atus Intake apparatus of engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Jul 2015 08:00:00 EDT An intake apparatus of an engine includes: a first intake passage supplying fresh air to a cylinder; a second intake passage arranged near the first intake passage, and supplying fresh air to the cylinder; a first intake valve opening and closing the first intake passage at an aperture of the first intake passage; a second intake valve opening and closing the second intake passage at an aperture of the second intake passage. An opening timing of the first intake valve of the intake apparatus advances relative to a top dead center, and a valve lift amount of the first intake valve differs from that of the second intake valve, and there is a period while the valve lift amount of the first intake valve is larger than that of the second intake valve, in an intake stroke. Full Article
atus Valve timing adjusting device, apparatus for manufacturing same and method for manufacturing same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Jan 2016 08:00:00 EST A valve timing adjusting device for and engine includes a sprocket configured to rotate by receiving drive power from a driving shaft, a vane rotor fixed to a driven shaft so as to be rotatable relative to the sprocket, a housing that includes an oil chamber housing the vane rotor and is fixed to one end in a thickness direction of the sprocket, a bolt fixing the sprocket to the housing, and a knock pin inserted into a sprocket hole formed in the sprocket at one end thereof and into a housing hole formed in the housing at the other end thereof to restrict relative relation between the sprocket and the housing. The knock pin abuts against an inner wall of the sprocket hole at one end thereof, and abuts against an inner wall of the housing hole at the other end thereof. Full Article
atus MAGNETIC ELEMENT, SKYRMION MEMORY, SKYRMION MEMORY DEVICE, SKYRMION-MEMORY EMBEDDED SOLID-STATE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, DATA STORAGE APPARATUS, DATA PROCESSING AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a magnetic element capable of generating one skyrmion and erasing the one skyrmion. The magnetic element includes a magnet shaped like a substantially rectangular flat plate, an upstream electrode connected to the magnet in a width Wm direction of the magnet and made of a non-magnetic metal, a downstream electrode connected to the magnet in the width Wm direction to oppose the upstream electrode and made of a non-magnetic metal, and a skyrmion sensor configured to detect the skyrmion. Here, a width Wm of the substantially rectangular magnet is such that 3·λ>Wm≧λ, where λ denotes a diameter of the skyrmion, a length Hm of the substantially rectangular magnet is such that 2·λ>Hm≧λ, and the magnet has a notch structure at the edge between the upstream electrode and the downstream electrode. Full Article
atus SEMICONDUCTOR STORAGE APPARATUS AND MEMORY SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage apparatus includes a memory cell array and a read circuit. The memory cell array includes a memory cell which is connected to a word line. A threshold voltage of the memory cell corresponds to a data value of multiple bits. The read circuit receives designation of one bit among the multiple bits, applies a first reading voltage and a second reading voltage corresponding to the designated bit to the word line, senses ON or OFF of the memory cell for each reading voltage, and outputs a first sensed value and a second sensed value after performing the sensing for each reading voltage. The first sensed value is a sensing result in a case where the first reading voltage is applied. The second sensed value is a sensing result in a case where the second reading voltage is applied. Full Article
atus APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF READING MEMORY CELLS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method is provided for a reading memory even if there is a threshold voltage in an overlapped threshold voltage (VTH) region between a first state distribution and a second state distribution. The method includes ramping a bias on a memory cell a first time to determine a first threshold voltage (VTH1) of the memory cell and determining whether the VTH1 is within the overlapped VTH region. Upon determination that the memory cell is within the overlapped VTH region, the method further includes applying a write pulse to the memory cell; ramping a bias on the memory cell a second time to determine a second threshold voltage (VTH2); and determining the state of the memory cell prior to receiving the write pulse based on a comparison between the VTH1 and the VTH2. Full Article
atus METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHIFTING CONTROL AREAS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for assigning a plurality of access nodes of a wireless communication network to control areas includes a processing apparatus. The processing apparatus is configured to assign each access node in the plurality of access nodes to a control area of a plurality of control areas and to determine a first control phase. The first control phase is a period of time during which the assignment of access nodes to control areas remains constant. The processing apparatus is configured to, when changing from the first control phase to a following second control phase, reassign at least a subset of access nodes which were assigned during the first control phase to a first control area to a second control area and reassign at least a subset of access nodes which were assigned during the first control phase to a third control area to the first control area. Full Article
