Abstract: A side-by-side vehicle comprising a frame and a plurality of ground engaging members is provided. The side-by-side vehicle further includes an operator area having seating and operator controls, and a cargo carrying portion located rearward of the operator area. A floor of the cargo carrying portion includes a movable cover to provide access underneath the cargo carrying portion.

Abstract: A utility vehicle is disclosed. The utility vehicle may include storage areas under the dash. The utility vehicle may include suspension systems for utility vehicles having shocks with both a fluidic stiffness adjustment and a mechanical stiffness adjustment. The utility vehicle may include an electrical power steering.

Abstract: A flat plate nose frame design for a tractor in which a thick, flat structural plate is connected to and forwardly extends from the conventional frame rails of the tractor. The flat plate nose frame design increases vertical clearance under the hood without raising the hood height or reducing ground clearance. The nose plate is contoured to match the exterior contours of the tractor grill and hood eliminating the need for a separate aesthetic component covering the nose plate. The nose plate features a pair of vertically aligned short-height frame plates extending forwardly along the axis from the deep-section frame rails to increase strength in the flat nose plate without significantly increasing vertical height of the nose plate assembly. The flat plate nose frame is capable of withstanding operational loads as well as supporting a weight package or front-mounted implements.

Abstract: In an automatic transfer apparatus, a carriage tractor and a carriage are respectively equipped with connecting portions and through which the carriage tractor is connected near the substantial center of the bottom of the carriage. The automatic transfer apparatus is provided with displacement restricting means for restricting lateral displacement of the carriage tractor or the carriage with respect to the running direction thereof when the carriage tractor runs in the traverse direction while towing the carriage. Therefore, the carriage tractor is capable of running in the forward-reverse direction and the traverse direction while simplifying and downsizing the structure of the carriage tractor.

Abstract: An anti-rollover motorized vehicle includes a chassis, a front wheel and a rear two wheels assembly including a tilting base and a four-bar linkage structure. The tilting base is connected to the chassis through a supporting structure. The four-bar linkage structure suitable for connecting the chassis with two rear wheels includes first, second, third and fourth linkages. The first and second linkages are pivoted to the tilting base. The third and fourth linkages pivoted to two ends of the first and second linkages respectively are connected to the supporting brackets of the two rear wheels respectively. When the chassis is tilted, the tilting base and the supporting structure are also tilted, the first and second linkages are maintained at a constant angle relative to a road surface, and the third and fourth linkages are also tilted, such that track width of the two tilting rear wheels is maintained.

Abstract: A protective device of an automobile driver can prevent driver's legs from being injured by a brake pedal as the brake pedal forcibly rotates forward when a collision accident occurs.

Abstract: A wheel hub assembly for use in powered lawn equipment is disclosed. The wheel hub assembly has a receiving member which is coupled to an intermediate shaft having an intermediate gear. The intermediate gear is coupled to an output shaft having an output gear. The output shaft is connected to an output hub; the intermediate shaft gear meshes with the output gear such that when the receiving pulley is rotated in one direction, the output hub rotates in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An elevator may include an elevator car, a set of hoisting ropes, a traction sheave, and a compensating device. The set of hoisting ropes may include first and second rope portions. The elevator car may include one or more first diverting pulleys from which the first rope portions extend upward. The elevator car may include one or more second diverting pulleys from which the second rope portions extend downward. The first rope portions may be under a first rope tension. The second rope portions may be under a second rope tension that is different from the first rope tension. The compensating device may act in substantially opposite directions on the first and second rope portions. The compensating device may produce an auxiliary force acting substantially in a same direction as the first rope tension.

Abstract: Power distribution is managed between a regenerative drive (10) connected to an elevator hoist motor (12), and a primary power supply (20) and electrical energy storage (EES) system (36) connected to the regenerative drive. A state-of-charge (SOC) of the EES system and a primary current flow between the primary power supply and the regenerative drive are measured. A direction and magnitude of secondary current flow between the EES system and the regenerative drive is then controlled as a function of the primary current flow and the SOC of the EES system. SOC of the EES system is maintained in a limited range except as necessary to maintain primary current flow below a threshold current.

