Abstract: A lazy susan device (100) includes a platform or support base (108). The support base (108) is rotatably coupled to a centralized support pole (102). A series of linear slides (140) are arranged in pairs (142). Pie or wedge-shaped shelves (148) are mounted to the linear slides (140). The slides (140) are properly secured to a corresponding shelf (140) in a manner such that the shelf (140) is permitted to slide radially outwardly from the platform or support base (108).

Abstract: A system and process for dispensing a liquid agrochemical such as ammonia into a field is disclosed. The ammonia is placed in a vessel under sufficient pressure to maintain a substantial portion of the ammonia in a liquid form. From the pressurized vessel, the ammonia is fed to a distribution manifold where it is ultimately injected into a soil through a plurality of dispensing tubes. A constant pressure flow rate control device is placed at each dispensing tube for metering the amount of ammonia fed to the soil. Furthermore, the outlet flow of each constant pressure rate control device is made to vaporize nearby the inlet flow path to create a heat exchange effect thereby cooling the inlet flow. In particular, the flow control devices allow ammonia to be dispensed from the system while maintaining sufficient back pressure and temperature within the distribution manifold to maintain the ammonia in a liquid form.

Abstract: A method of reducing underwater hydrofoil cavitation is described; hydrofoil steering vanes trade a small degree of efficiency for significant cavitation reduction, through perforations in the hydrofoil. Some pattern examples are discussed. A method of further cavitation reduction through surface texture variation also reduces underwater hydrofoil drag; some patterns are discussed. Combining the methods provides maximum cavitation reduction.

Abstract: Boats adapted for multiple purposes are detailed. Versions of the boats may have performance characteristics and equipment necessary to qualify as rescue boats while normally maintaining appearances appropriate for placement on, for example, yachts as tenders or similar boats. Covers or other transformative materials may be used to modify the appearances of the boats when needed as rescue craft.

Abstract: A safety device including a support that may be stowed within an enclosure and easily extended for use. One embodiment comprises a support that may act as a handle and a step, a strap, the lower end of which is attached to the support, and a keeper comprising a pouch closable by a flap to form an enclosure. The upper end of the strap is attached to the interior of the keeper, and the keeper may be attached to a vessel or other object via a loop on its rear side. The strap is gathered inside the keeper, with the handle hanging outside the keeper and fixed in position by the closed flap, such that the handle when pulled will cause the flap to open and the strap to extend.

Abstract: Embodiments of portable cones are disclosed herein. One disclosed embodiment, for example, comprises a resilient coil spring having successive coils of decreasing diameter. The resilient coil spring of this embodiment has a generally conical shape in its natural state and is compressible into a compressed state. This embodiment further includes a cone-body cover formed from at least one fabric. The cone-body cover is disposed about an exterior of the resilient coil spring and is pulled substantially taut against the exterior of the resilient coil spring when the coil spring extends towards its natural state. The cone-body cover further comprises a tip region and a lower edge. The portable cone further includes a base to which the lower edge of the cone-body cover is attachable, thereby defining between the base and the cone-body cover a first interior in which the resilient coil spring is housed. The base of this embodiment also defines a second interior in which one or more weights (e.g.

Abstract: A display device includes a lifting body, such as a kite or a buoyant object. A vehicle attachment device is provided for securing the device to a stationary object, such as to the bumper, door or window of a parked motor vehicle. A tether secures the lifting body to the vehicle attachment devices. Swivels and releasable tether attachment devices may be provided for attaching the tether to the vehicle attachment devices and for attaching the tether to the lifting body. A plurality of ornaments, such as memorabilia, banners, pennants, logos, decorations, flags, advertisements and/or other indicia are provided for releasable attachment to the tether. Ornament attachment devices are also provided for releasably securing ornaments to the tether at desired positions.

Abstract: Conductive polymers can be used as the signal carrying layers in resistive touch screens. Using conductive polymers can allow higher sheet resistance than is conventionally obtained using indium tin oxide while maintaining electrical continuity and durability of the layer. Higher sheet resistance can also lead to reduced errors and reduced power consumption, as well as better optical transmission. Sheet resistance may be limited on an upper end by desired data sampling rates. Also disclosed are resistive touch screens that employ a conductive polymer on both the topsheet and bottom substrate and that can be operated with the use of conventional electronics.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing or growing a compound having the general formula Mn+1AXn(16) where M is a transition metal, n is 1, 2, 3 or higher, A is an A-group element and X is carbon, nitrogen or both, which comprises the step of exposing a substrate to gaseous components and/or components vaporized from at least one solid source (13, 14, 15) whereby said components react with each other to produce the Mn+1AXn (16) compound.

