Abstract: An IC card reader comprising an contact and a rotating member. The contact is for coming into contact with an IC contact terminal of a card. The rotating member is rotated by the insertion of the card. The rotating member starts to rotate as the card presses a portion of the rotating member, and the portion of the rotating member presses the card on a rear surface thereof when the rotating member rotates.

Abstract: An apparatus for marking objects is disclosed. The apparatus comprises (a) a source device including a mother isotope for emitting daughter isotopes by radioactive decay; preferably (b) a positioning mechanism for positioning an object in close proximity to the source device; and (c) a patterning mechanism for restricting implantation of the daughter isotopes into a surface of the object, so as to create a detectable pattern of the daughter isotopes on the object.

Abstract: A digital business card has a rectangular substrate and a magnetic stripe. The substrate has a printing surface disposed on a surface of the substrate for printing visual data, and a photo-recording region disposed on the rear of the substrate for storing digital data. The magnetic stripe is disposed on the surface of the substrate adjacent to a short side of the substrate for recording magnetic recording data and storing a specific encoded password. The digital business card effectively controls reading data in the digital business card through the combination of the magnetic stripe and the photo-recording region so as to prevent the data from being stolen. Besides, the digital business card has the same size as a conventional printed business card, so that the digital business card is carried handily and has high capacity of storing data.

Abstract: A memory card is disclosed which has a card body (2) having a concavity (9) formed at the forward end thereof in the inserting direction and in which terminals (5) are disposed and projections (10) are formed between the terminals (5) to prevent the terminals (5) from being touched or accessed from outside. A receptacle for the memory card is also disclosed. The memory card has a simple structure designed to positively protect the terminals and easily let out dust or the like from inside, thereby permitting to assure a positive connection with the receptacle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing an external electrical power supply to a proximity smart card for driving the internal electronics of the smart card. The external electrical power supply is separate from a power source of a smart card reader or an internal battery. The external power supply energizes the smart card by way of magnetic induction by radiating power over an electromagnetic link between the external power supply and the smart card.

Abstract: There is provided a returnable container physical distribution system adapted to the information society and, more particularly, a returnable container physical distribution system is provided in which IC cards are attached to returnable containers for easier connection with the internet to manage the returnable containers transported between a producer, a wholesaler and/or warehouse and a retailer more efficiently.

Abstract: The disclosed method and system enables the acquisition and capture of consumer information at the time of purchase, such that a product's bar code (UPC) label and a consumer's response are concurrently read at the time of purchase, so as to obtain timely consumer information of high integrity. In one embodiment, a method is provided where the consumer may respond individually to inquiries on a plurality of products such that the consumer's responses are captured at the check-out counter at the time of purchase, and a resulting set of information containing responses to a plurality of specific products can be generated.

Abstract: An improved motor vehicle automatic climate control methodology individually develops climate control commands in response to ambient environmental conditions and a transient state estimator, and individually and adaptively adjusts the commands to improve driver comfort in response to driver override of respective automatic control settings. The adaptive adjustment of the climate control commands is carried by CMAC neural networks that take into account the environmental conditions and the dynamic state of the system when the respective overrides occur so as to minimize or eliminate the environmental state ambiguity and steady-state/transient coupling that occur in currently known control methodologies.

Abstract: A valve comprises an assembly of elastomeric elements confined in a cylindrical space, with one end of the assembly engageable with a valve seat at one end of the cylindrical space. The valve is constructed to provide three successive converging and diverging sections in the fluid flow path, the intermediate section being provided by the valve element and seat. The restrictions exerts a choking for maintaining pressure in a steam system when the valve is used as a steam trap. A rigid, abrasion-resistant element, may be incorporated into one of the elastomeric elements, and a thermally responsive wax may be incorporated into one of the elements to alter its expansion characteristics. A plunger may be incorporated into the valve to exert a force on the elastomeric elements, allowing adjustment of the degree of subcooling when the device is used as a steam trap.

Abstract: A powertrain thermal management system for a hybrid vehicle having provisions for passenger cabin heating and engine warm up.