Abstract: A quick mounting combined wheel and brake assembly, includes a hub for mounting on a vehicle axle for rotatably mounting a wheel and at least one component of a brake assembly, a quick connect device for detachably mounting the hub on the axle, a brake assembly having a stationary component mounted on the hub, and a rotating component mounted on and rotatable with the wheel, and a brake actuator mounted in the axle and extendable into the hub for actuating the brake assembly.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the free stroke for hydraulic brakes of bicycles or motorcycles of the type including a pump assembly (4) for operating an actuator element (16), and a communication line (17) for a working fluid, set between a pump assembly and an actuator element, the device including an expansion chamber (25) set along the communication line between the pump assembly and the actuator element.

Abstract: An arrangement of a brake disc on a wheel hub, in particular a hub of a utility vehicle, having multiple support elements distributed on the inner circumference of the brake disc which correspond to drivers disposed on the outer circumference of the wheel hub. Securing elements which press against both the drivers and also adjacent support elements to axially secure the brake disc are provided. A rotor is disposed in the attachment area of the brake disc on the wheel hub, the rotor having attachment parts for axial and twist-locked fixing which each engage behind the securing elements.

Abstract: A hydraulic oscillation damper has a piston rod with a piston that is inserted into a damper tube filled with damping fluid, and divides the damper tube into first and second working chambers. First and second continuously adjustable damping valves are disposed in a common housing that is attached to the damper tube, and are connected hydraulically in parallel with the working piston. The housing has a first hydraulic chamber that is connected to the first working chamber via a first bore, and a second hydraulic chamber that is connected to the second working chamber via a second bore. A flow guiding element, which separates the two hydraulic chambers, guides the damping fluid flow to the first or second damping valve in response to a retraction or extension movement of the piston.

Abstract: The present invention features a portable suitcase tabletop system having a suitcase with a generally u-shaped telescopic handle and a plurality of wheels located on the suitcase bottom surface. The system has a table with a table bottom surface pivotally attached to a generally u-shaped telescopic table mount. A first table mount rod is located in a first table mount tube and a second table mount rod is located in a second table mount tube. The first table mount tube and the second table mount tube are located on a suitcase rear surface. In a first closed position, the table is located parallel with and pivoted against the suitcase rear surface. In a second open position, the table is pivoted into a position on a plane parallel with the suitcase top surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for an anti-rotation mechanism, such as used in a wrench. The space between a pair of races contains a plurality of pairs of rollers. One race has a protrusion centered inside each pair of rollers, with the rollers biased against the protrusion. Adjacent the protrusion and between the rollers of each pair is a prong that selectively biases one or the other of the rollers of the pair away from the protrusion. When one roller in the pair of rollers is biased away from the corresponding protrusion, relative motion between the pair of races is enabled in only one direction. The protrusions extend into the space between the pair of races sufficiently to prevent the rollers from moving under load when relative motion is inhibited.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch including a drive hub having a rotational axis, a drum coaxial with the driver, a plurality of shoes engaging the drive hub so as to rotate with the driver, each shoe having an aperture therethrough in the axial direction, the shoes being radially movable between a radially outward position in which the shoes contact a surface of the drum and a radially inward position in which the shoes are spaced apart from the drum, and a plurality of springs urging the shoes toward the radially inward position, each spring being located in the aperture of a corresponding shoe, each spring having a radially inward end engaging one of the shoes and an opposite radially outward end engaging the driver.

Abstract: A retainer for a one-way clutch is provided. In some embodiments, the retainer includes an annular portion with an inner circumferential surface, an outer circumferential surface and a first axial surface disposed between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface. The first axial surface has a plurality of grooves, a second axial surface is disposed between the inner circumferential surface and the outer circumferential surface, and the second axial surface is configured to engage an outer race of the one-way clutch assembly. The retainer also includes a plurality of inner lobes that project generally radially inwardly from the inner circumferential surface, and are configured to engage an inner race of the one-way clutch assembly.

