Pressurized gas for carrying looper thread by gas is generated by gas supply pump operated by changing over a sewing-machine motor, which drives stitch forming device, looper threading is performed through loopers by one-touch operation. Gas carrying threading device of sewing machine, comprising: looper thread introduction mechanism inserts looper thread guided to loopers; hollow looper thread guide extends from looper thread introduction mechanism to looper thread inlets and has looper thread guide outlets; gas supply pump for performing looper threading by carrying looper thread by gas from looper thread introduction area through hollow looper thread guide to looper thread loop-taker point outlets; clutch for transmitting power from sewing machine motor M to drive shaft which drives stitch forming device including loopers at time of stitch formation or to gas supply pump at time of looper threading.

A method and a device for cutting at least an upper thread of a sewing machine provided with a fabric clamping member (20), wherein a length of the thread consumed for a cut can be set within a predetermined interval. The method for cutting at least the upper thread (4) of a sewing machine (1) includes the steps: feeding a predetermined length x of said upper thread (4) utilizing a thread feeder (15), pulling out the upper thread (4) said predetermined length utilizing a displacement of said fabric clamping member (20) from a current position to a second position executing by means of a sewing machine processor (C) program sequences stored in a memory (M) for controlling a thread cutter (10) to perform a cut of at least said upper thread (4).

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a machine for sewing, embroidering, quilting and/or the like. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for sewing, embroidering, quilting and/or the like. In one example, the present invention may be applied (e.g., as a machine and/or method) to a multi-needle machine or method. In another example, the present invention may provide for automatic lower (or bottom) thread cutting. In another example, the present invention may provide for automatic lower (or bottom) thread cutting by utilizing the phase (that is, movement phase) of a return of a looper (or hook) to cut the lower (or bottom) thread.

An apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes including acquiring pattern data, specifying an outline of the embroidery pattern based on the pattern data, creating hole data for causing the sewing machine to form a plurality of holes including one or more first holes and one or more second holes, creating first stitch data for causing the sewing machine to sew one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and creating embroidery data for causing the sewing machine to form one or more first holes, and sew the one or more stitches for the one or more first holes, and causing the sewing machine to form the one or more second holes, before causing the sewing machine to sew an outline pattern.

A threading device for a sewing machine lower looper is disclosed that can thread a lower looper safely and reliably by reliably preventing a main shaft from rotating when an operation of threading the lower looper is carried out.

A sewing machine accessory includes a plate for attaching to a sewing machine workbed and to be located below a needle, the plate includes an opening and a guiding track, and a positioning device includes a sliding member slidably engaged with the guiding track of the accessory plate, and a pointed member extended from the sliding member for engaging with a cloth material to be stitched and for forming of an arced stitch on the cloth material, and the pointed member is movable close to the needle for stitching or forming a circular or arced stitch that includes a relatively decreased or smaller outer diameter.

A sewing machine includes an imaging device, a processor, and a memory configured to store sewing data and computer-readable instructions. The sewing data includes at least first stitch data to form first stitches that indicate a contour of a pattern on a first work cloth, and second stitch data to form second stitches that attach the pattern cut out along the first stitches onto a second work cloth. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform processes comprising causing the imaging device to capture a first image, identifying a position and an angle of a marker in relation to the contour, causing the imaging device to capture a second image, identifying a position and an angle of the contour in relation to the second work cloth, and correcting the second stitch data in accordance with the identified position and angle of the contour in relation to the second work cloth.

A thread cutting mechanism is mounted on a sewing machine which includes a sewing platform. The thread cutting mechanism includes a driver assembly and a thread cutting assembly. The driver assembly includes a stepping motor, a swing lever pivotally connected to the stepping motor, and a pushing rod connected to the stepping motor and swing lever and driven jointly with the swing lever by the stepping motor to perform a back-and-forth process. The thread cutting mechanism is disposed on the sewing platform, and includes a thread hooking blade connected to and driven by the swing lever to move back-and-forth along a thread hooking path and to hook back a sewing thread, and a thread cutting blade disposed on the thread hooking path and for cutting the sewing thread when the thread hooking blade hooks back the sewing thread.

