A method and apparatus providing for minimization of the separation of a plurality of radially collapsible, generally circular, mandrels (62, 64) whi ch are mounted for axial movement along the longitudinal axis (48) of a central shaft (50). The method and apparatus is useful for shaping of a green vehicl e tire carcass employing a shaping drum which includes dual mandrels (62, 64) which are axia...

An object to be imaged is positioned between an x-ray source and an x-ray imager. The x-ray source is operated to direct x-rays through and around the object. Electrical signals representative of the intensity of the x-rays impinging on the x-ray imager are used to locate a boundary of the object, and an x-ray image is generated using this boundary. Alternatively or additionally, an x-ray image is...

Carousel winding reel (10) for thin or very thin strip/sheet, up to 0.5 mm, hot rolled and leaving in a continuous strip from a rolling train at speeds of 20 meters per second and more, the reel (10) comprising a pair of mandrels (11a, 11b) arranged with their respective axes parallel to each other (12a, 12b) and associated with a structure (13) able to rotate around a longitudinal axis (14) subst...

A slicer having an interlock mechanism, the slicer comprising a tray for receiving a food product to be sliced, the tray being movable along a slicing path and having a tray arm. The slicer further includes a blade for slicing the food product as the tray moves along the slicing path and a carriage having a locking arm for receiving the tray arm. The locking arm is movable between a release positi...

A scheduling system and method for moving plural objects through a multipath system described as a freight railway scheduling system. The scheduling system utilizes a cost reactive resource scheduler (340) to minimize resource exception while at the same time minimizing the global costs associated with the solution. The achievable movement plan can be used to assist in the control of, or to automa...

The present invention is directed to autonomous, microprocessor controlled home cleaning robots having useful functions. More specifically, the present invention relates to autonomous, mobile home cleaning robots having low energy cleaning implements.; L'invention concerne des robots de nettoyage domestique autonomes commandés par microprocesseur et exerçant des fonctions utiles. Elle concerne, pl...

A method and apparatus for computing properties of a physical environment is provided, using a plurality of agents forming a distributed network embedded within the environment. The method comprises determining an initiating agent (200), transmitting a signal including a cumulative cost value to neighboring agents (202), and processing the signal at each neighboring agent to augment the cumulative...

An integrated security and communications system combines a security system to either or both of a telephone system interface and a data interface. Users have access to voice-mail or other PBX-type telephone functions, many or all of which can be accessed not only at telephone sets, but also at keypads of the security system. Data functions such as electronic mail and possible partial or full Worl...

A liner (5) for a shaped charge (1) formed from a mixture of powdered heavy metal and a powdered metal binder. The liner is formed by compression of the mixture into a liner body shape. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the mixture comprises a range of 90 to 97 percent by weight of powdered heavy metal, and 10 to 3 percent by weight of the powdered metal binder. In a specific embodimen...

The invention relates to powder metallurgy, more specifically to the design of an autoclave for producing compound materials at a high pressure and temperature. The inventive power module comprises a multibarrel container embodied in the form of adjacent welded cylinders which are made of sheet material and assembled to each other with the aid of a high-strength steel band. One of the internal met...

A pneumatic safety tire capable of continuing a safe running even if a tire internal pressure lowers to the atmospheric pressure and being easily manufactured, wherein a side reinforcing rubber layer of generally crescent shape in cross section is provided in side wall parts, and at least one annular recess continued in circumferential direction is provided in a belt disposed between the crown par...

Sputtering targets and methods of making sputtering targets are described. The method includes the steps of: providing a sputtering metal workpiece made of a valve metal; transverse cold-rolling the sputtering metal workpiece to obtain a rolled workpiece; and cold-working the rolled workpiece to obtain a shaped workpiece. The sputtering targets exhibits a substantially consistent grain structure a...

A system (20) for inspecting indicia on a golf ball (32) is disclosed herein. The system (20) uses a multitude of cameras (70) to analyze indicia that has been printed on the surface (48) of the golf ball (32) in order to accept or reject each golf ball (32). In a preferred embodiment, the system (20) is placed in-line with the printing of the indicia on the golf ball surface (48), and prior to th...

Compositions for the formation of temperature resistant, tough, flame retardant polyurethane foams, comprising a low VOC polyisocyanate component wherein the isocyanate is a low functionality isocyanate; a low VOC active-hydrogen containing component substantially reactive with the low functionality isocyanate to form a polyurethane; a surfactant composition; and a catalyst component, wherein the ...

An electric vehicle has left and right speed control levers provided alongside left and right grips provided at the ends of left and right control handles. The electric vehicle also has left and right electric motors for driving left and right driven wheels and left and right brakes for braking the left and right driven wheels. The left brake and the speed of the left electric motor are controlled...

An apparatus configured to obtain, process, and relay data to a user in a coherent and useful manner. An active fiducial 200 is equipped with an interface for receiving and transmitting data. The fiducial may transmit its position using a satellite-based position sensing device 204 such as a GPS. Active fiducials may also be equipped with battery power pack regenerated with solar cells 206. Simila...

The binding comprises a pair of pistons (7, 8) extending under the boot and each stressed by a spring (14, 15). The arms of a sole clamp (2, 3) act on these pistons. The pistons are connected together by a linking means (20), and the binding comprises means (24, 25) for controlling the linking means, capable of occupying a first position, in which the pistons are secured by the linking means, and ...

A method of controlling a disk writing operation based on a currently remaining electric power capacity of a battery is disclosed. This method is applicable to a portable device such as an electronic notebook or a disk drive using a battery as a power source. This method detects a remaining electric power capacity of the battery, compares the detected remaining electric power capacity with a refer...

A composite material with high resistance to impact energy, comprising an expanded polymer selected among polystyrene, polypropylene, copolymer of polyphenylene oxide and polystyrene and mixtures thereof, dispersed in a resin chosen among melaminic resin, phenolic resin and polyurethane resin and mixtures thereof.

A composite material is described which comprises at least two layers of different plastics materials which are directly bonded to each other, wherein A) one layer of the composite comprises polyurethane, and B) a layer of the composite which is directly bonded to layer A) comprises a thermoplastic plastics material which is different from the material which layer A) comprises, wherein layer A) co...