rai Method of producing a braid comprising a plurality of wires By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a method for the production of a strand (11) of several wires (12), consisting of an electrically conductive material, which are hard drawn to a final diameter in at least a single or multiblock wire-drawing machine (19, 28) or drawing apparatus in a last drawing step before the stranding, so that in each case the wire or wires (12) have a tensile strength of at least 300N/mm2, and that subsequently the hard drawn wires (12) or a mixture of hard drawn wires (12) and soft-annealed wires are stranded into a strand (11) in a stranding machine (21), without a subsequent annealing process, as well as a strand which is produced according to the present method. Full Article
rai Method for manufacturing grain-oriented silicon steel with single cold rolling By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a method for producing grain-oriented silicon steel with single cold rolling, comprising: 1) smelting, refining and continuous casting to obtain a casting blank; 2) hot rolling; 3) normalization, i.e. normalizing annealing and cooling; 4) cold-rolling, i.e. single cold rolling at a cold rolling reduction rate of 75-92%; 5) decarburizing annealing at 780-880° C. for 80-350 s in a protective atmosphere having a due point of 40-80° C., wherein the total oxygen [O] in the surface of the decarburized sheet: 171/t≦[O]≦313/t (t represents the actual thickness of the steel sheet in mm), the amount of absorbed nitrogen: 2-10 ppm; 6) high temperature annealing, wherein the dew point of the protective atmosphere: 0-50° C., the temperature holding time at the first stage: 6-30 h, the amount of absorbed nitrogen during high-temperature annealing: 10-40 ppm; 7) hot-leveling annealing. The invention may control the primary recrystallization microstructure of steel sheet effectively by controlling the normalization process of hot rolled sheet to form sufficient favorable (Al, Si)N inclusions from nitrogen absorbed by slab during decarburizing annealing and low-temperature holding of high-temperature annealing, facilitating the generation of stable, perfect secondary recrystallization microstructure of the final products. In addition, the invention avoids the impact of nitridation using ammonia on the underlying layer in prior art, and thus the formation of a good glass film underlying layer is favored. Full Article
rai Grain saver catch for an agricultural combine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An agricultural combine unloader assembly includes an unloader tube having an internal passage in fluid communication with a discharge outlet at an end of the unloader tube. A door is mounted adjacent the discharge outlet for covering the discharge outlet. The door is moveable between an open position uncovering the discharge outlet and a closed position at least partially covering the discharge outlet. In the open position, the door is positioned below a flow path of grain to be discharged through the discharge outlet. A catch is mounted adjacent the door. The catch includes a housing having an open end adjacent a first end of the door and a closed end adjacent a second end of the door opposite the first end. The catch is operatively connected to the door and movable between a first position and a second position. Full Article
rai Fall restraint traveler device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The fall restraint traveler device has a hollow body structure, two or more spacers, one or more lanyards and a leash. The hollow body structure has a first end and a second end. A safety rope extends passing through both first and second ends. The body structure has an elongated slot extending between the ends. The two or more tubular spacers are placed internal of the body structure with the safety rope passing through each spacer. The one or more lanyards are for attachment to a climber. Each lanyard has at least one locking element. The device is aligned with and free to slide along the safety rope during ascent or descent of the climber and in the event of a fall, the at least one locking element tightens as it pulls on the safety rope pulling the rope out of alignment and thereby cinching to the rope. Full Article
rai Retractable stair assembly for a truck or trailer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A retractable step assembly for a vehicle includes a track assembly mounted on a vehicle frame beneath a workbed, a step assembly, and a pivot assembly that engages the track and step assemblies together. The step assembly moves between a storage position where it is disposed between tracks of the track assembly, and an operational position where it extends outwardly from the tracks, through an aperture in the vehicle's wall panel, and angles downwardly toward the ground. A foldable handrail on the step assembly is selectively movable between a collapsed position and an extended position. The handrail is in the extended position when the step assembly is operational and folds to the collapsed position when the step assembly is stored. First and second supports are provided for the step assembly to rest upon when in either of the storage position and the operational position. Full Article
rai Adaptable platform for loading and unloading railway cars By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus that provides selectively deployable worker access with fall protection to at least a portion of the top of a container disposed above the ground. A gangway and its associated fall protection cage are selectively deployable from an elevated platform over the top of the container. The gangway and its associated cage are slidably connected to the platform via a track carried along the side of the platform. Full Article
