54results about How to "Highly durable" patented technology

An improved organic solar cell converts light into electricity. The organic solar cell includes a cathode, an anode, and a bulk heterojunction material disposed therebetween. The bulk heterojunction material includes a plurality of group IV nanocrystals (e.g., silicon nanocrystals) disposed within an organic absorber (e.g., an organic polymer).

A chain hoist having a casing into which and with respect to which a chain travels is provided with an externally mounted position encoder assembly. A releasable connector, such as a ratchet strap, is employed to firmly but removably couple the position encoder assembly housing externally on the chain hoist casing. The releasable connector holds the position encoder assembly housing in a fixed position relative to the chain hoist casing. The position encoder assembly has a chain gear that is rotatably mounted relative to the position encoder assembly housing proximate to the chain access opening in the chain hoist casing. The precision encoder assembly chain gear engages the portion of the chain that is maintained under tension at a location externally of the chain hoist casing and rotates as the chain travels relative to the chain hoist casing. A releasable clamp is anchored relative to the position encoder assembly housing and is engageable to maintain engagement of the position encoder assembly chain gear with the chain. An encoder is mounted with respect to the position encoder assembly housing and detects rotational movement of the position encoder assembly chain gear. The sensor provides electrical output signals indicative of the extent and direction of rotational movement of the position encoder assembly chain gear. The position encoder assembly provides precise, reliable output signals indicative of the position of the chain relative to the chain hoist. The position encoder assembly may be readily removed from the chain hoist, and just as easily attached thereto.

A system and method for harvesting the kinetic energy of a fluid flow for power generation with a vertically oriented, aerodynamic wing structure comprising one or more airfoil elements pivotably attached to a mast. When activated by the moving fluid stream, the wing structure oscillates back and forth, generating lift first in one direction then in the opposite direction. This oscillating movement is converted to unidirectional rotational movement in order to provide motive power to an electricity generator. Unlike other oscillating devices, this device is designed to harvest the maximum aerodynamic lift forces available for a given oscillation cycle. Because the system is not subjected to the same intense forces and stresses as turbine systems, it can be constructed less expensively, reducing the cost of electricity generation. The system can be grouped in more compact clusters, be less evident in the landscape, and present reduced risk to avian species.

Provided are amphiphobic block copolymers, methods for preparing amphiphobic block copolymers, and applications thereof. Amphiphobic block copolymers can be used to prepare amphiphobic coatings on material surfaces, such as glass, printing paper or fabric. Amphiphobic block copolymers can also be used to coat particles, e.g., silica nanoparticles, which are then used to coat material surfaces. Such coated particles and uses thereof are also provided herein.

A storage container assembly includes a container having a metal side wall, and a passive wireless repeater mounted on the side wall. The repeater includes a first antenna on one side of the side wall, a second antenna on an opposite side of the side wall, and an electrical connection between the first antenna and the second antenna. The electrical connection may be in the form of a first connector mounted to the first antenna and a second connector mounted to the second antenna.

A stent-graft fabricated from a high strength and lubricious material provides for a more durable and lower profile endoprosthesis. The stent-graft comprises one or more stent segments covered with a fabric formed by the weaving, knitting or braiding of a biocompatible, high tensile strength, abrasion resistant, highly durable fiber such as spider dragline silk. The one or more stent segments may be balloon expandable or self-expanding. The fabric may be attached to the stent segments utilizing any number of known materials and techniques.

The present invention can be generally described as a blade monitoring and wireless communications system. This monitoring and communications system is formed by the integration of commonly available or easily developed hardware and / or software components, which may be controlled by non-proprietary, open architecture software. This allows the present invention to easily incorporate a variety of sensors and / or detectors; thereby, providing the user with the first blade monitoring system capable of providing an improved blade monitoring capability.

An electronically controlled actuator for controlling a turbocharger has a motor, a speed change mechanism and a position sensor contained in a case consisting of a body and a cover. The driving force of the motor is transmitted through the speed change mechanism to an output shaft to drive the movable vanes of a turbocharger for turning. A first bearing supporting the output shaft for rotation is held on the cover, and a second bearing supporting the output shaft for rotation is held on the body. The position sensor is mounted on the output shaft of the motor. The reliability of the actuator is improved.

An optical fiber sensor which functions as a tactile sensor includes a plurality of shearing stress sensor sections including respective optical fibers and a plurality of gratings for reflecting light beams having predetermined wavelengths. The gratings are disposed in the optical fibers and arrayed along a plane parallel to the direction in which a shearing stress is applied from an object to the shearing stress sensor sections. The sensor also includes a perpendicular stress sensor section including an optical fiber and a plurality of gratings for reflecting a light beam having a predetermined wavelength. The gratings are disposed in the optical fiber and arrayed along a plane parallel to the direction in which a perpendicular stress is applied from the object to the perpendicular stress sensor section. Preferably, stress direction converting means such as elastic members for converting the direction of an applied stress are mounted on the optical fibers.

