in contact with the retention flange and has a second hole formed therein. A pin is disposed in the first and second holes to position the flanges with respect to one another. A pin retainer is disposed in the recess and has a holding flange for retaining the pin in place. The nozzle support includes a substantially conical portion and an air seal integrally formed thereto.

Abstract: A blocker and swirl inducer hole configuration for use in connection with a high pressure turbine is described. In one embodiment, the blocker holes are oriented to a 45-degree tangential angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the seal, which results in pre-swirling the air before being injected into the swirl cavity. In addition, the number of blocker holes is reduced by as much as 50% of the number of blocker holes used in the known CFM56 turbine. Further, rather than injecting the air into the first swirl cavity as is known, the air is injected into a second swirl cavity. The combined effect of orienting the holes to the 45-degree tangential angle with respect to the direction of rotation of the seal, locating the holes to open into the second swirl cavity, and reducing the flow area by about 50%, results in an increase in blocker hole pressure ratio. Increasing the blocker hole pressure ratio results in a higher hole exit velocity which maximizes the cavity inlet swirl.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel direct injection fuel system for a spark ignited internal combustion engine having an inlet port for admitting combustion air into a combustion chamber of the engine, the direction injection system including at least one fuel injector for directly injecting gaseous fuel into the combustion chamber, and means for supplying gaseous fuel to the fuel injector, a quantity of gaseous fuel being injected into the combustion chamber by the fuel injector, wherein at least at some operating condition thereof, the injection of the gaseous fuel is initiated after the closing of the inlet port, and wherein the injection of the gaseous fuel is completed before the compression stroke of the engine is substantially completed.

Abstract: A prophy angle dental tool comprises a disposable attachment to an air turbine type of dental tool drive motor. The disposable attachment has a single section tubular body that extends from a direct drive coupling with the drive motor power shaft housing to the driven dental implement. A quick-coupling hub at one end of a medial drive shaft receives a lug drive mechanism in the motor drive shaft. Externally, the coupling hub is confined to coaxial rotation within the motor shaft housing. The medial drive shaft extends unrestrained from the motor coupling hub along an internal void within the tubular body into geared engagement with a short shaft. The short shaft is rotatively driven about an axis that is substantially transverse of the tubular body length. A pinion gear on the inner end of the short shaft is engaged by a gear at the end of the medial drive shaft thereby driving the short shaft while simultaneously holding the short shaft within a short shaft housing bore.