rai Ladderway system for underground raises By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An improved ladderway system 30 for an underground raise. The system comprises an elongate tube 32 made of a suitably rigid plastics material and adapted to be received in the raise. The tube has a series of steps 34 moulded into an interior side wall thereof so as to form a ladder extending substantially the full length of the tube 32. Full Article
rai Fuel rail assembly including fuel separation membrane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT As one example, a fuel rail assembly for supplying pressurized fuel to a plurality of cylinders of an engine is provided. The fuel rail assembly includes a fuel rail housing defining an internal fuel rail volume having at least a first region and a second region; a fuel separation membrane element disposed within the fuel rail housing that segregates the first region from the second region. The membrane element can be configured to pass a first component of a fuel mixture such as an alcohol through the membrane element from the first region to the second region at a higher rate than a second component of the fuel mixture such as a hydrocarbon. The separated alcohol and hydrocarbon components can be provided to the engine in varying relative amounts based on operating conditions. Full Article
rai Carpet straightening apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EDT A straightening apparatus for straightening carpet prior to laying the carpet on a floor surface. The apparatus includes an entry conveyor from which carpet is unrolled and fed into a heating section. In the heating section, the carpet is heated sufficient to soften backing material on the carpet. The heated carpet is then fed into a heated straightening section where longitudinal forces are applied while the backing is still soft so that a pattern in the carpet is straightened and held in the straightened position until the carpet has cooled somewhat. The apparatus further includes a cooling section for cooling of the carpet, after which the carpet is rolled back up on an exit conveyor. Full Article
rai Method and device in a paper or board machine line for straining paper By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EDT In a paper or board machine drying line after the wire section, during dewatering a web's (W) width is affected in a direction crosswise to the web's traveling direction. Starting from an edge, at least one device (20A, 20B) brings about a force effect of a desired magnitude which is directed all the way to a desired arbitrary crosswise web position in order to modify web characteristics. A device in a paper or board machine line after the wire section has means for processing the web and for dewatering. The paper or board machine line after the wire section further has at least one device (20A; 20B) for directing a force effect at a desired partial area (WS) of the web (W) in the cross machine direction in order to modify the web's characteristics profile in the cross machine direction. Full Article
rai Apparatus including an asymmetrical wedge-like member for controlling deflection in small diameter rolls of an open width stabilizer so as to create a straight line nip with uniform pressure across the nip By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST An improved apparatus for correcting deflection in small diameter feed and retard rolls of an open width stabilizer so as to create a straight line nip with uniform pressure across the nip. The improved apparatus provides apparatus for adjusting deflection of the rolls to thereby maintain a desired size to a passageway between them so as to optimize compaction of a fabric web material. A wedge-like member is disposed between, and in moving relationship to, feed and retard roller bearings. The wedge-like member is asymmetrical, has feed and retard sides that engage the feed and retard roller bearings, respectively, and exerts reaction forces against each of the respective bearings. Improvement resides in the reaction forces causing the rolls the rolls to not deflect downwardly. Full Article
rai Hydraulic arrangement for actuating a plurality of shift rails By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hydraulic arrangement by which a plurality of shift rails of a transmission are actuated, including one double acting cylinder per shift rail by which the respective shift rail can be moved back and forth. A first hydraulic valve is connected upstream of the plurality of shift rails and has a first output and a second output, by which a first shift pressure and a second shift pressure for actuating the shift rails can be provided. A second hydraulic valve is connected between the first hydraulic valve and two of the shift rails, and by which it is selectively possible for the first output of the first hydraulic valve to be associated with one of the double acting cylinders of the two shift rails, and the second output of the first hydraulic valve to be associated with the other double acting cylinder of the two shift rails. Full Article
