ic Wheel bearing device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shaft portion of a joint outer ring where projections extending in an axial direction are provided is press-fitted into a hole portion of a hub wheel to thereby form recesses by the projections in an inner diameter surface of a shaft fitting hole of the hub wheel, by which a recess-projection fitting structure is constructed. An entire area of fitting sites of the projections and the recesses are brought into close contact. Moreover, a bolt member is fastened in a bolt hole provided in the shaft portion of the joint outer ring after the construction of the recess-projection fitting structure, which restricts separation between the hub wheel and the joint outer ring. As the bolt member, if an outer diameter of a seating surface thereof is d1 and a shaft diameter is d2, a bolt member satisfying a relational expression of 2.3≦(d1/d2)2≦4.9 is used. Full Article
ic Device for damping vibrations in a drive train By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for damping vibrations in a drive train, in particular for plug screws in the pulp and paper industries. The device is principally characterized in that a cylindrical shaft, preferably designed as a hollow shaft, is provided, wherein the cylindrical shaft is arranged between the halves of a coupling and at least one ring having friction surfaces is arranged around the cylindrical shaft. Stick-slip vibrations that occur can thereby be favorably eliminated, and thus the gearbox and the motor of the drive train can be protected. Full Article
ic Rotational vibration damper, particularly for the power train of a vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotational vibration damper includes a primary side (32) and a secondary side (46) which is rotatable with respect to the primary side (32) around an axis of rotation (A) against the action of a damper element arrangement (28). At least one damper element unit (42) of the first group (70) and at least one damper element unit (42') of the second group (70') are pre-loaded, and the primary side (32) and the secondary side (46) are pre-loaded in a basic relative rotation position with respect to one another. Proceeding from the basic relative rotation position of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46), a pre-loading path (V, V') of at least one pre-loaded damper element unit (42) is shorter than a maximum relative rotation path of the primary side (32) with respect to the secondary side (46). Full Article
ic Rotation transmitting apparatus, vehicle steering system, and intermediate shaft By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotation transmitting apparatus includes a first shaft on which multiple external teeth are formed so as to be arranged in a circumferential direction, and a second shaft in which multiple internal teeth are formed so as to be arranged in the circumferential direction, the second shaft being fitted to the first shaft so as to be slidable relative to the first shaft in the axial direction and so as to be engageable with the first shaft in a rotational direction through the use of the external teeth and the internal teeth. A protrusion is formed on the tooth flank of one of the external tooth and the internal tooth, the protrusion being projected toward the corresponding tooth flank of the other of the external tooth and the internal tooth. The protrusion is made of a resin that is more elastically deformable than the tooth flank. Full Article
ic Aluminum alloy propeller shaft and friction welding process thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An aluminum alloy propeller shaft including a tube made of an aluminum alloy, and a pair of yoke members made of an aluminum alloy, the yoke members including cylindrical base portions friction-welded to opposite end portions of the tube, each of the yoke members including a tip end portion having a pair of bearing retaining holes aligned with each other in a radial direction of the base portion. Variation in length between a central axis of the bearing retaining holes in one of the yoke members and a central axis of the bearing retaining holes in the other yoke member with respect to a reference length is set within a range of from +2.0 mm to −2.0 mm. A friction welding process of producing an aluminum alloy propeller shaft, including a friction step, a position displacement detection step, a rotation stop step and an upset step. Full Article
ic Wheel supporting device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A wheel supporting device includes: a hub unit that has a rotary ring having a first spline on its axially inner end face; and a joint that has an outer ring having a second spline, meshing with the first spline, on its axially outer end face. At least one projection included in a plurality of projections of the first spline projects in the axial direction by a larger amount than the remaining projections of the first spline. When a crest of the at least one projection contacts a crest of one of projections of the second spline, a play is caused between the rotary ring and the outer ring due to the at least one projection that works as a fulcrum. Full Article
ic Damper device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A damper device configured with an input element, an intermediate element to which power is transferred from the input element through a first elastic body, and an output element to which power is transferred from the intermediate element through a second elastic body. One of the output element and the intermediate element has a protruding portion projecting in an axial direction. The other one of the output element and the intermediate element has a cutout portion corresponding to the protruding portion. The protruding portion has a restricting portion that is engaged with the cutout portion in a rotation direction so as to restrict rotation of the intermediate element relative to the output element, and a support portion that is engaged with the cutout portion so that the intermediate element is supported by the output element in a radial direction. Full Article
