A lid frame for a nuclear fuel assembly shipping container and a shipping container for nuclear fuel assemblies are provided. The shipping container can include a lower container in which a cradle is installed, an upper container detachably coupled to the lower container, and a base frame coupled to the cradle with at least one nuclear fuel assembly placed thereon. The lid frame can include a plurality of supports installed apart from each other so as to surround the nuclear fuel assembly placed on the base frame, and a plurality of clamps separated from each other, coupled to the plurality of supports perpendicular to the plurality of supports, rotatably hinged to the base frame, and configured to clamp the nuclear fuel assembly. The lid frame safely protects the nuclear fuel assembly that is being transported.

Electrochemical corrosion potential (ECP) probe assemblies may be used to monitor ECP of materials due to coolant chemistry in an operating nuclear reactor. Example embodiment assemblies include at least one ECP probe that detects ECP of potentially several different materials, a structural body providing a fluid flow path for the coolant over the ECP probes, and a signal transmitter that transmits or carries ECP data to an external receiver. The ECP probes may be of any number and/or type, so as to detect ECP for different component materials, including stainless steel, a zirconium alloys, etc. The ECP probes may further detect ECP due to ion concentration, pH, etc. The ECP data may be transmitted through wired or wireless signal transmitters. Example methods include installing and using example embodiment ECP probe assemblies in nuclear reactors and facilities.

A nuclear fuel assembly tie plate is provided. The nuclear fuel assembly tie plate is formed by intersecting strips delimiting between them tubular guide cells each for allowing a fuel rod to extend through the tie plate. The strips delimit between them tubular flow cells separate from the guide cells, each flow cell for allowing coolant flow through the tie plate. Guide cells and flow cells are arranged at nodes of a lattice defined by a repeating pattern comprising four corner nodes in a square lattice arrangement and a central node at the center of the four corner nodes, with one guide cell at each corner nodes, separated by a pair of parallel spaced strips intersecting a pair of parallel spaced strips, the two pairs of strips delimiting a four-walled central flow cell at the center node.

An improved grid for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly that has an egg-crate base grid as the primary support structure with each support cell of the base grid that supports a fuel rod having a lock-support sleeve that is rotatable within the support cell between a first and second orientation. In the first orientation the lock-support sleeve fits loosely within the support cell of the base grid and respectively, loosely receives the fuel rods that are loaded therein. The lock-support sleeves are then rotated to a second orientation that locks the fuel rods axially within the support cells.

The invention refers to a fuel assembly comprising a lower end structure, an upper end structure including a top nozzle (5), a plurality of fuel rods and a plurality of guide thimbles (3). The top nozzle includes a passageway and an annular groove (10) in said passageway. A sleeve (11) is provided for attaching the guide thimble (3) to the top nozzle (5). The sleeve has at least three slots (12) and includes at least three bulges (13). Each bulge (13) has two ends and extends between two of the slots (12). At least one of the ends of the bulge (13) extends to a position at a distance (d) from the respective slot (12). The invention also refers to a guide thimble device (9) for use in a fuel assembly.

A sintered fuel pellet for a water nuclear reactor fuel rod including a peripheral wall extending along a central axis and two end faces. At least one of the end faces includes at least a first chamfer extending from the peripheral wall towards the central axis with a first non-zero slope with respect to a plane perpendicular to the central axis and a second chamfer extending from the first chamfer towards the central axis with a second non-zero slope with respect to a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the first slope is different from the second slope.

A portable target comprising: (a) a complaint, energy-absorbing backer; (b) a target on a surface of said backer; and (c) a support mechanism for holding said surface of said backer in a vertical position.