A lower thread ending region detection apparatus prevents problems associated with false stitchings occurring from inability to detect lower thread's exhaustion during sewing operation. The lower thread ending region detection apparatus comprises: light control unit, which contacts a part of lower thread wound on a thread bobbin and activates or inactivates at least one of the functions of emitting light, reflecting light, passing light and blocking light, due to the effect of the physical movement force generated depending on whether the lower thread of the ending region is unwound; light receiving unit, which receives the light transferred out by the light control unit and outputs a detection signal; and control and notification unit, which analyzes the detection signal output from the light receiving unit to determine whether the lower thread has reached the ending region and outputs the result to the user.

A sewing machine includes a frame portion, a lid member, and a control portion. The lid member is attached to the frame portion such that the lid member can open and close. The control portion is configured to control a movement speed of the lid member depending on an aperture of the lid member.

The memory stores computer-readable instructions causing the sewing machine to perform operations including: extracting feature points of a design based on a captured image; extracting feature points of a unit design; generating feature points of a symmetrical design; cross-checking the extracted feature points of the design and the generated feature points of the symmetrical design; determining an arrangement of an embroidery pattern with respect to the symmetrical design; and causing a sewing portion to sew the embroidery pattern.

Disclosed is a two-needle sewing machine that improves strength in a convex curve part by bringing a pair of stitches close together when sewing an item. A two-needle sewing machine includes a bed part; a column part; an arm part; a needle shaft that is disposed on the leading part of the arm part; two sewing needles that are attached to the needle shaft; two horizontal hooks that catch the respective needle thread loops of the two sewing needles; and a conveyor member that conveys a material to be sewn in a direction approximately orthogonal to the bed part. On the two-needle sewing machine, the sewing needle, which is positioned in a location distant from the column part, is disposed closer to the conveyance side of the material to be sewn than the sewing needle that is positioned in a location closer to the column part.

A sewing machine may comprise a needle bar driving mechanism, a cutting needle rotation mechanism, and an embroidery frame movement mechanism configured to move an embroidery frame comprising a protruding portion. A cam member may be fixed to the needle bar and comprise a plurality of cams. A processor of the sewing machine may set a height of the needle bar to a specific position from a plurality of positions. Each of the plurality of positions may represent that each of the plurality of cams is able to contact with the protruding portion. The processor may instruct the needle bar driving mechanism to move the needle bar to the specific position and instruct the embroidery frame movement mechanism to move the embroidery frame to a position where the protruding portion is able to contact with one of the plurality of cams.

A sewing direction control apparatus for sewing machine, comprising: a base plate, a circular ring-shaped transmission element dispose on the base plate and a driving element with a driving unit. During sewing, the driving unit drives the transmission element, rotating a sewing product placed at the center of the transmission element with the driving element, thereby controlling the sewing direction of the sewing product, and thus improving the sewing accuracy. The direction control apparatus has low cost, and is suitable for various types of automatic sewing machines.

Thread tensioner for a sewing machine. In one example embodiment, a thread tensioner for a sewing machine includes a first disk, a second disk, a spring, a knob, and a sensor. The second disk is positioned next to the first disk. The spring is configured to apply tension to a thread positioned between the first disk and the second disk by exerting a force against the second disk. The spring defines a length between a first end and a second end. The knob is configured, when rotated in one direction, to travel along a threaded shaft toward the spring and thereby cause the length of the spring to shorten. The knob is configured, when rotated in another direction, to travel along the threaded shaft away from the spring and thereby allow the length of the spring to lengthen. The sensor is configured to track a current length of the spring.