ic Lock-up device for fluid coupling By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lock-up device for a fluid coupling suppresses vibration caused by coil springs. The lock-up device includes an input rotation member, an output rotation member, a plurality of first elastic members, and a float member. The plurality of first elastic members are compressed in a rotational direction by the relative rotation of the input rotation member and the output rotation member. The float member is rotatable relative to the input rotation member to cause two of the first elastic members to act in series in a circumferential direction. Full Article
ic Device for generating limit torque with function of yielding torque change in real time By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for generating limit torque with a function of yielding a torque change in real time includes a spring, a rotating portion having a cam surface formed therein, a transmitting portion transmitting an elastic force of the spring to the cam surface, a fixed portion with respect to which the relative rotation of the rotating portion is generated, and a limit-torque control portion provided to the fixed portion so as to control limit torque of the rotating portion by adjusting the elastic force of the spring. In the device, the limit-torque control portion controls the limit torque of the spring by changing the elastic force of the spring in real time. Full Article
ic Valve timing control device for internal combustion engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A valve timing control device includes: a vane rotor having a plurality of vanes; a housing having the vane rotor inside so that an advance chamber is formed on one side of each vane and a retard chamber is formed on the other side; a lock pin inserted in a cylinder provided in the vane and moves to a lock position and to an unlock position; and a feeding passage for feeding oil into the cylinder from the retard chamber adjacent to the vane provided with the cylinder to make the lock pin move to the unlock position, and controls an oil supplying unit to supply oil to each retard chamber, wherein a flow passage cross sectional area of the branch passage connected with the retard chamber linking with the cylinder is larger than a flow passage cross sectional area of the branch passage connected with the other retard chamber. Full Article
ic Adaptive control of electrical devices to achieve desired power use characteristics By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method is provided for energizing and managing digitally-controlled devices at different levels of granularity, to achieve desired power use characteristics. At the lowest level, a digitally-controlled device is energized using a variable load-sensing adaptive control (VLSAC). Operation of the device is controlled using digital signals input to the device, so that limits on parameters, such as power consumption are met. A plurality of VLSACs can be coupled to a power distribution unit (PDU), which is controlled to achieve desired levels for selected parameters, set for the PDU. Multiple PDUs can be coupled to a power conversion and regulation unit (PCRU), which can be controlled by a master control to achieve a desired power profile for an entire facility, enabling the facility to meet requirements of a utility supplying the power and thus, reducing operational costs. The VLSACs and PCRU include high efficiency power sources having low distortion. Full Article
ic Graphical view sidebar for a process control system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A secondary or “sidebar” display within a process control environment may provide several small applications to allow business managers, engineers, maintenance personnel, or other non-operator personnel to organize and manage process control system information and to display selected diagnostics and summary information or “key operating parameters” for the process control system. Further, sidebar applications may communicate with other applications that are executing on a non-operator user's workstation to, thereby, retrieve information related to tasks that the user is currently completing. The sidebar application may then determine whether certain process control information may be useful for the main task the user is completing and display that process control information within the sidebar. Full Article
ic Music collection navigation device and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An audio navigation device comprising an input means for inputting two or more audio pieces into the navigation device; a spatialization means for allocating a position in the form of a unique spatial co-ordinate to each audio piece and arranging the audio pieces in a multi-dimensional arrangement; a generating means for generating a binaural audio output for each audio piece, wherein the audio output simulates sounds that would be made by one or more physical sources located at the given position of each audio piece; an output means for simultaneously outputting multiple audio pieces as binaural audio output to a user; a navigation means for enabling a user to navigate around the audio outputs in the multi-dimensional arrangement; a selection means for allowing a user to select a single audio output. Full Article
ic Acoustic characteristics setting support system and acoustic characteristics setting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An audio setting application of a smart phone acquires tuning data from a tuning data setting server, which meets a search condition specified by a user. The audio setting application performs filtering of tuning parameters included in the tuning data. The tuning parameters are parameters of a plurality of acoustic characteristic items of an audio apparatus, and such parameters are excluded if the parameter cannot be expected to achieve an appropriate effect when the parameter is applied to the audio apparatus. Full Article
