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***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Front fascia or grill support structure and aerodynamic shutter assembly

A fascia support structure and aerodynamic shutter assembly for a vehicle includes a fascia support structure, comprising: a top portion comprising a substantially U-shaped body comprising a top fascia support member, a first side fascia support member and a second side fascia support member, the first side fascia support member having a first side baffle, the second side fascia support member having a second side baffle; and a bottom portion comprising a bottom baffle, the bottom portion attached to the first and second side fascia support members, the top portion and the bottom portion comprising a fascia support structure opening, at least one of the first side baffle, second side baffle or bottom baffle having a seal member disposed on a leading edge. The assembly also includes an aerodynamic shutter system comprising a shutter frame having a shutter frame opening and a plurality of rotatable shutters disposed therein.




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Method of making compressible elastomeric spring

A method of making a compressible elastomeric spring including at least one compressible elastomeric pad enclosed by a pair of metal plates includes the steps of forming plates with a center aperture and a plurality of prongs positioned about a peripheral edge thereof, forming each end of the pad with an axial projection and abutting groove, aligning the plurality of prongs with each respective projection and respective groove and applying axial force to one end of the spring to frictionally interlock the plurality of prongs with such projection and groove. The method also provides for making a multi-tiered stack of pads separated by plates in the above described manner and pre-shortening the spring prior to installation into the conventional yoke. The above described method additionally improves axial straightness and lateral stability of the multi-tiered spring assembly.




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Railroad freight car draft gear assembly

A railcar draft gear assembly having an axially elongated spring assembly comprised of an axially stacked array of individual spring units and further including cooperating instrumentalities for maintaining the spring assembly generally axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the railcar draft gear assembly during operation of the draft gear assembly while maintaining the individual spring units in generally aligned relation relative to each other.




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Railcar draft gear assembly and related method for assembling a railcar draft gear

A railcar draft gear assembly including a housing, a spring sea, a spring and a friction clutch assembly in operable combination relative to each other within the housing. The spring includes a series of axially stacked elastomeric pads arranged between a closed end of the housing and the spring seat. An axially elongated guide rod is endwise passed through the spring seat and elastomeric pads for aligning the pads relative to a longitudinal axis of the draft gear assembly. The guide rod is operably inhibited from axial shifting movements during operation of the draft gear assembly. A related method for assembling the draft gear is also disclosed.




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Production of organic compound nanoparticles with high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser ablation in liquids

Disclosed is a method of producing a chemically pure and stably dispersed organic nanoparticle colloidal suspension using an ultrafast pulsed laser ablation process. The method comprises irradiating a target of an organic compound material in contact with a poor solvent with ultrashort laser pulses at a high repetition rate and collecting the nanoparticles of the organic compound produced. The method may be implemented with a high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser source, an optical system for focusing and moving the pulsed laser beam, an organic compound target in contact with a poor solvent, and a solvent circulating system to cool the laser focal volume and collect the produced nanoparticle products. By controlling various laser parameters, and with optional poor solvent flow movement, the method provides stable colloids of dispersed organic nanoparticles in the poor solvent in the absence of any stabilizing agents.




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Paper shredder with allowable thickness warning function

A paper shredder with an allowable thickness warning function is provided. The paper shredder includes a casing and an upper cover. An input tray is disposed on the casing for placing plural papers thereon. A pressing member and a thickness detecting device are installed on the upper cover. When the pressing member is contacted with the plural papers on the input tray and pushed by the plural papers, the pressing member is moved. The thickness detecting device is located near the pressing member. Moreover, in response to the movement of the pressing member, the thickness detecting device may be triggered. If an overall thickness of the plural papers exceeds an allowable thickness, the pressing member is pushed by the plural papers. Consequently, the thickness detecting device is triggered by the pressing member to generate a warning signal.




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Agitation system for blowing wool machine

A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end configured to receive the bag of compressed blowing wool. A shredding chamber is positioned downstream from the chute and configured to shred and pick apart the blowing wool. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured for rotation. Each shredder includes a plurality of paddle assemblies mounted to a shredder shaft. Each paddle assembly has a plurality of paddles. The paddles have a hardness within the range of 60 A to 70 A Durometer to better grip the blowing wool for shredding and prevent jamming of the blowing wool within the shredder.