A set of sewing disks for controlling the movement of a piece of fabric over the free arm and under the needle of a sewing or quilting machine. Each disk is flat and has an oval or circular configuration and comprises three registered, stacked adhesively attached layers—a first contact layer made of open cell foam, a semi-rigid intermediate stiffener member, and a second contact layer made of closed cell foam. When each disk is placed over a piece of fabric with the lower contact layer is placed adjacent thereto, the individual's fingers are exposed at all times and placed over the opposite contact layer. The intermediate stiffener layer spreads and evenly dissipates the forces exerted by the fingers to the top contact layer to the lower contact layer. Because the finger tips are not in contact with the fabric, soiling of the fabric by the finger tips is prevented.

Method for creating a crystal/rhinestone template utilizing a sewing/embroidery machine to perforate a medium in a desired pattern. In the case of a multiple-needle sewing/embroidery machine, the machine's needle is replaced by a perforator blade and perforator blade holder which are attached to machine's needle bar. Machine's needle plate is replaced by perforator plate and waste holder. With a single-needle sewing/embroidery machine, machine's needle is replaced by a pressing tool attached to the machine's needle bar. A contact point, a spring, and an arm are attached to machine's presser foot. Machine's needle plate is replaced by perforator plate. A template medium is placed on a work surface of machine. Machine is operated by software that reads a user-specified pattern/motif outline for filling stones in vector form, using innate rules to move machine frame and control hole placement.

To provide a sewing machine that can control tension on a needle thread and tension on a bobbin thread on a per-stitch basis; that enables even heads of a multi-head embroidery sewing machine to form an identical embroidery; and that enables even a plurality of sewing machines to form identical embroidery. A memory device stores for each stitch of embroidery data a needle thread control torque value and a bobbin thread control torque value. In a needle thread torque control zone, an upstream grip section main body is closed, and a downstream grip section main body is opened. A needle thread motor is subjected to torque control in accordance with the needle thread control torque value. In the meantime, in a position control zone, the upstream grip section body is opened, and the downstream grip section body is closed, thereby subjecting the needle thread motor to position control.

A tension release device for compensating mechanical error of a tension device for a sewing machine includes a rotary arm, a tension release shaft, a guiding member, an actuating member, and a micro-adjustment member, the rotary arm is located at one end of the tension release shaft which is inserted through the base, the tension release shaft is coupled to the guiding member, the guiding member is provided with an arc-shaped guiding flange which includes a first end and a second end higher than the first end. On the actuating member is provided a push portion which protrudes toward and is pushed by the guiding flange of the guiding member, a micro-adjustment hole is formed at one end of the actuating member or at the one end of the control shaft, and the micro-adjustment member is screwed in the micro-adjustment hole and extends toward the tension release shaft.

A direct drive cloth feeding mechanism of a sewing machine includes a cloth feeding structure, a vertical driving structure and a direction adjustment structure. The cloth feeding structure includes a swing shaft and a cloth feeding teeth member. The vertical driving structure includes an eccentric shaft connected to the cloth feeding teeth member, and an eccentric cam disposed on the eccentric shaft. The direction adjustment structure includes a stepping motor, and a rotating shaft driven by the stepping motor to rotate and switch between a first position and a second position. When the stepping motor directly drives the rotating shaft to the first position, the cloth feeding teeth member performs a forward feeding process. When the stepping motor directly drives the rotating shaft to the second position, the cloth feeding teeth member performs a reverse feeding process.

A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a presser bar, a threading device, a processor, and a memory. The needle bar is configured such that a sewing needle is attached thereto. The presser bar is configured such that an accessory device is mounted thereon. The threading device is configured to perform a threading operation in which an upper thread is passed through an eye of the sewing needle attached to the needle bar. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform processes that include determining whether a mounted device is a specific accessory device and causing the threading device to perform the threading operation in a case where it is determined that the mounted device is the specific accessory device and a specific condition is satisfied. The mounted device is an accessory device mounted on the presser bar.

