45results about How to "Overcome bias force" patented technology

A refuse container has a container assembly. The container assembly has a bin defining a cavity, a lid, a telescopingly extensible handle assembly, a locking mechanism, a pair of wheels, and a pair of bottom handles. The lid is rotatably coupled to the bin at a pivot point, has a generally horizontal lid axis of rotation, and is movable relative to the bin between an open position providing access to the cavity and a closed position inhibiting access to the cavity. The extensible handle assembly is located adjacent the pivot point and is movable from a lower retracted position to an upper extended position above an upper surface of the lid. The locking mechanism maintains the lid in the closed position and is located opposite the extensible handle assembly. The wheels are located at the bottom of the refuse container. The bottom handles are located on opposing sides of the bin.

A lid may include first and second openings disposed within a spout. The first opening may provide a first fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in an attached container and the second opening may provide a second fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in the container. The lid may also include a spout at least partially defined by an outer wall. First and second openings may be disposed within the spout and the openings may be at least partially defined by the outer wall of the spout. A conduit, such as a straw, may be coupled to an opening. If desired, a closure may be connected to the lid and the closure may selectively close one or more of the openings.

Various methods and devices are provided for surgically treating tissue. In one embodiment, the device can include a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a conductive tip disposed within the distal end of the shaft and movable between a first and second position. In the first position, the conductive tip is disconnected from a conductive contact which is adapted to communicate with an energy source. In the second position, the conductive tip is in contact with the conductive contact such that energy can be delivered from an energy source through the conductive contact to the conductive tip. The conductive tip can have a variety of shapes and sizes, but in one exemplary embodiment, the conductive tip is a blunt tip. The conductive contact can include at least one lead extending therefrom and adapted to communicate with an energy source.

A vehicle includes a door assembly having an outside door handle, a latching assembly, and a cable-actuated inertial lock having a moveable linkage disposed within a cavity of a stationary housing. A first end of the cable is connected to the handle, and a second end is connected to the linkage. The inertial lock includes a lever for actuating the latch under normal conditions when the handle is actuated, and also contains a deployable toggle piece that is stowed in the linkage. The toggle piece is configured to rotate within the linkage, and thereafter lock against a shaped inner surface of the housing in response to a threshold acceleration of the type set forth in FMVSS 206 or other standards. A torsion spring may be used to bias the toggle piece into a stowed position within the linkage.

Apparatus useful for allowing the flow of liquid down through a pluming fixture to a destination below it and limiting or preventing the backflow of gas from the destination up into the pluming fixture includes a frame and a disc pivotably connected thereto. The disc is biased in a closed position and pivotably moveable into an open position upon the application of sufficient forces acting on the upper surface thereof caused by fluid from the plumbing fixture.

A method of resistance spot welding workpiece stack-ups of different combinations of steel workpieces and aluminum workpieces includes several steps. In one step, a workpiece stack-up is brought between a first weld gun arm and a second weld gun arm. The first weld gun arm includes a first welding electrode, and the second weld gun arm includes a carrier that supports a second welding electrode and a third welding electrode. Another step involves rotating the carrier and passing electrical current through the workpiece stack-up using the first welding electrode in conjunction with either the second welding electrode or the third welding electrode depending on which electrode has been rotated into facing alignment with the first welding electrode.

A spray nozzle assembly for a steam desuperheating or attemperator device. In one embodiment, the spray nozzle sub-assembly of the spray nozzle assembly comprises a fixed nozzle element which is integrated into a spring-loaded nozzle element, and is specifically adapted to improve water droplet fractionation at higher flow rates while further providing an effectively higher spray area through the formation of two water cones (rather than a single water cone), such water cones being sprayed into a flow of superheated steam in order to reduce the temperature of the steam. In another embodiment, the spray nozzle sub-assembly of the spray nozzle assembly comprises a nested pair of spring-loaded primary and secondary nozzle elements which are also adapted to provide an effectively higher spray area through the formation of two water cones.