Abstract: A parking lock device is mounted on a transmission of a vehicle. The transmission includes a housing and an output shaft. The park lock device includes a parking pawl including a pawl portion, a first coupling member coupled to a rear end portion of the output shaft of the transmission, and a second coupling member coupled directly to the first coupling member, the second coupling member being supported by the housing of the transmission through a bearing and being provided with an extended shaft portion formed in a same shape as the rear end portion of the output shaft of the transmission, and a coupling coupled to the extended shaft portion of the second coupling member.

Abstract: A guide rail (1) for an apparatus for transporting PET-bottles (12) is disclosed. The guide rail (1) supports a guiding insert (3), which is touched by the PET-bottles (12) during transport. The surface (5) of the guiding insert (3) touching the PET-bottles (12) is provided with a polymer material (P) which at 23° C. has a larger modulus of elasticity than PET and at 100° C. itself has a modulus of elasticity lower by less than 20%.

Abstract: A positioning unit, comprising: a support for a member to be positioned; an actuator for moving the support between a plurality of predetermined working positions; a position selector comprising a plurality of spacers that can be moved into an operative position positioning a stem of the actuator corresponding to a said predetermined working position of the support, wherein the position selector is coupled to the actuator such that movement of the actuator during actuation drives the operation of the position selector. The positioning unit has particular application to the positioning of guides of a conveyor of articles.

Abstract: A rimless tire cover system for protecting a wheel-less tire including a first annular cover on one side of the tire and a second annular cover on the other side of the tire and a tubular central connector for pulling the first and second covers against the sides of the tire. Each of the covers has an annular seal portion that conforms in shape to and engages and seals directly against the tire bends.

Abstract: A reclosable wiper blade package for holding a beam-type wiper blade in a substantially straightened condition in an upside down orientation with the wiping element of the blade facing upwardly toward a cover of the package. The package includes a blade-retaining package panel with a cavity formed therein having an adapter seat and blade engagement regions that engage corresponding arms of the wiper blade. Each blade engagement region is configured for snap fit engagement with an end portion of the wiper blade arm such as an end cap of the wiper blade.

Abstract: A container structure is provided for detachable coupling of at least two containers. The detachable coupling structure of a first container includes a top portion with an upstanding perimeter having radial protrusions extending from a surface of the upstanding perimeter, and a container bottom portion having a complementary structure to engage the radial protrusions of the top portion of a second container for the purpose of detachably coupling two or more containers end to end. In one embodiment, two containers placed end to end with their respective structures aligned to be engaged are rotated in opposite directions to fully engage the protrusions of one container with the complementary structure of the other. A rim around the top portion of a container in a second embodiment has a larger diameter than the top portion. The rim may be pushed through a flexible opening into a recess in the bottom of another container.

Abstract: A dual containment pod having an outer pod and an inner pod that provides support structure and environmental control means. The inner pod includes a base having a flat, polished surface with protrusions upon which the reticle seats and providing a gap between the reticle and the polished surface. The gap separates the reticle from the flat, polished surface of the base and is dimensioned to inhibit migration of particles into the gap, thereby preventing contamination of sensitive surfaces of the wafer or reticle. The top cover of the inner pod seats on the polished surface proximate a periphery of the base. Moveable reticle engaging pins on the top cover of the inner pod are engaged by the top cover of the outer container when the inner pod is assembled inside the outer pod providing reticle restraint.

Abstract: A system for separating components of a slurry is disclosed, the system including a housing; a basket for holding at least one shaker screen, the basket movably mounted in the housing; at least one vibrator coupled to the basket; a sump disposed below the basket to collect at least a portion of the slurry passing through the at least one shaker screen; a pressure differential device fluidly connected to the sump for developing a pressure differential across the at least one shaker screen; and a toggling device for toggling the pressure differential across the screen. A system including a degassing chamber fluidly connected to a sump and a pressure differential device, wherein the degassing chamber is disposed between the sump and the pressure differential device, and a fluid conduit fluidly connected to the degassing chamber for recovering a degassed fluid is also disclosed.