An embroidery data processor includes a color information acquiring unit configured to acquire color information of a workpiece cloth on which an embroidery pattern composed of a plurality of color-based pattern portions is sewn, a color storage unit configured to store data of defined colors, an assignment unit configured to randomly extract colors from the colors stored by the color storage unit for every color-based pattern portion, the extracted colors being used as thread color data specifying colors of the color-based pattern portions respectively, the assignment unit assigning the extracted colors to the respective color-based pattern portions, and a setting unit configured to set a predetermined extraction range containing a similar color or a contrast color based on the color information acquired by the acquiring unit. The assignment unit is configured to extract the color stored by the color storage unit in the set extraction range.

A sewing apparatus and method therefor includes a drive mechanism, a thread feed mechanism, and a needle engagement mechanism for engaging the thread feed mechanism. The drive mechanism comprises a drive motor configured to transmit power from the drive motor to the needle engagement mechanism such that it drives a needle within a cartridge without moving the entire cartridge. A method and sewing apparatus includes a plurality of thread feed mechanisms and a needle engagement mechanism for selecting and engaging each of the thread feed mechanisms.

A punching device including a punching die (5a) that can be connected to the needle bar and a punching matrix (5b) that can be fastened to a needle plate (7) of a sewing machine. The punching matrix (5b) is embodied as a lid of a clippings container (9). The planar object (23) to be processed is displaced via the tambour frame in a punching plane L2, with this punching plane L2 being arranged parallel above the sewing plane L1.

The present media is to be used with a particulate base having particles of a first maximum diameter for growing plants. The media includes granules which are of biodegradable recycled material and have a diameter relative to the first maximum diameter to penetrate further into the particulate base with each watering. The granules include plant nutrients and are of a material which coagulates after watering and adheres to the particulates of the base. The diameter of the granules may be in the range of 1/16 to ⅛ of an inch.

A winding tool for tightening a torsion spring for a sectional overhead door. The winding tool features two half hub assembles that wrap around an overhead door shaft, wherein a translational sprocket is disposed on the hub assemblies. The hub assemblies connect to the winding cone of a torsion spring via fingers that engage the hub assemblies. A winding box is removably attached to the hub assemblies. The winding box features a worm gear that engages the translational sprocket. A handle bar can be rotated with a drill to cause rotation of the worm gear. Rotation of the worm gear causes rotation of the translational sprocket and ultimate winding of the torsion spring.

A method for operating a window cover utilizes an extendible window cover having a first rail, a second rail and a pair of lift cords. The first and second rails of the window cover are movable relative to each other. According to the method, at least one of the first rail and the second rail is moved in a first direction to cause the lift cords to unwind from the lift cord pulleys, thereby rotating a lift cord pulley shaft and a set of gears. Further, at least one of the first rail and the second rail is moved in a second direction to cause the lift cords to wind on the lift cord pulleys, with the lift cord pulley shaft rotating in an opposite direction.

A window cover system includes an extendible window cover with a pair of lift cords. A lift cord pulley shaft is coupled to a pair of spaced apart lift cord pulleys. A spring drive unit has a beveled gear system with a first gear that is spring biased to resist rotation of first gear in one direction of rotation, and a second gear meshed with the first gear. The lift cord pulley shaft extends through the second gear and is configured to rotate therewith.

A system for safely and effectively winding a garage door spring features a hub assembly having a cylindrical hub with a cylindrical channel located there through. The hub assembly features a wheel gear located around the hub and a plurality of engagement prongs designed to snuggly engage a torsion spring winding cone. The hub assembly is divided into a first hub component and a second hub component. The system features a base with a semi-cylindrical notch and an arcuate lid pivotally located thereon. A plurality of support rollers are adjustably located around an inside of the notch and the lid. The hub assembly is positioned on the support rollers. A worm gear that interfaces with the wheel gear is attached to a drive shaft assembly that features a drive shaft that extends from the base for remote operation of the worm gear.

