ato Lockable hydraulic actuator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus comprising a downhole tool having a body defining an outer surface, a plurality of standoffs distributed about the outer surface, and a hydraulic circuit operatively coupled to the standoffs. The hydraulic circuit includes a plurality of hydraulically actuated pistons, each of which is operatively coupled to a respective one of the standoffs to extend and retract the respective standoff. The pistons are hydraulically coupled and sized to extend or retract the respective standoffs at substantially the same rate in response to a hydraulic control signal. Full Article
ato Transmission shifting element decelerator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A transmission may include gears and a clutch to allow the transfer of torque, at a variety of gear ratios, between an input shaft and an output shaft. The clutch may include a cushion piston to decrease the velocity of a transmission piston before the transmission piston engages a clutch element. The cushion piston may be contained within the transmission piston and configured so the cushion piston ceases movement toward the clutch element before the transmission piston. The pistons may be coupled together such that the cushion piston may resist movement of transmission piston toward the clutch element. Full Article
ato Multiple accumulator systems and methods of use thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention is an accumulator system in which multiple elastomeric accumulators are attached in series or parallel in order to generate total differential pressure in excess of that generated in a non-series system. Also disclosed is a “stacked” accumulator system. The system stores energy when the accumulators deform from their original shape in response to the flow of a pressurized fluid. The stored energy is available for use when the fluid is released from the accumulators and the accumulators return to their original shape. Full Article
ato Linear actuator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A linear actuator includes a cylinder main body, which is provided at one end thereof with a lock mechanism capable of restricting displacement of a slide table. The lock mechanism is equipped with a lock plate and a sub-piston. The lock plate is rotatable toward a side of the slide table by an elastic force of a spring, inserted into an insertion groove, and restricts displacement of the slide table. The sub-piston is displaced by a pressure fluid supplied to a supply port, and releases a displacement restricted state of the slide table by the lock plate. Full Article
ato Ventless actuator lock By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An actuator includes a cylinder and a piston disposed in the cylinder. The piston has a head and a rod. The actuator further includes a collapsible locking member disposed in the head of the piston, and a gas-filled capsule disposed in the cylinder. The gas-filled capsule is in an expanded position when fluid in the cylinder is below a threshold pressure, and the gas-filled capsule is in a collapsed position when fluid in the cylinder is above the threshold pressure. The actuator also includes a lock piston operably connected to the gas-filled capsule. The lock piston engages the collapsible locking member and biases the collapsible locking member radially outward to a locked position when the gas-filled capsule is in the expanded position. Full Article
ato Chromatography media and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Adsorptive media for chromatography, particularly ion-exchange chromatography, derived from a shaped fiber. In certain embodiments, the functionalized shaped fiber presents a fibrillated or ridged structure which greatly increases the surface area of the fibers when compared to ordinary fibers. Also disclosed herein is a method to add surface pendant functional groups that provides cation-exchange or anion-exchange functionality to the high surface area fibers. This pendant functionality is useful for the ion-exchange chromatographic purification of biomolecules, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Full Article
ato Inflator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary embodiment can be inflator having an integrated compressor and carry handle. The compressor can include a housing having a top surface contoured to form at least a first portion of a first container holder. The carry handle can he foldable between a first upright carry position and a second folded position wherein the carry handle lies flush with a top surface of the compressor housing. The carry handle can include an inner grasping area contoured to form at least a second portion of the first container holder when the carry handle is in the folded position and wherein the carry handle second portion of the first container holder is complementary to the compressor housing first portion of the first container holder. Full Article
ato Domestic refrigerator including an ice dispenser By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice dispenser for a domestic refrigerator includes a lever having a housing with a passageway defined therein and a flapper door configured to pivot between a closed position in which ice is prevented from advancing into the passageway and an open position in which ice is permitted to advance into the passageway. A linkage is coupled to the lever and the flapper door such that movement of the lever causes the flapper door to move from the closed position to the open position. Full Article
ato Stream detection and/or characterization for beverage dispensing in a refrigerator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerating compartment within the refrigerator cabinet. A beverage dispensing system is operatively connected to the refrigerator cabinet, the beverage dispensing system configured to dispense a stream of a beverage. The beverage dispensing system includes a light source and a light sensor positioned on opposite sides of the stream of the beverage. The beverage dispensing system is configured for detecting if dispensement of the beverage is occurring and characterizing the volume or amount of the beverage being dispensed. Full Article