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Pill crusher assembly and methods

A pill crusher includes a base and a handle. The base has a bottom resting surface that includes an at least partially molded friction-enhancing portion. The handle includes an upper region, a gripping region, and a column. The gripping region includes an at least partially molded friction-enhancing portion. A method of crushing a pill includes placing a pill within a pill chamber, inserting a column into the pill chamber, and then crushing the pill by exerting force on the pill by the column. The handle and the base include at least partially molded friction-enhancing portions.




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Material reducing machine convertible between a grinding configuration and a chipping configuration

The present disclosure relates to a material reducing machine convertible between a grinding configuration and a chipping configuration. The material reducing machine includes a rotary component that is rotatable about an axis of rotation, the rotary component defining a grinding configuration boundary that extends at least partially around the axis of rotation. The material reducing machine also includes a plurality of hammers secured to the rotary component, the hammers including end portions that project outwardly beyond the grinding configuration boundary of the rotary component. Furthermore, the material reducing machine includes a boundary enlarging structure that mounts over the rotary component, the boundary enlarging structure defining a chipping configuration boundary that extends at least partially around the axis of rotation when the boundary enlarging structure is mounted over the rotary component, the chipping configuration boundary being positioned outside the grinding configuration boundary. The boundary enlarging structure is not mounted over the rotary component when the material reducing machine is in the grinding configuration and the boundary enlarging structure is mounted over the rotary component when the material reducing machine is in the chipping configuration.




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Apparatus and method for fuelizing inflammable waste

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for fuelizing inflammable waste capable of efficiently fuelizing inflammable waste while reducing facility and operation costs of the overall system and maintaining stable operation, and so on. More particularly, the apparatus 1 for fuelizing inflammable waste comprises: a primary crusher 4 for crushing an inflammable waste W containing as principal component at least one selected from a group comprising plastics, sponges, fibers, rubbers and wood materials; a foreign matter removing device 7 for removing foreign matters F contained in the crushed objects W1; a secondary crusher 9 for secondarily crushing the crushed objects W3 from which foreign matters I, M are removed; and an injecting device 11 for injecting the secondarily crushed objects W4 generated by the secondary crusher 9 into a burner 10, and so on. The apparatus 1 may be provided with an intermediate tank 8 for storing the crushed objects W3 from which foreign matters I, M are removed, and from the intermediate tank 8 is supplied the crushed objects W3 to the secondary crusher 9.




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Cutter assembly for grinding and crushing machines

A cutter assembly is presented for mounting to one or more hammers of a rotor assembly of a grinding machine. The cutter assembly includes a base, a tip and a fastener securing the base and the tip to the hammer. The base includes a key having side walls extending upwardly from a surface of the base and spatially oriented as sides of a pyramid that is truncated before reaching their apex. The tip includes a keyway having side walls extending inwardly from a lower surface into a body of the tip and spatially oriented as sides of a pyramid. The keyway mates with the key of the base. In one embodiment, the tip is reversibly mountable to the base such that cutting edges may be selectively used within grinding operations.




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Fluid filter assembly with sight glass

A fluid filter assembly with sight glass provides an upper housing carrying a transparent sight glass for visualizing the interior of the filter assembly and fluids passing therethrough. A sight glass retainer secures the sight glass within the upper housing. A screen filter is carried between the upper housing and a mating lower housing. A fluid inlet port is defined in the upper housing above the screen filter and a fluid output port is defined in the lower housing below the screen filter. The sight glass retainer carries plural fluid deflectors and plural sight glass supports for fluid dispersion and fluid cooling. A pressurized air input communicating with fluid inlet port allows pressurized air to be injected into the assembly to force fluids through the screen filter and out of the filter assembly. A low pressure drain valve and a bypass valve are carried in the lower housing.