Abstract: An HVAC system including a housing, an evaporator assembly, a heater core assembly, an air inlet assembly, a fan assembly, and a film valve assembly including first and second rollers, wherein each roller includes a biasing member with a constant force urging the biasing members to rotate and the biasing members are biased in opposite directions.

Abstract: A railway or tramway rail fastening system includes a shell (2) and a resilient fill (4) within the shell for holding a rail (1), the shell having an inner profile open channel form to receive the rail, the inner profile being shaped to hold firmly, through the fill (4), the head and base region and/or an intermediate portion of the rail. The arrangement is such that pinch points are produced which hold the rail in place.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine. The inlet originating at a high-pressure collection chamber (common rail) discharges into the housing of the injector, in which a control part is received, movable vertically. The motion of the control part is effected via the pressure relief of a control chamber, provided in the housing of the injector, by means of an actuator-actuatable closing element. Upon triggering of the control part via the actuator-actuatable closing element, a seat valve embodied as a spherical control body closes or opens inlets and outlets.

Abstract: Disclosed in an injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine, in which control part body is received movably in an injector housing and its opening and closing motion is effected via pressure relief of a control chamber. The pressure relief of the control chamber is controlled via an externally actuatable actuator. On the control part body, a sealing seat diameter that seals off the valve chamber is provided, which closes and opens the inlet from a common rail. An annular throttle element of variable cross section is located downstream of the sealing seat diameter of the control part body. An annular throttle element of variable cross section, or a throttle slide with a throttle, is located downstream of the sealing seat diameter of the control part body.

Abstract: The invention relates to an injector with a valve chamber which is contained in an injector housing and can be loaded by way of an inlet from the high-pressure accumulation chamber. This valve chamber loads a nozzle inlet to an injection nozzle by means of a control element that can be moved in the injector housing upon the pressure relief of a control chamber. On the control element, which is embodied of one part or multiple parts, a control surface is disposed in the pressure relief region of the nozzle inlet.

Abstract: A nozzle device includes a housing (1) having an inlet for a fluid and an orifice for spraying out a firm jet of fluid (38), which orifice is delimited by two or more members, at least one of which is movable relative to the other one between a first position in which the orifice has a minimal cross-section area in order to spray out the fluid in a firm jet in a forward direction from the housing, and a second position in which the orifice is widened in order to be flushed clean by a coarse stream of fluid. A cap (2) is arranged in front of the orifice, the cap having two or more shield walls (16, 17) in which there are holes (20, 21) through which the firm jet of fluid (38), but not the coarse stream of flushing fluid, may pass.

Abstract: An injection valve for internal combustion engines has a filter element arranged on the inside of the injection valve in the fuel flow of the latter with ducts for the fuel. The filter element is designed as a throughflow heating element, for which purposes the walls of the throughflow ducts are capable of being heated, at least in certain regions, along their longitudinal extent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a dispenser attachment to be mounted on a standard bottle having exterior threads at its neck. The attachment has two side arms emanating from a center. One arms has at its outer end a pressuring air bulb attached thereto. The outer end of the bulb has a one-way ball valve attached therein and another one-way ball valve is attached within the other end of the bulb. The pressurized air generated by the bulb enters directly into the interior of the bottle by way of a passage way. The passage way has a bypass just downstream of said one-way ball valve to accommodate the inward movement of the ball. The pressurized fluid in the bottle is controlled by a single unit ball valve assembly having a push button under a bias of a spring. The push button is located at the top of the attachment and is flush with its surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spray nozzle for a two-component, air-assisted, low pressure spray system including a) a static mixer having an inlet port on its upstream end for receiving a first liquid component and a second liquid component that is reactive with the first liquid component and having on its downstream end an optionally removable spray tip for introducing the mixed liquid components into an atomizing zone, b) a static mixer shroud, which encases the static mixer, is dimensioned on its upstream end for connecting the shroud to a dispensing unit for the first and second liquid components and has on its downstream end an optionally removable spray section having inlet ports for receiving pressurized air and outlet ports for introducing air into the atomizing zone, wherein the spray tip passes through an orifice in the spray section such that the mixed liquid components are introduced into the atomizing zone.