Abstract: Using a seed crystal comprising a silicon single crystal not including a vacancy excess region, a neck comprising a silicon single crystal not including a vacancy excess region is grown with a diameter contracted smaller than, or equal to that of the contact surface of the silicon seed crystal in contact with a raw material silicon melt, and necking is performed so that the length L of the neck satisfies L?d·(cot ?), where d denotes the length of the diameter or the diagonal of the contact surface of the silicon seed crystal in contact with the raw material silicon melt, and ? denotes the angle formed between the propagation direction of dislocations and the growth direction of the neck, and then the silicon single crystal is grown with the diameter expanded.

Abstract: In a process for calibrating the temperature control unit of a vertical gradient freeze crystal growth oven, instead of the fused material a test body (3) is used in the oven (1) that does not melt at the oven temperature, that has a heat conductivity comparable to the fused material and a central bore (4). After turning on the resistance heaters (8, 9, 10) of the oven (1) the temperature at the level of the individual control temperature indicators (11, 12, 13) of the oven (1) is measured via a reference temperature indicator (5) than can be fully inserted into the bore (4) and subsequently the output of the respective resistance heaters (8, 9, 10) is set to a desired temperature value. In the process the difference to the temperature of the respective control temperature indicators (11, 12, 13) is determined.

Abstract: A process for the fabrication of a III nitride-based compound semiconductor includes a first crystal growth step for growing a semiconductor layer A made of a III nitride-based compound semiconductor on a crystal growth surface, and a second crystal growth step for growing a semiconductor layer B made of a III nitride-based compound semiconductor on the semiconductor layer A in which a lateral crystal growth rate of the semiconductor layer A in the first crystal growth step is lower than a lateral crystal growth rate of the semiconductor layer B in the second crystal growth step.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing KNbO3 single crystal thin film having single-phase high quality and excellent morphology on each of single crystal substrates. A surface acoustic wave element, frequency filter, frequency oscillator, electronics circuit, and electronic device employ the thin film manufactured by the method, and have high k2, and are wideband, reduced in size and economical in power consumption. A plasma plume containing K, Nb, and O in the range 0.5?x?xE is supplied to a substrate, where x is a mole ratio of niobium (Nb) to potassium (K) in KxNb1-xOy, and xE is a mole composition ratio at the eutectic point for KNbO3 and 3K2O.Nb2O5 under a predetermined oxygen partial pressure. Maintaining the temperature Ts of the substrate in the range TE?Ts?Tm where TE represents the temperature at the eutectic point and Tm represents a complete melting temperature, the KNbO3 single crystal is precipitated from the KxNb1-xOy deposited on the substrate.

Abstract: A low dislocation density GaN single crystal substrate is made by forming a seed mask having parallel stripes regularly and periodically aligning on an undersubstrate, growing a GaN crystal on a facet-growth condition, forming repetitions of parallel facet hills and facet valleys rooted upon the mask stripes, maintaining the facet hills and facet valleys, producing voluminous defect accumulating regions (H) accompanying the valleys, yielding low dislocation single crystal regions (Z) following the facets, making C-plane growth regions (Y) following flat tops between the facets, gathering dislocations on the facets into the valleys by the action of the growing facets, reducing dislocations in the low dislocation single crystal regions (Z) and the C-plane growth regions (Y), and accumulating the dislocations in cores (S) or interfaces (K) of the voluminous defect accumulating regions (H).

Abstract: The invention provide a method for applying a coating to an ophthalmic lens or a mold for making the ophthalmic lens or a medical device other than ophthalmic lens. The method comprises spraying at least one layer of a coating liquid onto an ophthalmic lens using a spraying process selected from the group consisting of an air-assisted atomization and dispensing process, an ultrasonic-assisted atomization and dispensing process, a piezoelectric assisted atomization and dispensing process, an electro-mechanical jet printing process, a piezo-electric jet printing process, a piezo-electric with hydrostatic pressure jet printing process, and a thermal jet printing process. The coating can comprise a property/functionality pattern or a color image or combination of both.