rai Control interface activated restraining system to secure a rider's footwear to a foot support By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A restraining system is configured to secure and release a rider's footwear to a vehicle footrest in response to inputs to a control interface. The vehicle is typically a motorcycle or bicycle. In the case of a motorcycle, a rider's boot is restrained to a motorcycle foot peg by the action of a restraining device. Exemplary restraining device embodiments include an electromagnet or a mechanical latch. The control interface may be located on the motorcycle handlebar or on the rider's helmet. The rider can provide the inputs directly to the control interface. Alternatively, the inputs may be received from a wireless source. Full Article
rai Method and apparatus for repositioning a tandem axle assembly of a trailer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A portable device is used to aid a semi-truck driver in the repositioning of a tandem axle assembly of a trailer. The portable device may be easily attached and removed from the trailer's sub-frame during operation. The device will signal the driver visually when reaching the desired position during adjustment of the tandem axle assembly to a new location. The device may reduce time and increase safety for the driver during the tandem axle assembly repositioning operation. The device may be positioned at or near the desired tandem axle assembly position. A flap may pivotally hang in a position where a tire from the tandem axle assembly may deflect and pivot the flap when the tandem axle assembly reaches its desired position. A driver may see this flap deflection and know, with certainty, that they have achieved the desired tandem axle assembly position. Full Article
rai CLUTCH SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE POWERTRAIN By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A clutch pack includes a first set of clutch plates and a second set of clutch plates. The first set of clutch plates are arranged in an alternating configuration with the second set of clutch plates. The first set of clutch plates has radially outward extending teeth. The second set of clutch plates has radially inward extending teeth that define channels that are configured to allow air to flow into the clutch pack in an axial direction such that lubrication fluid located between adjacent clutch plates is channeled radially outward. Full Article
rai Method of controlling drainage of wash water remaining in a washing machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein is a method of controlling drainage of wash water remaining in a washing machine. The method includes draining wash water from a tub to an outside of the washing machine, supplying wash water into the washing machine after the draining wash water, and re-draining the wash water to the outside of the washing machine after the supplying wash water. Full Article
rai Apparatus and methods for automatically training saw blades on a saw mandrel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST Apparatus and methods for automatically training (i.e., straightening) saw blades along a saw mandrel are disclosed. Full Article
rai Drainable hammock By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Drainable hammocks with an arrangement of drainage paths in the fabric of the hammock bed are disclosed, wherein the drainage paths are openings in the fabric of the hammock bed. In one example, the openings are formed by grommets that are positioned in the fabric of the hammock bed. A method of operation of the drainable hammocks includes, but is not limited to, the steps of water impinging the uppermost surface of the hammock bed, water flowing due to gravity from the high points in the hammock bed to the low points in the hammock bed, and water exiting the hammock bed through the drainage paths and onto the ground below. Full Article
rai Patient support apparatus and also a positioning method for positioning a patient's head within a surgical head restraint unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A patient support apparatus having a support table, a transfer plate, which is disposed movably in relation to the support table in a direction and on which a patient is supported for a surgical intervention and/or a medical imaging examination, and a surgical head restraint unit, which is disposed on the transfer plate is provided. The patient support apparatus includes a position monitoring apparatus for monitoring and/or checking a position of the surgical head restraint unit. Full Article
rai Spent grain fuel product and process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A process of making a fuel product from spent grain from a beer brewing process. In the brewing process, the grain is pulverized to a particle size whose mean particle size is approximately 0.25 mm to 0.6 mm with less than 1% greater than 2 mm. After the brewing sugars are extracted from the grain, the spent grain is pressed against a filter to reduce moisture below sixty-five percent (65%), and then the grain is dried to further reduce its moisture to less than ten percent (10%). The dried spent grain, after the aforementioned processing, is fed into a combustion chamber for a steam boiler that is used for beer brewing, and the spent grain is separated during combustion by agitation such as spraying of the grain in the combustion chamber. Full Article
