Author: claimsbot

1. Apparatus comprising a collapsible construction barrier having at least three integrally-formed wall sections including a first endmost wall section and a second endmost wall section, adjacent ones of the wall sections being joined by a living hinge, the first endmost wall section includes at least one pin movable between a first position and a second position, the second endmost wall section includes at least one keeper boss, the wall sections being foldable one on another whereby a folded construction barrier has a footprint approximating that of one of the wall sections and the pin secures the apparatus in such folded position by being inserted into the keeper boss when the pin is moved between the first and second positions.
2. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a top section integrally formed with the wall sections and connected thereto by a living hinge.
3. Apparatus of claim 2, wherein:
the first and a second endmost wall sections are adapted to be joined to one another for erecting the collapsible construction barrier, the first and second endmost wall sections each having an outward-facing wall with a top side and a projecting portion on the respective outward-facing wall adjacent the respective top side; and
the perimeter sides of the top section include first and second sidewalls each approximately orthogonal to the top surface, each of the first and second sidewalls having an inward-facing wall with a projecting portion,
whereby when the first and second endmost wall sections are joined to one another, an urging of the top section downwardly onto the first and second endmost wall sections causes the projecting portions of the first and second sidewalls to engage respective ones of the projecting portions of the first and second endmost wall sections, thereby securing the top section to the wall sections.
4. Apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wall sections and top section are adapted to be interlocked with one another for erecting the collapsible construction barrier.
5. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the three wall sections include a middle wall section, and wherein the keeper boss is disposed on an outwardly-facing wall of the second endmost wall section, at a position adjacent the middle wall section.
6. Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second endmost wall section further includes at least one erecting boss aligned with the pin guide, disposed at an endmost location on the second endmost wall, and adapted for receiving the pin for securing the apparatus as an upright structure by attaching the first and second endmost wall sections to one another, with the apparatus in an unfolded position.
7. A method comprising:
providing a collapsible path barrier comprising at least three integrally-formed wall sections with a living hinge, joining each adjacent pair of wall sections, endmost wall sections of the at least three wall sections being joinable to form an upright structure; and
providing a keeper structure with at least one pin disposed on one of the wall sections and a corresponding at least one locking boss, for receiving the pin, disposed on another of the wall sections, the keeper structure operative to securely hold the wall sections together in a collapsed state having a footprint essentially of a single one of the wall sections.
8. Apparatus comprising a collapsible construction barrier having at least three integrally-formed wall sections including a first endmost wall section and a second endmost wall section, adjacent ones of the wall sections being joined by corresponding living hinges, the first endmost wall section includes a pin movable between a first position and a second position; and
the second endmost wall section includes a keeper boss, the wall sections being foldable one on another whereby a folded construction barrier has a footprint approximating that of one of the wall sections and is securable in a folded position by engagement of the pin and the keeper boss.
9. Apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least three wall sections include a middle wall section, and wherein the keeper boss is disposed on an outwardly-facing wall of the second endmost wall section, at a position adjacent the middle wall section.
10. Apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second endmost wall section further includes at least one erecting boss disposed at an endmost location on the second endmost wall, and adapted for receiving the pin for securing the apparatus as an upright structure by attaching the first and second endmost wall sections to one another, with the apparatus in an unfolded position.
11. Apparatus comprising a collapsible construction barrier having at least three integrally-formed wall sections including a first endmost wall section and a second endmost wall section, adjacent ones of the wall sections being joined by corresponding living hinges, for erecting the barrier, the first and second endmost wall sections each having an outward-facing wall with a top side and a projecting portion on the respective outward-facing wall adjacent the respective top side; and
a top section having perimeter sides which include first and second sidewalls each having an inward-facing wall with a projecting portion, whereby when the first and second endmost wall sections are joined to one another, an urging of the top section downwardly onto the first and second endmost wall sections causes the projecting portions of the first and second sidewalls to engage respective ones of the projecting portions of the first and second endmost wall sections, thereby securing the top section to the wall sections, and when the top section is pulled upwardly, the wall sections are foldable one on another such that the construction barrier has a footprint approximating that of one of the wall sections.