Abstract: In a convertible blow and airless spray gun, separate attachments may be substituted at the end of a blowpipe coupled to a blowgun by means of a connection thread formed on the tip end of the blowpipe. The blowgun can be secured to a long extension blowpipe or to an airless spray adaptor to construct an airless spray cleaning or painting gun. By means of the suction generated by the high speed compressed air flow in an attached hose, liquid in a tank is sucked up to mix with the high speed air jet stream at the inside of a blow head to force an atomized cleaner or paint jet stream to blow out. A nozzle carrier rotates freely to allow the attached hose to hang beneath the air gun body, so as to provide for ease of operation of the gun.

Abstract: A fuel injector comprising an outer valve needle provided with a bore, an inner valve needle slidable within the bore, the outer and inner valve needles being engageable with first and second seatings respectively to control the supply of fuel from the fuel injector. The inner valve needle includes a passage which communicates with a sac chamber located downstream of the second seating, whereby movement of the outer valve needle away from the first seating causes fuel to flow through the passage into the sac chamber such that fuel pressure within the sac chamber causes the inner valve needle to lift away from the second seating.

Abstract: A fuel injection valve includes a valve seat member having a valve bore, and an injector plate coupled to an outer end face of the valve seat member. A fuel diffusion chamber is defined between the valve seat member and the injector plate. The injector plate is provided with a plurality of fuel injection bores which are parted on a plane including an axis of the valve bore into primary and secondary groups for injecting fuel toward primary and secondary intake ports. When a direction of arrangement of the primary and secondary intake ports is represented by X, and a direction perpendicular to the direction of arrangement is represented by Y, the fuel injection bores of the primary and secondary groups are formed so that they are inclined to a side opposite from the axis of the valve bore only in a direction X toward a downstream side.

Abstract: A fuel injector has a chamber between a valve body and a plate in which a plurality of through holes are formed. The chamber has a diameter larger than that of an opening of the valve body. The through holes are opened at an outer chamber area shaded by the valve body are distanced from an outer wall of the chamber more than a diameter of the through hole. Fuel flowing along an inner inclined surface of the valve body turns to the through holes and flows into the through hole from all directions and collides with each other at inlets of the through hole. Therefore, injected fuel has a lot of turbulences and is finely atomized.

Abstract: In a fuel injection valve in which an outer frame member is press fitted to a limited region of an outer circumference of an inner pipe member in a state that a drive coil is radially sandwiched therebetween, a valve lift amount is accurately adjusted by press fitting the attracting member to the inner pipe member without being adversely affected by a possible deformation of the inner circumference of the inner pipe member on press fitting the outer frame member to the inner pipe member due to a relief space provided in the inner circumference of the inner pipe member for preventing the outer circumference of the attracting member from contacting the inner circumference of the inner pipe member at least at a position just radially inside and axially corresponding to the limited region.

Abstract: A broadcast spreader with a movable deflector is disclosed. The spreader distributes particulate material by a rotating plate which when operating, always impacts material on the deflector. The deflector and a mounting track prevent dispensing material impacting on a user of the spreader, and when the deflector is extended, also prevent dispensing material distributing to the right side of the spreader. In this way, lawns which abut a driveway or a flowerbed may have material distributed on them without also depositing material on the driveway or flowerbed. Further, the deflector is integral with a port closure panel which automatically reduces, in a proportional manner, the flow of particulate material as the deflector is extended.

Abstract: A compact and efficient spice grinder having a centrally disposed post configured for engaging a spice seed in the grinding chamber. The spice seed is initially “fractured” by a “pestle-like” seed fracturing structuring at the top of the post. When a user thereafter rotates the dome-like cover of the grinder with respect to the base, spice fragments are grated against interior blades positioned along the sidewall of the chamber adapter/extender. A dome cover is gradually lowered by a user as the spice in the grinding chamber becomes depleted. The grinder is lightweight and may be attached conveniently to a key ring or to a chain and carried as a novelty item.

