Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing a high-resolution surface pattern on a substrate and a multi-layer body produced by means of that process and an apparatus for carrying out the process. A printing substance is applied in pattern form to the substrate by means of a printing process. For fine structuring of the surface pattern, prior to application of the printing substance, a microscopic surface structure with a plurality of grooves is replicated into the surface of the substrate. The fine structuring of the surface pattern is determined by the respective locally applied application amount of printing substance and the respective local relief parameters of the microscopic surface structure in particular orientation direction and profile shape.

Abstract: An initiator with a housing formed of plastic and a chip assembly for initiating at least one of a combustion event, a deflagration event and a detonation event. The chip assembly includes an electrically-actuated chip and a pair of electric leads that extend through the housing and are configured to couple the electrically-actuated chip to a fireset circuit. The electrically-actuated chip is partially encapsulated in the housing. A method for forming an initiator is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor bridge device wherein a reaction time for generating sparks is short and a spark generating amount is large. This semiconductor bridge device comprises a substrate, a pair of land portions, a bridge portion electrically connecting between the pair of the land portions, and an electrode pad arranged on each upper surface in the pair of the land portions and emitting sparks at the bridge portion through an electric current passed between the electrode pads, in which the pair of the land portions and the bridge portion consist of a laminate formed by alternately laminating a metal layer and a metal oxide layer plural times, and an outermost layer in the laminate is a metal layer, and a metal oxide having a decomposition temperature of higher than 1500° C. is used in the metal oxide layer.

Abstract: A method to ensure payload activation of ordnance independently of a preset period of time including the steps of providing a power source to a clock, a detonator and a trigger circuit; the clock providing an initial count and a terminal count; the initial count providing a trigger signal to the trigger; the trigger circuit providing a terminal count signal to a self-destruct system if a malfunction results in no clock operation.

Abstract: A projectile structured to be discharged from a firearm comprising a body including a nose portion and a tail portion separable from one another when the projectile strikes a target. The body further includes an interface disposed intermediate opposite ends of the body of the projectile and structured to removably interconnect the nose and tail portions. Separation of the nose and tail portions such as when striking a soft tissue or like material target is caused by the tumbling of the projectile and the cooperative structuring of the interface to facilitate separation of the nose and tail portions. Further, the interface is disposed, dimensioned and structured to define the primary area of contact of the projectile body with the rifling or interior surface of the barrel of the firearm.

Abstract: A docking station for a monorail carrier system is provided. The carrier system includes a trolley that is configured to repositionably support a payload, and is adapted for interactive movement along a transfer bridge. The docking station includes a receiver plate having a rail-side portion perpendicularly oriented with a first interface portion that has one or more magnets attached thereto. A clamp assembly is attached to the rail-side portion, and operates to fasten the receiver plate to the transfer bridge at a predetermined location. The docking station also includes a docking plate having a trolley-side portion configured to securely attach to the trolley, and a second interface portion perpendicularly oriented with the trolley-side portion. The second interface portion is configured to magnetically cooperate with the first interface portion and thereby temporarily suspend the trolley at the predetermined location.

Abstract: A moving device in a pipeline, including: more than three segments, including a front segment, arranged in series; an extendable interconnecting element to connect adjacent segments; and an engaging force changing component to change engaging force of a segment that is to be moved with the inside of the pipeline to a smaller force, smaller than the engaging force of a remaining segment with the inside of the pipeline. The front segment has a head part, a body part, a joint part to turn the head part centering around the body part, and a drive unit to move the head part around the body part. The drive unit have a magnet provided in the head part and an electromagnet provided in the body part.

Abstract: A desk for use as a computer workstation has a generally planar work surface having first and second portions; a monitor storage space beneath the first portion on and a monitor support that is movable between a retracted attitude iii which the support is in the storage space and an extended attitude in which the support extends above the work surface. The first portion is movable between a closed position in which the first portion forms a part of the generally planar work surface and overlies the storage space to prevent movement of the support and an open position in which the first portion a flows movement of the support between the retracted and extended attitudes. When the support is in the extended attitude, a monitor attachment coupled thereto is movable along horizontal and vertical axes to enable the position of the monitor above the work surface to be adjusted.