atus UPLINK DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for transmitting uplink (UL) data requiring low latency in a wireless communication system according to the present invention, the method performed by a user equipment comprises transmitting contention PUSCH resource block (CPRB) indication information used for identifying a particular UE and/or particular data to an eNB; transmitting UL data to the eNB through CPRB resources of a contention based PUSCH (CP) zone; and receiving a hybrid automatic retransmit request (HARQ) response with respect to the UL data from the eNB through a physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH). Full Article
atus METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE USER UPLINK BANDWIDTH ALLOCATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus for multiple user uplink are provided. In one aspect, method for wireless communication includes receiving an assignment of a frequency bandwidth for an uplink transmission of a station. The method further includes determining whether a portion of the assigned frequency bandwidth is unavailable for the uplink transmission. The method further includes selectively transmitting the uplink transmission based on whether the portion of the assigned frequency bandwidth is unavailable. Full Article
atus Method, Apparatus, Server, and Systems of Time-Reversal Technology By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A time-reversal wireless system comprising a first wireless transceiver of a time-reversal client, one or more second wireless transceiver and/or a time-reversal client with the first wireless transceiver. The first wireless transceiver of the time-reversal client is wirelessly coupled to the one or more second wireless transceiver through a wireless broadband multipath channel associated with a space. The time-reversal client contains the first wireless transceiver. The time-reversal client also contains a processor and a memory configured to obtain a set of channel state information (CSI) in a channel probing phase, and/or to obtain a set of location-specific signatures based on the set of CSI and/or a time reversal operation in a channel probing phase. The set of CSI is captured when one or more probing signal is sent either from the first wireless transceiver to each of the at least one second wireless transceiver, or from each of the at least one second wireless transceiver to the first wireless transceiver, through the wireless broadband multipath channel associated with the space. A channel passband with bandwidth W0 is associated with the wireless broadband multipath channel. A first passband with bandwidth W1 is associated with the first wireless transceiver. The W1 is not larger than W0 such that the first passband is part of the channel passband. One or more second passband is associated with the one or more second wireless transceiver such that a bandwidth W2 associated with each of the one or more second passband is not larger than W1 such that the each of the one or more second passband is part of the first passband. Each of the set of CSI include a channel impulse response, a channel frequency response, and/or another channel state data of the wireless broadband multipath channel. Full Article
atus APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING/RECEIVING DATA IN COMMUNICATION SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A data transmission apparatus in a communication system includes a reception unit configured to receive terminal information from a plurality of terminals through a new frequency band for transmission and reception of data between the plurality of terminals and an AP (access point); a determination unit configured to determine access timing of the terminals to the AP by using the terminal information, and generate terminal access information including information on the access timing; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the terminal access information and beacon frames to the terminals, wherein the terminals access the AP and transmit data frames to the AP, at the access timing based on the beacon frames. Full Article
atus METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING FRAME IN WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR THE SAME By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are a method for transmitting and receiving a frame in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system and an apparatus for the same. A method for generating interference/non-interference station lists includes receiving a first frame from a second station, acquiring a receiver address of the first frame from the first frame, and setting, based on whether to receive a second frame that is a response to the first frame from a third station indicated by the receiver address within a preset time from a time when the first frame has been received, the third station as an interference station or a non-interference station. Therefore, the performance of a communication system may be improved. Full Article
atus METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING CODEWORD, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING CODEWORD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for generating a codeword, and a method and an apparatus for recovering a codeword. An encoder calculates the number of punctured symbol nodes among symbol nodes included in a codeword, punctures symbol nodes located at even or odd number positions among the symbol nodes included in the codeword, calculates the number of symbol nodes which need to be additionally punctured on the basis of the calculated number of the symbol nodes to be punctured, classifies the symbol nodes, which need to be additionally punctured, into one or more punctured node groups on the basis of the calculated number of symbol nodes which need to be punctured, determines the locations on the codeword where the one or more punctured node groups are to be arranged, and punctures the symbol nodes included in the codeword which belong to the punctured node groups according to the determined locations. A transmission unit transmits the codeword. Full Article