ato Voltage regulator with current limiter By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A voltage regulator includes an amplifier having a first input coupled to a first reference voltage and a second input coupled to a voltage feedback signal; a multiplexer having a first input coupled to an output of the amplifier, a second input coupled to a voltage clamp signal, and a control input; and a control circuit having a first input coupled to an over current indicator, a second input coupled to a no over voltage indicator, a third input coupled to a timer signal, and an output coupled to the control input of the multiplexer. Full Article
ato Method and apparatus for optimizing linear regulator transient performance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A voltage regulator compensation circuit provides power to a dynamic load and includes a power transistor configured to drive the dynamic load, a reference determining transistor configured to establish a voltage reference proportional to a regulated output voltage of the power transistor, and a control circuit coupled to a gate input of both the power transistor and the reference determining transistor. Also included is a comparison engine configured to compare the regulated output voltage and the voltage reference, and a current consuming transistor operatively coupled to an output of the power transistor and configured to provide a varying secondary load. The comparison engine is configured to control the current consuming transistor to increase current draw or decrease current draw from the power transistor based on the difference between the regulated output voltage and the voltage reference. Full Article
ato Charge pump regulator circuit with a variable drive voltage ring oscillator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT 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. Full Article
ato Switching regulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A disclosed switching regulator includes a speed-up circuit for speeding up an operation of an error amplifier circuit during the time starting from when a switching element is turned OFF based on an output of an abnormality detection circuit, or starting from a fixed period of time after the switching element is turned OFF based on the output of the abnormality detection circuit, until the next time the switching element is again turned OFF based on an output of a PWM comparison circuit. Full Article
ato High resolution control for a multimode SMPS converter and high resolution slope generator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In various embodiments a controller for controlling the operation of a switched mode power supply is provided, the controller comprising: a first signal source configured to provide a first set of signals including a set signal and a clear signal, wherein the first set of signals may correspond to a first mode of operation of the switched mode power supply; a second signal source configured to provide a second set of signals including a set signal and a clear signal, wherein the second set of signals may correspond to a second mode of operation of the switched mode power supply; a selecting circuit coupled to the first signal source and to the second signal source, the selecting circuit being configured to select either the first set of signals or the second set of signals; a switching signal generating circuit coupled to the selecting circuit and configured to provide a switching signal to the switched mode power supply based on the set of signals received from the selecting circuit. Full Article
ato Pseudo constant on time control circuit and step-down regulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A step-down regulator comprising a pseudo constant on time control circuit is disclosed, comprising an on-time generator configured to receive a switching signal provided by the step-down regulator and a control signal provided by the pseudo constant on time control circuit, and generates an on-time signal; a feedback control circuit configured to receive a feedback signal representative of the output voltage of the step-down regulator and generate an output signal; and a logic control circuit coupled to the on-time generator and the feedback control circuit to receive the on-time signal and the output signal and generating the control signal, and a power stage configured to receive an input voltage and the control signal and generate the switching signal. Full Article
ato Low-dropout voltage regulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Sep 2015 08:00:00 EDT A low-dropout voltage regulator includes a power transistor configured to receive an input voltage and to provide a regulated output voltage at an output voltage node. The power transistor includes a control electrode configured to receive a driver signal. A reference circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage. A feedback network is coupled to the power transistor and is configured to provide a first feedback signal and a second feedback signal. The first feedback signal represents the output voltage and the second feedback signal represents an output voltage gradient. An error amplifier is configured to receive the reference voltage and the first feedback signal representing the output voltage. The error amplifier is configured to generate the driver signal dependent on the reference voltage and the first feedback signal. The error amplifier includes an output stage that is biased with a bias current responsive to the second feedback signal. Full Article