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Inexpensive fourth world primitive water cleanser with key parts transportable in suitcase size packaging

This is a scalable water cleansing system intended for very low technology primitive communities buildable for between $600 and $1,000 of parts. A gravity feed system is contemplated with one or more of an initial filtering stage(s), a settling stage, a UV treatment stage, and an ozonator stage. A stand-alone power system with solar power needing no infrastructure is contemplated to enhance purification. The system can improve the worst of water quality, including for small groups; and under some conditions to end up with clean water of a quality found in developed countries with mature water systems. For water to the site in communities with low precipitation, the water brought in would be emptied into the initial stage of the water cleansing system, and the person who brought the water would draw from the last stage most or all of the amount of water carried in.




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Separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by electronic type using block copolymers

The separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), by electronic type using centrifugation of compositions of SWNTs and surface active block copolymers in density gradient media.




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Chronic access system for extracorporeal treatment of blood including a continuously wearable hemodialyzer

A patient wearable, continuously operating extracorporeal pump apparatus which accesses the patient's arterial venous pressure differential by applying external pressure to a subcutaneous graft that has been cannualized to modulate blood flow through an extracorporeal circuit and to drive the pump for delivering a medicament, such as an anticoagulant, to the site of an intravenous cannula to prevent clogging thereof and also to move a dialysate through a circuit, including a dialyzer and a dialysate rejuvenating cartridge, whereby kidney failure can be treated without recourse to prior art hemodialysis machines found in most treatment facilities. With slight modification, the present invention can be used to remove excess fluids from CHF patients, to remove toxins from the blood in those suffering from liver failure and to facilitate administration of insulin to diabetics and/or glucose to those having hypoglycemia.




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Systems and methods for inflatable avalanche protection

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for inflating a chamber within an inflatable avalanche safety system. The method includes providing an inflatable avalanche safety system including an inflatable chamber; receiving a user-triggered action intended to activate the avalanche safety system; transmitting ambient air from an external region to within the inflatable chamber; and inflating the inflatable chamber entirely with the transmitted external ambient air to a particular internal pressure and shape configured to protect the user from burial during an avalanche. The transmission of ambient air within the inflatable chamber may be accomplished with a fan or an electrical component.




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Container with a frangible sealed access and a vapour permeable vent

A container (1, 2) for storing and dispensing a liquid, the container including an access port (16) having a frangible seal (18) for allowing contained liquid to be dispensed. A vent (19) permeable to vapour but impermeable to liquid is also provided so that vapour may be vented from the interior of the container.




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Container closure with overlying needle penetrable and resealable portion and underlying portion compatible with fat containing liquid product, and related method

A container and method are provided for storing fat containing liquid products. The container includes a body defining a storage chamber for receiving the product, and a container closure. A first material portion forms at least most of the surface area overlying the storage chamber that can contact any product therein. Neither the body nor the first material portion leach more than a predetermined amount of leachables into the product or undesirably alter a taste profile thereof. A needle penetrable and thermally resealable second material portion either (i) overlies the first material portion and cannot contact any product within the storage chamber, or (ii) forms a substantially lesser surface area overlying the storage chamber that can contact any product therein in comparison to the first material portion. A sealing portion is engageable with the body to form a substantially dry hermetic seal between the container closure and body.




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Cylinder-piston unit suitable for storing injection solutions for a needle-free injector and method for the bubble-free automatic or manual filling of the cylinder-piston unit, also under atmospheric pressure

A pressure-stable cylinder/piston unit which blocks water vapor and oxygen and is designed for a needle-free injector, with a chamber arranged in a cylinder, which blocks water vapor and oxygen, and designed for long-term and sterile storage of an injection solution, an end wall with at least one nozzle bore or one outlet element, a pressure-stable outer cylinder, and a pressure-stable piston arranged movably in the chamber and blocking water vapor and oxygen. Methods for bubble-free, automatic or manual filling of the cylinder/piston unit, also at atmospheric pressure are also disclosed.