A tire pressure detector and alarm system is disclosed to include a battery-operated tire pressure detector installed in the air valve of a vehicle wheel and controlled by a control switch formed of a metal probe and a diaphragm held metal conductor member for providing a radio alarm signal when tire pressure low, a locking device installed in the air valve of the vehicle wheel to lock the tire pressure detector to the air valve, and a receiver and alarm unit directly connectable to the socket for cigarette lighter for receiving radio alarm signal from the tire pressure detector and display the signal.

The present invention is a shunt-type, battery-charging device that (through the use of a power dissipation and / or power reduction system and / or method) is designed to reduce the likelihood of overcharging and the possible deleterious effects (and cooling requirements) associated with the generation of heat during the charging process. Generally, the power reduction system and / or method may control the amount of power being used by the battery charger by monitoring the batteries' level of charge during charging, and by correspondingly reducing the magnitude of the charging current in response to such monitored level.

A method for manufacturing bearing components of high precision and hardness supporting fluid dynamic-pressure comprises the steps of: (1) selecting at least one rotary component provided with a predetermined surface pattern for supporting a distribution of fluid dynamic-pressure; (2) forming an opaque and hard amorphous diamond (DLC, a-D) film (or nano-crystalline diamond film) on the pivotal surface of the component by physical vapor deposition (PVD). Thereby the pivotal surfaces of the rotary component and the pattern thereon can have excellent hardness, wearing resistance, rotational stailbity and durability under repeated urging of dynamic fluid pressure.

The present invention relates to a nut positioning pin disposed on a lower electrode for the projection welding of a nut. The present invention increases cooling and positioning accuracy, prevents entrance of sputtering particles, and increases the detecting accuracy. The present invention comprises an electrode holder (2) of a double-tube structure having a cooling water passage, a guide ring (13) for guiding a coupling rod (7) for vertical movement, an air passage (m) for preventing the entrance of sputtering particles, a coupling block (28) and a magnetic shield, which comprises a magnetic member for preventing a magnetic detecting element from being affected by an external magnetic field. The present invention accurately guides cooling water and the coupling rod in the electrode holder and prevents sputtering particles from entering the electrode holder, and prevents a detector from being adversely influenced by an external magnetic field for increased detecting accuracy.

The valve (9) has a valve body (36) having a seat (42) with which cooperates a shutter (43) kept closed by a first spring (48) of substantially constant pressure, and by a second spring (49) varyuing in pressure during at least part of the stroke of the piston (7). The springs (48, 49) are helical compression types, and their pressures are summed on the shutter (43), which has a plate (44) and a stem (46). The first spring (48) is located between the valve body (36) and a flange (52) integral with a sleeve (53) which is fitted to the stem (46) in an adjustable position; and the second spring (49) is located between the plate (44) and the piston (7).

A coated article including a coating supported by a glass substrate is provided. In certain example embodiments, the coating includes from the glass substrate outwardly a first dielectric layer(s), an infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g., Ag), NiCrOX layer, at least one dielectric layer including silicon nitride and / or tin oxide, another IR reflecting layer (e.g., Ag), and at least another dielectric layer including silicon nitride and / or tin oxide.

A switch sheet and switch utilizing the switch sheet are provided, wherein the switch sheet utilizes a dome shaped spring, and is structured such that the dome shaped spring can be definitively clicked in the center part and operate effectively even when the dome shaped spring is miniaturized. In addition to having long-lasting, superior durability, this switch sheet provides an improved click ratio enabling miniature devices with a good clicking sensation to be achieved. This switch sheet comprises a dome shaped spring, resin sheeting adhered to the external surface of this dome shaped spring via an adhesive agent, and a rigid member positioned on the outside of this resin sheeting, having a downward facing protrusion part formed to oppose the center part of said dome shaped spring.

There is provided inter alia a substrate with a surface having a hydrophilic coating comprising a cross-linked copolymer of components A and B, and optional components C and D; whereincomponent A comprises one or more C2-C16 hydrophilic monomers each bearing one or more alkene and / or alkyne groups;component B comprises one or more hydrophilic polymers each bearing two or more alkene and / or alkyne groups;component C, if present, comprises one or more beneficial agents each bearing one or more alkene or alkyne groups; andcomponent D, if present, comprises one or more low molecular weight cross-linking agents each bearing two or more functional groups independently selected from thiol, alkene and alkyne groups;wherein the cross-linked copolymer is formed by radical polymerization involving the alkene and / or alkyne groups of components A, B and C (if present) and involving the functional groups of component D (if present);wherein the hydrophilic coating optionally comprises component E which comprises one or more beneficial agents, wherein component E does not form a copolymer with components A, B, C (if present) and D (if present);and wherein the hydrophilic coating is covalently attached to the surface of the substrate.