ato Space efficient lavatory module for commercial aircraft By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A space efficient lavatory module for commercial aircraft includes an aft facing concave wall recess that provides a greater distance from an upper, forward facing portion of a cabin structure, such as an aircraft passenger seat to avoid having a passenger's head impact the aft facing lavatory or enclosure wall in a sudden aircraft deceleration. The aft facing concave wall recess also provides space for mounting of a protective cushion, in order to reduce a passenger's risk of head trauma in a sudden deceleration, as well as other items, such as a video monitor, a bassinet or infant bed, without inhibiting passenger movement. Full Article
ato Workover riser compensator system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A tensioning apparatus for applying a substantially constant tension to a workover riser (12) includes a first portion (40) adapted to be coupled to a workover riser, a second portion (44) adapted to be coupled to a marine riser (14) and tensioning means (46) for providing relative movement between the first portion and the second portion to, in use, tension the workover riser. Full Article
ato Electromechanical actuator apparatus and method for down-hole tools By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for the actuation of down-hole tools are provided. The down-hole tool that may be actuated and controlled using the apparatus and method may include a reamer, an adjustable gauge stabilizer, vertical steerable tools, rotary steerable tools, by-pass valves, packers, whipstocks, down hole valves, latch or release mechanisms and/or anchor mechanisms. Full Article
ato Compact evaporator for modular portable SAGD process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST 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. Full Article
ato Rotary evaporator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to a rotary evaporator comprising a rotary drive having a hub and a clamping insert with a sleeve-like basic shape, in particular a clamping sleeve, for the clamping of a steam leadthrough formed as a hollow glass shaft in the hub of the rotary drive, wherein the clamping insert has a longitudinal axis and a first and a second axial end, wherein the clamping insert has two clamping sections which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction and which each have an outer cross-section tapering toward the first end and of which the clamping arrangement arranged closer to the second end has a larger maximum outer cross-section. Full Article
ato Multi-effect evaporator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A thermal desalination system adapted to produce distilled water from feed water which may be sea water, based on a forward feed evaporator made up of a main water feed line, a vapor feed line, a distilled water main line and any number of effect groups. The effect groups include any number of effects which in turn include vapor inlets, water inflow lines, concentrate outflow lines that drain into a common concentrate drainage line, a vapor and water outlet in fluid communication with the distilled water main line, and heat transfer means that condense part of an inlet vapor to produce the distilled water. Full Article
ato Rotary evaporator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotary evaporator comprising a motor, a rotary joint movably inserted to a motor rotor of the motor by a sleeve in an axial direction, a collection flask attached to the rotary joint at one end of the joint, with a condenser attached to the other end of the joint. The condenser is adapted to receive a cooling coil from an immersion cooler. The cooling coil is attached to the base unit of the immersion cooler via an insulated hose. The rotary evaporator is adapted to provide various ways to remove heat from the flask in the water bath, whether by mechanically lowering the water bath, dropping fluid from the bath into an underlying reservoir, or raising and lowering the rotary evaporator out of the bath. Where the rotary evaporator is raised and lowered, the immersion cooler can remain in place if the hose connecting the base unit to the cooling coil is sufficiently long, or the condenser includes a flexible portion that accommodates the upward and downward movement. Full Article
ato Sheave for use in an elevator system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An elevator sheave (20) includes a belt guiding surface (26) having a surface profile along at least a portion of the belt guiding surface. The surface profile preferably is defined by an nth order polynomial equation where n is a number greater than 2. In one example, the reference point (40) is a central point along the width of the belt guiding surface (26). In one example, a central portion (42) of the surface profile preferably is aligned to be generally parallel with the central axis (34) of the sheave body. Some examples have curvilinear side portions (44,46) between the central portion (42) and the edges (28,30) of the sheave. Other examples also include second side portions (48,50) that have linear profiles. Full Article
ato Diverting pulley arrangement and elevator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Diverting pulley arrangement of an elevator, which includes an axle, at least one diverting pulley that rotates while supported on the axle, a faceplate structure, in relation to which and supported by which the diverting pulley is arranged to rotate on the first side of the faceplate structure, which axle is locked so that it does not rotate in relation to the faceplate structure by the aid of a locking element, which locking element is on the second side of the faceplate structure and supported so that it does not move in relation to the faceplate structure. The locking element is placed against the locking surface included in the axle so that the contact point of the locking element and the locking surface of the axle is at least partly visible. Full Article
ato 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