Apparatus configured detect a physical quantity, for example a density, of a flowing fluid, the apparatus including: a sensor body (2) configured to extend into the flowing fluid, the sensor body comprising a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) of a fiber Bragg grating sensor (3, 7, FBG), for generating a detector signal relating to vibration of at least part (2B) of the sensor body (2); anda processing unit, configured to process the detector signal, and to determine the physical quantity based on detected vibration at a mechanical eigenfrequency of the flexible part (2B) of the sensor body (2).

A rowing shoe retaining system includes a plate mountable to a sole of a shoe and a receiver mountable to a footboard of a rowing boat. The receiver removably retains the plate, thereby removably retaining the shoe.

A system and method for changing a flow rate and direction of dry bulk material supplied from an elevated source, via an angled spout to an adjustable spout end having no internal baffles therein and having readily interchangeable wear pads therein which are accessible through an access door.

A system and method for causing a differential flow rate to exist in a downspout so as to reduce abrasion of a bottom side of said downspout and to sort dry bulk material flowing therethrough. The present invention reduces the velocity of the mass of the dry bulk material, such as corn, thus preserving grain quality and reducing the exit velocity at the lower end of the spout.

The invention resides in a hydraulic cylinder (23) for a hydraulic drawing cushion (20) of a drawing press (10). The hydraulic cylinder (23) includes a first operating chamber (47), a second operating chamber (48), and a third operating chamber (53). An annular piston (45) with a first piston surface area (49) and a second piston surface area (50) separates the first operating chamber (47) from the second operating chamber (48). The first and the second piston surfaces (49, 50) have the same size. A front surface of the piston rod (33) forms a third piston surface (54) which is larger than the first and second piston surfaces. The third piston surface (54) delimits the third operating chamber (53) of the hydraulic cylinder (23). The first and the second operating chambers (47, 48) are provided for controlling the position and/or the movement of the piston rod (33). The third operating chamber (53) serves to control the metal sheet clamping force of the drawing press via the piston rod (33).

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for growing fullerene nanotube forests, and forming nanotube films, threads and composite structures therefrom. In some embodiments, an interior-flow substrate includes a porous surface and one or more interior passages that provide reactant gas to an interior portion of a densely packed nanotube forest as it is growing. In some embodiments, a continuous-growth furnace is provided that includes an access port for removing nanotube forests without cooling the furnace substantially. In other embodiments, a nanotube film can be pulled from the nanotube forest without removing the forest from the furnace. A nanotube film loom is described. An apparatus for building layers of nanotube films on a continuous web is described.

The invention relates to a method and a device for removing and drawing a synthetic thread to form a fully drawn yarn. The thread is formed by joining a plurality of extruded filaments and is guided by contact on the circumference of heated guide jackets of several driven galette pairs. In order to obtain a gentle and highly homogenized treatment of the filaments, the thread is guided in an S-shaped or Z-shaped thread course by a first galette pair having two guide jackets driven in opposite directions during the removal from a spinning zone and before the drawing. Thus, both sides of the thread can be brought directly into circumferential contact with the guide jackets for in order to heat the thread.

An SZ laying machine for umbilical/power umbilical is described. Starting from an input end the machine includes: a first die receiving and collecting a first set of elongate elements substantially rectilinear from respective supplies of elongate elements, a second static die which receives and collects a second set of elongate elements substantially rectilinear from respective supplies of elongate elements and this second set is closed together with the first set into an assembled bundle, at least one supporting means which keeps the assembled bundle radially in place; a revolving device able to torsional rotate the bundle back and forth in an oscillating SZ manner, and a tape or band winding apparatus which in immediate proximity to the revolving device applies band or tape circumferentially onto the SZ laid bundle of elongate elements.

