Abstract: A fuel injector for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The fuel injector includes a housing, a valve seat, a metering orifice disc, and a needle. The housing has an inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The valve seat is disposed proximate the outlet and includes a passage having a sealing surface and an orifice. The metering orifice disc is located at the outlet and has a plurality of metering openings extending therethrough. The needle is reciprocally located within the housing along the longitudinal axis between a first position wherein the needle is displaced from the valve seat, allowing fuel flow past the needle, and a second position wherein the needle is biased against the valve seat, precluding fuel flow past the needle. A generally annular channel is formed between the valve seat and the metering orifice disc. The channel tapers outwardly from a large height to a smaller height toward the orifice openings.

Abstract: A truck skirting is provided for a trailer for use in tractor-trailer combinations. Skirting elements depend from both trailer sides. Braces are provided extending from the skirting elements to the trailer underside. Further, each skirting element has a longitudinal bracing bar.

Abstract: A power outage restoration system manages a power network including a plurality of switching devices. The power outage restoration system includes an outage management system having a network model of said power network. A plurality of local restoration controllers are in communication with the outage management system and each said local restoration controller includes a trimmed network model correlating to a respective area of responsibility.

Abstract: A non-linear cut-rate multiplier for a vitreous cutter is provided whereby a signal from a host drive system may be multiplied in non-linear fashion to achieve significantly higher cut-rates for the vitreous cutter. Depending upon the cut-rate received from the host drive system, the multiplier may be configured to generate a subsequent cut-rate which is, potentially, linear for lower cut-rates of the host drive system and variably non-linear for higher cut-rates of the host drive system.

Abstract: Var optimization (VARO) is a subsystem of a voltage and var optimization (VVO) system that processes a capacitor switching optimization problem. The VARO is a self contained process that may work stand alone or in conjunction with a Voltage Regulation Optimization (VRO) system to provide integrated VVO solutions. The VARO system takes network inputs and calculates optimal settings for distribution network capacitor banks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to adhesive coated fabrics, suitable for use in composite materials, coated on at least one outwards facing surface thereof with an acrylate adhesive, wherein the coated acrylate adhesive on said at least one outwards facing surface is less than 11 g/m2 solid particles. Such adhesive coated fabrics are especially useful for the manufacturing of water or moist resistant or repellant structures such as boats, airplane components, wind turbine blades, helmets, or telephone poles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus used to deliver breathable gases to a person, which is integrally formed within the hollow frame of a pair of spectacles or eyeglasses, wherein oxygen is delivered from a supply or source directly to a user of the apparatus via the hollow frame of the spectacles or eyeglasses. The apparatus of the present invention is a hingeless, seamless, spectacle-shaped oxygen delivery system and delivery apparatus that is constructed, in whole or in part, of hollow tubular delivery members that are cast as a singe piece and rigidly connected to a base frame.

Abstract: Footwear providing enhanced protection against extreme landing impacts includes a sole having an elastomeric mid-sole with elastomeric pads combined in a heel recess thereof such that the pads act in series with each other and in parallel with the mid-sole during conjoint compression thereof. At least one of the pads includes a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient. In another embodiment, the heel of the mid-sole is replaced by a toroidal gas cushion and an elastomeric pad including a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient disposed in a central recess of the cushion such that the pad is recessed a selected distance below the upper surface of the cushion. The resilient pads may advantageously incorporate a plurality of gas-filled cells, and a solid gel pad may also be disposed in the mid-sole of the footwear below the ball of the wearer's foot for increased protection.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a porous, fiber-reinforced thermoplastic sheet having increased lofting properties is provided. The method includes adding reinforcing fibers having an average length of about 5 mm to about 50 mm, and thermoplastic resin powder particles to an agitated aqueous foam to form a dispersed mixture, laying the dispersed mixture of reinforcing fibers and thermoplastic resin particles down onto a support structure, evacuating the water to form a web, generating a z-axis orientation of a portion of the reinforcing fibers, heating the web above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic resin, and pressing the web to a predetermined thickness to form a porous thermoplastic composite sheet having a void content of about 1 percent to about 95 percent.

Abstract: A position landmarking system operative with respect to an object includes an operative device including a reference point and configured for movement in a direction relative to the object. The position landmarking system also includes a sensor configured for detecting a stimulus at a location on the sensor and to be disposed relative to the object and corresponding to the direction of movement of the operative device. In response to the stimulus, the reference point of the operative device and the location on the sensor are aligned with each other via movement of the operative device relative to the object. The operative device may be configured for performing an operation relative to a base, the operative device and the base configured for movement relative to each other. The sensor may be configured for communication with the operative device, the base or both.