ato Control surfaces for applicator with moveable applicator head By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cosmetic applicator comprising a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the handle comprises a drive; an applicator head operatively associated with the drive to move at least part of the applicator head relative to the handle; and a control surface disposed at the proximal end of the handle and operatively associated with the drive. The control surface may be rotatable about a control surface axis through a plurality of positions and the control surface axis may be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the handle. The control surface may be moveable through a plurality of positions. The applicator may comprise an additional control surface, such as a second control surface or temporary control surface, which may be operated independently or in combination with the first control surface. Full Article
ato 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
ato Substance applicator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An applicator assembly is provided, the applicator assembly includes a base member, a cap member removably associated with the base member, a container for a substance to be applied; and an applicator member removably associated with the container. The container and applicator member are configured to be received within an interior space defined between the base member and cap member. Full Article
ato Applicator with tubular, overmolded core element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a cosmetics applicator having a handle section, an applicator element and a shaft section connecting the applicator element and the handle section, wherein the applicator element includes a core element of a first material and a bristle element which at least partially envelops the core element and includes a second material preferably different from the first material with regard to its hardness and/or flexibility. Full Article
ato Eyelash curler, mascara applicator, mascara container, and mascara remover By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ergonomic eyelash curler, cosmetic applicator, container, and mascara remover compromising of a grip type device with anatomical features and a fixed ellipsoid curvature tongue at one end. The tongue and grip are shaped to fit the anatomy of the hand to allow free movement of the thumb and index fingers. This device has an ergonomic design that optimizes human wellbeing and overall hand coordination allowing the user to apply precise and natural motion when beautifying and maintaining the eyelashes. The thumb's tactile sense allows the user to apply measured pressure on the eyelash against the curling edge to provide a prolonged and continuous curvature of the eyelash. The thumb and index finger tactile sense allows the user to effectively remove mascara from the eyelash without irritating the eye area. Multiple eyelash beautifying and maintenance functions can be performed with this invention including mascara application. Full Article
ato Rectifying device of vehicle alternator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A highly reliable rectifying device of a vehicle alternator capable of improving the vibration resistance of a diode. A connection lead 33d of a diode 33 included in a rectifying device includes a linear part 33f extended in parallel from a metallic base 33b, and a bent part 33g bent 90° or more substantially like an arc from the linear part 33f. The bending radius R of the bent part 33g is set to a value larger than a separation distance w in a horizontal direction between the terminal of the linear part 33f and the distal part of the connection lead 33d. Full Article
ato Method and apparatus for manufacturing stator coil for electric rotating machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A method of manufacturing a stator coil for an electric rotating machine includes the steps of: (1) forming substantially planar electric wires each of which includes in-slot portions to be received in slots of a stator core and turn portions to be located outside the slots to connect adjacent pairs of the in-slot portions; (2) rolling each of the planar electric wires through plastic deformation into a spiral or circular-arc shape; and (3) assembling the rolled electric wires together to form the stator coil. Further, in the rolling step, each of the planar electric wires is rolled by deforming each of the turn portions of the electric wire while restricting movement of at least one of the in-slot portions of the electric wire which is located closer to a rolling start end of the electric wire than the turn portion is. Full Article
ato Method and apparatus for rolling electric wire for stator coil of electric rotating machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an apparatus for rolling a substantially planar electric wire by more than one turn into a spiral shape. The apparatus includes an inner pressing member having an outer surface, an intermediate pressing member having radially inner and outer surfaces, and an outer pressing member having an inner surface. The inner and intermediate pressing members together press a first part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the inner pressing member and the inner surface of the intermediate pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the first part to extend along the outer surface of the inner pressing member. The intermediate and outer pressing members together press a second part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member and the inner surface of the outer pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the second part to extend along the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member. Full Article
ato Cabling configuration for railless elevators By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An elevator including a car is arranged in a shaft. A set of compensator cables are attached to a bottom of the car and engaged with a compensator drum. A set of hoist cables are attached to a top of the car and engaged with a hoist drum to move the car vertically in the shaft, wherein the set of compensator cables and the set of hoist cables are configured to only move the car vertically. Full Article
