un Vehicle bumper mounting structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fender front-side step portion has first and second fender front-side fixing portions that engage with and fasten a bumper spacer. The bumper spacer is provided with: a spacer body; a bumper-spacer reinforcing portion that extends toward a fender lower-end portion of a fender panel from the bottom end of the spacer body; and a bumper-spacer rear-side fixing portion which is disposed on the bumper-spacer reinforcing portion, and which overlaps with and fastens the front of the fender lower-end portion. The bumper-spacer rear-side fixing portion is disposed in a position further to the rear than the fender front-side step portion in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle. Full Article
un Middle buffer coupling for rail-bound vehicles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EDT What is described is a middle buffer coupling for rail-bound vehicles, comprising two coupling halves (2, 2') to be coupled together attached to vehicle parts (A, B), each of said coupling halves (2, 2') comprising a coupling rod (8, 8') with a coupling head (12, 12'), and comprising a connecting element (16) for manually connecting the two coupling heads (12, 12'). Disposed at each coupling head (12, 12') is an electrical contact element (32, 34) for contacting with the contact element of the other respective coupling head (12, 12') when the two coupling halves (2, 2') are coupled. Routed within each coupling rod (8, 8') are electrical lines (18, 18') that lead from the contact elements (32, 34) of the associated coupling head (12, 12') to the vehicle part (A, B) to which the coupling halves (2, 2') comprising said coupling rods (8, 8') are attached, respectively. Full Article
un Coupling unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST A coupling unit for a semi-permanent connection of two wagons of a rail vehicle, which has a first housing and a second housing, which is pivotably and rotatably coupled to the first housing. A bearing outer ring with a hollow spherical inner bearing surface is fastened to the second housing and is guided in sliding fashion on a bearing inner ring with a spherical outer surface. The bearing inner ring is seated with an inner bore on a shaft fastened to the first housing. The shaft has, on a first end, one or two flattened portions and, on a second end, one or two second flattened portions. At least one clamping piece is provided which bears against one of the flattened portions and an opening region in the first housing, thereby preventing the shaft from rotating. Full Article
un Consist communication system having inductive transmission By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST A consist communication system is disclosed for use with a train consist. The consist communication system may have a fluid conduit, at least a first cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit communication signals, and at least a second cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit electrical power. The communication conduit may also have a coupling fixedly connected to an end of the fluid conduit, a first transformer coil connected to the at least a first cable, and a second transformer coil connected to the at least a second cable and disposed in an orthogonal orientation relative to the first transformer coil. Full Article
un Coupling and conduit for consist communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A coupling for a communication conduit is disclosed for use with a train consist. The coupling may include a nipple configured for insertion within a fluid conduit, a flange configured to engage an end of the fluid conduit, a retention member configured to engage an outer surface of the fluid conduit, a first fitting extending from the flange away from the nipple, and, a retaining tab configured to retain a second fitting of another coupling in engagement with the first fitting. The coupling may further include a closure mechanism configured to close off an end of the first fitting and movable during engagement with the second fitting to open the end of the first fitting. Full Article
un Lightweight compound cab structure for a rail vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT An integrated self-supporting and deformation-resistant modular driver's cabin structure for mounting to the front end of a rail vehicle body and for providing a driver space and a windshield opening, is composed of a composite sandwich structure with a single, common, continuous outer skin layer, a single, common, continuous inner skin layer and an internal structure wholly covered with and bonded to the inner and outer skin layers, the internal structure comprising a plurality of core elements. The driver's cabin structure comprises at least: side pillars each having a lower end and an upper end, and an undercarriage structure at the lower end of each of the side pillars. The fiber-reinforced sandwich located in the side pillars is provided with several layers of fibers oriented to provide a high bending stiffness. The fiber-reinforced sandwich of the undercarriage structure is such to transfer static and crash loads without flexural buckling. Full Article
un Consist communication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A communication system is disclosed for use with a train consist. The consist communication system may have a first fluid conduit, a first coupling connected to the first fluid conduit, a first cover connected to the first coupling and configured to close an end of the first fluid conduit, and at least a first cable disposed within the first fluid conduit. The system may also have a second fluid conduit substantially identical to the first fluid conduit, a second coupling substantially identical to the first coupling, fixedly connected to the second fluid conduit, and connectable to the first coupling, and a second cover connected to the second coupling and configured to close an end of the second fluid conduit. At least a second cable may be disposed within the second fluid conduit in communication with the at least a first cable through the first and second covers. The first and second fluid conduits may be pressurized. Full Article