rai Equine training device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Apr 2013 08:00:00 EDT An equine training apparatus used in conjunction with: 1) a bridle supporting a bit, 2) a noseband, 3) riding reins connected to the bit, and 4) a breastplate, the apparatus comprising a head communication assembly comprising a cord member having a first end attached to a first O-ring, a second end attached to a second O-ring and noseband connection means between said first end and said second end and dividing said cord member into a first fork and a second fork; a sliding member in slidable engagement with said first fork and said second fork; and fork-body connection means for anchoring said sliding member to any of a breast plate, neckstrap, girth, cinch or the like. The sliding member acts as a pulley about which at least one fork is disposed and, when anchored to body tack via fork-body connection means provides a pivot point about which each fork may act; the sliding member effectively divides force applied through the reins into a mouth force component and a nose force component. Full Article
rai Horse hair braiding device and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST According to an aspect of the invention a device for braiding horse hair while minimizing damage to the horse hair is provided. The device includes at least one semi-rigid, resilient material being intertwined with the horse hair into a braid and to form and retain the braid into a decorative shape. In an embodiment, the at least one semi-rigid, resilient material intertwined with the horse hair to form and retain a decorative shape. Full Article
rai Animal training apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A trigger arrangement for an animal training apparatus, the trigger arrangement including a fluid pump having a pump actuator, the pump including an inlet and an outlet and a sound emitter configured to be actuated by the pump actuator, wherein actuation of the pump pumps fluid from the inlet to the outlet accompanied by a simultaneous emission of sound from the sound emitter. Full Article
rai NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING WITH TRAILING EDGE TAPER AND SIDE TAPER By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:00:00 EST Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a HAMR head. The HAMR head includes a main pole, a waveguide and a NFT disposed between the main pole and the waveguide. The NFT includes an antenna, and a portion of the antenna is disposed at a media facing surface. By increasing the volume of the antenna extending from the MFS, the temperature of the NFT during operation is reduced. Full Article
rai Hinged rail for barrier operators By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A movable barrier system wherein the trolley system comprises at least two guiding rail portions. At least one of the guiding rail portions is supported by a support member secured to the headroom area of the building support structure. The trolley traverses the at least two guiding rail portions by a hinged coupling device. Full Article
rai Safety enhanced design of rail type garage door opener with over the door drive assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A novel electric door opener for a garage, or equivalent structure, which uses a rail fixed at one end to a drive assembly and the other end to a mounting support, in which the drive assembly is mounted on the wall over the garage doorway with a pivotable mount, rather than the uniform practice wherein the drive assembly is suspended from the garage ceiling, thus significantly enhancing safety during installation and over the lifetime of the unit. In addition, the means whereby prior art rail type garage door openers, including their drive assemblies and overall mounting methods, are redesigned to reduce the invention to practice. The simplification of mounting hardware and process with this design makes it much easier and safer to install, remove, and replace an assembled rail type garage door opener, using only three removable pins. Full Article
rai Window lifter comprising a holder for fastening a cable between two ends of first and second guide rails By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Oct 2015 08:00:00 EDT A window lifter is provided. The window lifter having: first and second guide rails; first and second sliders for driving a window, the first and second sliders being guided in translation by the first guide rail and the second guide rail, respectively; a cable system for driving the sliders along the first and second guide rails, the cable system comprising a cable extending between the first and second guide rails for connecting to corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails, respectively, the first guide rail comprising a holder for fastening the cable between the two corresponding ends of the first and second guide rails that the cable connects. Full Article
rai SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TAILORED MICROSTRUCTURES USING TEMPLATED GRAIN NUCLEATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods for controlled microstructure creation utilize seeding of amorphous layers prior to annealing. Seed crystals are formed on an amorphous layer or layers. The material, size, and spacing of the seed crystals may be varied, and multiple seed layers and/or amorphous layers may be utilized. Thereafter, the resulting assembly is annealed to generate a crystalline microstructure. Via use of these methods, devices having desirable microstructural properties are enabled. Full Article