Abstract: A separation membrane includes a membrane comprising a polymer, characterized in that a functional layer is formed on the surface in one side of the membrane, the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface of the preceding functional layer is 0.1% (by atomic number) or more but not more than 10 (% by atomic number), and the peak area percentage of carbon derived from ester group measured by the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) on the surface opposite to the functional layer is not more than 10 (% by atomic number). A separation membrane module suffering from little sticking of organic matters, proteins, platelets and so on is provided with the separation membrane as a built-in membrane.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a new type of high performance polymer membranes derived from aromatic polyimide membranes and methods for making and using these membranes. The polymer membranes described in the present invention were derived from aromatic polyimide membranes by crosslinking followed by thermal treating. The aromatic polyimide membranes were made from aromatic polyimide polymers comprising both pendent hydroxy functional groups ortho to the heterocyclic imide nitrogen and cross-linkable functional groups in the polymer backbone. The high performance polymer membranes showed significantly improved permeability for gas separations compared to the aromatic polyimide membranes without any treatment. The high performance polymer membranes also showed significantly improved selectivity for gas separations compared to the thermal-treated but non-UV-crosslinked aromatic polyimide membranes.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated paper wherein the paper has capabilities and functionalities provided by both the fiber and the active agent ingredients, and a method of immobilizing the active agents within the integrated paper. The tight pore structure of the integrated paper of the present invention, a mean pore diameter of less than about 2 microns, provides short diffusion distances from a fluid to the surface of the paper ingredients by adsorption or diffusive interception making it an excellent medium for fluid filtration. The integrated paper of the present invention can further include a microbiological interception enhancing agent. The integrated paper can be formed using, preferably, wet laid paper-making processes for speed and efficiency. Also disclosed are devices utilizing the integrated paper useful in fluid filtration.

Abstract: A modular datacenter includes a server rack, a main beam, and an attachment member. The server rack is configured to hold a plurality of servers. The main beam is configured to hold the server rack in a specific location within the modular datacenter. The attachment member is coupled to the main beam and connected to the server rack. The attachment member is configured to apply a force to the server rack to put the server rack under compression or tension, and to change the natural frequency of the server rack based on the compression or the tension and on the location of the attachment member with respect to the server rack.

Abstract: An upright assembly for a shelving system includes a tubular upper upright section having a bottom end portion, a rail assembly and a base assembly having a top end portion and a tubular lower upright section. The base assembly is adapted to stand on a surface and the top end portion of the lower upright section of the base assembly is connected to the bottom end portion of the upper upright section. An insert blade assembly connector including a blade and an alignment plate is positioned within the tubular upper and lower upright sections. The rail assembly is connected to the upper upright section and the lower upright section of the base assembly to strengthen the connection between the upper upright section and the base assembly.

Abstract: A container system is provided with a container having a door mounted for pivotal reciprocation about a door pivot axis between opened and closed positions. The container system also has a carrier with a body receiving the container and an arm coupled to the body for pivotal reciprocation about an arm pivot axis that is oriented substantially parallel to the door pivot axis. The arm engages the door of the container, and the pivotal reciprocation of the arm reciprocates the door of the container between the opened and closed positions.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a cap having a top surface and a bottom surface, an adhesive layer adjacent the bottom surface of the cap, and a septum adjacent to the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer includes a self-bonding silicone composition and the septum includes at least one fluoropolymer layer. The disclosure is further directed to methods for making the aforementioned sealing assembly.

Abstract: An optional venting container comprises a base and a lid. The lid is releasably latched to the base. The lid comprises at least one veritable area formed therein. The at least one veritable area is adapted to form a vent only upon a user asserting pressure thereon. The lid is made from a polymeric foam.

Abstract: The retainer includes a coupling pair with a lid portion and a bottle portion. The lid portion is anchored to a lid. The bottle portion is anchored to a bottle. The lid and bottle are removably attachable in a manner opening and closing access into an interior of the bottle. With the lid portion affixed to the lid and the bottle portion affixed to the bottle, the coupling pair can be utilized to secure the lid to the bottle in a position leaving the opening of the bottle clear. In one form the lid portion and bottle portion exhibit magnetic attraction thereto, such as by having one part of the coupling pair in the form of a magnet and the other part in the form of a ferromagnetic material. In one embodiment the entire outer surface of the bottle is formed of ferromagnetic material with the lid portion being a magnet.