ato Handle mechanism for an HVAC damper actuator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A damper system may include a handle mechanism for use with a damper actuator system. Illustratively, the handle mechanism may include a drive gear mechanism, a handle, a housing, and a spring, and may be actuated to set a crack pressure for the damper system. The handle may connect to the drive gear mechanism at a drive gear arm of the drive gear mechanism and may flip over or about the drive gear arm to move from a first position to a second position. In some instances, once the handle is in the second position, a force may be applied thereto to disengage the drive gear from a stop member and thereafter, the handle may be rotated to change the crack pressure of the damper system. Full Article
ato Fluidic impulse generator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for vibrating tubing as it is inserted into a wellbore is disclosed. The device has a fluidic switch that has no moving parts. The fluidic switch is connected to a piston that oscillates back and forth in a cylinder. The piston is the only moving part. As the piston oscillates, it blocks and unblocks openings in the cylinder or other components. The movement of the piston controls the timing of the oscillation, and also generates an impulse or vibration. The vibration may reduce the friction between the tubing and the wellbore. Full Article
ato Pulse activated actuator pump system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A pump system containing no external parts or valves is provided. The pump system is characterized by a common type of actuating mechanism and incorporates reversibly expanding actuators, preferably electroactive actuators. Fluid is caused to move at a selected flow rate and direction by sequentially activating contiguous actuators located inside the pump. The pump may be used to pump a variety of fluids and may be used in various industrial, commercial, medical, aeronautical, or military applications. Full Article
ato Gas pressure regulator with in-situ rotatably adjustable adaptor sleeve By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Exemplary embodiments of a gas pressure regulator comprise a regulator body, an adaptor sleeve, a retainer and an indexing ring. The regulator body includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a ported intermediate portion therebetween, and a main bore. The adaptor sleeve axially receives the distal portion and includes an outer threading for engaging an air source adaptor of a paintball marker. The retainer threadably engages the main bore within the distal end, thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal end. The indexing ring receives the distal portion therethrough for resiliently biased axial movement of the indexing ring between a locking position and an unlocking position. When the indexing ring is in its unlocking position, the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body. When the indexing ring is in its locking position, the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body. Full Article
ato Solid state light emitting devices including adjustable melatonin suppression effects By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Solid state light emitting devices include multiple LED components providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects. Multiple LED components may be operated simultaneously according to different operating modes according to which their combined output provides the same or similar chromaticity, but provides melatonin suppressing effects that differ by at least a predetermined threshold amount between the different operating modes. Switching between operating modes may be triggered by user input elements, timers/clocks, or sensors (e.g., photosensors). Chromaticity of combined output of multiple LED components may also be adjusted, together with providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects at each selected combined output chromaticity. Full Article
ato Corona igniter having shaped insulator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A corona igniter (20) for emitting a radio frequency electric field and providing a corona discharge (24) includes a central electrode (22) at a positive voltage, a grounded metal shell (30), and an insulator (28) with an abruption (34) extending radially outward relative to the central electrode (22). The abruption (34) is typically an increase of at least 15% of a local thickness (t) of the insulator (28) over less than 25% of a nose length (el) of an insulator nose region (74). The abruption (34) is typically one flank (82) of a protrusion or a notch, and the flank (82) faces the shell (30). The abruption (34) reverses the electric field and voltage potential gradient along the insulator outer surface (32), repels charged ions away from the insulator (28), and thus prevents the formation of a conductive path between the central electrode (22) and the shell (22). Full Article
ato Rotary actuator for energy efficient ice cube dispenser door system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotary actuator suitable for use in a refrigerator ice-dispensing door provides a rotating shaft driven by a DC permanent magnet motor through a gear train and subject to a returning force of an internal spring. The gear train communicates with a switch to reduce current to the motor when a limit of travel is reached and a shunting path is provided around the motor to produce generative braking when power is removed from the motor and the actuator rotates backward to its initial position. Full Article