rai CONTROLLING CONTENT MODIFICATIONS BY ENFORCING ONE OR MORE CONSTRAINT LINKS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods for controlling modification of a data file that is accessed by multiple components of an application platform. The method for controlling modification of a data file includes: preparing a link constraint data that includes information of a data file and a component of an application platform, the component being associated with the data file; preparing an alert data that includes information of the data file and a person having a permission to modify the data file; responsive to an attempt of a user to modify the data file, retrieving the information of the component from the link constraint data and the information of the person from the alert data; and sending a notice of the attempt to at least one of the person and the user. Full Article
rai Means for covering the flange of a waste water strainer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A waste water insert has a wall surrounding a vertical bore. A horizontal flange extends outwardly from the upper end of the wall and has a lip formed on its outer periphery. The horizontal flange of the waste water insert is super-imposed over the horizontal flange of a waste water strainer located in a bathtub, sink or the like. The wall of the insert extends downwardly through the cylindrical wall of the waste water strainer with the two walls being spaced from each other by virtue of the cylindrical wall of the insert having a smaller diameter than that of the strainer. Full Article
rai Drain sump By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A drain sump includes a secondary chamber for providing an alternate source of water for the main drain to pull water from, thereby limiting the suction force created when the flow of water is obstructed. In a preferred embodiment, the two chambers within the drain sump are partitioned by a septum wall, which provides a passage for a drain pipe extension at the center of the septum wall and further includes a plurality of venting channels for ideal water flow between the two chambers. Each chamber is in open fluid flow communication with the pool water via the drain grate. Relief hole passages are included on the drain pipe extension for providing open fluid communication between the secondary chamber and the water flow passage. The drain pipe extension may further include two 90 degree bends for restricting access to the water flow passage of the drain pipe extension. Full Article
rai Cover and method for covering the flange of a waste water strainer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A waste water insert has a wall surrounding a vertical bore. A horizontal flange extends outwardly from the upper end of the wall and has a lip formed on its outer periphery. The horizontal flange of the waste water insert is super-imposed over the horizontal flange of a waste water strainer located in a bathtub, sink or the like. The wall of the insert extends downwardly through the cylindrical wall of the waste water strainer with the two walls being spaced from each other by virtue of the cylindrical wall of the insert having a smaller diameter than that of the strainer. Full Article
rai Drain strainer and filter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The drain strainer and filter is removably placed within a sink, tub, or other drain to prevent solid particles from passing through the drain and building up to block the drain at some inaccessible location. The device includes a perforated basket having a removable perforated lid. The basket and lid enclose a removable and disposable filter element therein. The drain strainer may have a retractable stopper extending therebelow, the stopper being actuated by a lift rod that extends through the basket, filter, and lid. The handle of the lift rod may be removed to allow the lid and the filter to be removed from the basket. Alternatively, the drain strainer does not include the stopper. The drain strainer includes a folding handle. The lid includes a recess to allow the handle to fold flush with the top of the lid to avoid interference with articles in the sink during use. Full Article
rai Drain, in particular for floor level showers By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a drain (1'), in particular for floor level showers, the drain comprising a pot shaped drain housing (1.1) including a shell or pot shaped base component (1.2) without a pipe connection, a laterally disposed pipe connection (1.5) and an inlet opening (1.3) at a top side of the base component, and an immersion pipe (2) which is insertable into the drain housing through the inlet opening (1.3) and defines a stench trap with the drain housing. In order to be able to adapt such a drain to various installation conditions in a flexible manner, so that the installation height, water lock height and drain output of the drain is variable, the invention provides a solution wherein the base component (1.2) is connected in an elevation-adjustable and liquid-tight manner with the drain housing (1.1). Full Article
rai Trap and drain assembly for draining waste liquids while blocking odors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention provides a flush free drain trap system. The trap of the invention may be used in any trap system intended to block a back flow of odors from the waste line. A sealant liquid floats on top of the waste liquid in the trap to block odors. The trap uses one passageway to pass liquids to the sewer line, similarly to a conventional drain system, for preventing overflow and allowing cleaning. A second passageway allows the trap to dispose of small amounts of the waste liquid though an opening and a valve operated by the buoyancy caused by the accumulation of waste liquid in the trap. In normal use, waste liquid is passed to the sewer line without loss of sealant liquid. Furthermore, the performance of the trap is not affected by the evaporation of the waste liquid when the trap is unused. Full Article