un Under-way transfer vehicles and system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT This is a vehicle transfer system to connect a roadway vehicle such as a bus to and from a train either when stopped or moving. It mounts the bus end or ends each on the swivel end of a railway car. The bus end which couples a railway car has wheels that retract to clear from the track. All wheels of the bus are lifted if the bus is supported on a railway car at each end. Automatic couplers are provided to couple to a moving train. If the bus is only supported at the front on a swivel coupling car it can have hi-rail retractable swivel truck wheels lowered to the rails to guide the rear of the bus around sharp tram curves. Full Article
un Production of organic compound nanoparticles with high repetition rate ultrafast pulsed laser ablation in liquids By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
un Truck mounted debris grinder By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A debris grinder interfaces directly with a typical roll-off container and a typical roll-off truck. By interfacing to the roll-off container, there is no need to feed waste by hand—an operation that is often dangerous to those operating the equipment. By interfacing with a typical roll-off truck, the debris grinder becomes mobile for spreading of the ground debris into the soil around the construction site. The debris grinder includes a skid portion for supporting and holding the roll-off container, a grinder portion for grinding debris from the roll-off container and depositing the ground-up debris onto the soil at the job site. Full Article
un Paper shredder with allowable thickness warning function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
un Self-contained automatic access port unit for a countertop, with methods of use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A self-contained automatic access port unit having a sensor that recognizes when refuse is approaching the cover, and to activate a direct current motor, solenoid, or drive cylinder which in turn moves a drive arm to open a cover to permit refuse to drop through the access port unit into a trash container therebelow, thereby avoiding the need for a user to make contact with the trash access port. A switch or timer causes the access port unit to close its cover. Motion of the drive arm is initiated by the motor, solenoid or drive cylinder, but continues through momentum imparted to the drive arm and cover. The cover engages a seal ring to provide a uniform impervious countertop surface. Full Article
un Fuel decontamination unit and methods of making and using the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In an embodiment, a fuel decontamination unit comprises a decontamination region containing fuel; and an ultraviolet light located in the decontamination region; wherein the ultraviolet light is configured to irradiate the fuel. In an embodiment, a method of decontaminating fuel comprises flowing a contaminated fuel into a decontamination unit; irradiating the fuel with ultraviolet radiation that is emitted from the ultraviolet light such that the contaminated fuel becomes a purified fuel; flowing the purified fuel out of the decontamination unit; wherein a microorganism level in the purified fuel is less than that of the contaminated fuel. Full Article
un Cap unit for a tire puncture repair apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a cap unit wherein safety is increased by preventing a reversed flow of a puncture-sealing agent. A cap main body (33) comprises an air flow passage (31) consisting of a vertical flow passage (31A) extending downward from an air passage upper opening (31a), a lateral flow passage (31B) laterally extending from an air intake port (31b), and a connecting flow passage (31C) connecting therebetween. The air flow passage (31) is provided with a reversed flow preventing device (22). The cap main body (33) is provided with a vertical hole (40) consisting of first to fourth vertical holes (40A to 40D) which have inner diameters increasing downwardly from the upper end in a stepwise manner, and the first to third vertical holes (40A to 40C) form the vertical flow passage (31A). Full Article
un Nozzle boot arrangement, a nozzle boot module, a fuel dispensing unit, and a method of manufacturing such a nozzle boot arrangement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is provided in one aspect a nozzle boot arrangement for supporting a nozzle of a fuel dispensing unit, the nozzle including a spout and a base portion including a grip. The arrangement includes a nozzle boot including means for supporting the nozzle at the base portion thereof, and a section for receiving at least a portion of the spout. The arrangement also includes a stopper provided at said receiving section and formed separately from said nozzle boot. The stopper is arranged to cooperate with the spout to prevent the nozzle from falling about from the nozzle boot arrangement by rotation of the nozzle about said supporting means. According to further aspects, there is provided a fuel dispensing unit, a nozzle boot module and method of manufacturing a nozzle boot arrangement. Full Article
un Method of inhibiting surface gelation of an uncured gelcoat composition By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method to prevent gelation of an uncured gelcoat composition during storage is described. The method includes applying a gelation inhibitor to the surface of a gelcoat composition in the container to prevent premature gelation. The gelation inhibitor additionally prevents the formation of a crust on the inner surface of storage container lids. Full Article
un Container closure with overlying needle penetrable and resealable portion and underlying portion compatible with fat containing liquid product, and related method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
un Communication device activated by fuel door By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A communication device or auxiliary ECU is activated when a fuel door of a fuel cell vehicle is open. Upon closing the fuel door, the communication device/ECU is shut off. The communication device/auxiliary ECU is operational regardless of whether the keys in the vehicle or not. This assures that communication of information can occur when a refueling station is most likely to request the information, i.e. when the fuel door is open. A temperature measurement device may monitor a vehicle tank temperature, communicate the tank temperature data to a filling station, and confirm that the tank temperature data is associated with the tank being filled. Full Article