A card disposal system for a table game is provided that is capable of assuring the disposal of all of cards corresponding to a predetermined number of decks that are used at a game table without any deficiency and without any fraudulent diversion being made over such cards. A card disposal system for a table game of the present invention includes a discharge opening (4) for disposal of cards (3) after a game, a disposed card receiving board (5) for receiving the cards 3 from the discharge opening (4), a disposed card information acquiring means (6) that acquires information on the number (rank) of the card 3 placed in the discharge opening (4), a group information acquiring means (7) that acquires group information of the card (3) disposed of, a card counter (8) serving as a number counting means that counts the number of cards (3) that are placed in the discharge opening (4) for disposal, a deck examination means (13) that determines whether cards (3h) to be disposed of includes all the cards within a predetermined number of decks, for example, 416 cards in case of 8 decks (52 cards×8 decks), and an output means (10) that outputs a result of the determination. With the card disposal system, a void hole is made on the card to be disposed of, and the disposal of all the cards without any deficiency and without any fraudulent diversion being made over such cards is assured.

A detection device is used in a gaming machine that detects numbers of dots on a plurality of dice having wireless tags. The detection device reads the wireless tags which are embedded on each face of the dice by a reader having an antenna. The antenna of the reader includes a first antenna portion disposed substantially in a central portion of a field that supports the dice, and formed in a substantially circular shape, and a plurality of second antenna portions disposed so as to superimpose a detection area of the first antenna portion, and having a detection area larger than the first antenna portion. The first antenna portion and the plurality of the second antenna portions are disposed so as to have a portion of detection areas mutually superimposed on a playing board.

An apparatus for gaming, comprising a card reader system for reading card data from a game card associated with a player. An instant win game system for associating an instant win game entry with the card data. A jackpot game system for associating a jackpot game entry with the card data.

The present invention discloses a device, comprising a collapsible sports goal that is housed and anchored by a backpack.

A portable fabric target for ball sports has at least: a) three fabric panels, comprising a top first panel, a middle second panel; and a bottom third panel;b) the top first panel having i) a first bottom edge attached to at top edge of the second middle panel and ii) a second outside top edge;c) the top first panel having a support element extending away from the second outside top edge;d) the support element having a self-latching system that connects the second outside top edge to itself to form a loop or to a section of the top first panel to form a loop;e) the support element when locked around a pole supporting all weight of the portable fabric target without unlocking; andf) the bottom third panel having a stabilizing component thereon.

A system and method for providing a table game are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a playing field, a ball launcher mechanism launching a ball into the playing field, and the ball launcher mechanism allows a first player to select one or more attributes affecting a ball trajectory. The apparatus further comprises a ball striker mechanism controlling a ball striker. The ball striker placed at a distance from the ball launcher mechanism in the playing field has a bat to hit a ball launched by the ball launcher mechanism and is controlled by a second player. One or more sensors are placed in predetermined locations in the playing field. The electrical signals generated by the one or more sensors are used to update a status of a game.

A method and apparatus for the display and transport of war gaming models, and more specifically a modular display system having interchangeable display and design panels to present and configure gaming figurines for competition and exhibition.

A game apparatus and a method using trays as the game board with vertical support columns, two sets of playing pieces and two launching devices. The one or more vertical support columns attach to the one or more trays to support the trays horizontally above a support surface. On the surface of each of the trays is a matrix and each element of the matrix has a recessed compartment orthogonal to the surface of the tray. Each recessed compartment is sized to hold a multiplicity of both types of playing pieces in a stacked manner. The recessed compartments may also be created so that the order and the number of the playing pieces in each recessed compartment are observable for additional variety in game play.

A graphic may include a consumable and having optically encoded information.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems pertaining to the verification of portable consumer devices are disclosed. In one implementation, a verification token is coupled to a computer by a USB connection so as to use the computer's networking facilities. The verification token reads identification information from a user's portable consumer device (e.g., credit card) and sends the information to a validation entry over a communications network using the computer's networking facilities. The validation entity applies one or more validation tests to the information that it receives from the verification token. If a selected number of tests are passed, the validation entity sends a device verification value to the verification token, and optionally to a payment processing network. The verification token may enter the device verification value into a CVV field of a web page appearing on the computer's display, or may display the value to the user using the computer's display.

An improved document scanning device and a scanning method for checking the transparency and thickness of an identification document. In a preferred embodiment, any one surface of the document is illuminated by the illumination source facing the said surface and the opposite surface of the document is captured by the camera. The amount of light that passes through the illuminated surface of the document is measured and contrasted with the amount of light that passes through the same surface of a reference or original document. The scanning method is also capable of validating an identification document by detecting and authenticating any laser image imprinted on such document.