atus APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF DATA WITH DIFFERENT QoS ATTRIBUTES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus, system and method are provided for transmitting data from logical channel queues over a telecommunications link, each of the logical channel queues capable of being associated with quality of service attributes, the method including determining available resources for transmission over the telecommunications link in a frame; selecting one of the logical channel queues based on a first one of the quality of service attributes; packaging data from the selected one of the logical channel queues until one of: a second one of the quality of service attributes for the selected one of the logical channel queues is satisfied, the available resources are used, or the selected one of the logical channel queues is empty; and repeating the selecting step and the packaging step for remaining ones of the logical channel queues. Full Article
atus METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIGNAL INTERFERENCE PROCESSING By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, a method for detecting signal interference in a first segment of a plurality of segments of a radio frequency spectrum of a wireless communication system, determining according to the signal interference a measure of quality of service of the first segment for transmitting voice traffic, comparing the measure of quality of service to a desired measure of quality of service measure for voice traffic, determining from the comparison that the first segment is not suitable for voice traffic, and notifying a system that the first segment is not suitable for voice traffic. Other embodiments are disclosed. Full Article
atus METHOD FOR DETERMINING RESOURCE FOR DEVICE-TO-DEVICE (D2D) COMMUNICATION IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND APPARATUS THEREFOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and a method for determining a resource for device-to-device communication by a user equipment is disclosed. A method for determining a resource for device-to-device communication according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise the steps of: receiving, from an eNode B (eNB), configuration information related to a resource pool configured for each level; selecting the resource pool of the device-to-device communication on the basis of the configuration information; and selecting a resource for the device-to-device communication in the resource pool. Herein, the resource pool may be configured to have two or more levels. Full Article
atus ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES CONTROL METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes an electromagnetic wave emitter, a wireless communication circuitry and a hardware processor. The electromagnetic wave emitter emits a first electromagnetic wave. The wireless communication circuitry communicates with another electronic apparatus according to a first standard, using a second electromagnetic wave. The first electromagnetic wave can be noise for a communication by the wireless communication circuitry. The hardware processor determines a period to be allowed to communicate with the another electronic apparatus according to the first standard. The electromagnetic wave emitter emits the first electromagnetic wave during the first period. Full Article
atus METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RESOURCE COLLISION AVOIDANCE IN VEHICLE TO VEHICLE COMMUNICATION By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The sensing method a first vehicle user equipment (UE) for collision avoidance in a wireless communication network comprises receiving a set of scheduling assignment (SA) information allocated to a set of second vehicle UEs, decoding the set of SA information, each of which includes SA information to each of the set of second vehicle UEs, performing energy sensing operation for resources to be used by each of the set of second vehicle UEs to determine additional potential SA transmission and data transmission from the set of second vehicle UEs over the resources, determining available resources for the data transmission from the first vehicle UE based on the performed energy sensing and SA sensing, skipping a channel sensing operation on at least one subframe that is used for the data transmission from the first vehicle UE, and transmitting data among resources identified as unused in next transmissions from second vehicle UEs. Full Article
atus USER APPARATUS AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A user apparatus in a communication system including a first base station and a second base station that perform communication with the user apparatus by inter-base station carrier aggregation, including: a maximum transmission power holding unit configured to hold a maximum transmission power that is configured beforehand for the first base station; a transmission power determination unit configured to determine whether a transmission power that is used by the user apparatus for performing signal transmission to the first base station reaches the maximum transmission power held by the maximum transmission power holding unit; and a transmission control unit configured, when it is determined that the transmission power reaches the maximum transmission power by the transmission power determination unit, to stop signal transmission to the second base station. Full Article