A caliper brake system includes a housing, a bore within the housing, and a piston slidably positioned within the bore. The brake system also includes a spring assembly, a fluid chamber defined by the bore and the piston, and a hydraulic fluid supply network. The spring assembly provides a biasing force to maintain the piston in an actuated position engaging a stator which engages the rotor of a vehicle. The hydraulic fluid supply network provides pressurized fluid to the fluid chamber to selectively overcome the biasing force of the spring assembly and move the piston to an unactuated position to release the rotor. Thus, the caliper brake is spring actuated and hydraulically released.

An exhaust valve assembly includes a flapper valve fixed to a valve shaft where the flapper valve is movable between a closed position, an intermediate position, and an open position. A resilient member biases the flapper valve toward the closed position. An electric actuator actively moves the flapper valve at least from the closed position to the intermediate position. A coupling mechanism couples the valve shaft to an electric actuator shaft and allows the flapper valve to move to the open position in response to exhaust flow sufficient to overcome a biasing force of the resilient member without requiring input from the electric actuator.

The invention relates to an ice dispenser (10) for a refrigerator that includes a flap unit (24) which is arranged in an ice dispenser shaft and which can be adjusted between a release position which releases the ice dispenser shaft for dispensing ice and a locking position which blocks the ice dispenser shaft against dispensing ice, a pulse-controlled actuating magnet arrangement (58) for actuating the flap unit (24), and mechanical retention means (36, 64, 66) which releasably retain the flap unit (24) in the release position and in the locking position thereof, respectively.

A check valve for pick-and-place applications includes a valve housing with a chamber, and a chamber shuttle with a cavity. The chamber shuttle is accessible from outside the chamber and adapted to receive a suction head. The chamber shuttle is adapted to travel within the chamber and establish “valve-open” and “valve-closed” states based upon the contact of the suction head upon the work piece surface. Blow off of the work piece surface is allowed by a fluid flow channel interposed between the suction head and the chamber shuttle cavity.

A method and system for producing hollow rib structures for trim components and panels using gas assisted injection molding. Spring biased movable insert members are provided in the mold cavity, particularly at the ends of the structural rib members. After the plastic material is injected into the mold cavity, gas is introduced into the rib members in order to provide hollow channels therein. The displaced resin material forces the insert members to the full cavity positions and completes the formation of the molded plastic article.

A window handle is configured to be manually snapped onto a driveshaft of a window actuator of a window. A locking structure securely attaches the handle to the driveshaft to prevent the handle from being pulled off of the driveshaft. The window handle is a folding handle that includes an arm that pivots relative to a base between closed and operable positions. A detent mechanism releasably holds the arm in its open position. A compression spring provides operational biasing force to both the detent mechanism and the locking structure. The arm and base include mating protrusions and bores that fit together to define a pivotal connection between the arm and the base.

An improved spray nozzle assembly for use in a steam desuperheating device that is adapted to spray cooling water into a flow of superheated steam. The nozzle assembly is of simple construction with relatively few components, and thus requires a minimal amount of maintenance. In addition, the nozzle assembly is specifically configured to, among other things, prevent thermal shock to prescribed internal structural components thereof, to prevent “sticking” of a valve element thereof, and to create a substantially uniformly distributed spray of cooling water for spraying into a flow of superheated steam in order to reduce the temperature of the steam.

A compressed gas regulator preferably includes a body having a piston chamber and an output port. A regulator piston can be arranged in the piston chamber with a first surface being acted upon by pressurized gas having the output pressure. A second surface of the piston can be acted upon by a biasing member, such as a spring or spring pack. The biasing member supplies a biasing force that urges the piston toward a first position. The output pressure of the pressurized gas acting on the first surface creates a force that urges the piston toward a second position. A piston seal is preferably arranged on an end of the piston stem to seat against and seal off an inlet port when the piston is in the second position. A pressure adjustment member can be configured to adjust the amount of biasing force applied by the biasing member on the second piston surface. A plug can provide the inlet port, with a stop ring retaining the plug in place to prevent over-pressurization. For CO2 applications, the compressed gas regulator can also include an expansion chamber and a bleed valve. A swivel connector can surround an end of the pressure adjustment member and connect to a source of compressed gas.