A high performance transparent polycrystalline ceramic material is provided. The transparent polycrystalline ceramic material has a nitrogen-containing isotropic lattice structure and having 80% optical transmission at a wavelength between 3.86 and 4.30 microns through said material at 11 mm of thickness.

A crank handle for a spinning reel includes an axle inserted through a base, an bush mounted on the axle inside the base and having two cut faces, a retaining member, which has an axial hole for receiving the axle and the bush, two notches at one end, and two flat portions for engaging the cut faces of the bush, a spring sleeved onto the bush and stopped between the base and the retaining member, and a handle, which is pivoted to one end of the axle and has two blocks for engaging the notches of the retaining member.

A lighted floor system has been invented to facilitate quick temporary installation, and ease of removal whereby the floor is particularly suitable for highly durable applications. A durable and inexpensive modular system permits these devices to be used as flooring for high-performance lighted stage is suitable for use in concerts and other performing art expositions. In particular, these lighted floor systems presented herein are formed of a ‘repeat unit’ element which may be affixed to similar or identical units in a paving scheme to cover a large area floor space. Each repeat unit includes one or more light panels to provide highly dynamic color light outputs of high uniformity with respect to the illumination fields. These panels include a construction suitable for high durability—i.e. they support being walked on; highly portable they support quick installation—uninstallation; and are quite inexpensive due to their unique construction.

A shoulder supported, hand directed automotive grease gun in which a reciprocating piston transfers fluid from a supply tube to an outlet conduit. A battery powered motor and gear transmission rotate a disc on which is mounted an eccentric pin. The pin forcibly moves a piston holder between low friction parallel guides so as to advance the piston with its transferred fluid toward the outlet conduit. A first spring constantly biases the piston holder toward the pin so that the piston reciprocates rapidly as the disc rotates. An adjustable spring-loaded ball seal unit with an adjustable spring seat controls flow of the fluid. A fluid supply tube heating device alters fluid density to also control fluid flow. An auxiliary shoulder strap relieves pressure on an operator's wrist and transfers backpressure and tool weight to the operators body.

A print roll has opposed ends and a generally cylindrical print surface, and a carbon-based thin film having an amorphous microstructure disposed on the print surface. The thin film may have multiple layers and may be applied by plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition.

A conductive member forming a charging roller having high durability which maintains a stable gap with respect to an abutting member, comprising a long conductive supporting body, an electrical resistance adjusting layer, and gap maintaining members, wherein, taking X2 to be the thickness of the portions of the gap maintaining members which oppose the end faces of the electrical resistance adjusting layer, the relationship 1 mm≦X2≦3 mm is satisfied, taking X3 to be the interval between the end faces of the electrical resistance adjusting layer and the gap maintaining members which oppose these end faces, the relationship 0.1≦X3≦1 mm is satisfied, and taking X4 to be the interval from the faces of the gap maintaining members opposing the end faces of the electrical resistance adjusting layer, to the step difference faces of the reduced diameter sections of the electrical resistance adjusting layer, then X4 is 5 mm or greater, and is shorter than the length from the faces of the gap maintaining members which oppose the end faces of the electrical resistance adjusting layer to the positions on the electrical resistance adjusting layer opposing the end sections which correspond to the image forming region of the photosensitive body.

A MEM switch is described having a free moving element within in micro-cavity, and guided by at least one inductive element. The switch consists of an upper inductive coil; an optional lower inductive coil, each having a metallic core preferably made of permalloy; a micro-cavity; and a free-moving switching element preferably also made of magnetic material. Switching is achieved by passing a current through the upper coil, inducing a magnetic field in the coil element. The magnetic field attracts the free-moving magnetic element upwards, shorting two open wires and thus, closing the switch. When the current flow stops or is reversed, the free-moving magnetic element drops back by gravity to the bottom of the micro-cavity and the wires open. When the chip is not mounted with the correct orientation, gravity cannot be used. In such an instance, a lower coil becomes necessary to pull the free-moving switching element back and holding it at its original position.

An electrophotographic photoreceptor, including:an electroconductive substrate;a first undercoat layer including no metal oxide, located overlying the electroconductive substrate;a second undercoat layer including a metal oxide and a binder resin, located overlying the first undercoat layer; anda photosensitive layer located overlying the second undercoat layer,wherein the metal oxide included in the second undercoat layer has a specific resistivity not less than 107 Ω·cm and a block isocyanate compound.

Disclosed is a push switch wherein a flexible button is fitted on top of a case which houses a switch that is disposed on a mount. The mount comprises, integrally formed from resin, a base portion on which the switch is mounted; a cover portion, which is formed higher than a main body part of the switch, on the top face of the base portion, and surrounds the periphery of the main body part; and a stopper portion, which is formed on the bottom face of the base portion, and latches on the inside of the case.