The invention proposes a smart card which comprises a digital signal processing receiver that can automatically identify the type of a smart card reader based on the error vector magnitude of signals received from the reader. The digital signal processing receiver is able to reconfigure itself at runtime in order to optimally minimize its power consumption in dependence on the type of reader it is communicating with. Furthermore, the invention proposes a new preamble structure that comprises a basic part and an optional additional part.

A portable radio-frequency identifier (RFID) reading terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, an RFID reading device, and a display. The portable RFID reading terminal can be configured to display a scan trace provided by a line comprising a plurality of time varying points. Each point can be defined by a projection of a radio frequency (RF) signal coverage shape of the RFID reading device onto a chosen plane at a given moment in time.

An assembly includes a transaction product and an auxiliary vehicle. The transaction product includes a folded sheet configured to be repeatedly folded and unfolded between a collapsed position and an extended position. The folded sheet defines a substantially planar surface defining a printed track. The transaction product comprises an account identifier statically connected thereto. The account identifier links the transaction product to at least one of an account and a record and is machine readable by a point-of-sale terminal. The auxiliary vehicle includes a microcontroller, one or more sensors, a motor, and at least one movable component. The microcontroller actuates the motor to induce movement of the at least one movable component propelling the auxiliary vehicle along and following the printed track based on detection of a location of the printed track as determined by the one or more sensors.

A negotiable instrument such as a check includes a unique microprint identifier that allows for authentication while preventing unauthorized reproduction and alternation. A printing system generates the identifier after receiving a customer order for printing a plurality of negotiable instruments, to allow inclusion of information that is specific to the customer order and/or the printing process. In various embodiments, the identifier is unique to each or each subset of the plurality of negotiable instruments and facilitates authentication of each of the negotiable instruments when needed.

A method of controlling an integrated circuit chip including first and second clock sources, the first clock source being more thermally stable and having a higher power consumption, the integrated circuit chip being operable in a first mode in which the first clock source is inactive and the second clock source active and in a second mode in which the first and second clock sources are active, the method including operating the integrated circuit chip in the first mode; taking a measurement indicative of temperature; if the measurement indicates that the temperature is outside of a temperature band: activating the first clock source so as to operate the integrated circuit chip in the second mode; recalibrating the second clock source against the first clock source; and following the recalibration, deactivating the first clock source so as to return the integrated circuit chip to the first mode.

A power management device of a touchable control system includes a boost circuit, a storage circuit, a detection circuit and a loading circuit. The boost circuit has an output terminal and generates an output voltage. The storage circuit electrically connects to the output terminal of the boost circuit and stores the output voltage. The detection circuit electrically connects to the storage circuit so as to detect the output voltage. The loading circuit electrically connects or disconnects to the output terminal of the boost circuit according to a predetermined value of the output voltage.

The present application discloses apparatus and methods for increasing channel utilization for a high-speed serial interface of an integrated circuit (IC). A new circuit architecture is disclosed which provides circuitry that may be programmed flexibly to support a multitude of different channel bonding schemes. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the new architecture decouples the granularity of control-signal channel bonding from the granularity of data-aggregation channel bonding. This advantageously allows optimization of configurations for both types of channel bonding. In another aspect of the invention, the logical boundaries of bonded user channels are decoupled from the physical boundaries of the PCS modules. This decoupling advantageously eliminates a rigid constraint of previous architectures.

A semiconductor structure including a device configured to receive an input data-word. The device including a logic structure configured to generate an encrypted data-word by encrypting the input data-word through an encrypting operation. The device further including an eFuse storage device configured to store the encrypted data-word as eFuse data by blowing fuses in accordance with the encrypted data-word.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filtering are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filter that splits a filter input signal into first and second input signals, modifies the first input signal to produce a first output signal, modifies the second input signal to produce a second output signal having an intermediate frequency response, and combines the first and second output signals while adjusting their relative phases and/or amplitudes to produce a filter output signal with the target frequency response. Adjustment includes splitting the second input signal into third and fourth input signals, which are modified and then combined to produce the second output signal having the intermediate frequency response.