un No-spill funnel system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A funnel has a cylindrical upper first section with a first axial height and a first diameter, a cylindrical lower second section with a second axial height and a second diameter, and a frusto-conical intermediate section coupling the upper and lower sections and having a third axial height. Each of a plurality of similarly configured housings has a hollow cylindrical configuration forming cylindrical chambers, a housing axial height, a housing diameter, an upper end coupled to the intermediate section closer to the second section than to the first section, and a housing lower end at an elevation beneath the intermediate section laterally spaced from an upper extent of the second section. Each housing is adapted to removably receive and frictionally retain a magnet. Full Article
un Device for introducing a defined amount of a second powder into a process container By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus to introduce a defined amount of a second powder into a process container in which a first powder or a powder mixture is present, includes a coupling flange having a cover flap located on the process container. The second powder is introduced into a tubular cartridge mounted displaceably in a transport unit, the latter including a joining flange having a cover flap. The joining flange is joinable to the coupling flange so that the respective cover flaps can be opened, and the cartridge can be pushed through openings thereby provided into the plane of the inner wall of the process container. The second powder is emptied from the cartridge into the process container by a delivery piston. The cartridge may include a piston rod having multiple pistons. Other embodiments include a double piston, a rotatable cartridge core or a rotary closure. Full Article
un 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 By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
un Synchronous DC-DC converter having soft-stop function By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A synchronous DC-DC converter having a soft-stop function includes an output stage for supplying an output voltage, wherein the output stage includes a high-side transistor for charging the output voltage and a low-side transistor for discharging the output voltage; an output control circuit, coupled to the output stage, for controlling the high-side transistor and the low-side transistor of the output stage; at least one protection device, for controlling the high-side transistor to be turned off when a specific situation occurs, in order to stop supplying the output voltage; and a soft-stop control circuit, coupled to the output control circuit, for controlling the low-side transistor of the output stage to be turned on when the protection device controls the high-side transistor to be turned off or the synchronous DC-DC converter is disabled, in order to discharge the output voltage. Full Article
un Dynamic maneuvering configuration for multiple control modes in a unified servo system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods that provide control circuits having multiple sub-control inputs that control operation of a power electronics device (e.g., a power converter). Each of the multiple sub-control inputs are output from a separate sub-control circuit that includes a feedback circuit having an input tied to a common control node. The common control node is coupled to an input of a controller (e.g., a PWM controller). Outputs of each of the sub-control circuits are coupled to the common control node by a respective switch (e.g., diode, transistor, etc.) so that each of the sub-control circuits may be selectively coupled to the common control node to provide a control signal to a controller. Since components of each of the feedback compensations circuits are biased at a regulation voltage instead of a higher power supply voltage, the control circuit may switch between control modes with minimal delay. Full Article
un Control device for switching power supply circuit, and heat pump unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:00:00 EST A mode controller shifts, along with increase in an electric power in first and second of chopper circuits and, operation modes of the first and the second of the chopper circuits from a first mode to a third mode via a second mode. An operation controller causes, in the first mode, the first of chopper circuit to perform an chopping operation, and the second of chopper circuit to suspend the chopping operation, in the second mode, causes the first and the second of chopper circuits to alternatively perform the chopping operations, and in the third mode causes both of the first and the second of chopper circuits to perform the chopping operations. Full Article
un Counterbalance mechanism for bottom-hinged aircraft fuselage doors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A counterbalance mechanism for counterbalancing weight of a bottom-hinged door (such as a clamshell-type airstair door of an aircraft) includes an operator handle, a hoist rod pivotally connected at one end to the operator handle and at an opposite end thereof to the door near a bottom region thereof. A force accumulator assembly is provided which includes a force biasing member which accumulates and dissipates a bias force when opening and closing the door, respectively, to provide mechanical counterbalance to the weight of the door. A bellcrank assembly operatively connects the operator handle to the force accumulator. In such a manner, weight counterbalancing of the door is achieved. Full Article
un Integrated seat mounted inceptor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An inceptor is provided including a control stick mounted to a seat. The control stick is movable about at least a first axis. A fly-by-wire inceptor control system is housed within a portion of the seat. The inceptor control system is configured to provide input signal indicative of movement of the control stick to a flight control system. Full Article