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Charge pump regulator circuit with a variable drive voltage ring oscillator

A charge pump regulator circuit includes a voltage controlled oscillator and a plurality of charge pumps. The voltage controlled oscillator has a plurality of inverter stages connected in series in a ring. A plurality of oscillating signals is generated from outputs of the inverter stages. Each oscillating signal has a frequency or amplitude or both that are variable dependent on a variable drive voltage. Each oscillating signal is phase shifted from a preceding oscillating signal. Each charge pump is connected to a corresponding one of the inverter stages to receive the oscillating signal produced by that inverter stage. Each charge pump outputs a voltage and current. The output of each charge pump is phase shifted from the outputs of other charge pumps. A combination of the currents thus produced is provided at about a voltage level to the load.




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Towable autogyro system having repositionable mast responsive to center of gratvity calculations

An unmanned, towable aerovehicle is described and includes a container to hold cargo, an autogyro assembly connected to the container and to provide flight characteristics, and a controller to control operation the autogyro assembly for unmanned flight. The container includes a connection to connect to a powered aircraft to provide forward motive force to power the autogyro assembly. In an example, the autogyro assembly includes a mast extending from the container, a rotatable hub on an end of the mast, and a plurality of blades connected to the hub for rotation to provide lift to the vehicle. In an example, an electrical motor rotates the blades prior to lift off to assist in take off. The electrical motor does not have enough power to sustain flight of the vehicle.




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Floor for an aircraft cargo compartment and method for the assembly thereof

In conventional aircraft cargo compartments panels or similar flat floor elements are fastened to floor beams or similar supporting elements that are installed in the body of the aircraft. Subsequently functional units such as roller elements, latches or PDUs are mounted and connected to one another by way of appropriate control conductors. It is proposed to fasten the floor elements permanently to the supporting beams so as to form prefabricated floor modules and to install these floor modules in the aircraft.




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Headrest assembly

A headrest assembly (1) for an ejection seat, comprising: a support mounting (2); and a pair of inflatable side beams (3), each attached at one end to the support mounting and spaced apart from one another, the side beams (3) being configured to be inflated from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration in which the side beams extend from the support panel, the side beams (3) configured to deploy through: a capturing phase, during which the side beams are partially inflated from the stowed configuration such that they extend outwardly and upwardly from the support mounting and away from one another to surround the head of an occupant of the ejection seat toward a central location with respect to the support mounting.




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Coupling assembly

A coupling assembly for joining a first component to a second component, the assembly comprising a shaft for connecting to a first component, and a bracket including a mounting plate for connecting to a second component. The bracket has a bracket arm extending from the mounting plate, and a head having a through-bore on the bracket arm. The shaft is received in the through-bore. A setting device acts between the head and the shaft for setting of the position of the shaft with respect to the head in the axial direction of the shaft. The assembly further includes one or more spherical bearing surfaces, which permit self-alignment of the setting device to accommodate tilting of the shaft with respect to the head about a central point in two orthogonal directions. Also, a joint comprising a first component joined to a second component by one or more of the coupling assemblies. Also, a method of forming a joint using one or more of the coupling assemblies.




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Control surface assembly

An aerodynamic control surface assembly comprising: an aerodynamic control surface (4); an actuator (10) for controlling deployment of the control surface; and a locking mechanism (30) moveable from a locked to an unlocked position. When the locking mechanism is set to the locked position, the actuator is operatively coupled to the control surface and the control surface can move in dependently of the actuator when the locking mechanism is set to the unlocked position. Such an assembly may be used in an aircraft to prevent clashing between a deployed flap (16) and a drooped spoiler (4) in the event of an actuator control systems failure.




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Variable length light shield for an electro-optical sensor within a nose cone

A variable length light shield is disclosed for an electro-optical sensor within a nose cone. The light shield includes a base, a telescopic shade supported by the base, and a ring rotatably supported about the base. The light shield also includes a guide tube disposed proximate the ring with an end extending away from the ring about a side of the telescopic shade. The light shield further includes an extension spring supported by the guide tube with an end coupled to the telescopic shade. Additionally, the light shield includes a cable extending through the guide tube and the extension spring, with one end of the cable coupled to the ring and another end of the cable coupled to the telescopic shade. The extension spring is configured to exert a force on the telescopic shade to extend the telescopic shade. Rotation of the ring causes retraction of the telescopic shade.