Abstract: A coating machine in which a machine body formed with a coating material atomizing mechanism is detachably provided with a cartridge for filling a coating material wherein a cartridge attaching portion formed to the machine body is provided with a guide that slidably guides a new cartridge driven in from one end into a coupling position and drives a used cartridge pushed by the new cartridge from the coupling position to the other end.

Abstract: While in typical enamel protection labels, an adhesive layer lies on each silicone-containing separating layer, from which the first is detachable, according to the present invention the separating area is implemented using a material pairing free of adhesive and silicone. The enamel protection label has two masking layers (7a, 7b), more masking layers are also possible. The upper masking layer (7b) is attached using an adhesive layer (10b) onto the separating layer (8b) made of transparent UV-cured screenprint enamel. This enamel is applied to the lower masking layer (7a), made of a plastic film which is not pretreated further. The separating area (9b) functionally assigned to the upper masking layer (7b) represents the boundary area between separating area (8b) and lower masking layer (7a), along which the detachment for removing the upper masking layer (7b) is performed.

Abstract: An installation for cutting and applying reinforcement fibers (2), with at least two cutting modules (1), each one of which fed with at least a cord of reinforcement fibers (4) and arranged in order to move on a top plane with respect to a working surface (3), where: at least each one of two of the cutting modules (1) is actuated by an independent motor (7), each independent motor (7) for actuation of the cutting of the fibers is controlled selectively by a control device (8); and at least two of the cutting modules (1) are arranged on a shared frame (9) that supports them during the cutting process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for hot dip coating metal strands (1), particularly strip steel, in which the metal strand (1) can be vertically guided through a reservoir (3), which accommodates the molten coating metal (2), and though a guide channel (4) connected upstream therefrom. An electromagnetic inductor (5) is mounted in the area of the guide channel (4) and in order to retain the coating metal (2) inside the reservoir (3), can induce induction currents in the coating metal (2) by means of an electromagnetic traveling field. While interacting with the electromagnetic traveling field, said induction currents exert an electromagnetic force. The inductor (5) has at least two main coils (6) that are arranged in succession in movement direction (X) of the metal strand (1), and has at least two correction coils (7) for controlling the position of the metal strand (1) inside the guide channel (4) in direction (N), which is normal to the surface of the metal strand (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for forming phosphor layers on a display panel includes a base plate on which a display panel is placed. The base plate is inclined at an adjustable angle. The display panel, having a panel plate and barrier ribs formed on the panel plate is placed on the base plate. A spray unit includes a nozzle assembly for spraying a slurry containing phosphors into spaces between the barrier ribs. A charged unit for exerting electrostatic force on the phosphors is positioned adjacent to the display panel. The apparatus enables rapid formation of uniform phosphor layers on a display panel with the phosphor particles located adjacent to the surfaces of the phosphor layers.

Abstract: The problem confronting manufacturers of printed circuit boards (2) of differing thickness is that, as the current density increases and the diameter of the holes decreases, the treatment effect on various locations on the outer side of the boards and inside the holes becomes more irregular. To resolve this problem, a conveyorized horizontal processing line and a method of wet-processing printed circuit boards (2) is described.

Abstract: An arrangement for conveying adhesives to an applicator comprising a pressurized material vessel and a supply vessel, wherein the pressurized material vessel and the supply vessel are connected to one another by a pipe, which can be shut off by a valve and wherein the adhesive can be conveyed from the supply vessel into the pressurized material vessel solely by exertion of pressure.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding and milking animals. The assembly is provided with a feeding system comprising a movable feed platform and a drive unit for driving the feed platform, a number of feeding places being provided on the feed platform. The assembly also includes a milking system for, in particular automatically, milking animals on the feed platform, which milking system comprises a number of sets of teat cups. An area where the animals are allowed to move freely communicates via an entrance with the feed platform, the width of the entrance being sufficiently large to enable simultaneous access of several animals to the feed platform. The entrance is free from a closing device.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding and milking animals is disclosed. The assembly comprises a feeding system with a movable feed platform and a drive unit for driving the feed platform. The feed platform is provided with a number of feeding places. The assembly further comprises a milking system for automatically milking animals on the feed platform, which milking system comprises sets of teat cups. At least a large number of the sets of teat cups is disposed separately from the feed platform.