rai Drain valve core By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments of a device for regulating a fluid flow are described that can include first and second downwardly-sloping valves that are biased in a closed position to prevent odors from escaping the device. The device can also include first and second downwardly-sloping valve seats, and configured such that an end portion of the first valve can be seated beneath the first valve seat and an end portion of the second valve can be seated beneath the second valve seat when the first and second valves are in a closed position, respectively. Full Article
rai Toilet training devices for small children By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A toilet training device includes an odor remediation system for absorbing or masking odors that may be created during toilet training. The odor remediation system may include a modular odor remediating insert that may be releasably positioned within a recess that is provided within the toilet training device. The odor remediating insert may include an odor absorbing substance such as sodium bicarbonate, an odor masking substance such as a fragrance or a combination of an odor absorbing substance and an odor masking substance. The toilet training device also includes a system for dispensing wipes that may utilize a recess that is defined in a side wall of the main body portion of the toilet training device. A wipes cartridge is designed so that it can be used to conveniently dispense wipes regardless of whether it is separated from the toilet training device or mounted within the recess of the toilet training device. Full Article
rai Shower door assembly with an integral directional draining system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shower door assembly with an integral directional draining system including a shower door frame having a frame body defining a horizontal drain channel and a plurality of drain holes, at least one side panel having a first end and a second end, the first end of the side panel being sized and configured to be fixedly attached to the frame body and the second end of the side panel further including a hinge mount, and at least one door defining a hinge mount rotatably connected to the hinge mount of the side panel and a door drain channel, the door having an upper portion and lower portion. The door of the present invention flares upward and bows outward such that the upper portion of the door is farther away from the shower door frame than the lower portion of the door. Full Article
rai Lever control mechanism of a drain valve of a toilet tank By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lever control mechanism of a drain valve of a toilet tank has a lever assembly assembled in the wall of the toilet tank and a lever linked to the revolving shaft of the lever assembly. The lever assembly is connected to a deviator, which is disposed with a drive arm; the drive arm is connected to the revolving shaft. The deviator is disposed with a joint portion and at least a leading hole to limit the lever revolving vertically. One end of the lever is run through the leading hole to rotationally connect to the joint portion; the drive arm is revolved by the driving of the revolving shaft to drive the lever revolved in the fan shaped vertical surface limited formed by the joint portion and the leading hole. Full Article
rai Drain guard By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A drain guard for a sink equipped with a garbage disposal having a flange attached to a surface of such sink and forming a sink drain opening includes a generally round and flat body member, a T-shaped grip attached to a top surface of the body member and a generally flat member extending outwardly and in a generally vertical direction from a bottom surface of the body member and which is capable of scraping solids from at least one of eating wear and such sink surface. Full Article
rai Mower for mowing around fence and railing posts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mower assembly is provided for cutting around a post. A support structure supports the mower assembly in cantilever fashion. The mower assembly includes a plurality of mower units with each mower unit having a rotary blade. Two or more mower units cooperate to engage and cut around a post and, during the process, the entire mower assembly rotates about an axis enabling the mower units to encircle and efficiently cut grass and other vegetation about the post. Full Article
rai Combine harvester and associated method for gathering grain By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combine harvester is provided that separates grain material from material other than grain using multiple processing areas, including a harvesting area, a feederhouse area, a threshing area, a cleaning area, and a grain delivery area. In a location at or prior to entering one of the processing areas, the material may be collected and held until a collection threshold is reached. Once it is determined that the collection threshold is reached, the material forming a first group of material may be transported from the location to the processing area or a subsequent processing area. The first group of material is transported from the location to the processing area or the subsequent processing area substantially simultaneously and thus simulates the gathering of a large amount of crop material even when small plots are involved. In this way, reduced cycle times may be achieved, and the efficiency benefits of large-plot harvesting may be extended to small-plot applications. Full Article