12. A method comprising:
providing a collapsible path barrier comprising at least three integrally-formed wall sections with a corresponding living hinge joining each adjacent pair of wall sections, endmost wall sections of the at least three wall sections being joinable to form an upright structure; and
providing a keeper structure including a pin disposed on one of the wall sections and a corresponding locking boss, for receiving the pin, disposed on another of the wall sections operative to securely hold the wall sections together in a collapsed state having a footprint essentially of a single one of the wall sections.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A computer implemented method for generating a section cut in a model of a part, the computer implemented method comprising:
identifying, using at least one processor, a location on the part from an object of the part;
extracting, using the at least one processor, ply lay-up data for a section of the part within the model, the extracting comprising:
creating an axis system at the location in the model of the part, wherein the axis system has an axis that is normal to a surface at the location in the model of the part;
creating section cuts intersecting the surface and plies below the surface, wherein creating section cuts further comprises: intersecting a base surface supporting the plies with a plane; obtaining first coordinates by performing a first linear approximation of the base surface and plane intersection; identifying a ply from the ply lay-up data that is intersected by the plane; and obtaining second coordinates by performing a second linear approximation of the ply and plane intersection;
identifying a plurality of sampling points on the surface based on the section cuts; and
generating sampled data by performing core sampling using the plurality of sampling points;

generating, using the at least one processor, an output file from the sampled data.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the creating the axis system comprises:
creating a damage axis at the location in the model of the part, wherein the damage axis is normal to the surface of the part at the location in the model of the part.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
storing the section cuts and the axis system in the model of the part.
4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
storing the plurality of sampling points in a plurality of files; and
creating a master file identifying the plurality of files.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:
selecting a file from the plurality of files using the master file to form a selected file;
performing the core sampling of a point identified in the selected file, wherein information about a set of plies associated with the point is identified; and
storing the information in the sampled data.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:
repeating the selecting step, the performing step, and the storing step until all of the plurality of files have been processed.
7. The method of claim 1 further wherein the first coordinates are relative to the plane, and further comprising the step of converting the first coordinates to another coordinate system.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of identifying in a part application a location on the part comprises the steps of:
displaying a three-dimensional object; and
selecting the location on the three-dimensional object.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of displaying the three-dimensional object further comprises excluding information selected from trade secret information and export-controlled information.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising manipulating the three-dimensional object.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a data processing system comprising a bus, a processor, and a memory, wherein a data extraction tool executes on the data processing system, wherein the data extraction tool is configured to:
receive a location on a part;
create an axis system at the location in a model of the part, wherein the axis system has an axis that is normal to a surface at the location in the model of the part;
create section cuts intersecting the surface and plies below the surface, wherein creating section cuts further comprises: intersecting a base surface supporting the plies with a plane;
obtain first coordinates by performing a first linear approximation of the base surface and plane intersection;
identify a ply from ply lay-up data, wherein the ply is intersected by the plane; and
obtain second coordinates by performing a second linear approximation of the ply and plane intersection;
identify a plurality of sampling points on the surface based on the section cuts; and
generating sampled data by performing core sampling using the plurality of sampling points.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data extraction tool is capable of generating an output file from the sampled data.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the axis system has a damage axis that is normal to the surface of the part at the location in the model of the part.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data extraction tool is further capable of storing the section cuts and the axis system in the model of the part.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the data extraction tool is further capable of storing the plurality of sampling points in a plurality files, and creating a master file identifying the plurality of files.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein in performing the core sampling using the plurality of sampling points to generate the sampled data, the data extraction tool is capable of selecting a file from the plurality of files using the master file to form a selected file; performing the core sampling of a point identified in the selected file, wherein information about a set of plies associated with the point is identified; and storing the information in the sampled data.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the data extraction tool comprises:
a core identification unit;
a surface generation unit;
a core sampling unit; and
an output generation unit.