Abstract: A teat cup carrier is designed to be able to co-operate with a feed platform, which teat cup carrier is freely movable relative to the feed platform. The teat cup carrier carries, besides teat cups, further milking elements for milking an animal, the further milking elements including at least a milk storage vessel for storing milk, a milking vacuum source and a pulsation vacuum source. The milk storage vessel is provided with a milk outlet. The freely movable teat cup carrier is in particular a self-propelled (autonomous) mobile teat-cup-carrying robot and comprises a control unit for controlling the functioning of the mobile teat-cup-carrying robot.

Abstract: A device for feeding poultry kept in a barn, comprises at least one food supply tube (1) which is held above the floor of the barn such as to be able to be lowered or raised, with a series of branch openings, each provided with a dish device (2) hanging on the supply tube, comprising a dropping tube extending from the branch opening and a feeding dish (4) arranged below, the dropping tube with a spoked arrangement of lattice bars (5) forming the cup of the dish. The dropping tube comprises an inner cylinder (7) leading off from the branch opening and an outer cylinder (8) surrounding the inner cylinder, from which the dish hangs by means of the lattice bars, such as to be placed on the floor of the barn in the lowered state of the food supply tube. The outer cylinder runs on the inner cylinder such as to rotate, be raised or lowered and at least one stop is provided for limiting the raising and lowering stoke.

Abstract: A game feeder has a collapsible feed storage container supported by a detachable support structure to facilitate transportation in the field. A feed dispenser can be attached to the outlet of the feed storage container to dispense feed at selected times.

Abstract: A louvered ramp, that serves as a cat's paw-cleaning entry and exit ramp, ascending to, and descending from, a cat litter box.

Abstract: A pet litter apparatus has an upper screen to retain litter and debris, a plurality of upper bars, a lower plurality of bars, mechanism for lowering the lower plurality of bars to define spaces for passage of particulate matter between the upper and lower bars, by rotating rods on sprockets to lower the second plurality of bars.

Abstract: An apparatus for scooping and sifting cat litter is provided having a handle depending from an enclosure. The handle is tapered to provide a comfortable and easily used handle for grasping and using the scoop. The enclosure is significantly wider than the handle, thus providing sufficient space for the placement of wasted cat litter clumps therein. The enclosure includes a mouth permitting ingress and egress of waster cat litter clumps and excess cat litter. The enclosure also includes a solid portion and a grated portion. The grate portion includes a plurality of slots and a plurality of ribs alternately placed therebetween. The slots permit excess cat litter to filter therethrough.

Abstract: A motor assisted swivel is disclosed which aids in proper rotation of a swivel in a tether system for animal testing. The swivel may have any number of fluid conduits or electrical or optical leads. A switching mechanism determines a direction of rotation of the tether and activates a motor to rotate the swivel in the direction of rotation. When rotation of the tether stops, further rotation of the swivel causes the switching mechanism to deactivate the motor. The switching mechanism may include a hinged connector with magnets on each side and reed switches to sense movement of the connector about its hinge.

Abstract: A method and technical arrangement for efficient bulk transport of live fish or shellfish in water in a storage container, wherein the transport of such live organisms may last several hours or days. The storage container and various pieces of other necessary technical equipment used to keep the organisms alive, are placed in physical connection to at least one transport module which is arranged in shape and size to fit together with, or into, a transport container, preferably a standardized container. The container is attached to and carried by means of an ordinary surface transport means, including boat, railway, lorry or car.

Abstract: An aquaculture reservoir includes water contained by a liner material made from at least one ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer, the liner material being cured with a curing agent and at least one thiazole accelerator and either a dithiocarbamate accelerator or a guanidine accelerator, but is devoid of thiuram accelerators. The liner is non-toxic to aquatic animals grown in the aquaculture reservoir. The liner is particularly useful for the aquaculture of shrimp and crayfish.