Abstract: A pallet assembly includes an upper deck and a plurality of supports extending downward from the upper deck. A cap is secured in front of at least one of the supports to protect the support. The cap may be formed of a material different from the support, such as a higher density, tougher or harder material without increasing the cost of the materials for the supports and deck.

Abstract: A heavy load support made of plastic includes at least a rectangular bottom part with a leg part into which the fork of a forklift engages and which is provided with props located at least in the four corner areas of the bottom part. Metallic U-shaped profiled rails that are open towards the outside are provided between the props along the bottom edge of the load support. The props can be removably fixed to the bottom face of the bottom part of the load support and are provided with a support area for the corner areas of the bottom part as well as an edge which rises vertically from the support area and encloses the edges of the load support at a right angle, pegs being molded onto the free final leg surfaces of the edge to accommodate and fix the U-shaped profiled strips.

Abstract: A method for the subsurface application of fertilizers, biologicals, fumigants, non-fumigant pesticides or other chemicals to soil with reduced application rates. Discrete amounts of the materials are injected into the soil at numerous sites along a path during a pass through the soil. At the injection sites, the materials form diffusion patterns which may touch or overlapping with diffusion patterns of adjacent soil injections. The application of materials to soil in this manner maintains optimum efficacy with the use of the least amount of materials necessary per acre of soil.

Abstract: An automatic device (1) for orienting tubular textile items (3) on blocks (2), comprising a block (2) for receiving the textile item (3) having a reference (4) with respect to which the item (3) is to be oriented for reaching a pre-established operating position with respect to the block (2), orientation means (9) for shifting the item (3) on the block (2) for bringing it in the pre-established operating position, a detection element (13) for determining the initial position of the reference (4) when the textile item (3) is loaded onto the block (2), with respect to the pre-established operating position, and processing means connected to the detection element (13) and acting upon the orientation means (9) for orienting the textile item (3) and bringing it in the pre-established operating position.

Abstract: A boat including a having a first side, a second side, a bottom coupled to the first side and the second side. Each of the first and second sides and bottom can include a plurality of hollow beams welded along seams to form a double hulled boat.

Abstract: A personal watercraft is disclosed, having a straddle-type seat disposed on a deck. The seat has a seat profile. A storage compartment is disposed rearwardly of the seat. A rear platform is pivotally connected to a rear portion of the watercraft. The rear platform is pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position. The rear platform permits access to the storage compartment when in the raised position, and sealingly closes the storage compartment when in the lowered position. The rear platform is lower than the seat profile when the rear platform is in the lowered position. A personal watercraft having left and right storage compartments and a rear channel defined therebetween, in which the rear platform extends laterally above the rear channel when in the lowered position is also disclosed. A personal watercraft with a rear platform having heel rests with angled portions is also disclosed.

Abstract: The hull design for this invention includes a sharp bow, deep V concave shape (“VC”) monohull with a reverse curvature running from a flat straight keel to the upper rail and also encompassing the entire hull length from the bow to the stern. The pointed bow with a bow rudder and a deep flat keel results in a smooth hull for guiding a water column free of a wave and water turbulence to the stern. A mainsail mast and a mizzen shroud slide transversely within limits to promote sail proximity and to achieve increased speed via an improved draft. The mizzen foresail is tacked by moving the mast windward; detaching the mizzen shroud; moving it forward to perform a tacking maneuver, and then moving it aft to a leeward position in relation to the mainsail; and re-attaching the mizzen mast to the moveable traveler.

Abstract: The invention pertains generally to manufacturing and installing a semi-membrane tank for liquefied natural gas (LNG). Specifically, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for facilitating off-hull manufacturing of a completed semi-membrane LNG tank and installation of the tank in a permanent supporting structure, such as a ship's hull. Embodiments of the invention include attaching a support structure to the top and the sides of an LNG tank and attaching a support net to the support structure. The support net may be configured to support the bottom of the tank including any insulation that may be applied to the bottom. Once the support structure and support net are attached to the tank, the tank may then be moved from an assembly location to a permanent support structure where it may be permanently attached.