18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program code which, when executed by at least one processor, is configured to display on a display a three-dimensional object of a part and to identify a location on the three-dimensional object of the part, the program code comprising:
program code configured to extract ply lay-up data for a section of the part within a model of the part, the program code that is configured to extract further comprising:
program sub-code configured to create an axis system at the location in the model of the part, wherein the axis system has an axis that is normal to a surface at the location in the model of the part;
program sub-code configured to create section cuts intersecting the surface and plies below the surface, wherein creating section cuts further comprises: intersecting a base surface supporting the plies with a plane; obtaining first coordinates by performing a linear approximation of the base surface and plane intersection; identifying a ply from the ply lay-up data that is intersected by the plane; and obtaining second coordinates by performing a second linear approximation of the ply and plane intersection; and
program sub-code configured to identify a plurality of sampling points on the surface based on the section cuts; and

program code configured to generate sampled data by performing core sampling using the plurality of sampling points.
19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18,
wherein the program code further comprises program code for generating an output file from the sampled data.
20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the program code further comprises:
program code for creating the axis system with a damage axis that is normal to the surface of the part at the location in the model of the part.
21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the program code further comprises:
program code for storing the section cuts and the axis system in the model of the part.
22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the program code further comprises:
program code for storing the plurality of sampling points in a plurality of files; and
program code for creating a master file identifying the plurality of files.
23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the program code further comprises:
program code for selecting a file from the plurality of files using the master file to form a selected file;
program code for performing the core sampling of a point identified in the selected file, wherein information about a set of plies associated with the point is identified; and
program code for storing the information in the sampled data.

1. A vibratory roller comprising:
(A) a chassis;
(B) at least one roller on which the chassis is supported;
(C) an exciter assembly that imparts vibrations to the roller to compact materials over which the roller travels, the exciter assembly comprising
i. an exciter housing;
ii. an exciter shaft rotatably journaled in the exciter housing;
iii. an eccentric weight supported on the exciter shaft, and
iv. a gear mounted on the exciter shaft, the gear being unlubricated and having at least an outer ring portion being formed from a non-metallic material.
2. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 1, wherein the gear comprises a composite gear having an inner metal hub and an outer ring of the non-metallic material.
3. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 2, wherein the exciter assembly comprises a first exciter subassembly of larger exciter assembly, the exciter shaft comprises a first exciter shaft, and the gear comprises a first gear, and further comprising i) a second exciter subassembly comprising a second exciter shaft rotatably journaled in the exciter housing and bearing an eccentric weight and ii) a second gear that is supported on the second exciter shaft, and that meshes with first gear, and that is of at least generally the same diameter as the first gear.
4. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 3, wherein the second gear has a metallic outer portion.
5. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 3, wherein the gears have a backlash of at least 0.20 mm (0.008 in).
6. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 5, wherein the gears have a backlash of at least 0.25 mm (0.010 in).
7. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 3, wherein the outer ring portion of the first gear is formed from a nylon-based polymer impregnated with at least one of a heat stabilizer and a lubricant.
8. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 3, wherein the second gear is a composite gear having a metal hub having an outer ring of the non-metallic material.
9. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 8, wherein the outer ring of the first gear is formed from a molded polymer.
10. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 1, wherein the eccentric weight is a fixed eccentric weight that is rotationally fixed relative to the exciter shaft, and wherein the exciter assembly further comprises a free swinging weight that is mounted on the exciter shaft so as to rotate with respect to the exciter shaft between 1) a first angular position in which the eccentricity of the free swinging eccentric weight adds to the eccentricity of the fixed eccentric weight and 2) a second angular position in which the eccentricity of the free swinging eccentric weight detracts from the eccentricity of the fixed eccentric weight.
11. A vibratory roller comprising:
(A) a chassis;
(B) first and second rollers on which the chassis is supported;
(C) an exciter housing located at least in part within the first roller and lacking an oil bath therein;
(D) an exciter assembly including first and second exciter subassemblies that impart vibrations to the first roller to compact materials over which the roller travels, each exciter subassembly comprising
i. an exciter shaft rotatably journaled in the exciter housing;
ii. an eccentric weight supported on the exciter shaft, and
iii. a gear mounted on the exciter shaft,
wherein the gears of the first and second exciter subassemblies mesh with one another and are unlubricated, and wherein at least one of the gears has at least a toothed outer portion formed from a non-metallic material.
12. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 11, wherein the first gear is a composite gear having a metal hub and an outer ring formed from a nylon-based polymer impregnated with at least one of a heat stabilizer and a lubricant, and wherein the second gear has a metallic outer portion.
13. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 12, wherein the gears have a backlash of at least 0.20 mm (0.008 in).
14. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 11, wherein each of the first and second gears is a composite gear having a metal hub and an outer ring formed from a molded polymer.
15. The vibratory roller as recited in claim 11, wherein the eccentric weight of each exciter subassembly is a fixed eccentric weight that is rotationally fixed relative to the associated exciter shaft, and wherein each exciter subassembly further comprises a free swinging weight that is mounted on the associated exciter shaft so as to rotate with respect to the exciter shaft between 1) a first angular position in which the eccentricity of the free swinging eccentric weight adds to the eccentricity of the associated fixed eccentric weight and 2) a second angular position in which the eccentricity of the free swinging eccentric weight detracts from the eccentricity of the associated fixed eccentric weight.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of fabricating a stent from a wire, comprising:
(a) winding the wire on a first mandrel;
(b) heating the wound wire to form a coiled spring; and
(c) after said coiled spring has cooled sufficiently, reversing the winding direction of said coiled spring to form the stent.
2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising:
(d) placing said stent on a second mandrel; and
(e) reheating said reversed coiled spring stent for a time sufficiently short as to partially relax said stent.
3. A method as in claim 2 wherein said second mandrel is made up of at least two regions of different heat sink capacities, so that the portion of said stent overlying said at least two regions will be relaxed to different extents during said reheating.
4. A stent made by the method of claim 1.
5. A stent made by the method of claim 2.
6. A stent made by the method of claim 3.
7. A stent comprising a coiled wire characterized in that said wire includes at least one section which is wound in one sense and at least one section which is wound in the opposite sense, deployment of said stent taking place by tightly winding the stent onto a catheter and subsequently allowing the stent to resume its normal dimensions.
8. A stent as in claim 7 wherein said wire includes two sections with each of said sections representing substantially half of said wire.
9. A method of deploying a stent of claim 7 in a desired location, comprising:
(a) tightly winding said stent onto a catheter;
(b) immobilizing the two end points of said wire and at least one intermediate point on said wire;
(c) bringing said stent to the desired location where said stent is to be deployed;
(d) releasing said intermediate point on the wire, thereby allowing said stent to unwind while keeping said two end points immobilized; and
(e) releasing said two end points of said wire.
10. A stent as in claim 7 wherein said wire includes at least two sections which are wound in one sense and at least two sections which are wound in the opposite sense.
11. A stent as in claim 7 wherein said wire include a plurality of sections, each section being made up of substantially a single loop.
12. A stent as in claim 11 wherein the stent is connected to a flexible film to form a tube-like member.
13. A method of deploying a stent in a desired location, comprising:
(a) tightly winding said stent onto a catheter;
(b) immobilizing at least two tie-down points on the stent using a disconnectable thread;
(c) bringing said stent to the desired location where said stent is to be deployed;
(d) causing said thread to disconnect at one or more of said tie-down points, thereby releasing said tie-down point, wherein said disconnectable thread is meltable and said thread is disconnected by heating said thread so as to cause said thread to melt.
14. A method of heating a nitinol stent to cause the stent to shift from its martensite phase to its austenite phase and to sense the phase change, comprising:
(a) electrically connecting the stent to an electrical power supply;
(b) supplying electrical current to the stent;
(c) sensing a change in at least one electrical property to indicate the phase change;
(d) controlling said current in response to said change.
15. A method as in claim 14 wherein said electrical property is a voltage drop change.
16. A method as in claim 14 wherein said electrical property is a current change.
17 A stent comprising a coiled wire characterized in that said wire is enveloped in a material shaped so that when the stent is fully deployed, portions of said envelope material occupy gaps between adjoining coils of the stent.