rai Cutting header with finger mounted raised divider pans By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A corn harvesting header comprises a knife bar extending along a front lower edge of a cutting header, with triangular knife sections attached along the bar and a plurality of guards with guard fingers extending forward. Pointed divider pans extend forward from the header such that a slot is formed between adjacent pans. A mounting bracket extends down from a rear of each pan and is attached to forward end portions of a pair of adjacent guard fingers, leaving rear portions of these guard fingers exposed. The divider pans are attached to alternating pairs of guard fingers such that a pair of bare guard fingers extends forward under and laterally adjacent to edges of each slot. The bottom surface of each seed pan is above the guard fingers an elevated distance that is greater than a spacing distance between the guard fingers. The header cuts the corn rows at angle. Full Article
rai EXTREMELY THIN SILICON-ON-INSULATOR SILICON GERMANIUM DEVICE WITHOUT EDGE STRAIN RELAXATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a strained silicon germanium layer on top of a substrate. At least one patterned hard mask layer is formed on and in contact with at least a first portion of the strained silicon germanium layer. At least a first exposed portion and a second exposed portion of the strained silicon germanium layer are oxidized. The oxidizing process forms a first oxide region and a second oxide region within the first and second exposed portions, respectively, of the strained silicon germanium. Full Article
rai METHODS OF GROWING HETEROEPITAXIAL SINGLE CRYSTAL OR LARGE GRAINED SEMICONDUCTOR FILMS AND DEVICES THEREON By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method is provided for making smooth crystalline semiconductor thin-films and hole and electron transport films for solar cells and other electronic devices. Such semiconductor films have an average roughness of 3.4 nm thus allowing for effective deposition of additional semiconductor film layers such as perovskites for tandem solar cell structures which require extremely smooth surfaces for high quality device fabrication. Full Article
rai RAIL VEHICLE BRAKE DISK By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A one-piece rail vehicle brake disk is made of steel or cast iron, comprises at least one effective surface with which a friction element comes in contact during a braking maneuver, and is designed in such a way that the effective surface has a plurality of blind holes. Full Article
rai RAILCAR BRAKE BEAM ASSEMBLY AND RELATED METHOD OF DESIGNING A RAILCAR BRAKE BEAM ASSEMBLY By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A railcar brake beam assembly including a brake beam formation having a tension member, a compression member and strut, and with the strut defining an axis for the brake beam assembly. First and second brake head assemblies are disposed to opposite lateral sides of the axis, with each brake head assembly being operably carried by the brake beam formation and includes a guide member extending in a direction away from the axis. The first and second brake head assemblies are generally centered laterally relative to the axis of the brake beam assembly. A distal end of the guide member on the first brake head assembly is disposed a different lateral distance from the axis of the brake beam assembly than is a distal end of the guide member on the second brake head assembly to minimize lateral shifting movements while maintaining adequate clearances for permitting reciprocal moments of the brake beam assembly during application of braking forces. A method of designing a brake beam assembly for a railcar is also disclosed. Full Article
rai Abrasive grains based on zirconia alumina By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein are abrasive grains based on zirconia alumina melted in an electric arc furnace, comprising a content of 52 to 62 wt % Al203 and 35 to 45 wt % ZrO2, wherein the high-temperature phases of the zirconia are stabilized by a combination of reduced Ti compounds and yttrium oxide. Full Article
rai Method for producing abrasive grains, method for producing slurry, and method for producing polishing liquid By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In the production method for abrasive grains according to the invention, an aqueous solution of a salt of a tetravalent metal element is mixed with an alkali solution, under conditions such that a prescribed parameter is 5.00 or greater, to obtain abrasive grains including a hydroxide of the tetravalent metal element. Full Article
rai Rain Rocket By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT “The Rain Rocket” is an inexpensive, compact, mobile irrigation device which can be attached to fences, gates, tree limbs, playsets, etc. in order to water lawn and garden areas. Incorporates irrigation head with modified attached spring-loaded C-clamp and treaded female garden hose connector. This unique design allows the apparatus to be attached to objects which elevates sprinkler high off the ground to irrigate more area, quicker and easier than traditional water sprinklers without ever having to bend over. Device can utilize many different nozzle configurations such as pop-up rotating, pop-up static or impact sprinkler heads. Perfect solution for watering difficult parkway, verge and set-back areas by attaching to fence or gate without ever having to leaving your own backyard. Full Article