atus DATA TRANSMISSION LINK ESTABLISHMENT APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT This application provides a data transmission link establishment apparatus. The apparatus includes: a selection unit, configured to select a target node; a determining unit, configured to determine a backhaul node that needs to establish a data transmission link with the target node selected by the selection unit; a setting unit, configured to set protocol stack roles, in the data transmission link, of the target node and the backhaul node that is determined by the determining unit; and a configuration unit, configured to perform configuration on the target node and the backhaul node according to the protocol stack roles that are set by the setting unit, to establish the data transmission link between the target node and the backhaul node. Full Article
atus 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
atus 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
atus Method and apparatus for pilling reduction By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for reducing pilling on a piece of garment/fabric includes at least one holding member adapted to secure the piece of garment/fabric, a rotatable brush member adapted to brush on the piece of garment/fabric until loose fibers of the garment/fabric migrates to a surface of the garment/fabric to form a layer of pillable fuzz, a shaving member adapted to remove the layer of pillable fuzz on the piece of garment/fabric, and a control unit adapted to control movement of the rotatable brush member and the shaving member. Full Article
atus Porous film manufacturing method and successive biaxial stretching apparatus for manufacturing porous film By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a method for manufacturing a high-quality porous film. Here, while the porous film is being manufactured through forming micropores by stretching, a raw film is prevented from slipping on the surfaces of the respective rolls as much as possible even though the raw film includes oil or liquid paraffin as a solvent. The method is for manufacturing a porous film through forming micropores by successive biaxial stretching. A tensile force applied to the raw film F transferring from the longitudinal stretching machine (10) to the transverse stretching machine (50) is set not less than a stretching force necessary for the longitudinal stretching, and thus the raw film is prevented from slipping on a contact surface between the raw film and each roll of the longitudinal stretching machine (10). Full Article
atus Method and apparatus for managing a network, network management program, and storage medium including a network management program stored thereon By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EDT A method, apparatus, program, and storage medium, for managing a network device by communicating with an information processing device and the network device via a network and managing the network device in response to a request from the information processing device. If a request for execution of a process, which needs particular authorization, upon the network device, is received from the information processing device, it is determined whether a command to invalidate a password of said network device has been received together with the process execution request. When the password of the network device is to be invalidated, a password invalidation request is transmitted to the network device. This technique makes it possible for an administrator of a network device to use it even when the administrator forgets the device password assigned to the network device without having to perform initialization which would cause all setting data to be lost. Full Article
atus Apparatus and method for transporting a fabric By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for transporting a fabric having first and second transport faces for gripping a fabric therebetween and to displace the fabric along its length, in which at least one of the transport faces has an irregular surface. Full Article
atus Method and apparatus for compacting tubular fabrics By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST A two-stage process and apparatus for compacting tubular knitted fabrics, wherein at each stage the fabric, is acted upon by cooperating feeding and retarding rollers spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the fabric. Opposite fabric sides thus cannot be in simultaneous contact with the feeding and retarding rollers at the same point along the fabric. Fabric is transferred from a feed roller to a retarding roller while opposite sides of the fabric are closely confined in a compacting zone, free of contact with either roller. Fabric is longitudinally compacted during its traverse of that zone. In the second stage, the rollers are reversely oriented with respect the fabric. Unlike known two-stage procedures, not more than 60% of the compacting effort is imparted in either one of the stages. Preferably each stage imparts about 50% of the compacting effort. Higher production speeds and superior product quality are achieved. Full Article
atus Method and apparatus for pliabilizing knitted or woven materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST An apparatus for pliabilizing tubular materials including a frame, a ring holder, and a mandrel assembly. The ring holder assembly is mounted to the frame and includes a circumferential ring, and a plurality of pairs of non-mechanically driven, rotatable wheels mounted around the ring and having a recess extending circumferentially around an outer edge. The mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having proximal and distal ends and a maximum outer circumference, and a plurality of non-mechanically driven, rotatable wheels spaced apart about a circumference of the mandrel and mounted thereto so as to extend radially beyond the maximum outer circumference. The wheels of the mandrel assembly are positioned between and so as to mate with respective pairs of the wheels of the ring holder assembly, and the wheels of the mandrel assembly are sized shaped to mate with the recesses of the respective pairs of wheels of the ring holder assembly. Full Article