Abstract: A spice crusher comprising a main body, a handle pivotally mounted on the main body, a crushing plate, a gear driving mechanism and a fineness control mechanism. The crushing plate, gear driving mechanism and fineness control mechanism are arranged within the main body so that the gear driving mechanism and the fineness control mechanism co-operate with the crushing plate. The driving gear mechanism enables the spice crusher to be operated easily by one hand. The fineness control mechanism controls the fineness of the crushed spices. The spice crusher may be used to crush peppercorns.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the separation between a pair of roller assemblies. A frame is provided. One roller assembly is rotatably supported by a first pair of supports fixed with respect to the frame. On the other hand, another roller assembly is rotatably supported by a second pair of supports that are movable with respect to the frame. A pair of shims is provided. One shim is positioned between a first one of the second pair of supports and a first member that is fixed with respect to the frame. The other shim is positioned between a second one of the second pair of supports and a second member that is fixed with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A refiner plate segment for a refiner including opposed first and second refiner plates has radially inner and outer ends, multiple radially disposed bars, and grooves alternating with the bars. The base of at least one of the grooves has a variable base profile along the radial length of the base such that in at least one radial position between the inner and outer ends of the refiner plate segment, the base profile of the refiner plate segments of the first refiner plate has a low point and the base profile of the refiner plate segments of the second refiner plate has an oppositely disposed high point. The high point in the base profile forces lignocellulosic material carried on the second refiner plate onto the first refiner plate.

Abstract: The yarn feeder of the invention has one or two yarn feeler levers, which monitor the yarn. In order to be able to prevent the monitoring if needed, a feeler barrier is provided. Its actuating device which in the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a handle, is disposed on an outer end of the basic body of the yarn feeder so that it is readily accessible to operators. The position set can also easily be seen from the position of the handle.

Abstract: A retractable device is provided for an earphone/microphone used with a cell phone. The device is formed of a housing with one rewinding spool for the earphone end of the cord with allowance for twisting of the connector end of the cord. The device with two spools allows for independent rewinding of earphone end portion of the cord and the connector end portion of the cord on different spools and the confinement of a middle portion of the cord in reversible winding cavity with the ends of the middle portion of the cord fixed so that middle portion can wind and rewind in the reversible winding cavity without leaving the cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a belt retractor (10) with a switchable force limiter. Said belt retractor (10) comprises as the force limiter at least one energy absorbing element (13; 14, 15; 61) that is linked with the reel shaft (12) and with the locking device of the belt retractor (10) via a profiled bead (50). The belt retractor is further provided with a switch device with which the energy absorption is adjusted. The aim of the invention is to provide a switch device that functions independent of the transmission of power between the reel shaft and the torsion bar. Said switch device (latch 21) is designed in such a manner that it can be switched at any time during the already existing energy absorption via the drive (26) that is independent of the reel shaft (12) and/or the switch device.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming wire coils on a stator including a winding tool movable in reciprocating and rotating movement and including wire apertures for feeding wire into slots of a stator. A drifting tool is provided adjacent an end of the winding tool and includes drifting blades extending radially outwardly for positioning within the slots of the stator. The drifting tool is movable with the winding tool during the winding operation such that the drifting tool follows the winding tool in its reciprocating movement to provide for displacement of wire in the slots and improve the slot fill during the winding operation. Wire retaining structures are provided above and below the stator to intermittently engage and retain wire located at the ends of the stator. A wire feed mechanism is also provided including a wire feed pulley and a belt cooperating with the pulley to push wire toward the winding tool.

Abstract: A reel-stick arm for winding yarn with regulated pressure between the reel and its actuation roller, particularly for double-twist twisting frames, comprising automatic means for balancing the effect of weight variation of the reel being formed, means for automatic raising of the reel-stick arm, and automatic means for clamping the arm in the raised position, said raising and clamping means being co-ordinated by interlocking means.

Abstract: A method of winding a web band in a machine for processing printing materials, including controlling the winding as a function of a diameter of a roll formed by the web band, as the diameter changes during the winding, includes determining, by a first sensor fastened to a frame of the machine, the position of a peripheral surface of the roll relative to the frame of the machine, and determining, by a second sensor fastened to the frame of the machine, the position of one of a center of the roll and of a peripheral surface of a spindle carrying the roll, relative to the frame of the machine; a winding device for performing the method; and a printing-material processing machine, such as a printing press, having the winding device.