un Devices configured to provide pre-launch support of kites By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Certain embodiments described herein are directed to devices configured to retain, at least for some period, and provide pre-launch support kites such as stunt kites. In certain instances, the device positions stunt kites of various sizes and design, including, for example, delta wing kits, diamond kits and foil kits, in a reclined position to provide pre-launch stability and wind flow/spill-over across the face of the kite to help prevent unintentional or premature launch. If desired, optional control line upright supports can be present that permit minimum control line pull-back thereby reducing the recline of the kite to bring the face of the kite into the wind and thereby launch the kite. The control line upright supports may also prevent the kite from falling completely face down on the surface, thereby requiring a reset of the kite on the device. Full Article
un Tip unit for a cosmetic applicator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tip unit of a cosmetic applicator includes a tube portion connected to a hollow body of the cosmetic applicator, and a tip portion tapering away to a point from the tube portion. The tip portion has a passage space contain liquid cosmetics advanced from the hollow body through the tube portion, and has a plurality of flexible blade segments, a plurality of guiding grooves defined respectively by corresponding adjacent pairs of the blade segments, and a plurality of slits, each communicating the passage space with a respective one of the guiding grooves, and being enlargeable when the tip portion is deformed so as to permit flow of the liquid cosmetics from the passage space to the respective one of the guiding grooves therethrough. Full Article
un Unit dose breakable vial with integrated brush applicator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A disposable sterile breakable vial includes a handle section and a vial section which are completely separable in response to a manually applied separation force. The vial section includes a sterile void dimensioned to contain a unit dose of a sterile therapeutic topical agent. An elongated member comprises a proximal portion supported by the handle section and a distal portion provided with a sterile applicator element, such as a brush. At least the applicator element is completely enclosed within the vial section with the applicator element immersed within the therapeutic topical agent. A hermetic seal between the handle and vial sections maintains sterility of at least the vial section prior to handle and vial section separation. Complete separation of the handle section and the vial section exposes the elongated member and the applicator element for topical application of the therapeutic agent saturating the applicator element. Full Article
un Cosmetics unit with latching closure that can be blocked By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cosmetics container for a liquid or pasty cosmetic, comprising a storage container having a removal opening, and a closure cap for opening and closing this removal opening. The closure cap can be detachably locked in its closing position on the storage container using at least one latching device that acts between the closure cap and the storage container. The cosmetics container further comprises at least one locking device which is able to assume at least one release position and at least one blocking position, and which in the blocking position blocks the latching element in such a way that a lock existing between the closure cap and the storage container cannot be released and the closure cap thus cannot be moved out of its closing position. Full Article
un Nail print apparatus and print control method thereof for fitting first design and second design that is background of first design to nail By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A nail print apparatus, including: a print head which performs printing on a nail region on the basis of image data including a first design and a second design that is a background of the first design; and an image data processing unit which has a second image data processing unit that processes the image data so that the second design covers an entire nail region. Full Article
un Antimony compounds useful for deposition of antimony-containing materials By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Precursors for use in depositing antimony-containing films on substrates such as wafers or other microelectronic device substrates, as well as associated processes of making and using such precursors, and source packages of such precursors. The precursors are useful for deposition of Ge2Sb2Te5 chalcogenide thin films in the manufacture of nonvolatile Phase Change Memory (PCM) or for the manufacturing of thermoelectric devices, by deposition techniques such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD). Full Article
un Cement composition containing dune sand and limestone powder, concrete products and method for making concrete products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A raw batch composition for concrete or concrete wherein the raw batch composition comprises Portland cement of about 15 wgt. % to about 45 wgt. % and dune sand preferably red dune sand is present in an amount of about 40 wgt. %. The dune sand has a particle size of less than or equal to 45 microns. The composition also includes limestone powder ranging from about 15 wgt. % to 45 wgt. % with particle sizes less than or equal to 45 microns to form a base material. To this base material suitable amounts of fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, water and superplasticizer are added. A method for producing a cast concrete product having a compressive strength of between 62 MPa and 90 MPa is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing Portland cement, dune sand and limestone powder. Full Article