ic Robotic machining apparatus method and system for turbine buckets By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A robotic apparatus for machining tenons on turbine buckets of a steam turbine machine is disclosed. The robotic apparatus includes a machining device having a spindle head. A robotic arm is coupled to the machining device and a base member is coupled to the robotic arm. The base member is mounted independently of the machine element. A vision system is provided for locating the tenon on the turbine bucket. A control system is coupled to the vision system, the machining device and the robotic apparatus. The control system is configured to control movement of the robotic apparatus and the machining device based upon vision system data and spatial information about the tenon and the turbine bucket. Full Article
ic Smart medicine container assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Present invention discloses a dispenser having means to dispense desired number of pills from a bulk supply of pills contained in the dispenser. The dispenser comprises of storage compartment having bulk supply of pills and having a discharge port emptying into counting compartment The counting compartment contains first and second conveyors moving at first and second speed; wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed thereby enabling pill separation; the second conveyor discharges pills into dispensing compartment. Sensors are strategically placed along the conveyors to count pills discharged into dispensing compartment. A pill recovery system and apparatus is disposed inside the dispenser having means to recover pills remaining on conveyors upon completion of a dispensation cycle and deposit recovered pills back into the storage compartment for use in future dispensation cycles. A docking station having receptacles to accommodate dispenser is provided. Docking station has communication ports enabling two-way communication with personal computer. Full Article
ic Versatile robotic control module By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Certain embodiments of the present invention provide robotic control modules for use in a robotic control system of a vehicle, including structures, systems and methods, that can provide (i) a robotic control module that has multiple functional circuits, such as a processor and accompanying circuits, an actuator controller, an actuator amplifier, a packet network switch, and a power supply integrated into a mountable and/or stackable package/housing; (ii) a robotic control module with the noted complement of circuits that is configured to reduce heat, reduce space, shield sensitive components from electro-magnetic noise; (iii) a robotic control system utilizing robotic control modules that include the sufficiently interchangeable functionality allowing for interchangeability of modules; and (iv) a robotic control system that distributes the functionality and processing among a plurality of robotic control modules in a vehicle. Full Article
ic Method and device for actuating a key of a keyboard with a tracer finger of a robot By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a method for actuating a first key of a keyboard with a tracer finger of a robot. An exemplary method comprises acquiring parameters of the keyboard and determining a position of the first key as a function of the acquired parameters using a model of the keyboard. The exemplary method also comprises guiding the tracer finger of the robot to the determined position of the first key. The exemplary method additionally comprises actuating the first key with the tracer finger of the robot. Full Article
ic Positive control of robotic surgical instrument end effector By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of controlling an operation of a robotically-controlled surgical instrument can include receiving a first input signal at a controller indicative of a user's readiness to actuate the surgical instrument to perform a surgical procedure, outputting an output signal from the controller to provide feedback to the user in response to the received first input signal, receiving a second input signal at the controller confirming the user's readiness to actuate the surgical instrument, outputting an actuation signal from the controller in response to receiving the second input signal, and actuating the surgical instrument to perform the surgical procedure based on the actuation signal. Full Article
ic Verification and control device and method for at least one water purification system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A verification and control method for at least one water purification system is described, which includes a step of supplying, by a server embedded with the water purification system, an editing interface comprising a zone for selecting items of exploitation information representing physical quantities associated with the water purification system, a step of selecting, via the first remote browser, at least one item of exploitation information to constitute at least one exploitation interface page, a step of sending a request to access the exploitation page, by a second remote browser, to the server, a step of collecting the value of each physical quantity represented by a selected item of information to constitute the page, and a step of supplying, by the server, the page comprising each collected value. Full Article
ic Monitoring and optimizing an electrical grid state By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Monitoring and optimizing a state of an electrical grid are provided. An approach for synchronizing state information and context information, associated with one or more electrical devices on an electrical grid, with time information is provided. The state information is from one or more phasor measurement units (PMUs) associated with the one or more electrical devices, and the context information is from one or more third party servers. The approach further includes notifying one or more subscribing devices of the synchronized state information and the synchronized context information such that the one or more subscribing devices monitors and controls the one or more electrical devices based on the synchronized state information and the synchronized context information. Full Article