A release valve for connection to an inflatable cushion comprising an air conduit, a fitting at a first end of the air conduit for insertion into an air tube in fluid communication with the interior of the cushion, and an air inlet port at the opposite end of the air conduit and a filter assembly at the air inlet port. There is first, vertically orientated, spring biased ball valve centrally positioned in the air conduit including at least one air egress vent and being operatively associated with a spring biased actuator in the ball valve housing for opening the first ball valve. The button and first ball valve define a gap to minimize accidental air release. A second longitudinally orientated, spring biased ball valve is positioned in the air conduit adjacent the air inlet port.

A bit retaining system for a rotary tool or device such as a router is disclosed. The bit retaining system may include a collet assembly and a control assembly. The collet assembly may include a spindle, a collet adapted to receive the bit, and a collet nut. The collet assembly may further include a collet gear mounted on the collet nut and / or a spindle gear mounted on the spindle. The control assembly selectively engages the collet assembly to drive the collet nut and / or secure the spindle in a fixed position, preventing its rotation. In operation, a hand tool is utilized to engage the control assembly. This configuration enables a user to capture and release the rotary tool bit using one hand.

An improved spray nozzle assembly for use in a steam desuperheating device that is adapted to spray cooling water into a flow of superheated steam. The nozzle assembly is of simple construction with relatively few components, and thus requires a minimal amount of maintenance. In addition, the nozzle assembly is specifically configured to, among other things, prevent thermal shock to prescribed internal structural components thereof, to prevent “sticking” of a valve element thereof, and to create a substantially uniformly distributed spray of cooling water for spraying into a flow of superheated steam in order to reduce the temperature of the steam.

A double acting dual stroke fluid pump with pressure assists is disclosed. First and second pistons are mounted to a common shaft which reciprocates during compression and suction strokes. During each of the strokes, fluid is pumped out at an outlet. This is accomplished by way of a one-way valve on the second piston. The one-way valve is opened or closed depending on whether the first and second pistons are in the compression or suction strokes. Additionally, pressure from the outlet assists in traversing the first and second pistons in the compression stroke. During the suction stroke, the fluid pressure applies a force on the first piston to counteract the fluid pressure on the second piston so that a smaller spring may be used. The size requirements of the solenoid and spring are reduced. Additionally, the fluid pump provides lower pressure spikes compared to prior art fluid pumps since fluid is pumped out during both the compression and suction strokes and also provides a more even flow of fluid out of the fluid pump.

A bit retaining system for a rotary tool or device such as a router is disclosed. The bit retaining system may include a collet assembly and a control assembly. The collet assembly may include a spindle, a collet adapted to receive the bit, and a collet nut. The collet assembly may further include a collet gear mounted on the collet nut and / or a spindle gear mounted on the spindle. The control assembly selectively engages the collet assembly to drive the collet nut and / or secure the spindle in a fixed position, preventing its rotation. In operation, a hand tool is utilized to engage the control assembly. This configuration enables a user to capture and release the rotary tool bit using one hand.

A lid may include first and second openings disposed within a spout. The first opening may provide a first fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in an attached container and the second opening may provide a second fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in the container. The lid may also include a spout at least partially defined by an outer wall. First and second openings may be disposed within the spout and the openings may be at least partially defined by the outer wall of the spout. A conduit, such as a straw, may be coupled to an opening. If desired, a closure may be connected to the lid and the closure may selectively close one or more of the openings.

A lid may include first and second openings disposed within a spout. The first opening may provide a first fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in an attached container and the second opening may provide a second fluid pathway to a fluid disposed in the container. The lid may also include a spout at least partially defined by an outer wall. First and second openings may be disposed within the spout and the openings may be at least partially defined by the outer wall of the spout. A conduit, such as a straw, may be coupled to an opening. If desired, a closure may be connected to the lid and the closure may selectively close one or more of the openings.