Abstract: Metering components of a fuel injector that allow spray targeting and distribution of fuel to be configured using non-angled or straight orifice having an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel metering components. Metering orifices are located about the longitudinal axis and defining a first virtual circle greater than a second virtual or bolt circle defined by a projection of the sealing surface onto the metering disc so that all of the metering orifices are disposed outside the second virtual or bolt circle within one quadrant of the circle. A channel is formed between the seat orifice and the metering disc that allows the fuel injector to generate a spray pattern along the longitudinal axis that forms a flow area on a virtual plane transverse to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a topographical map of the bottom of a patient's rear foot with the foot in a semi-weight bearing condition and in the neutral position. A flexible membrane defines the top of an air cushion that captures the patient's foot in the neutral position when the air pillow is inflated. The membrane also conforms to the bottom of the foot. A three-dimensional scanner located below the membrane measures the distances to the bottom of the membrane over an array of positions. A manufacturing facility converts these measurements into information by which computer numerical controlled equipment machines an orthotic insert for the patient's footwear.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a topographical map of the bottom of a patient's rear foot with the foot in a semi-weight bearing condition and in the neutral position adjusted for the effects of tibial torsion. A foot scanner with a pivoted air cushion is adjusted to a first position whereupon the foot is captured. Then the air cushion is oscillated relative to the first position until the talus and navicular exhibit congruency to establish a measurement position. A three-dimensional scanner measures the distances corresponding to the spacing between a reference plane and the bottom of at least the rear foot and midfoot. A manufacturing facility converts these measurements into information by which computer numerical controlled equipment machines an orthotic insert for the patient's footwear.

Abstract: A device for adapting a transtracheal catheter to a tracheostomy tube includes a plurality of projections for engaging a security flange of the transtracheal catheter. The device provides for proper orientation of a beveled end of the catheter tube when the security flange is oriented as directed with it longest flat side up. A method of adapting a transtracheal catheter to a patient's tracheostomy tube is also provided for providing the delivery of heated and/or humidified gas to tracheotomized patients and/or for weaning a ventilator-dependent patient from the ventilator.

Abstract: A fuel injector that provides fuel targeting and fuel spray distribution with non-angled metering orifices at higher than normal fuel flow rates is described. In a preferred embodiment, the fuel injector includes a housing, an inlet, an outlet, a seat, a metering disc, and a closure member. The seat is disposed proximate to the outlet and includes a sealing surface and a seat orifice extending through the seat from the sealing surface along the longitudinal axis to a tapered surface that extends obliquely from the seat orifice about the longitudinal axis to define a first volume. The metering disc includes a first surface disposed about the longitudinal axis and having a portion contiguous to a plane and a second surface that extends from the first surface away from the inlet and bounds a portion of the plane to define a second volume. The plurality of metering orifices is located outside a projection of the seat orifice that defines a first virtual circle on the second surface.

Abstract: Footwear providing enhanced protection against extreme landing impacts includes a sole having an elastomeric mid-sole with elastomeric pads combined in a heel recess thereof such that the pads act in series with each other and in parallel with the mid-sole during conjoint compression thereof. At least one of the pads includes a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient. In another embodiment, the heel of the mid-sole is replaced by a toroidal gas cushion and an elastomeric pad including a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient disposed in a central recess of the cushion such that the pad is recessed a selected distance below the upper surface of the cushion. The resilient pads may advantageously incorporate a plurality of gas-filled cells, and a solid gel pad may also be disposed in the mid-sole of the footwear below the ball of the wearer's foot for increased protection.

Abstract: A system and method for centralized security screening of packages including baggage. The system creates images and data concerning baggage to be reviewed, packetizes the data long with additional identification information, and conveys the data packets to a central screening location. All analysis of the baggage information is accomplished in a centralized way with risk assessments being provided to each image. Upon sensing of a package or baggage of concern, alerts may be sent to the screening location for action. Artificial intelligence tools are used to pre-screen images to assist with workload assignment.

Abstract: The present invention is a generator control system where each generator in the system has an associated controller. Each controller communicates generator data or information with the other controllers in the generator control system. Each of the controllers includes a digital signal processor for analyzing the generator signal from the associated generator and information from the other controllers in the generator control system. The controllers each compare their generator signal with a system average and adjust the associated generator until the generators all supply equal amounts of power to the system.

Abstract: A hardware tracking system includes memory storage devices on tracked parts containing unique serial numbers, part numbers, revision numbers, and firmware versions. At power up and after a reset, a host computer or real-time subsystem downloads this information and compares it to the information stored in a central database. Changes in data in a central database log file indicate a replacement or update of the component, which is then used to automatically update the database. Each change causes the generation of a new record having date and time information attached thereto. These records are scanned to determine the system evolution. They are also compared to an error log and diagnostic history information to generate a cause versus effect occurring during troubleshooting. The system also tracks and records the number of times a part is removed and re-inserted, indicating shot-gunning of the system by field engineers.