Abstract: An automatic boat washing system including several brush assemblies mounted on a vertically movable cage supported by a mainframe assembly and side ballast tanks is disclosed. The vertical position of the movable cage and brush assemblies may be adjusted in relation to the mainframe and ballast tanks during operation of the system. Rollers are used for supporting and drawing boats through the automatic boat washing assembly. The automatic boat washing assembly of the present invention may be used to clean powerboats in areas below the waterline in order to improve boat performance.

Abstract: A method for intercepting and yawing an errant sailing vessel is disclosed, wherein the vessel might have been hijacked or malfunctioned and in danger of colliding with an object. The method comprises dispatching a pair of watercraft to approach said sailing vessel, providing a tow rope to be secured at one end to first watercraft and the other end to second watercraft. The tow rope is brought to extend between the first and second watercrafts over the hull of said sailing vessel. The first watercraft is then secured to one side of said sailing vessel's hull, while second watercraft pulls the tow rope away from the direction of sailing on the other side of said vessel's hull. In an alternative embodiment, the tow rope end held by the first watercraft may be secured directly to the vessel's hull, thus freeing the first watercraft to evacuate crew from the vessel to a safer distance.

Abstract: A rigid inflatable boat has a structure to position and protect an inflatable tube without having to separate the tube from a boat body. The rigid inflatable boat may include a rubber tube that is attached to each side of a boat body. A folding panel includes one hinged end on each lower side of the boat body and another end including a hook for coupling with a fastener formed on a top portion of the boat body. The rubber tube is connected to an inner surface of the folding panel and a side portion of the boat body by a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism is configured to connect the tube to an inner surface of the folding panel and to the side of the boat body including a pair of guide plates and a pair of insertion bars. The guide plates have one side attached to the inner surface of the moveable plate and the boat body and another side formed with guide grooves disposed longitudinally along the length of boat body.

Abstract: The officiating flag apparatus is partly an air pump having a pump with removably attachable air fitting. An air gauge is disposed on and in communication with the pump. An officiating flag is attached to the pump, thereby combining a pump, an air pressure gauge, and an officiating flag in one apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating the surface of a lens includes a carousel having a central hub and a plurality of arms. A drive shaft is mounted to each arm, with a magnetic clutch and a lens holder being operatively attached to the drive shaft. The carousel is configured to be raised, rotated, and lowered into a series of workstations for processing the lens in a predetermined sequence. A workstation has associated therewith a spin drive attached to a reciprocating arm assembly. The spin drive includes a magnetic clutch which may be coupled to the magnetic clutch of any one of the arms on the carousel, such that a rotation generated by the spin drive is transferred to the drive shaft, and the lens holder. The arm assembly is capable of being extended and retracted to selectively engage and disengage the carousel.

Abstract: A sealant forming device, a sealant forming method and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same are disclosed. According to the present invention, a sealant coagulated in a nozzle can be minimized or prevented by performing an instantaneous suction process. A sealant forming device includes a dispenser including a syringe, and a nozzle connected to a lower end of the syringe to discharge a sealant therethrough; a dispensing tube connected to the syringe to apply a pressure to the syringe; and an instantaneous suction tube connected to the syringe to extract the sealant remaining in the nozzle after discharging the sealant.

Abstract: An electrohydrodynamic spray apparatus includes a liquid inlet and a spray nozzle in fluid communication with the liquid inlet, where the spray nozzle has an opening downstream of the liquid inlet. An inner electrode is situated at least partially inside the spray nozzle. An outer electrode is situated external to the spray nozzle and within about 100 mm of the opening of the nozzle. The electrohydrodynamic spray apparatus can be combined with a substrate to form an electrohydrodynamic spray system. The electrohydrodynamic spray apparatus or system can be used to form nanostructures such as nanodrops, nanoparticles and thin films.