A convertible bucket includes a central support frame. A pair of rigid wings are rotationally mounted on laterally opposite sides of the lower end of the support frame for rotation of each wing between their fully lowered and raised positions. The pair of rigid wings define a wide-mouth width therebetween. In the fully lowered position each wing is substantially horizontal when the support frame is substantially vertical, so that, when the wings are both in their fully lowered position, the wide-mouth width is maximized. A winglet may be mounted at a distal end of each wing so as to provide for containment of a load held in the bucket when at least one wing is in its fully lowered position.

A portable folding support structure for safely tethering an individual comprises a portable cart sized to fit through a residential doorway, having wheels and a motor that actuates at least one of the wheels. A hand-operated throttle and steering device control the cart. The cart comprises an extendable anchoring plate to prevent rolling. A substantially horizontal jib with the cart comprises a harness point for receiving a safety cable to which an individual is attached to allow safe cleaning practices and to minimize fall risk. A foldable outrigger provides stability to the cart and an anchoring pad attaches to a distal region of the outrigger to promote stability. A textile liquid-absorbing surface is positionable about an outer surface of a glass balcony to inhibit cleaning liquids from spilling below the level of the liquid-absorbing surface.

A method and network node for adaptation of contention windows in a multicarrier wireless communication system implementing a listen-before-talk protocol are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes determining at least one component carrier (CC), of multiple CCs to serve as a backoff channel. The method further includes performing a listen-before-talk procedure on the at least one CC serving as a backoff channel. The listen-before-talk procedure includes sensing for each backoff channel whether a clear channel exists during a backoff period drawn from a contention window (CW). The LBT procedure also includes deferring transmitting on a CC for which the sensing does not indicate that a clear channel exists. The LBT procedure also includes transmitting on a CC for which the sensing indicates a clear channel exists. The method also includes determining a size of the CW based on at least one transmission feedback value.

A method of producing an entangled sheet of microfine long fibers using long fibers for forming microfine fibers. The method includes a step of forming a long-fiber web made of long fibers for forming microfine fibers, at least one component of the long fibers being a water-soluble, thermoplastic polyvinyl alcohol resin; a step of entangling the long-fiber web to form a long-fiber entangled sheet; a step of shrinking the long-fiber entangled sheet to form a long-fiber shrunk sheet; and a step of converting the long fibers for forming microfine fibers in the long-fiber shrunk sheet to microfine long fibers, thereby producing the entangled sheet of microfine long fibers. The step of entangling is conducted so as to allow the long-fiber entangled sheet to have an interlaminar peel strength of 2 kg/2.5 cm or more. The step of shrinking is conducted so as to shrink in an areal shrinkage of 35% or more.

A thread removal tool for getting rid of loose thread pieces, thread ends, etc. from textiles, fabric, cloth and the like, for example, after ripping open a previously produced seam, contains a thread removal head (3). The thread removal head can be located at one end of a shaft or a handle part (1) and is configured to take hold of loose thread pieces or thread fragments, without itself becoming attached to an underlying textile item, a piece of cloth or the like. The thread removal head can have an uneven surface, e.g., contain bumps (5), to grasp loose thread pieces and thread fragments. Furthermore, or alternatively, it can be made of or have a surface layer made of a material which has a certain sticking or fastening action on such loose thread pieces and thread fragments.

A pair of motor driven circular saws are mounted on opposite sides of a frame supported horizontal barrel stave carrying conveyor with the axes of the saws perpendicular to the direction of conveyor travel and their planes arranged in downwardly converging relation. Spring loaded guide rollers, forming a part of the saw driving motor supports, adjusts the position of the saws in a desired barrel stave edge trimming spaced-apart relation by contact with the respective opposing longitudinal sides of a barrel stave to be trimmed as it is moved by the conveyor between the saws. Lock means actuated by spring loaded pressure rollers overlying the position of the barrel stave when moved by the conveyor maintains the adjusted spaced-apart relation of the saws for the duration of the saw trimming action on each side of each stave moved through the machine by the conveyor.