A flexible tubular item having an outer flexible section of hollow tubing with a first end and a second end, a flexible wire positioned within the hollow tubing, a flexible paint layer covering an exterior surface of the flexible wire, and a viscous liquid contained within the hollow tubing. The hollow tubing is a transparent vinyl tube. The flexible wire is copper wire having a bend resistance greater than the bend resistance of the hollow tubing. The liquid is mineral oil filling the area around the flexible wire within the hollow tubing. Ball members are affixed in liquid-tight relationship within the first and second ends of the hollow tubing. These ball members are acrylic spheres having a diameter greater than the interior diameter of the hollow tubing.

An electrical short circuit protection device for an electric trailer brake controller includes a fuse connected between the controller and the trailer brakes and an acoustic piezoelectric transducer connected across the fuse. Upon a short circuit fault developing in the trailer brakes, the fuse opens and the transducer generates an audio warning signal.

A sand dosing and blocking device for sand spreading systems for vehicles, particularly rail vehicles with drive, has a sand supply container with an outlet opening which can be closed by a closing element for the dosed release of sand to a conveyor unit which is preferably pneumatically activated. The closing element is formed by a lifting rod of an electrically activated lifting magnet. The lifting magnet is arranged inside the sand supply container in the area of the outlet opening. Frequency control of the lifting magnet varies the dosed flow of sand, which may be varied in response to vehicle wheel speed.

A display device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The display of the present invention includes a flexible substrate, a display layer, a protecting layer, an electronic unit, and a filling glue. The flexible substrate has a carrying surface. The display layer is disposed on the carrying surface and has a side edge. The protecting layer is disposed on the opposite side of the display layer corresponding to the carrying surface. The electronic unit is disposed on the carrying surface with a space formed between the electronic unit and the side edge of the display layer. The filling glue is filled in the space and connected with the side edge of the display layer, the electronic unit, and the carrying surface.

A pressing device for assembling a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The pressing device includes a base plate, a pressing plate, a first cushion and a second cushion. The pressing plate is disposed opposite to the base plate and adapted to move toward or away from the base plate. The first cushion is disposed between the base plate and the pressing plate. The second cushion is disposed between the pressing plate and the first cushion, wherein one of the first cushion and the second cushion has a hollow zone corresponding to a display area of the liquid crystal display panel. A method for assembling a liquid crystal display panel is further provided.

Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a deposition mask assembly for a flat panel display, which prevents a pattern from being distorted in a pattern mask when divided pattern masks are welded to a support fixture. An apparatus for manufacturing a deposition mask assembly for a flat panel display of the present description, which includes a frame mask forming an opening, a support fixture installed in the frame mask, and a pattern mask welded to the support fixture to have a pattern allowing a deposition material to be transmitted therethrough, includes: a welding head disposed in a side of the pattern mask; and a support member supporting the support fixture in an opposite side of the welding head with the pattern mask interposed therebetween.

Provided is an aggregate of carbon nanotubes wherein a mixture of 10 mg of aggregate of carbon nanotubes, 30 mg of sodium polystyrene sulfonate and 10 mL of water is subjected to ultrasonic homogenizer treatment, subsequently subjected to centrifugal treatment at 20000 G, then 9 mL of supernatant is sampled, and the content of aggregate of carbon nanotubes in the supernatant is 0.6 mg/mL or more. The aggregate of carbon nanotubes of the present invention can provide a dispersion of an aggregate of carbon nanotubes having a high concentration through very good dispersibility.

Kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes include mixture of compounds having respectively at least four silicon atoms bound together, the substituents thereof comprising chlorine, and chlorine and hydrogen, and in the composition thereof, the atomic ratio of substituent to silicon is at least 1:1, wherein a) the kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes have a kinetically high stability in relation to oxidative splitting by chlorine, and the degree of conversion at temperatures of 120° C. within 10 hours with an excess of chlorine gas at 1013 hPa does not exceed 30 mol %, and b) the kinetically stable halogenated polysilanes have a percentage of branching points in the polysilane molecules of more than 8 mol %.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for manufacturing a single crystal silicon ingot having a dual crucible for silicon melting which can be reused due to a dual crucible structure. The apparatus includes a dual crucible for silicon melting, into which raw silicon is charged, a crucible heater heating the dual crucible to melt the raw silicon into molten silicon, a crucible drive unit controlling rotation and elevation of the dual crucible, and a pull-up drive unit disposed above the dual crucible and pulling up a seed crystal dipped in the molten silicon to produce a silicon ingot. The dual crucible has a container shape open at an upper side thereof, and includes a graphite crucible having an inclined surface connecting an inner bottom and an inner wall, and a quartz crucible inserted into the graphite crucible and receiving the raw silicon charged into the dual crucible.

System and method for sustainable economic development which includes hydrogen extracted from substances, for example, sea water, industrial waste water, agricultural waste water, sewage, and landfill waste water. The hydrogen extraction is accomplished by thermal dissociation, electrical dissociation, optical dissociation, and magnetic dissociation. The hydrogen extraction further includes operation in conjunction with energy addition from renewable resources, for example, solar, wind, moving water, geothermal, or biomass resources.

A portable, collapsible vending cart which can be used to vend disparate items in a variety of environments. The cart is adaptable to accommodate vendors of a wide variety of products, and provides an apparatus which is in compliance with most state regulations for vending carts. The cart is adapted to fit within the “security space” of a storefront, the space between a pull down security gate and the display window/entry point of the storefront. A locking mechanism extending from the vending cart is designed for secure locking engagement within the security space using infrastructure associated with the standard security gate.

A table top dishwasher comprises (a) a tub (10) for accommodating articles to be cleaned; (b) a water-tight hood (12) arranged over said tub (10), said hood comprising a fixed hood portion (14), an access opening (42), and a rotatable door (16) which is connected to the fixed hood portion so as to be rotatable between a raised opened position in which it exposes the access opening to provide access to the tub and a lowered closed position in which it closes the access opening and forms part of the water-tight hood; and (c) a gasket (44) which is attached to the fixed hood portion (14) or to the rotatable door (16) along an edge region of the access opening, wherein the fixed hood portion (14)or the rotatable door (16), respectively, comprises a plurality of mounting projections (46), and wherein the gasket comprises a plurality of apertures (54) in which the mounting projections are held by snap-fit connection.

A cabinet drawer includes a molded drawer floor having a central portion including at least one depression, each depression having a bottom wall and a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A flange extends outwardly from an upper edge of each depression. A plurality of webs extends outward from each depression outer surface for connection with a drawer slide system. A peripheral edge of the flange includes a plurality of deflectable tabs for coupling to a surrounding fence without the use of fasteners. The fence includes a skirt portion extending downward from the drawer floor flange to hide any drawer slide mechanism coupling the drawer floor to any underlying base.

A refrigerator is provided with rotatable shelves for easy food/item access and cleaning. In one embodiment a stationary or fixed shelf includes a rotatable disk mounted on a bearing retainer having bearings therein for manual, three hundred sixty degree (360°) rotation as desired. In another embodiment a quarter-round pivotable shelf is attached to a stanchion to enable the shelf to be manually pivoted ninety degrees (90°) for withdrawing and returning the shelf to the refrigerator food storage compartment as needed.

An appliance is provided having one or more racks or shelves, the position of which may be adjusted vertically. Multiple different positions along the vertical direction can be made available for selection by a user of the appliance. One or more mechanisms allow for the selective adjustment and securing of the vertical position at which a shelf may be located.

A collapsible closet assembly has a pair of generally vertical rigid walls, and a plurality of generally flexible panels extending between the pair of rigid walls. A plurality of supports pivotally connect between the pair of vertical rigid walls and attach to the plurality of generally flexible panels, for movement of the plurality of supports, the pair of vertical walls, and the plurality of generally flexible panels between a collapsed position for storage and an expanded position for operation.