Abstract: An ion shower system is disclosed and comprises a plasma source operable to generate source gas ions within a chamber. The plasma source further comprises a plurality of conductor segments and a plurality of capacitors, wherein the conductor segments are serially connected through the plurality of capacitors. The plasma source further comprises an antenna drive circuit coupled to the plurality of conductor segments that provides power to the conductor segments and capacitors at a predetermined frequency. The ion shower system also comprises a source gas inlet that provides a source gas to the chamber. The conductor segments, capacitors and antenna drive circuit cooperatively provide energy to charged particles in the chamber, thereby energizing the charged particles and generating a plasma comprising source gas ions and electrons within the chamber due to ionizing collisions between the energized charged particles and the source gas.

Abstract: A highly automated method and system for providing individual animal electronic identification, measurement and value based management of cattle in a large cattle feedlot. Through the use of (1) a computer system integrated with (2) automatic individual animal identification (3) multiple measurement and remeasurement systems with automatic data input and (4) a cattle handling and sorting system, animals are individually (a) identified and (b) measured by weight, external dimensions and characteristics of internal body tissue. With this information together with animal physiological characteristics and historical data, the computer system calculates the optimum (c) slaughter weight, (d) economic end point and (e) marketing date for shipment to a packing plant. After measurement, individual animals are (f) sorted by direction of the computer in response to calculations from the measurements.

Abstract: A feeding chamber is reached by an ascending ramp and an entrance passage, the top of said feeding chamber being defined by a first grid through which feed descends into said feeding chamber and the floor of said feeding chamber being defined by a second grid which allows food to fall from within said feeding chamber into a spillage chamber.

Abstract: A hummingbird feeder includes a solar panel power source for illuminating a reservoir of liquid hummingbird food so that the hummingbird can find it at night. The solar panel itself preferably hangs below the feeder in a flexible manner so that it can collect the maximum amount of sunlight and swing in the breeze. An LED attached to the solar power source is positioned to illuminate the liquid reservoir from within the reservoir. The parts that comprise the feeder are easily disassembled for washing and cleaning.

Abstract: A collapsible animal litter pan has polymeric surfaces that are immune to urine soaking. A plurality of hinges collapse and expand the litter pan. The litter pan has sidewalls that locate, receive and stabilize a urine absorption sheet. The urine absorption sheet has a liquid impervious bottom layer, a urine absorption layer composed of cotton, cellulose fluff pulp, commuted pulp, soft wood fine chips, or hydrophilic paper and combinations thereof, together with superabsorbent polymers and a top, liquid permeable, layer. The top and bottom layers are bonded to constrain the urine absorbent layer. An adhesive coating is applied to the bottom layer of the urine absorption sheet for temporarily adhering the sheet to the foldable litter pan for enhanced stability of the urine absorption sheet. Animal urine is substantially completely absorbed by the urine absorbent sheet, and the soiled sheet replaced with a fresh sheet without soiling the litter pan.

Abstract: A submersible rotatable cage for fish farming comprises a central axle, a buoyant structure positioned about the central, a netting attached to the buoyant structure and an actuator in operable communication with at least part of the buoyant structure and adapted to facilitate rotation of the buoyant structure about the central axle while the cage is in a submerged position. The cage can form part of a system, which includes a net cleaning apparatus, a tethering mechanism and sweep net, that can be used for nearly complete underwater fish farming.

Abstract: An apparatus and blade assembly includes a first array of single-edged parallel metal blades, each blade in the first array having rounded ends with a sharpened interior curve, and a second array of parallel double-edged blades with a sharpened interior curve, both arrays being fixably attached such that the first array and the second array are sufficiently spaced to create a blade assembly. A two-sided blade assembly includes a first shorter projecting side including a first plurality of blades configured with interior cutting curves, the first plurality of blades including single-edged blades; and a second projecting side coupled to the first shorter projecting side, the second projecting side including a second plurality of blades having a decreased number of blades as compared to the first plurality of blades, each blade in the second plurality of blades being double-edged including a blade edge for the first shorter projecting side and a second blade edge configured for the second projecting side.