A method and apparatus for reconditioning wood wine barrels. An open wine barrel is placed on a barrel rotator stand and positioned into a planer-cutter apparatus. Cutting parameters are set, and a horizontal screw advances the cutter into the barrel, cutting a swath the length of the barrel stave. The cutting process is repeated through the number of passes required. The barrel is dried, placed on a toasting rotator stand, and positioned under a toaster so that the toaster elements are inside the barrel. An expansion mechanism places the toaster elements adjacent the barrel interior surface, and the barrel ends are closed. After toasting, the expansion assembly is retracted and the barrel is removed. The barrel heads are run through a planer, dried, and sanded, and placed in a head toaster. The head toaster doors swing closed placing the heads adjacent oscillating firebars.

An apparatus for securing and drawing upon a piece of paper, includes a board having a drawing surface sized to receive the paper. The drawing surface is bounded along its perimeter by a border region. An array of border pieces is fastened securely to the border region, each border piece being aligned relative to the others to establish a precisely sized drawing surface area to accommodate the paper. Each border piece has a length shorter than that of the corresponding edge of the drawing surface.

A tool for measuring, marking, or cutting material, the tool formed of a rigid sheet of transparent material having a plurality of lines formed thereon, and a plurality of windows formed in the lines to enable viewing of material underlying the tool. The windows can be outlined in opaque lines, and alternating windows can be filled with contrasting transparent colors.

A recreational or outdoor mirrored compass is comprised of a base member, a hinged cover with a mirror and a sighting window for sighting a land mark, and a vial assembly pivotally coupled to said base member. The vial assembly comprises a vial, a magnetized indicator member pivotally journaled in the vial and an azimuth ring. At least parts of the inner sides of the sighting window are tapered in the line of sight.

An apparatus for aligning a wind turbine generator is disclosed. Preferably, the apparatus includes at least, but is not limited to, a support flange engaging a securement stud via a securement aperture, and a force displacement plate contacting the support flange. The preferred apparatus further includes an indexing means attached to the securement stud and force displacement plate, the indexing means configured to translate a rotational force to linear force capable of moving the support flange in relation to the securement stud.

A twin plate separation system, comprising a pressure plate, an intermediate plate facing the pressure plate, and a spring separator assembly. The spring separator assembly comprises a mounting extending out from the intermediate plate towards the pressure plate. A spring surrounds the mounting, and the spring is biased to push the pressure plate and the intermediate plate apart. The mounting or another fixture can secure at least one drive strap to the intermediate plate. Alternatively, the mounting extends out of the pressure plate towards the intermediate plate, and the spring surrounds the mounting and is biased to push the pressure plate and the intermediate plate apart. In this alternative, the intermediate plate does not comprise a hole for receiving the mounting.

A flowing electrolyte fuel cell system design (DHCFC-Flow) is provided. The use of a flowing oxygen-saturated electrolyte in a fuel cell offers a significant enhancement in the cell performance characteristics. The mass transfer and reaction kinetics of the superoxide/peroxide/oxide ion (mobile oxygen ion species) in the fuel cell are enhanced by recirculating an oxidizing gas-saturated electrolyte. Recirculating oxygen-saturated electrolyte through a liquid channel enhances the maximal current observed in a fuel cell. The use of a oxygen saturated electrolyte ensures that the reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction are fast and the use of convection ameliorates concentration gradients and the diffusion-limited maximum current density. The superoxide ion is generated in situ by the reduction of the oxygen dissolved in the gaseous electrolyte. Also, a dual porosity membrane allows the uniform flow of fuel (e.g., methane) on the fuel side, without allowing phase mixing. The capillary pressure for liquid intrusion into the gas phase and vice versa is quite large, estimated to be 1-10 psi. This makes it easier to control the fluctuations in gas/liquid velocity which might otherwise lead to phase mixing and the loss of fuel cell performance. In one variation, a dual-porosity membrane structure is incorporated in the system to allow uniform flow of fuel and prevent mixing of fuel with a liquid electrolyte.