A drawer assembly includes a carrier frame and a sliding basket mounted in the carrier frame and movable in forward-backward direction relative to the carrier frame. The carrier frame includes a front open frame, a rear open frame, a first supporting rod and a second supporting rod. The first and second supporting rods are respectively connected between the front open frame and the rear open frame. The sliding basket includes a first limiter member disposed at one lateral side relative to the first supporting rod and defining a first concave portion and a first stop portion connected to the first concave portion. The first stop portion is disposed at the bottom side of the first supporting rod. Thus, the sliding basket is escaping out of the carrier frame in upward direction.

A tablet storage device includes a frame having a plurality of slots, at least one of which is adapted to hold a tablet. A docking station can be disposed in at least one slot. In some cases the docking station is configured to align a tablet as the tablet is positioned in the slot such that a corresponding port in the tablet aligns with, and connects to, a connector. The frame also has a surface to attach the device to a vertical surface and can have a door that can be moved from an open to a closed position and adapted to retain at least one tablet held within at least one slot when the door is closed. A power supply system and/or a network connection system can be provided with the tablet storage device.

A shelf assembly is provided for a refrigerator with a food compartment that includes a rear wall and a pair of opposed side walls. The shelf assembly includes a first and second shelf portion with first and second support surfaces. The second shelf portion is slidably moveable relative to the first shelf portion between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, the second shelf portion is arranged such that the second support surface is substantially coplanar with the first support surface and the second support surface is located generally between a first support surface and a side wall of the food compartment. In the retracted position, the second planar support surface is arranged subjacent to the first planar support surface.

The present invention pertains to a modular furniture system in which a flat-foldable or easily assembled and disassembled rigid base structure composed of rectangular-cross-sectioned pieces each with specific dimensions serves variously, once assembled, as the supporting framework for a flat-foldable chair seat-and-backrest module, which configured together with the base structure serves as either an upright dining chair with armrests or as a lower and more reclined lounge chair with armrests, or alternatively as configured for supporting the connectable or foldable components of a flat planar surface module to be used for dining or to serve as a desktop, or alternatively as configured for supporting a storage cabinet module with drawers or doors.

Slide assemblies that include at least an inner slide segment and an outer slide segment. Many of the slide assemblies also include an intermediate slide segment interposed between the inner slide segment and the outer slide segment. One or more of the segments can be constructed of an aluminum material and one or more of the segments can be constructed from a steel material. The inner slide segment includes a plurality of rollers separated into an upper row and a lower row. The inner slide segment also includes a plurality of keyholes separated into pairs, each of which includes an upper keyhole and a lower keyhole. The slide assembly can also include lock arrangements to secure individual slide segments in desired positions relative to one another. The slide assemblies preferably have a narrow cross-sectional width and a relatively high static and operational load rating.

A pull-out guide assembly for a drawer, comprising a first guide part (2) and at least a second guide part (3) relatively and reversibly slidable in the pull-out direction of the drawer, at least one carriage (4) interposed between the first and second guide part (2, 3) and reversibly slidable in the pull-out direction of the drawer, the carriage (4) having a plurality of housing seats (8) for load-transmitting rolling elements (9) and at its ends elastically yielding stops (23, 23') suitable for interacting with arrest elements (30, 31) provided on the first and second guide parts (2, 3) in order to the limit the relative sliding thereof, characterized in that each of said stops (23, 23') is a component separate from the carriage (4) and has means of anchorage to the carriage (4), each stop (23, 23') being a component separate from the carriage (4) and having means of anchorage to the carriage (4) comprising an anchorage element (28, 28') insertable by means of mating shapes or by force or snap fitting into at least one of the housing seats (8) already present on said carriage (4) for the rolling elements (9).

portable electronic device includes a host module, a display module and a hinge structure. The hinge structure is pivotally connected to the host module and the display module. The hinge structure includes a support frame, a rotating component and two pivotal components. An end of the rotating component is installed inside the support frame and another end of the rotating component is installed inside the display module, so that the display module is capable of rotating in a first rotating direction relative to the support frame. The two pivotal components are disposed at opposite sides of the support frame and separated from the rotating component. An end of each pivotal component is installed inside the support frame and another end of each pivotal component is installed inside the host module, so that the display module is capable of rotating in a second rotating direction relative to the host module.