Abstract: Constant pressure internal combustion engine having compression and expansion chambers of variable volume, an elongated combustion chamber of substantially constant volume between the compression and expansion chambers, and a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber where it mixes with compressed air from the compression chamber to form a mixture of fuel and air that burns as it travels through the combustion chamber. In some embodiments, the combustion chamber is folded back upon itself and has a rough, twisting interior side wall, with long, sharp protrusions extending inwardly therefrom and forming hot spots which help to provide complete combustion of the fuel mixture throughout the combustion chamber. These protrusions, together with flow turbulators within the chamber, promote complete mixing and, hence, combustion of the fuel and air in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Constant pressure internal combustion engine having compression and expansion chambers of variable volume, an elongated combustion chamber of substantially constant volume between the compression and expansion chambers, and a fuel inlet for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber where it mixes with compressed air from the compression chamber to form a mixture of fuel and air that burns as it travels through the combustion chamber. The pressure remains substantially constant within the combustion chamber over a wide range of operating and load conditions.

Abstract: A system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a hydraulic pump configured to be powered at least partially by a source other than the engine; an adjustable hydraulic engine actuator configured to be adjusted by hydraulic fluid of the pump; a control system configured to adjust said adjustable hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: A method of controlling cylinder valve switching between a first valve condition and a second valve condition for transitioning between combustion modes of an engine comprises adjusting timing of a signal to switch between said valve conditions in response to information from a combustion sensor, wherein said combustion modes include spark ignition and homogeneous charge compression ignition.

Abstract: A method of transitioning a cylinder of an engine from a spark ignition mode to a homogeneous charge compression ignition mode, the cylinder having at least one electrically actuated intake valve and at least one exhaust valve, the method comprising of before a transition, operating the cylinder with at least some overlap between an opening event of the intake valve and an opening event of the exhaust valve in the spark ignition mode; in response to a transition request, operating the cylinder with at least some negative overlap between an opening event of the intake valve and an opening event of the exhaust valve, retarding the intake valve opening and closing timing by different amounts and retarding ignition timing; and further increasing negative overlap and performing the homogeneous charge compression ignition mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve train for internal combustion engines, comprising a camshaft and valve actuation elements for one or more valves, the elements being located in the cylinder head. The aim of the invention is to provide a valve train for an internal combustion engine, with which a reliable stroke adjustment of the valves can be made, without the need for complex technical resources, while at the same time allowing a forward or rear displacement of the valve orifice region. To achieve this, in order to modify the valve stroke curve, the contact point between the transfer member and the cam can be displaced along the periphery of the cam and the contact point between the transfer member and a control curve of the support body can be displaced, forcing the part of the transfer member that interacts with the cam to be guided, by shifting the transfer member in relation to the camshaft.

Abstract: Control of a hydraulic type variable valve timing mechanism utilizing torque acting on a camshaft to transfer oil between an advance chamber and a retard chamber to cause a variation in a rotational phase of the camshaft, is implemented by computing a manipulated variable at each one cycle of the torque, based on the deviation between a detection value of the rotational phase and a target value thereof.

Abstract: A variable valve train apparatus (20) has a formed on a camshaft, a rocking cam driven by the cam, an intake valve or an exhaust valve driven by the rocking cam, a control shaft provided for rotation and side by side with the camshaft, a control arm having one end held on the control shaft and the other end projecting from the control shaft, an actuator which rotates the control shaft to displace the control arm, a transmission arm connected to the other end of the control arm for rocking motion around a rocking axis in substantially the same direction as an axial direction of the control shaft and transmits a displacement of the control arm to the rocking cam, and an adjustment mechanism which adjusts a distance between an axis of the control shaft and the rocking axis of the transmission arm.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tappet assembly for a machine. The assembly may include a tappet body, a pin fixedly mounted in the tappet body, and a substantially cylindrical roller mounted about the pin. The roller may have a substantially cylindrical outer surface with a circumferential dimension and a width dimension, the width dimension being defined by two lateral edges. The roller may be configured to provide rolling contact between the outer surface of the roller and a cam lobe. The outer surface of the roller may be crowned such that at maximum operational loading conditions of the machine a footprint of contact pressure from the cam lobe is spread substantially the full width of outer cylindrical surface of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine having a manual recoil starter and starter rope comprises a casing that houses a motor, a source of power, a gear reducer assembly and a spool assembly. The spool assembly includes a spool that adapted to receive the handgrip of the starter rope and allow the starter rope to be wound around the spool during the starting operation. The motor via the gear reducer rotates the spool once the handgrip and cord are properly positioned and the motor is activated to pull the starter rope and start the engine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a piston for a combustion engine, comprising a cooling duct with a single inlet port and at least two outlet ports, at least two of which are separated from each other regarding the discharged coolant. Also disclosed is a combustion engine comprising at least one such piston.