ic Method and system for automatic-adjustable stacker By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automatic-adjustable stacker for controlling the movement of a media, such as cardboard, through a media handling system. The stacker includes a media receiver positioned proximate a feed of the media that receives a leading edge of the media and a controller that causes the media receiver to move from a first position for receiving the media, to a second position for depositing of the media at a desired location. The media receiver is configured to prevent the media from coming into contact with other media already located at the desired location until the media has arrived at the desired location, while creating a concave-like shape to the media while conveying it. Full Article
ic Action detection and activity classification By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 May 2016 08:00:00 EDT Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like. Full Article
ic Process for producing mixed metal rare earth metal halide solutions in organic solvents By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to lithium salt-containing rare earth halide solutions in aprotic solvents, processes for production thereof and also use thereof. Full Article
ic Manufacture and use of modified polysaccharide chitosan bonds and a process to improve the preparation of HES-medicinal substance compounds By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a bonding product suitable as a carrier for medicinal substances and to the compound derived therefrom that carries medicinal substances. The invention further relates to a process and device for preparing such bonding products and compounds. Further, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing such bonding products and compounds, and to the use thereof for preparing an infusible medicament for treating a disease. Full Article
ic Methods and compositions for diagnostic and therapeutic targeting of COX-2 By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The presently disclosed subject matter provides compositions that selectively bind cyclooxygenase-2 and comprise a therapeutic and/or diagnostic moiety. Also provided are methods for using the disclosed compositions for diagnosing (i.e., by imaging) a target cell and/or treating a disorder associated with a cyclooxygenase-2 biological activity. Full Article
ic Light absorption anisotropic film, polarizing film, process for producing the polarizing film and display device using the polarizing film By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A light absorption anisotropic film, wherein content of a liquid crystalline non-colorable low molecular weight compound is 30% by mass or less; and which is obtained by fixing the alignment of a dichroic dye composition comprising at least one type of azo-based dichroic dye having nematic liquid crystallinity; and shows a diffraction peak derived from a periodic structure in a direction parallel to the alignment axis on measurement of X-ray diffraction. The light absorption anisotropic film is high in dichroism. Full Article
ic Cycloalkyl triamine pentacarboxylate as ligands for paramagnetic metal complexes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A cycloalkyl triamine pentacarboxylate compound coordinating to a metal ion to form a high stability metal complex in serum is provided. The metal complex of the present invention can be used as a contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Full Article
ic Inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase IX By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Novel radiopharmaceuticals that are useful in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic treatment of disease characterized by over expression of CA-IX comprise a complex that contains a sulfonamide moiety which is capable of binding the active catalytic site of CA-IX, and a radionuclide adapted for radioimaging and/or radiotherapy: Full Article
ic Reagent system and method for modifying the luminescence of lanthanide(III) macrocyclic complexes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Disclosed is a spectrofluorimetrically detectable luminescent composition consisting essentially of at least one energy transfer acceptor lanthanide(III) complex having an emission spectrum maximum in the range from 300 to 2000 nanometers and a luminescence-enhancing amount of at least one energy transfer donor selected from the group consisting of a fluorophore, a lumiphore, an organic compound, a salt of an organic ion, a metal ion, a metal ion complex, or a combination thereof. Such energy transfer donor enhances the luminescence of at least one energy transfer acceptor lanthanide(III) complex, with the conditions that the emission spectrum of any energy transfer donor differs from that of its energy transfer acceptor lanthanide(III) complex; and such energy transfer donor can be dissolved to form a unitary solution in a solvent having an evaporation rate at least as great as that of water. Full Article
ic Basic bisazo compounds By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to basic bisazo compounds according to formula (I) wherein all substituents are defined as in Claim 1, their production, their use as dyestuffs as well as material dyed with these dyestuffs. Full Article
ic Dichroic dye composition, light absorption anisotropic film, and polarizing element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A light absorption anisotropic film, having at least one dichroic dye, in which the light absorption anisotropic film shows a diffraction peak derived from a periodic structure in a direction in a plane of the light absorption anisotropic film in X-ray diffraction measurement and the diffraction peak has a half width of 1.0 Å or less. Full Article