ato Connection system, with self-alignment, for elevator guides By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Connection system, with self-alignment, for elevator guides, in which the front surfaces thereof maintain a perfect 90° angle with respect to the longitudinal axis (e) of each guide (1) and there is a connection plate (2) that forms through-holes (241) that are offset and in correspondence with holes (141) in the wings (14), such that, when connection means (3) are mounted therein, a front self-alignment pressure is created between the two guides (1). Full Article
ato Stratosphere tethered photovoltaic power platform By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for placing a large utility scale photovoltaic array in the low stratosphere of earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 20 km, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. This is accomplished using a large light-weight, rigid, buoyant structure to support the large photovoltaic array. Long, strong and light tethers connect the buoyant structure to the ground and hold it in position against wind forces. The electricity output from the photovoltaic array is then coupled to high voltage transmission lines which connect from the platform to the earth's surface. The electricity is then transmitted through the high voltage transmission lines to the earth's surface where it is connected to the electrical supply grid and provides lower cost, more reliable electricity. Full Article
ato Stratosphere tethered platform for multiple uses By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for placing a large rigid buoyant platform in the low stratosphere of earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 20 km, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. The platform can serve several uses, either individually or in any combination. These uses include uninterrupted radio and light communications, radar and optical observation including very powerful radars and solar power electricity generation. Long, strong and light tethers connect the buoyant structure to the ground which hold it in position against wind forces. The electricity output from a photovoltaic array is used to power platform uses and can also be coupled to high voltage transmission lines which transmit power from the platform to the earth's surface during daylight hours. Power can also be transmitted up to the platform during darkness to power facilities mounted on the platform ensuring continuous operation. Full Article
ato Tie plate separator and method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided. Full Article
ato Tie plate separator and method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided. Full Article
ato Apparatus and method of manufacturing pressure compensator type drip irrigation tubes with desired molecular orientation and tubes obtained thereby By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for manufacturing high speed pressure compensator-type drip irrigation tubes and the tubes obtained thereby having absolute radial orientation of molecular chains, the orientation imparting strength as well as flexibility to the tube material. The said method comprises extruding a tube using a plurality of extruders; blowing up the extruded tube by introducing a pressure inside the tube relatively higher than the pressure outside the tube; drawing the blown tube simultaneously to the blowing of tube; flattening the blown tube by heat welding the collapsed halves together and forming a tape immediately, subsequent to the process of blowing and drawing the tube; extrusion of a bonding polymer on one border of the tape; printing flow channels into the hot and viscous bonding polymer; and forming a tube by lengthwise folding the tape and heat welding the overlapping borders together using the bonding polymer. Full Article
ato Water saving aerator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a water saving aerator that can reduce the amount of water flow and generate bubble foam water from water provided by the water delivery apparatus such as a water tap. The water saving aerator comprises a water saving disc 10 for controlling the amount of water from the water tap 200, having the through-hole 11 whose diameter is smaller than that of the water tap 200, so the water flow is injected by covering the opening of the water tap 200. A first cylinder 30 covering a diffuser object 20 is provided and a second cylinder 40 covering the first cylinder 30 is provided. The water injected from the through-hole 11 of the water saving disc 10 is diffused by the diffuser object 20, and the diffused water is received by the inner wall of the first cylinder 30. An air intake hole 33 is formed on the upper portion of the first cylinder 30, and when the air pressure of the first cylinder 30 is decreased by the water flow running into the water pass 71 between the diffuser object 20 and the first cylinder 30, the outer air is ventilated through the ventilation pass 72 formed between the first cylinder 30 and the second cylinder 40 via the air intake hole 33, the bubble form water is generated by mixing the water flow and air. Full Article
ato Turbofan engine with variable area fan nozzle and low spool generator for emergency power generation and method for providing emergency power By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A turbofan engine (10) employs a flow control device (41) that changes an effective exit nozzle area (40) associated with a bypass flow path (B) of the turbofan engine. A spool (14) couples a fan (20) to a generator (52). The turbofan emergency power system includes a controller (50) that communicates with the flow control device (41). Upon sensing an emergency condition, the controller manipulates the flow control device to reduce the effective nozzle exit area (40) of the bypass flow path, which chokes the flow through the bypass flow path thereby increasing the rotational speed of the fan. In this manner, the generator is driven at a higher rotational speed than if the flow through the bypass flow path was not choked, which enables a smaller generator to be utilized. Full Article