Abstract: A mounting device comprising a sleeve carrying thereon a receiving means, the sleeve having internally thereof holding means to enable, in use, the sleeve to be mounted on the neck of a bottle, or the like article, in manner such that removal of the sleeve from the neck is resisted, and the receiving means comprising a flange extending outwardly of the sleeve to, in use, provide means whereby an article may be held to the sleeve, the internal diameter of the sleeve being such that the sleeve may be passed onto the neck of a bottle or the like.

Abstract: Waste disposal devices and methods are provided. The device includes a housing, a lid, a bucket frame, a pair of members, and a foot pedal. The foot pedal is operatively associated with the lid and the pair of members so that the lid is in the closed position and the pair of members is in the non-use position when the foot pedal is in the upper position. Further, the foot pedal is operatively associated with the lid and the pair of members so that the lid is in the open position and the pair of members is in the use position when the foot pedal is in the lower position.

Abstract: A dispensing cap for a container includes a body portion and an integrally formed chamber for holding an additive substance. The body portion includes a closed top end and an inner wall that defines the chamber whose open end is sealed by a chamber closure member. The closed top end includes a diaphragm and a plunger extends axially from the diaphragm within the chamber for unsealing the chamber closure member. The body portion, the closed top end, the plunger, and the inner wall are integrally formed in one-piece.

Abstract: A tubing tray is provided for use with a pipe mat tray for receiving, organizing and storing drill pipe tripped out of a drill string on a drilling rig, the tubing tray having a planar bottom member, an orthogonal sidewall extending upwardly from the perimeter of the bottom member to form a basin for receiving the pipe mat, a chamfered sidewall extending upwardly and outwardly from the sidewall to provide clearance for a tool joint on a drill pipe placed on the pipe mat, and a handle extending around a top edge of the chamfered sidewall, the handle having a downwardly extending lip forming a finder hold thereunder. The tray can further include spikes extending downwardly from a lower surface of the bottom member, and a slot disposed through opposing lips of the handle allowing two or more tubing trays to be fastened together in a side by side configuration.

Abstract: A fuel tank for a vehicle is made of a cast aluminum alloy and has good ductility and toughness. The cast aluminum alloy is subjected to a heat treatment at a temperature of no less than about 350° C. and no more than about 390° C. to possess a Vickers hardness of about 70 HV or less.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the individual controlled preparation of a beverage from one or more beverage bags within a variety of containers and the quick and sanitary storage of the bag or bags once the beverage preparation has been completed. Preferably, the beverage preparation and bag storage apparatus is sized and shaped to be seated on the lip of a container to cover the mouth of the container. The apparatus includes a full profile retention structure sized and shaped such that at least a portion of the beverage bag may be drawn within and thereby retained in a position elevated above the beverage so that the beverage can be sampled and consumed even with the apparatus in place on the container and the bag or bags retained within the apparatus.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a dental material comprises a plunger for extruding a component of the dental material, and a motor for driving the plunger. The device has two electric circuits for powering the motor to drive the plunger forward or backward. A selector switch is arranged in the device for alternately selecting between the first electric circuit and the second electric circuit for powering the motor. The device further has switches for interrupting the first and/or second electric circuits when the plunger is positioned at certain positions. The device provides automatic functionality for facilitating dispensing of dental materials, and further is preferably relatively robust and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: A hot melt adhesive metering pump assembly, and an integral reservoir tank fluidically connected thereto and the hot melt adhesive metering pump assembly comprises a plurality of rotary, gear-type metering pumps which are arranged in a compact, longitudinally spaced manner upon a drive gear manifold. All of the driven gears of pumps are respectively driven by manifold pump drive gears which are rotatably mounted upon a common motor-driven rotary drive shaft rotatably disposed within the drive gear manifold, and a first side wall member of a base portion of the reservoir tank is integrally connected to a side wall portion of the drive gear manifold, while a second side wall member of the base portion of the reservoir tank is provided with a plurality of hose connections to which hot melt adhesive delivery hoses are to be connected so as to respectively convey the precisely metered amounts of the hot melt adhesive material toward the applicator heads.