Abstract: A guard is mounted for rotation about the downstream drum of a winder having two spaced apart winder drums which support a paper roll. The guard has a D-shaped leading-edge which approaches the paper roll. The leading-edge is articulated so that if an operator's hand becomes wedged between the leading-edge and the paper roll, articulation on the leading-edge closes a switch which brings the winder to a stop. A hydraulic actuator extends between a lowermost radial edge of each sector shaped extension and a fixed support. Operation of the hydraulic actuator causes the guard to rotate about the axis of the downstream winder drum so as to be between an operator and the downstream side of the winder drum. The leading edge of the the guard is positioned to limit operator access to the nip formed between the paper roll and the downstream winder drum.

Abstract: A rotary beam has mounted thereon a pair of carrier arms for rotatably supporting a roll of web from which the web is fed into the press, and another such arm pair for supporting another such web roll to which the web is to be spliced upon consumption of the first web roll. One of each pair of carrier arms has rotatably mounted thereto a hollow spindle to be partly inserted in the tubular core of the web roll. The hollow spindle has detents arranged at circumferential spacings thereon for fluid pressure actuation into frictional engagement with the inside surface of the web roll core. The other of each carrier arm pair has a second spindle rotatably mounted thereto which is to be held endwise against the web roll core via a spring-loaded end cap. How hard the web roll core is urged against the first spindle by the second spindle, resisting the unwinding of the web therefrom, depends upon whether the second spindle is held fast against the end cap or spaced therefrom by the spring.

Abstract: A rotary tape dispenser comprises a container including an inlet, an outlet, and a pin; a circular rotary plate having a portion exposed at the inlet and including a center hole, a plurality of cylinders around the center, a plurality of pairs of adjacent guide posts along the periphery wherein the number of the pairs of adjacent guide posts is equal to that of the cylinders, and a central sleeve put on and rotatable about the pin; a plurality of rolls of adhesive tapes wound on the cylinders, each roll having an open end pulled through the gap between the pair of guide posts; and a blade adjacent the outlet. The exposed portion of the rotary plate is counterclockwise rotatable to turn the rolls until one desired roll has turned to a position at the outlet. In response the roll can be pull and cut by the blade.

Abstract: A device for storing and unrolling materials in web form in bookbinding machines having a roll-changing device for connecting a material which is to be unwound from a roll to the end of a material of the same kind unwound from another roll. The two rolls of material are placed, resting on their superficies, in an almost perpendicular shaft and are supported and guided on side walls of the shaft via their end faces. The roll of material to be stored rests on a stationary, almost horizontal floor. The unwinding roll of material rests on movable supporting elements which are set in motion, during the unrolling of the roll of material, when the latter is supported against supporting rollers forming one end face of the shaft.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dispensing an amount of imbalance correction weight for attachment to a rotary element to reduce an imbalance in the rotary element. The imbalance correction weight includes a number of individual weights provided on a length of double-sided adhesive tape. A guide directs the imbalance correction weight through a channel provided by the guide toward a tape divider. A driver pulls a protective backing away from the tape causing the imbalance correction weight to move through the channel toward the tape divider. A sensor counts the individual weights that move past it. When the sensor has counted a desired number of individual weights, a controller instructs the driver to stop pulling on the protective backing thereby stopping movement of the imbalance correction weight and then instructs the tape divider to divide the tape to provide the amount of imbalance correction weight.

Abstract: A wire supply control assembly for creating a length of slack wire in readiness for use. The slack wire is stored by arching a length of wire upward along a feeder arm and downward to a baling machine. The wire feeder arm is biased in an upward position by a spring.