ic Metallodrugs having improved pharmacological properties and methods of manufacture and use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST It is an object of the present invention to provide antimicrobial metallodrugs comprising an antimicrobial peptide (“AMP”) and/or an antibiotic covalently bound to a metal binding moiety. These metallodrugs combine a metal binding domain which typically catalyzes oxido-reductase chemistry or acts as a Lewis-Acid catalyst, with a member of a diverse class of antimicrobial agents currently validated in preclinical and clinical settings for the treatment of a broad spectrum of pathogenic organisms. Full Article
ic Photo-responsive liquid crystalline compound and its applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The purpose of the present invention is to provide novel liquid crystalline compounds that are capable of inducing phase transition by a light stimulus and are useful in the display, optoelectronics, and photonics field. The present invention relates to the liquid crystalline compounds represented by general formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyloxy, alkanoyl, alkanoyloxy, alkoxyphenyl, and N-alkylaminocarbonyl, and n is an integer. Full Article
ic Tricarbonyl complexes with tridentate chelators for myocardium imaging By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Chelators of the formulae (I), (II) and (III) and tricarbonyl complexes of radioisotopes of Tc and Re bound to them, for use in myocardial imaging. Full Article
ic Azo compounds reducing formation and toxicity of amyloid beta aggregation intermediates By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to compounds suitable as modulators of protein misfolding and/or protein aggregation. The compounds are particularly suitable as inhibitors of amyloid aggregate formation and/or modulators of amyloid surface properties, and/or as activators of degradation or reduction of amyloid aggregates. Full Article
ic Photoreactive synthetic regulator of protein function and methods of use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure provides a photoreactive synthetic regulator of protein function. The present disclosure further provides a light-regulated polypeptide that includes a subject synthetic regulator. Also provided are cells and membranes comprising a subject light-regulated polypeptide. The present disclosure further provides methods of modulating protein function, involving use of light. Full Article
ic Organometallic compositions and coating compositions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is directed to novel organometallic complexes as catalysts for the reaction of compounds with isocyanate and hydroxyl functional groups to form urethane and/or polyurethane and the process employing such catalysts. More particularly, the present invention is directed to novel complexes of zinc(II) with substituted amidines. These novel catalysts are useful for the production of urethanes and polyurethanes which are important in many industrial applications. Full Article
ic Liquid-crystal compound, liquid-crystal composition, light absorption anisotropic film, and liquid-crystal display device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A liquid-crystal compound denoted by general formula (I) below wherein each of the groups is defined and Dye denotes an azo dye residue denoted by general formula (II) with X and n also being defined. The azo liquid-crystal compound is capable of orientation with a high degree of orientation order. Full Article
ic Visible/near-infrared porphyrin-tape/C60 organic photodetectors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Porphyrin compounds are provided. The compounds may further comprise a fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon or a fused heterocyclic aromatic. Fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon s and fused heterocyclic aromatics may extend and broaden absorption, and modify the solubility, crystallinity, and film-forming properties of the porphyrin compounds. Additionally, devices comprising porphyrin compounds are also provided. The porphyrin compounds may be used in a donor/acceptor configuration with compounds, such as C60. Full Article
ic Azoquinone compound, electrophotographic photoconductor, and image forming apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure relates to an azoquinone compound represented by formula (1) below. In formula (1), R1 to R4 are identical or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a C1 to C6 alkyl group or a C6 to C12 aryl group, and Ar represents a C6 to C12 aryl group. Full Article
ic Radiopharmaceutical pig and transportation apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for transporting radiopharmaceutical substances. The apparatus comprises a radiation shielding pig having an elongated sidewall that extends between two ends and that defines an elongated, interior chamber. The sidewall is thinner than each of the ends. A radiation shield defines at least one cavity. The shield has two open ends and a central area between the open ends that is thicker than each of the two open ends. Also, a method of assembling and disassembling the apparatus includes, placing a syringe filled with a radiopharmaceutical substance into the pig; placing the pig containing the filled syringe in the radiation shield; placing the pig and the shield into an ammunition can for transporting the radioactive substance contained in the syringe. Full Article
ic Pyrochemical reprocessing method for spent nuclear fuel and induction heating system to be used in pyrochemical reprocessing method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 08:00:00 EDT This invention is provided for improvement of corrosion-resistant property of a crucible and for promotion of safety in a pyrochemical reprocessing method for the spent nuclear fuel. The spent nuclear fuel is dissolved in a molten salt placed in the crucible. In a pyrochemical reprocessing method, the nuclear fuel is deposited, and the crucible (2) is heated by induction heating. Cooling media (5, 6) are supplied to cool down, and a molten salt layer (7) is maintained by keeping balance between the heating and the cooling, and a solidified salt layer (8) is formed on inner wall surface of the crucible. Full Article