Abstract: A device for dispensing fluid substances, preferably creams, including a container with which a cap is associated formed from an inner body seal inserted into the mouth and an outer body superposed on the inner body. The outer body presenting elements for its coupling to the container which enable it to undergo axial translation relative to the inner body, from which an elongated appendix projects presenting apertures for dispensing the product. The cap is operable between a closed position and a dispensing position. The container is provided with at least one abutment adapted to oppose a counter-abutment provided on the inner body to prevent the inner body from rotating relative to the container to define the dispensing position.

Abstract: A device mounting assembly particularly intended for connection to the mirror mount of a motorized scooter so that a portable device such as a cellular telephone may be positioned for ready access by the rider of the scooter includes a severable pin connection at the location where the assembly is coupled to the vehicle and/or to a portable device wherein the pin connections help resist relative movement at such locations under normal operating conditions of the vehicle but may be severed in response to the application of a sufficient force to the assembly to resist disengagement of the portable device from the vehicle.

Abstract: A bicycle fork mount for receiving and securing a front axle hub assembly of a through-axle type front bicycle wheel, but which is also temporarily adaptable for receiving a fork of a skewer type front bicycle wheel includes a fork mount body having a hollow for insertably receiving a front axle hub assembly of a through-axle front bicycle wheel. An adapter is received in the hollow and has a fork receiving skewer associated therewith that is configured for translational movement relative to the adapter. A biasing assembly is disposed between the adapter and the skewer and urges the skewer toward an ends-extended configuration in which a pair of fork receiving ends of the skewer are oppositely disposed beyond the lateral sides of the fork mount body and are configured for receiving and releasably securing the fork of a bicycle having a skewer type front wheel to the bicycle fork mount.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a truck mixer with at least one extension chute which for transport can be received on a holding means in a locked manner, wherein the holding means can be swiveled rotatorily and/or translatorily between a transport position and a removal position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stapling apparatus having an improved structure capable of smoothly rotating a stapler at both lateral sides of the stapling apparatus. The stapling apparatus includes a base frame including a horizontal slot, branch slots branching from the horizontal slot, rotation restricting plates protruding from a branch portion between the branch slots and the horizontal slot, respectively, and a movement guide shaft provided in parallel to the horizontal slot, a movable frame movable to a left or a right on the base frame, and a bucket for rotating a stapler, in which a pair of first guide rollers fitted into the horizontal slot and a second guide roller protruding to an outside of the horizontal slot are fixed to a lower portion of the bucket, and one of the first guide rollers is guided to move to the branch slot from the horizontal slot.

Abstract: A surgical stapling assembly is configured to be used to form a tissue seal having an arcuate portion. The surgical stapling assembly comprises an end-effector extending from the distal end of the shaft. The end-effector comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a first face at least partially surrounding the aperture, a staple cavity defined in the first face, a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity, and a first electrode positioned one of on and proximate to the first face. The second portion comprises a second face, an anvil pocket defined in the second face, and a second electrode positioned one of on and proximate to the second face, and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode each comprise an arcuate portion. The first electrode has a different polarity than the second electrode.

Abstract: A surgical stapling instrument comprises a cartridge device with a row of staples and a wavy first tissue interface, and an anvil having a wavy second tissue interface which cooperates with the first tissue interface for clamping tissue therebetween and forming the staples exiting from the cartridge device, a staple driving device adapted to drive the staples out of the cartridge device towards the anvil, wherein the staples are non-symmetrical U-shaped with two legs protruding toward the anvil and a transverse basis connecting the legs, wherein the basis is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the legs and has a length greater than the staple projection on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the legs.

Abstract: A docking system is provided and configured to receive swappable media players. Docking stations provide location-dependent information that the swappable media players may utilize to determine access permissions with respect to content stored on, or otherwise accessible to, the media players. Such content may include media content, product request/order applications, and the like. The location-dependent information may be obtained by the media player from docking station, after which the media player restricts or allows access to certain content based on the location-dependent information. A docking system may be used on an aircraft and can provide location-dependent information based on the location of a docking station relative to a seat, cabin, or other compartment. A cable-less connection may be used between the docking station and media player, which connector may float. A plenum provided along one or more surfaces of the media player allows airflow to cool the media player.