Abstract: An engine control system includes an air control module, a spark control module, a torque control module, a transient detection module, and a launch torque module. The air control module controls a throttle valve of an engine based on a commanded predicted torque. The spark control module controls spark advance of the engine based on a commanded immediate torque. The torque control module increases the commanded predicted torque when a catalyst light-off (CLO) mode is active, and increases the commanded immediate torque when a driver actuates an accelerator input. The transient detection module generates a lean transient signal when an air per cylinder increase is detected while the CLO mode is active. The launch torque module generates a torque offset signal based on the lean transient signal. The torque control module increases the commanded immediate torque based on the torque offset signal.

Abstract: Internal combustion engine with variable actuation of the valves providing electronic control means which, when the engine is subject to an operating variation request from a first operating condition to a second operating condition, are adapted to select a cylinder to which to assign said second operating condition based on a determined programming delay only as a function of the engine speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel-injection system (102), in which a rail (120) is provided for each injector between a high-pressure fuel pump (111) and said injectors (116).

Abstract: A gas powered internal combustion engine in which the gas is provided from pressurized liquid gas in an LPG container and in which the LPG container is rigidly mounted adjacent to the internal combustion engine at a preselected angle to be in conductive heat transfer relationship to the internal combustion engine and in vibration receiving relationship to the internal combustion engine whereby the liquified gas in the LPG container is heated and the effective surface area thereof is increased.

Abstract: A drive system. The drive system includes an engine configured to convert chemical energy into mechanical energy, an electronically-controlled air throttle configured to regulate air delivery to the engine, an electronically-controlled supercharger configured to selectively increase pressure of the air delivered to the engine, and a controller configured to variably engage the supercharger based on an operating parameter of the drive system.

Abstract: A fungo batting assisting machine having a frame; a cradle mounted upon the frame, the cradle having a ball percussion port; a hammer; a first pivot joint interconnecting the hammer and the frame so that the hammer may move between a spring energy position underlying the ball percussion port and a ball driving position overlying the spring energy position; a ball driving spring normally positioning the hammer between its spring energy and ball driving positions; a trip arm extending from the hammer; a pawl arm; a second pivot joint interconnecting the pawl arm and the frame so that the a pawl arm may move between a trip arm carrying position and a trip arm releasing position; and an actuation lever extending from the pawl arm.

Abstract: A launcher for a flying cylinder has a elongated guide member to which a base is slidably coupled. In preferred aspects, a pair of resilient elements is coupled at respective first portions to one end of the guide member while respective second portions are coupled to the base. Most preferably, coupling is performed via cutouts in the guide element and the base to permit simple replacement of the resilient elements.

Abstract: A launching apparatus for shooting a series of bolts in rapid-fire succession. The apparatus has an arcuate frame which is arranged along a longitudinal medial section with a transversely aligned upper section and a transversely aligned lower section. The midpoint of the arcuate frame has a grip portion for holding onto the launching apparatus. The frame also has an elastic launching band which is held tightly between an upper connector and a lower connector. A forearm brace extends perpendicular to the arcuate frame. The arcuate frame is held within a launching plane and the forearm being secured to the longitudinal medial section and aligned parallel to the user's forearm. The forearm brace resists an overturning moment applied from the elastic band about the longitudinal medial section of the arcuate frame. The brace keeps the arcuate frame in its launching plane. The bolt is configured for rapid-fire launch, and is arranged as a cylindrical shaft.

Abstract: A crossbow (20) has a stock (21) which can be adjusted in length by utilization of an adjustment mechanism (34). In order to conveniently cock the crossbow (20) the adjustment mechanism (34) is used to shorten the length of the stock (21). But when the crossbow (20) is to be fired, the length of the stock may be increased as described by the user.