atus Apparatus for compacting a fiber web By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to an apparatus for compacting a material web made of fibers and/or filaments, comprising a first revolving endless belt which carries the material web and is tensioned around guide rollers, and a second endless belt which is tensioned around guide rollers and revolves counter to the first belt at the same speed, wherein the first and second endless belts form a conical compacting region in a first region in the conveying direction of the material web and run at an angle with respect to each other, whereby the material web located between the belts is increasingly pressed, wherein subsequent to the first region a first nozzle beam is disposed for a first fluid application onto the material web still located between the two endless belts, wherein the two belts in this region of the first fluid application are in each case guided to run in a tensioned manner in a straight direction. According to the invention, the following is provided: the two belts (1,2) are guided in the region of the first fluid application (D,W,A) such that they do not run parallel to each other, or: the two belts (1,2) are guided in the region of the first fluid application (D,W,A) such that they run parallel to each other in a first section (AB1) and not parallel to each other in a subsequent second section (AB2). Full Article
atus Method and apparatus for applying a compaction pressure to a fabric preform during wrapping By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for applying a compaction pressure to a fabric during formation of a fabric preform. One end of the fabric is applied to the form having a central axis. The form with the fabric applied thereto is at least partially surrounded with a film. This film extends along a film path to the form and around at least a portion of the form. The fabric and the film are fed onto the form such that the fabric is wrapped around the form to create the fabric preform while the film is fed around the form. A vacuum is drawn to evacuate a gas from between the form and the film, thereby pressing the film onto the fabric and applying the compaction pressure to the fabric. Full Article
atus Method and apparatus for assembling reels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Feb 1980 08:00:00 EST A method and apparatus for assembling a reel having a pair of axially spaced circular flanges provided with facing annular grooves, a plurality of axially extending staves fitted into the grooves to form a cylindrical drum extending coaxially between the flanges, and a plurality of tie rods extending axially through the flanges within the drum to draw the flanges together, the apparatus having an inner ring assembly removably supported on the rods concentrically within the drum; an outer ring assembly releasably supported on and downwardly of the inner ring assembly concentrically therewith and adapted to open circumferentially so as to be removed from the drum; and a plurality of lances releasably engaging the tie rods for threading the rods through one of the flanges. Full Article
atus Container manufacturing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Jun 1980 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a new type of goods container which allows for economical transportation of bulk solids, especially low grade particulate matter. The container has a casing formed from woven metallic strips and is sealed from the inside. It is very strong and rigid providing it has been correctly filled and compacted. Novel apparatus for constructing the container is also provided as one method of filling and compacting the material to be transported. The container can be easily and quickly constructed at the filling site and scrapped at the end of its journey. Full Article
atus Machine and apparatus for making baskets By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jul 1987 08:00:00 EDT A support for a basket during weaving is disclosed. The support has a frame made up of a first column and a second column. A basket mold is supported on the first column and a foam rubber pad is rotatably supported on the second column. A hydraulic cylinder has a piston rod attached to the foam pad. The pad holds a basket bottom, having warp and weave members nailed to the basket bottom, to the basket mold. The basket can than be woven, the top handle installed and the completed basket removed from the mold. Full Article
atus Wine barrel reconditioning method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 1997 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
atus Apparatus and method for forming a basket bottom By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 08:00:00 EST A working surface 14 is provided with a plurality of splint locators 15-18 and a bottom locating area 27 suitable for arranging basket splints 11A-C, 12A-C into a predetermined number and configuration of angularly related sets 11, 12. A slot 44, 45 and a linearly aligned set of sockets 48A-C, 49A-C are formed in the working surface 14 outwardly from two of the perimeter edge portions 21, 22 of the bottom locating area 27. An alignment rim 29, 30 is provided for positioning one end of each of the basket splints in one of the angularly related sets 11, 12. A bolt 50, 51 is slidably mounted in each of the slots 44, 45 and extends upwardly through each of the alignment rims 29, 30. A wing nut 56, 57 is threadedly mounted on each of the bolts 50, 51 for releasably tightening the alignment rims 29, 30 at selected sites on the working surface 14. A ring-headed pin 58, 59 extends downwardly through each of the alignment rims 29, 30 for releasably engaging a selected one of the sockets 48A-C, 49A-C. Full Article