Abstract: Live water solutions containing natural fresh water or saltwater microorganisms, is used in the bio-cycling of aquariums and to provide a healthy aquatic environment. Live water obtained from natural bodies of water, such as an ocean, sea, lake, river, or stream is filtered through filter media having a pore size between 5 and 20 microns to remove contaminants and debris while allowing microorganisms to remain in suspension. The live water is packaged in containers for retail sale thereby providing consumers with a source of live aquarium water for use in an aquarium during initial set-up, to replace water lost to evaporation, and for effecting quick water changes. An enrichment solution is disclosed to aid in maintaining the microorganisms metabolically and physiologically viable for extended periods. In an alternate embodiment, the live water is concentrated to a salinity level not less than 0.8 aw thereby reducing volume while maintaining microorganism viablility.

Abstract: An aquarium which includes a tank having a pump and an under gravel filter disposed in the tank below the pump. The under gravel filter includes a hollow bubble dispersing base plate having a perforated top surface and an overlying substrate. An air conduit is provided for introducing air into the pump. The pump is connected to the plate such as to pump blended oxygenated water and air into the interior of the plate to thereby cause oxygenated water and bubbles to exit upwardly through the perforated top surface of the plate and into and through the substrate. The pump includes a free floating magnetic impeller. A rotational torque generating unit is provided to rotate the impeller. The rotational torque generating unit includes a magnetic drive disk and a motor for rotating the magnetic drive disk.

Abstract: A ventilated shelving storage system is described for cages containing laboratory animals, which provides for the installation of one or more horizontal wall guides, to which one or more shelf ventilation units are connected. One or more shelves in series with a quick connection/release system are connected, in their turn, to the ventilation units. The ventilation units can run along the horizontal guides, by means of a motorised system if necessary.

Abstract: A device for carrying a four-legged animal (10) comprises a sheet (12) of a flexible material which can be folded over so as to form a curved bottom portion (14) and an upper portion constituted by two edges (16) of the sheet (12) which have been brought together. Four apertures (18) are formed through the bottom portion (14) substantially at the four corners of a rectangle to enable the four legs of the animal (10) to pass through them. The upper portion has means enabling a user to hold the device in a suspended configuration.

Abstract: A pet enclosure for attractively displaying a pet and providing heating, cooling or air circulation as needed is constructed of several panels. A floor panel, side panels, front viewing panel structure including a window, and a cover panel are attached together using trim strips, the trim strips can be further attached to the panels using screws or adhesive. Preferably the trim strips are made of aluminum and the non-window panels are made of two to three-inch thick foam panels with outer skins.

Abstract: An improved bedding for livestock of this invention provides a bed strip for livestock having at least two elastomeric belts bonded together, one on top of the other, to form at least one bed with at least two chambers, front and rear, expandable under fluid pressure, that, once properly filled with a working volume of fluid, will each attain a convex pillow-like shape. The fluid volume in the chambers is such that when an animal steps on the rear chamber of the bed the top belt makes contact with the bottom belt to provide a stable base for the animal's foot, yet, when the animal drops to its knees on the front chamber of the bed, during the process of lying down or rising to standing, the knees are supported by a fluid cushion between the top and bottom belts.

Abstract: A carrier for a baby or infant, especially for use in water, includes an adjustable shoulder strap system for wearing by an adult, which has a lower front terminus; and a basket seat for seating the baby/infant, attached to the shoulder strap system about its lower front terminus. A headrest may be attached to the carrier, notably through the shoulder strap system and the basket seat. The shoulder strap system can employ a criss-cross shoulder strap arrangement through an adjusting member, which can evenly distribute the weight of the baby/infant across the adult and provide for secure positioning of the baby/infant in water, and the shoulder straps and basket seat can be adjustable. An end of each shoulder strap may be releasably attachable to the basket seat, and provide for side entry by the adult. Various activities can be carried out with a child carried in the carrier, even water aerobics.

Abstract: A resin composition includes a thermosetting resin and a filler dispersed in the thermosetting resin. A filler particle size curve represents a small-diameter peak, a large-diameter peak having a higher frequency than that of the small-diameter peak, and a valley which is positioned between the small-diameter peak and the large-diameter peak and has a lower frequency than that of the small-diameter peak. An ignition coil device allows the resin composition to penetrate into gaps between turns of a coil wire.