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Aircraft cable routing harness

A harness is provided comprising a body having a series of electrical conductors embedded therein and substantially running along the length thereof. The body may be part of a structural component such as stringer.




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Programmable reverse thrust detent system and method

A reverse thrust detent system for an aircraft includes a throttle quadrant having an intermediate reverse thrust detent position, a reverse thrust scheduling system interfacing with the throttle quadrant, at least one aircraft engine interfacing with the reverse thrust scheduling system and a programmable input interfacing with the reverse thrust scheduling system and adapted to receive an engine reverse thrust setting. The reverse thrust scheduling system is adapted to operate the at least one aircraft engine according to the engine reverse thrust setting responsive to actuation of the intermediate reverse thrust detent position of the throttle quadrant. A reverse thrust detent method for an aircraft is also disclosed.




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Invertible aircraft

A rotorcraft including a fuselage, one or more motor-driven rotors for vertical flight, and a control system. The motors drive the one or more rotors in either of two directions of rotation to provide for flight in either an upright or an inverted orientation. An orientation sensor is used to control the primary direction of thrust, and operational instructions and gathered information are automatically adapted based on the orientation of the fuselage with respect to gravity. The rotors are configured with blades that invert to conform to the direction of rotation.




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Selectively degradable passage restriction and method

An actuation system and method includes a tubular defining a passage, and an assembly disposed with the tubular. The assembly includes a restriction operatively arranged to receive a restrictor for enabling actuation of the assembly. The restriction includes a degradable material with a protective layer thereon, the degradable material degrading upon exposure to a fluid in the passage and the protective layer isolating the degradable material from the fluid.




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Casing window assembly

A casing window assembly for completion of a lateral wellbore. The casing window assembly includes a tubular casing sleeve with a casing window and an inner sleeve releasably secured within the casing sleeve at a pre-released position adjacent the casing window.




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Well pump flow sleeve installation assembly and method

The well pump flow sleeve assembly provides a method of quickly fitting a flow sleeve to a well pump. The sleeve is made by cutting a pipe normal to the pipe centerline of the pipe surfaces, to a length appropriate for the well pump length. A pump centering bottom cap is inserted into the pipe lower opening and the well pump assembly is then inserted into the pipe upper opening and mates with the bottom cap to align the pump in the sleeve. The pump is now completely within the sleeve with the pump discharge and electrical connection extending through the pipe upper opening. Two flow sleeve cap halves are then fitted around the pump discharge and electrical connection/safety rope to form an upper cap which is inserted into the pipe upper opening. The submersible pump is then ready for service.




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Reconfigurable cement composition, articles made therefrom and method of use

A pourable aqueous cement composition is disclosed. The cement composition comprises a hydraulic cement, water and a selectively removable material comprising a plurality of selectively corrodible metal powder particles dispersed within the cement or a nanomatrix powder compact, or a combination thereof. An article, including a downhole article, and more particularly a reconfigurable downhole article is disclosed. The article includes a hydraulic cement, wherein the hydraulic cement has at least partially set into a permanent form. The article also includes a selectively removable material dispersed within the cement, the selectively removable material comprising a plurality of selectively corrodible metal powder particles dispersed within the cement or a nanomatrix powder compact, or a combination thereof, wherein the selectively removable material is configured for removal in response to a predetermined wellbore condition.




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Blowout preventor actuation tool

A tool for actuating a blow out preventer includes one or more connections for receiving hydraulic power from a remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”), a first pump for increasing pressure of an operating fluid for the blowout preventer (“BOP”), a second pump for increasing flow rate of the operating fluid, and a conductor for transporting the operating fluid to the BOP. The tool rapidly increases the pressure and flow rate of the fluid flowing to the BOP, and the BOP may be rapidly closed.




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Marine riser adjustable buoyancy modules

A marine riser includes one or more buoyancy modules running along a length of the marine riser, wherein the one or more buoyancy modules are molded such that an umbilical may be secured along a length of the one or more buoyancy modules.