ic Method of chemical decontamination and system therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Dec 2005 08:00:00 EST In a chemical decontamination method of chemically decontaminating radioactive nuclides from a metallic material, oxalic acid and hydrazine are injected as a reductive decontaminating agent into water that is in contact with the metallic material. Injection of the hydrazine is stopped after a cation resin arranged in a circulation line connected to the metallic material breaks, and at least the oxalic acid and the hydrazine in the reductive decontaminating agent are decomposed using a decomposing catalyst. Full Article
ic System and method for chemical decontamination of radioactive material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:00:00 EDT A method for chemically decontaminating radioactive material. The method includes reducing-dissolving step for setting surface of radioactive material in contact with reducing decontamination liquid including mono-carboxylic acid and di-carboxylic acid as dissolvent; and oxidizing-dissolving step for setting the surface of the radioactive material in contact with oxidizing decontamination liquid including oxidizer. The method may include repeated pairs of steps, each pair including the reducing-dissolving step and the oxidizing-dissolving step. The mono-carboxylic acid may include formic acid, and the di-carboxylic acid includes oxalic acid. The oxidizer may be ozone, permanganic acid or permanganate. Full Article
ic Device for inspecting plant parts located under water By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Nov 2006 08:00:00 EST A device for inspecting submersed plant parts is particularly suited for ultrasonic inspection of screws in the core baffle of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel. The device includes a remote-controlled underwater vehicle that is provided at its end face with a carrier that can be pivoted about a pivot axis oriented parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the underwater vehicle, and is provided with a holding device for an inspection head that is arranged on the carrier spaced apart from the pivot axis. Full Article
ic Foam and gel methods for the decontamination of metallic surfaces By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Jan 2007 08:00:00 EST Decontamination of nuclear facilities is necessary to reduce the radiation field during normal operations and decommissioning of complex equipment. In this invention, we discuss gel and foam based diphosphonic acid (HEDPA) chemical solutions that are unique in that these solutions can be applied at room temperature; provide protection to the base metal for continued applications of the equipment; and reduce the final waste form production to one step. The HEDPA gels and foams are formulated with benign chemicals, including various solvents, such as ionic liquids and reducing and complexing agents such as hydroxamic acids, and formaldehyde sulfoxylate. Gel and foam based HEDPA processes allow for decontamination of difficult to reach surfaces that are unmanageable with traditional aqueous process methods. Also, the gel and foam components are optimized to maximize the dissolution rate and assist in the chemical transformation of the gel and foam to a stable waste form. Full Article
ic Separation and receiving device for spent nuclear fuel rods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST Disclosed is a separation and receiving apparatus for a spent nuclear fuel rod. The spent nuclear fuel rod is mounted and downwardly transferred by a pin. At this time, a blade peels the hull of the spent nuclear fuel rod. The hull and a pellet positioned therein are separated by a separator. The peeled hull and pellet are each received in respective receiving vessels. Accordingly, since the hull and pellet made of uranium oxide (UO2) may be automatically separated and received in each respective vessel, safety and automation may be guaranteed. Full Article
ic Method for measuring the neutron flux in the core of a nuclear reactor using a cobalt detector and associated device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A method for measuring the neutron flux in the core of a nuclear reactor, the method including several steps recurrently performed at instants separated by a period, the method comprising at each given instant the following steps: acquiring a total signal by a cobalt neutron detector placed inside the core of the reactor; assessing a calibration factor representative of the delayed component of the total signal due to the presence of cobalt 60 in the neutron detector; assessing a corrected signal representative of the neutron flux at the detector from the total signal and from the calibration factor; assessing a slope representative of the time-dependent change of the calibration factor between the preceding instant and the given instant; the calibration factor at the given instant being assessed as a function of the calibration factor assessed at the preceding instant, of the slope, and of the time period separating the given instant from the preceding instant. Full Article
ic Pharmaceutical formulations comprising an insulin derivative By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention concerns a soluble pharmaceutical formulation comprising an insulin derivative wherein the formulation further comprises more than 4 zinc atoms per 6 molecules of the insulin derivative, and a citric acid monohydrate and/or a histidine compound used in an amount sufficient to increase the tendency of the insulin derivative to self-associate into dodecamers. The invention further comprises a process for preparing the soluble pharmaceutical formulation. Full Article