Abstract: A connecting rod includes a connecting rod body having a crank arm bore formed in a first end and a pin bore formed in a second end. A tube is connected to the body for carrying lubricant from the first end to the second end.

Abstract: A piston cooling system for an internal combustion engine has a connecting rod assembly for connecting a piston to a crankshaft. The connecting rod assembly may have a connecting rod, a connecting rod bearing, a piston pin bushing, and a piston pin. The connecting rod is mounted on the crankshaft with the connecting rod bearing therebetween. The connecting rod is mounted on the piston pin with the piston pin bushing therebetween. The piston pin is connected to the piston. The connecting rod assembly forms a channel. Lubrication fluid flows through the channel and sprays on the piston during engine operation.

Abstract: A cylinder block for an internal combustion engine is formed with a knock sensor mounting boss formed on a block side wall, and designed to support an engine knock sensor. The cylinder block further includes a tubular rib projecting from the block side wall, extending in a cylinder row direction over a plurality of cylinders, and being connected with the knock sensor mounting boss.

Abstract: A reinforcing structure is integrally formed on a front wall of a cylinder block of shallow water jacket type. The reinforcing structure comprises mutually crossing vertical and lateral ribs. The vertical rib extends vertically between upper and lower deck portions of the cylinder block, and the lateral rib is constructed to constitute a raised ridge of a front one of jacket bottom wall. Alternatively, the reinforcing structure comprises a raised bolt boss that is integrally formed on a front one of jacket bottom walls to catch a connecting bolt used for securing a middle portion of a front cover to the front wall.

Abstract: In a cylinder block for an internal-combustion engine, a cap-mounting bulk portion is connected with both first and second side walls of a crankcase formed below a lower deck. Each of first and second bulk connection portions connecting the first and second side walls, respectively, with the cap-mounting bulk portion projects inwardly from the corresponding side wall. The bulk connection portion is formed with a hollow portion extending in a vertical direction of the cylinder block. The first and second bulk connection portions are connected, respectively, with first and second head bolt bosses, which are formed on an upper block wall surrounding an upper part of a cylinder of the engine, by first and second connecting ribs extending in the vertical direction.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided in which an exhaust port (16) communicating with a combustion chamber (24) formed in a cylinder head (20) is formed from independent exhaust ports (16A), which are positioned on the upstream side, and a grouped exhaust port (16B), in which the plurality of independent exhaust ports (16A) are combined. Water supplied from a supply pump passes through a water passage (W1) of the grouped exhaust port (16B) and a water passage (W2) of the independent exhaust ports (16A) while cooling the exhaust port (16), and a valve seat (29) and valve guide (40) on the periphery of the exhaust port (16), which have high temperatures, thus heating the water itself and thereby recovering waste heat of the internal combustion engine. The heated water carries out heat exchange with exhaust gas in an evaporator provided in an exhaust passage and turns into high temperature, high pressure steam, which drives an expander of a Rankine cycle system.

Abstract: A horizontally opposed four-stroke internal combustion engine comprises a cylinder block having at least one cylinder bore horizontally extended to both ends thereof. At least one piston is respectively inserted within the at least one cylinder bore, wherein each of the at least one cylinder bores is divided into two combustion chambers. A pair of crankshafts are respectively disposed in both ends of the cylinder block and driven by the at least one piston.

Abstract: An electromechanical valve actuator having a beginning of stroke damper to damp the impact between the armature stem and the valve stem as the valve is opened. The beginning of stroke damper includes an armature stem defining a stem passage and a valve stem including a lash compensator defining a cavity communicating with the stem passage. An oil pocket may be provided within the cavity to absorb the impact of the armature stem before the armature stem contacts the valve stem as the valve is opened. The lash compensator is configured so that the cavity has a discharge rate sufficient to ensure that the cavity completely drains at approximately the time the engine valve reaches the full open position.

Abstract: A compact electromechanical valve actuator that allows the electromechanical valves to generally be situated in closer proximity to each other, thereby reducing overall packaging space requirements. The electromechanical valve actuator includes a connecting rod that is at least partially within the envelope of the electromagnets and armature plate. The armature plate also defines an armature envelope and the connecting rod is pivotably coupled to the armature plate with a pivot axis within the armature envelope.