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Composite centralizer with expandable elements

A centralizer comprises a first body portion, a second body portion, a plurality of bow springs connecting the first body portion to the second body portion, and one or more expandable elements coupled to the first body portion and the second body portion. A method of centralizing a wellbore tubular comprises compressing a bow spring radially inward from a starting position to a compressed position, wherein the bow spring is coupled to a first body portion and a second body portion, applying a tensile force between the first body portion and the second body portion while the bow spring is in the compressed position, and restoring the bow spring from the compressed position to the starting position.




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Adjustable flow control device

A flow control device comprises a fluid pathway configured to provide fluid communication between an exterior of a wellbore tubular and an interior of the wellbore tubular, a flow restriction disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the flow restriction is disposed in a radial alignment with respect to the wellbore tubular, and a flow blockage disposed in the fluid pathway, wherein the flow blockage substantially prevents a fluid flow through the fluid pathway.




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Compact evaporator for modular portable SAGD process

A modular portable evaporator system for use in a Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) systems having an evaporator, with a sump including an oil skimming weir, a short tube vertical falling film heat exchanger including an outer shell containing short tubes provided for lower water circulation rate. The system further having external to the evaporator, a compressor for compressing evaporated steam from the tube side of the heat exchanger and routing to the shell side of the same exchanger, a distillate tank to collect hot distilled water, a recirculation pump to introduce liquids from the sump into the heat exchanger and an external suction drum protecting the compressor from liquid impurities. The evaporator system receives produced water from the SAGD process into the sump and provides cleaned hot water to a boiler.




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Lighted tip for flexible rods

In one aspect, a lighted tip for attachment to a flexible rod comprises a tip body having proximal and distal ends, a mechanical connector at the proximal end, a lens connected to the distal end, a light source that emits light through the lens, and a holder coupled to the light source and the lens. A circuit is completed or interrupted as the holder moves in relation to the tip body, thereby switching the light source on or off. In another aspect, a lighted tip for attachment to a flexible rod comprises a lens forming a distal end of the lighted tip. The lens is cylindrical over at least some of its length, and the tip further includes a light source at least partially within the cylindrical lens portion and a mechanical connector at a proximal end if the lighted tip, for connecting the tip to the flexible rod.




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Double drum traction winch

A double drum traction winch supporting a first and second rotatable drum is provided. The circumferential surface of each drum is provided with circumferential grooves perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drum. The grooves of each drum are subdivided in a first set of grooves for guiding a first wire and a second set of grooves for guiding a second wire. The grooves of the first set alternate with grooves of the second set such that the circumferential surface of each drum is provided with multiple grooves of the first group, each interpositioned between two grooves of the second group. Therefore the traction winch is capable of cooperating with a first wire in the first set of grooves or with a second wire in the second set of grooves, wherein both wires differ in type of material and/or cross section and/or maximum tensile strength.




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Cable drive and tension assembly

A tensioning assembly having a drive pulley, a tension pulley and a tension adjustment system is provided. The drive pulley has a first drive pulley channel and a second drive pulley channel. The tension pulley has a first tension pulley channel and a second tension pulley channel. The second tension pulley channel is aligned with the first drive pulley channel. The first drive pulley channel and the second drive pulley channel of the drive pulley and the first tension pulley channel and a second tension pulley channel of the tension pulley are configured and arranged to engage and route an endless looped member. The tension adjustment system is coupled to adjust the distance between the drive pulley and the tension pulley to adjust the tension in the endless looped member in relation to the drive pulley.




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Drive assembly and apparatus for hoist

An assembly includes a motor; a second motor; a planetary transmission coupled to the motor and the second motor, and a spool coupled to the transmission. The spool has an interior volume for receiving the motor, the second motor and the transmission, and the motor and the second motor are disposed or disposable entirely within the spool. The motor and the second motor are capable of being operated such that one of the motors is speed controlled, and the other motor is torque controlled.