atus Basket form apparatus and method of use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Jun 2001 08:00:00 EDT A method of constructing an interwoven basket using a collapsible basket form apparatus is disclosed. The present invention permits the construction of an interwoven basket including a solid bottom surface and upwardly converging woven side walls that define a top opening which is relatively smaller than the largest diameter of the basket. The present collapsible basket form apparatus permits construction of a basket from which a unitary basket form of the same shape could not otherwise be removed upon completion of the basket. The present basket form apparatus is adaptable to construction of baskets of many different sizes and shapes by the use of interchangeable rib components which function to define the basket contours. Full Article
atus Apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. In particular, the present invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. Therefore, the resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The apparatus of the present invention includes a scanning device adapted to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device adapted to shave the internal surface to a predetermined depth relative to the scanned internal dimensions. Full Article
atus Apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for shaving the inside of barrels. The invention relates to reconditioning used wine barrels by shaving the inside surface to a predetermined depth, ready for re-crozering, toasting, and re-use. Conventional shaving methods typically involve routing the internal surface by hand, but this technique is problematic in that it is a very slow process, the quality of the wood is often adversely affected, and there is no way of ensuring that the surface will be shaved to the same depth across the entire surface. The resultant internal dimensions of the barrel are not reflective, relatively, of the original barrel surface. The invention includes a scanning device to scan the internal dimensions of the barrel, and a cutting device to shave the internal surface to a predetermined depth relative to the scanned internal dimensions and where the scanning device and the cutting device may be supported by different robotic arms. Full Article
atus Apparatus and method for producing barrel staves By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention therefore provides an improved apparatus and integrated method for producing barrel staves. The apparatus measures the profile of unfinished stave workpieces and based on the width and shape of the stave, as well as other parameters such as the type of barrel that is required, the edges of the stave are trimmed accordingly. This ensures fewer rejected staves, less waste in that the width of the unfinished stave is continuously measured across its entire length with minimum depth of cut required, and most importantly, barrel staves having extremely accurate jointed edges ensuring superior finished barrels have an internal surface that is free from undesirable spacing between the staves, utilizing less labor than hitherto known apparatus. Full Article
atus Hydraulic regeneration apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A hydraulic motor/pump regenerator system for recovering energy from the moving vehicle having high efficiency and precise control, thereby allowing the maximum amount of energy to be recovered and reused, is described. Three, fixed-displacement pump/motors are used to enable the system to recover and reapply energy at efficiencies expected to be above 70% in most circumstances. The invention is not limited to the use of three fixed displacement hydraulic units since using more units may in some drive cycles further improve efficiency. By selecting an appropriate combination of pump/motor units for providing the driveshaft torque required by the driver, embodiments of the present invention generate high recovery efficiency at any speed. Full Article
atus Robotic apparatus for minimally invasive surgery By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A robotic arm especially suited for laparoscopic surgery, having a torsional joint and a flexural joint forming serially arranged joints is described. The joints provide respective degrees of freedom for the arm, which further receives drive means for such joints. The robotic arm also has transmission means placed between the drive means have and the joints. The transmission means a first and a second assembly of three gear wheels, preferably conical gear wheels, and a train of three additional gear wheels, preferably straight-cut gear wheels, which couple the first and second assembly to form a differential mechanism. Full Article
atus Tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for use in a vehicle. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a conventional structure, which should be provided with both of tilting fixing gears and telescopic fixing gears for locking after a tilt or tilt and telescopic operation, is improved in such a manner that the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation may be locked by a locking member and a linear protruding portion. As a result, an improper tooth-engagement phenomenon (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) between gear teeth can be prevented, the tilt operation and the telescopic operation can be simultaneously locked, and required components can be reduced such that material costs can be reduced. Full Article
atus Vehicle-operating apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle driving apparatus where brake and acceleration functions are combined with a single stick includes: a lever moving to an acceleration position, an idle position, or a brake position as rotating forward and rearward about a shaft fixed to a vehicle body at a predetermined angle; a hand acceleration means opening an engine throttle to cause a vehicle to be accelerated; a hand brake means pushing a booster rod of a brake booster so that a brake operates to cause the vehicle to be stopped; a guide means installed on the left and right sides of the lever to prevent the lever from being shaken leftward and rightward; a hand brake locking means allowing the hand brake to be continuously applied; and a cruise control means allowing the lever to stay in the acceleration position even if the driver takes his hand off the lever. Full Article