un Non-aqueous rapid setting drywall compound and method of use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A non-aqueous drywall compound being the combination of a first component mixture of acetone, a non-aqueous liquid adhesive containing ethyl cyanoacrylate, and a powder containing calcium sulfate hemihydrate (plaster of Paris), the mixture being a pliable putty capable of adhering to gypsum wallboard or similar work surfaces. The second component of the drywall compound is an accelerator or activator containing acetone and toluene. The first component is applied to a defect in a work surface using a spreading tool and the second component is then applied to the exposed surface of the first component, such as by spraying or brushing, whereupon the drywall compound cures, hardens or sets within less than ten minutes to a state capable of being sanded into a smooth, hard surface and painted. Full Article
un Hand-strung jewelry construction board By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A hand-strung jewelry construction board. A plurality of holes is drilled into the board. One or more pins are inserted into the holes. Also, one or more clamps are inserted into the holes. A jewelry string is looped around the pins and clamped in position by the clamps. In a preferred embodiment, second and third strings are wrapped around the jewelry string adjacent the pins at each end of the jewelry string. The second and third wrapped strings are glued into place. When the jewelry string is removed from the jewelry construction board, permanent loops are formed into the jewelry string. Full Article
un Counterweight suspension device and mobile crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A counterweight suspension device includes a pair of suspension cylinders that suspends a counterweight and that are hung from first and second hanging points provided separately in a left and right direction at a top end of a rear mast. A coupling member couples cylinder rod ends of the pair with each other. A lifting member lifts the counterweight. First and second connection points of the counterweight are connected with each of the cylinder rod ends, with the first and the second connection points provided separately in the left and right direction on the counterweight for attaching the lifting member to the counterweight. A first communication circuit is provided through which rod chambers of the suspension cylinders communicate with each other. A second communication circuit is provided through which bottom chambers of the suspension cylinders communicate with each other. Full Article
un Crane with automatic counterweight balancing device and method of arranging counterweight thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides a crane with an automatic counterweight balancing device and a method of arranging counterweight thereof. The crane includes a main body and a counterweight device mounted to the main body. The counterweight device includes first and second magnetic field generators and first and second permanent magnetic counterweight blocks. The crane uses a combined arrangement of the magnetic field generators, the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks, an electrical control device, and a transducer device to detect, in a real time manner, output torques of servo motors, whereby when the output torques are not equal to rating torques, magnetic field intensities are varied to change downward magnetic forces acting on the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks thereby regulating loading of the servo motors and thus regulating the output torques of the servo motors to effect automatic balancing of counterweight and improve stability of the crane during a conveyance process. Full Article
un Boom truck for handling loads above and below ground level By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A boom truck includes a telescopic lifting boom with a lifting unit and a support structure having a first support arranged on the chassis of the boom truck. A second support in the form of an elongated bearing and support beam body extends in the longitudinal direction of the boom truck. The beam body is pivotally mounted to the first support about a rear bearing axis, whereas the lifting boom is pivotally mounted to beam body about a front bearing axis. Actuators act on the beam body and the lifting boom as a unit and act to pivot the lifting boom about the front bearing axis. Full Article
un Lift and mount apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides devices, apparatuses, and systems for lifting and mounting of clinical- and research-related equipment. In particular, the present invention provides a lift and mount system for mass spectrometers (e.g., for time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometers (MS)). Full Article
un Counterweight block and assemblies for cranes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A counterweight block apparatus includes a pair of interconnecting counterweight blocks having top and bottom surfaces, the counterweight blocks forming a plane of interconnection along adjacent sides thereof; and a shear bar releasably secured between the adjacent sides of the interconnecting counterweight blocks, generally perpendicular to the plane of interconnection, to provide resistance to relative vertical movement of the interconnecting counterweight blocks along the plane of interconnection. In another aspect, each counterweight block includes in at least one side thereof an indentation from a top of the counterweight block to a depth more shallow than the thickness of the counterweight block, the indentation defining a lip for hand grabbing. An aperture may be formed through the rest of the thickness of the counterweigh block at each indentation, wherein a securing strap can be run through each aperture of a stacked plurality of counterweight blocks to secure them to each other. Full Article