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Adjustable foot pedal, linkage, and method for actuating a hydraulic cylinder

A foot actuated pivoting lever is provided. The lever may include: a lever member having two ends, one end configured to attach to a mechanism configured to receive an input from the lever member; and a pedal pivotally attached proximate to the other end of the lever member, wherein the pedal is configured to pivot between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the pedal lies on top of a section of the lever member and, in the second position, the pedal extends beyond the lever member. A mechanism for actuating a piston may be provided.




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***WITHDRAWN PATENT AS PER THE LATEST USPTO WITHDRAWN LIST***Field-installable pulling eye

A field-installable pulling eye and a method for providing and using the same are disclosed. The pulling eye comprises a bolt, a sleeve, and a collet. The sleeve has a hollow interior defining a cavity configured to receive the collet through an open end, and an aperture passing from the exterior of the sleeve to the cavity at the opposite end. The bolt has a head portion and a threaded shaft configured to pass through the aperture and engage a complementary threaded orifice at one end of the collet. The collet has two or more jaws extending from the opposite end that are configured to exert a compression force the terminal end of a conductor inserted between the jaws as the collet is drawn into the cavity of the sleeve by tightening the bolt.




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Hoist spooling assembly and methods of using same

A hoist spooling assembly for spooling a cable about a drum while preventing relative movement between the cable and the drum. The hoist spooling assembly evenly delivers force from a roller to the cable while reducing the incidence of spooling problems, including mechanical wear of the cable and formation of loops and kinks in the cable.




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Apparatus and method for recovering the core of a sheathed electrical cable

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for recovering the core (108) of a subterranean sheathed electrical cable (106), while minimising the impact on the surrounding environment. The apparatus comprises a ram (102) operable to exert a pushing force on the core of a length of the cable, a plurality of linkages, each linkage being configured to be insertable into the cable along its length under the action of the ram to displace the core relative to an outer sheath of the cable, and a puller operable (104) to exert a pulling force on the core to thereby facilitate removal of the displaced core from the outer sheath by action of the pushing/pulling forces. The apparatus and method are found to be particularly suited to the recovery of high-tension copper core cables, while enabling any hydrocarbon (e.g. oil) impregnated inner sheathing to be controllably disposed of without hazard to the environment.




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Cable winch device

A cable winch device, in particular a cable winch device of a crane with at least one cable winch, with at least one cable, wherein the cable is at least partly wound up on the cable winch and/or can be wound up and/or unwound, and with at least one tilting means by means of which the cable which can at least partly be tilted and/or pivoted about an axis which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable winch. A crane is also disclosed herein.




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System for loading a collapsible heart valve

An assembly for collapsing a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve includes a compression member, a support member and a constricting member. The compression member has a tapered wall between its first open end and its second open end, the tapered wall defining an open space adapted to receive the valve. The support member has a base and a recess adapted to receive an end of the valve. The support member and the compression member are movable toward one another to compress the valve and push it through a relatively small aperture in the second open end of the compression member. The second end of the constricting member is sized to receive the compressed valve from the second open end of the compression member for loading into a delivery device.




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Removable saddle and extension for floor jack

An extension has a main extension body with a first extension end and a second extension end, an extension passage is defined there between. An annular extension recess is formed about the extension passage at the first extension end. An annular extension flange is formed about the extension passage at the second extension end. A saddle has a main saddle body with a first saddle end and a second saddle end with a saddle passage defined there between. An annular saddle flange is formed about the saddle passage at the second saddle end. A fastener has an elongate shaft with a first shaft end and a second shaft end. A head is at the first shaft end. A fastening engagement is about the second shaft end. The shaft is configured to be disposed within the saddle passage and the extension passage.




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Field-installable pulling eye

A field-installable pulling eye and a method for providing and using the same are disclosed. The pulling eye comprises a bolt, a sleeve, and a collet. The sleeve has a hollow interior defining a cavity configured to receive the collet through an open end, and an aperture passing from the exterior of the sleeve to the cavity at the opposite end. The bolt has a head portion and a threaded shaft configured to pass through the aperture and engage a complementary threaded orifice at one end of the collet. The collet has two or more jaws extending from the opposite end that are configured to exert a compression force the terminal end of a conductor inserted between the jaws as the collet is drawn into the cavity of the sleeve by tightening the bolt.