atus Steering apparatus for vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a main housing formed in a box form provided with a pair of side walls extending in an axial direction of the main housing with an opening between the pair of side walls, and provided with opening portions at opposing ends in the axial direction. The steering apparatus also includes a movable column member formed in a tubular form accommodated in the main housing through one of the opening portions at the opposing ends of the main housing in the axial direction. The steering apparatus further includes a resilient member, which is a plate spring, formed in one piece configured to fix to the main housing at the pair of fixing portions in a state where the pair of thrust portions, via thrust members, are thrusting the movable column member. Full Article
atus Pedal apparatus for vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pedal apparatus for a vehicle may include a pad, a bracket which may be disposed below the pad, wherein the bracket may be coupled to the pad and a pedal arm at each opposite end of the pad and the pedal arm, respectively, a link section which may be disposed in the bracket, wherein the link section may be coupled to a lower portion of the pad and an intermediate portion of the bracket, respectively, such that the bracket may be movable in a longitudinal direction thereof, and a hinge-adjusting section which may be disposed above the link section such that an angle of the pad may be adjusted as the link section moves in the longitudinal direction thereof. Full Article
atus Opening and closing apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided an opening and closing apparatus for a fuel lid, including: a pushrod configured to shift between a locking posture and an unlocking posture and to reciprocate between a pushed-in position and a pushed-out position; a follower assembled to the pushrod so as to rotate relatively to the pushrod about the center line and to move together with the pushrod in the axial directions; and a case supporting the pushrod, the follower and a biasing member. The case includes a rod cam portion for rotating the pushrod and a follower cam portion for rotating the follower. The follower cam portion includes a plurality of follower securing portions for securing the follower so as to hold the pushrod in the pushed-in position against biasing force exerted by the biasing member. Full Article
atus Information notification apparatus that notifies information of data of motion By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A data comparison apparatus 1 includes: an image acquisition unit 42 that acquires data of a plurality of motions; an interval identification unit 45 that identifies a predetermined interval that is common in data of the plurality of motions; a time period comparison unit 47 that compares the plurality of motions in the identified predetermined interval; and a notification unit 50 that notifies information corresponding to a comparison result of the time period comparison unit 47. Full Article
atus Apparatus for measuring the shape and area of a ship block By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is an apparatus for measuring a shape and area of a ship block, which may accurately recognize a piling location of a ship block by measuring a shape and area of the ship block piled up in a yard. The apparatus for measuring a shape and area of a ship block includes a direction angle sensor, a range finder, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and a block shape and area measuring system. The block shape and area measuring system includes a block shape and area measuring server, a vector calculating module, a coordinate calculating module, a shape and area extraction module and a memory module. Full Article
atus Position encoder apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A scanning device for a position encoder is provided that comprises a plurality of sensor elements for generating a plurality of sensor signals. A summation unit is also provided for generating at least a first summation signal and a second summation signal that provide information on the relative alignment of the scanning device and an associated scale. The first summation signal is generated from a first subset of the plurality of sensor signals and the second summation signal is generated from a second subset of the plurality of sensor signals. The plurality of sensor elements are substantially evenly spaced apart from one another N and sensor elements are provided per period of an associated scale, wherein N is an integer value and a multiple of three and four. In this manner, the third harmonic contribution to the summation signals is suppressed. Full Article
atus 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
atus Encoder readhead apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to an encoder readhead. The readhead includes a housing having an opening for capturing an encoder scale including an elongate rod having a substantially circular cross-section, the opening defining an axial direction along which a captured encoder scale can slide back and forth. A scale reader, which may include an array of Hall sensors, is provided for reading a portion of an encoder scale located in the opening. The housing includes an access portion that allows the encoder scale to be inserted into, and/or removed from, the opening by a relative movement between the housing and the encoder scale in a direction other than the axial direction. Full Article