un Crane equipped with travelable counterweight unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Disclosed is a crane comprising: a lower body; an upper slewing body; a counterweight unit including a plurality of wheels to travel on the ground in a turning direction equal to a slewing direction of the upper slewing body while being suspended from the upper slewing body; a steering actuator for rotating each of the wheels around a steering-rotation center axis to change the steering angle; and a steering control device for controlling the steering actuator. The steering control device includes: a slewing-identification-signal receiving section which receives a slewing identification signal for identification of the slewing direction of the upper slewing body; and an actuator operating section operates the steering actuator to orient each of the wheels to the inside of a tangent line to an orbit of the wheel at the steering-rotation center axis, based on the identified slewing direction identified from the slewing identification signal. Full Article
un Method for mounting wind turbine blades to a wind turbine hub By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for mounting a wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub by use of a crane boom is provided. An orientation of the blade is kept substantially horizontal when the blade is lifted off the ground and mounted to the rotor hub. Control wires, which connect the blade via the crane boom to a winch arrangement, are used for keeping the blade orientation substantially horizontal in addition to at least one bearing wire for bearing the blade weight. Full Article
un Mobile lift crane with variable position counterweight By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mobile lift crane includes a carbody; a rotating bed; a boom; a moveable counterweight unit; at least one linear actuation device; and at least one arm pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the linear actuation device. The arm and linear actuation device are connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit such that extension and retraction of the linear actuation device changes the position of the counterweight unit compared to the rotating bed. In one method of operation, the counterweight unit is never supported by the ground during crane pick, move and set operations other than indirectly by the ground engaging members on the carbody. Full Article
un Device and method for mounting and dismantling a component of a wind turbine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a device for mounting and/or dismantling a component (10), in particular a rotor blade of a wind turbine (20) comprising a tower head (21). Said device comprises at least one guide element (30) that stretches between the tower head (21) and the ground (40) and has at least one supporting device (60) that is essentially fixed in the air, supporting at least a partial load of the weight of the component (10) during the transport of the latter (10) between the ground (40) and the wind turbine (20). At least one guy (70) leads from the supporting device (60) to the component (10), whereby the length of said guy between the supporting device (60) and the component (10) can be modified. Full Article
un Adjustable underground meter installation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments of the present invention provide adjustable pit liners for use in conjunction with pipelines installed underground. The pit liners provide surface access to devices in fluid communication with the pipeline. The adjustability of the pit liners facilitates installation of the pit liners before the final grade surrounding the pit is known. In various embodiments, a tubular structure having an upper section and a lower section is provided, wherein the upper section and the lower section are slideably connected in a telescoping relationship. A locking mechanism is also provided to releaseably lock the overall height of the tubular structure as desired. Full Article
un Vehicle mountable arm for valve operating machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A valve operating device includes a mounting for attachment to a vehicle and an elongate arm, the free end of which is only moveable across the underlying ground. The joints of the arm pivot around vertical axes and the arm is locked into a desired orientation by a brake at each joint. A valve turning machine is at the free end of the arm. The brakes are engaged and released by a control on the valve turning machine. Full Article
un Underwater oil and gas leak containment systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. The vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet, the high pressure inlet, or both. Full Article
un System and method for vehicle communication, vehicle control, and/or route inspection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST In a system and method for communicating data in a locomotive consist or other vehicle consist (comprising at least first and second linked vehicles), a first electronic component in the first vehicle of the vehicle consist is monitored to determine if the component is in (or enters) a failure state. In the failure state, the first electronic component is unable to perform a designated function. Upon determining the failure state, data is transmitted from the first vehicle to a second electronic component on the second vehicle, over a communication channel linking the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The second electronic component is operated based on the transmitted data, with the second electronic component performing the designated function that the first electronic component is unable to perform. Full Article
un Consist communication system having bearing temperature input By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A consist communication system is disclosed for use with a train consist. The system may have a sensor associated with a component of the consist and configured to generate a signal indicative of a performance parameter of the component. The system may further include a controller, a fluid conduit, at least a first cable disposed within the fluid conduit and configured to transmit the signal from the sensor to the controller, and a glad-hand coupling fixedly connected to an end of the fluid conduit. Full Article
un Data communication system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A communication system for a vehicle consist may include a control module that interfaces with router transceiver units coupled to a cable bus, and can communicate network data between vehicles having a transceiver unit over a cable bus. Full Article