Abstract: An automatic sliding door cable mechanism with a take up guide member (46) mounted in a drum (14) for taking up slack of a cable during installation of the cable. A second drum (16) has an elliptical profile drum helix (96) for increasing durability of the operating cable for the automatic door.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a rocket booster for launching a payload into space includes a fuselage adapted to support one or more fuel tanks inside the fuselage and a booster engine coupled to an aft portion of the fuselage. The booster engine is operable to provide thrust during an ascent phase of operation of the rocket booster. The rocket booster further includes a nacelle coupled to a forward portion of the fuselage and a flyback engine disposed within and coupled to the nacelle. The flyback engine is operable to provide thrust during a flyback phase of operation of the rocket booster. The rocket booster also includes one or more control surfaces coupled to the fuselage that are operable to control a flight pattern of the rocket booster during the flyback phase of operation. The flyback engine of the rocket booster is located forward of an aerodynamic center of the rocket booster.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for correcting the trajectory (7, 8, 10, 11) of a spin-stabilised projectile (12) in azimuth by controlling its rate of spin by devices (18-21) deployable on the outside of the projectile (12) where they act on the airflow.

Abstract: A novel drive for a lifting platform utilizing a simple propeller, impeller, or gas turbine is disclosed. The axial air rotation from the drive is eliminated in order to permit the development of a partial toroidal vortex which efficiently maintains a raised air pressure zone beneath the lifting platform. The axial components are eliminated by means such as flow straightening vanes, which may also serve to control lateral motion of the lifting platform. The system can also be easily modified to function as an attractor device. Overall, the present invention explores the effect of vortices, both cylindrical and toroidal, and seeks to optimize their effects.

Abstract: The subject tiltrotor aircraft has three modes of operation: airplane mode, helicopter mode, and transition mode. A tilting mast, which transitions the aircraft between airplane mode and helicopter mode, is controlled by systems that allow selective movement of the rotor blades between the flight modes. A hub couples the rotor blades to the tilting mast such that torque and thrust are transferred, while allowing rotor thrust vector tilting. A main swash plate controls rotor thrust vector direction. Pitch horns are coupled to the rotor blades and the main swash plate via pitch links such that swash plate inputs are communicated to the rotor blades. The pitch links are coupled at “delta-3” values that are not optimum. A feedback swash plate and feedback links receive disk tilting inputs from the rotor blades, and supply inputs to the main swash plate, which compensates for the less than optimum delta-3 coupling.

Abstract: A failsafe arrangement comprising a first mounting member and a second mounting member which is angularly moveable relative to the first mounting member. The first and second mounting members define first and second surfaces respectively which define therebetween a channel, the first and second surfaces being shaped such that the channel is of non-uniform width. At least one wedge member is disposed within the channel, the or each wedge member being carried by a drive member and being arranged such that, in use, when the drive member and the second mounting member move at substantially the same angular speed, the wedge member does not impair movement of the second mounting member relative to the first mounting member, relative angular movement of the drive member and the second mounting member causing the wedge member to cooperate with the first and second surfaces to apply a braking force so as to impede relative angular movement of the first and second mounting members.

Abstract: A sensor-carrying pod which has middle and readily detachable end sections. The end sections are chosen from a suite of different end sections, depending upon the sensors used in a mission. The sections may include panels, or windows specifically transmissive to predetermined wavelengths, such as visible and IR. A deployment arrangement allows the pod to move horizontally and vertically, from an aircraft, into the airstream, and back again after a mission. The door of the aircraft is sealed around a component of the deployment arrangement to allow for pressurization of the aircraft for high altitude reconnaissance missions.

Abstract: A mid-level deck is provided as part of a main passenger cabin of a commercial aircraft and includes an elevated platform between the cabin floor and ceiling to provide additional storage space and areas for use by crew members. The mid-level deck also facilitates access to overhead modules. The storage space is provided under the elevated platform for storing galley carts, bins or similar storage items. A plurality of different articles may be provided in conjunction with the mid-level deck and/or connected to the elevated platform, including extra seats, storage members and sleeping units. More than one mid-level deck may be provided within a single main passenger cabin and and/on different levels of an aircraft.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for increasing available space in an aircraft cabin cross section to improve passenger comfort. Use of one floor bin supported armrest on each side of the aircraft's cross section, rather then conventional seat supported armrest as are provided conventionally elsewhere, permits use of wider seats and/or aisles. Use of floor bin supported armrests also provides the added benefit of increasing the storage volume of floor bins. The apparatus and method for increasing available cross sectional space can also be implemented on other passenger conveyance means, such as buses, trains, vans, or the like, having floor storage bins on the outboard (away-from-aisle) sides of seating units.