Abstract: A real-time location system and method for a wireless network includes, in one embodiment: (a) obtaining received signal-strength indicator measurements between stationary routers and mobile devices; (b) determining the relative angles of mobile devices from stationary routers using directional antenna systems; and (c) using signal strength and angle information to calculate the location of mobile devices.

Abstract: A remote sensing and probabilistic sampling based forest inventory method can correlate aerial data, such as LiDAR, CIR, and/or Hyperspectral data with actual sampled and measured ground data to facilitate obtainment, e.g., prediction, of a more accurate forest inventory. The resulting inventory can represent an empirical description of the height, DBH and species of every tree within the sample area. The use of probabilistic sampling methods can greatly improve the accuracy and reliability of the forest inventory.

Abstract: Turbine systems and apparatuses and methods for operating a turbine. The turbine has a shaft coupled to a generator and a segment and the segment has an asymmetric shaped wall.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for securing a door. The apparatuses including a door clamp having a stop, a base attached to the stop, a jamb bracket attached to the stop, and a fastener coupled to the jamb bracket. The methods including positioning a stop portion of a clamp horizontally, sliding the stop portion of the clamp under a door and past a far side of the door, rotating the clamp such that the stop portion is vertical, moving the clamp to adjacent a doorjamb, and placing a pin extending through the clamp into the door jamb.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for removing volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section, which may have a ridge on its surface. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater, which may have a conically shaped outer surface. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for filtering particulates and volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include a particulate filter section, an evaporator section positioned adjacent the particulate filter section, and a manifold coupled to at least one of the particulate filter section and the evaporator section to direct flow through the apparatuses as desired.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a high surface area fiber and textiles made from the same. In one preferred embodiment the fiber has a middle region with a plurality of projections that define a plurality of channels, which increases the surface area of the fiber. In one preferred embodiment, the fiber has a specific surface area of about 140,000 cm2/g or higher and a denier of about 1.0 to about 2.0. The fiber of the present invention is made using a bicomponent extrusion process using a thermoplastic polymer and a dissolvable sheath.

Abstract: A car wash dolly that uses a single shaft having two camshaft lobes and a series of snap ring grooves. The bolt-less design of the dolly includes a stronger camshaft and minimized component count. The center link and wheels may be mounted directly on the shaft to produce a sturdy design for the dolly. Grooves and snap rings are provided to “lock” wheels in their place on the shaft and to keep wheels physically close to one another to prevent dirt or other debris from getting between the wheels. Optional thrust washers also may be provided between plastic wheels and snap rings to reduce friction between the wheels during operation of the dolly in a car wash facility. The dolly according to the present disclosure is intended to roll, via a conveyor chain, on a slotted track of an auto-laundry system. Because of rules governing Abstracts, this Abstract should not be used to construe the claims in this patent application.

Abstract: A remote sensing and probabilistic sampling based method for determining carbon dioxide volume of a forest can correlate aerial data, such as LiDAR, CIR, and/or Hyperspectral data with actual sampled and measured ground data to facilitate obtainment, e.g., prediction, of an accurate forest inventory, and corresponding carbon dioxide volume thereof.

Abstract: Crack and joint sealant and method, an embodiment of the crack and joint sealant having a composition that is both gray and meets certain ASTM standards.

Abstract: Bank card fraud detection and/or prevention methods can generally involve determining a common point of compromise and/or identifying merchants associated with bank card transaction frequencies which exceed a predetermined threshold value which is indicative of potentially fraudulent bank card activity. These methods can further involve identifying other bank cards used at the common point of compromise.

Abstract: Method and system for performing event detection and object tracking in image streams by installing in field, a set of image acquisition devices, where each device includes a local programmable processor for converting the acquired image stream that consist of one or more images, to a digital format, and a local encoder for generating features from the image stream. These features are parameters that are related to attributes of objects in the image stream. The encoder also transmits a feature stream, whenever the motion features exceed a corresponding threshold. Each image acquisition device is connected to a data network through a corresponding data communication channel. An image processing server that determines the threshold and processes the feature stream is also connected to the data network.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for filtering particulates and volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include particulate filter and evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section having a ridge on a surface of the heater. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater having a conically shaped outer surface and a heater safety sensor. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.

Abstract: A real-time interactive system and method for updating infrastructure information, and using the same to implement new changes to the infrastructure, can utilize a wireless enabled portable data collection device for capturing infrastructure information in the field at an access interface; an infrastructure information database containing previously recorded infrastructure information, if any; a remote server communicating with the portable data collection device and the infrastructure information database; wherein infrastructure information is wirelessly communicated to the remote server and the remote server controls a real-time interactive session with the portable data collection device to verify previously recorded infrastructure information, update the infrastructure information database with the current infrastructure information, and facilitate making the new changes using updated infrastructure information.

Abstract: An over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations can have a single overhead rail mounted trolley system with a pair of over/under mounted trolleys. Upper trolleys can be carried by the overhead rail, and can typically carry hydraulic pipes. A lower rail can be carried by the upper trolleys, and lower trolleys can be carried by the lower rail. The lower trolleys can typically carry electric cables. Some trolleys can be adapted to carry both flexible hydraulic hoses and electric cables, and such trolleys can be carried by either the upper or lower rails, depending upon the design of the overall system.

Abstract: A remote sensing and probabilistic sampling based forest inventory method can correlate aerial data, such as LiDAR, CIR, and/or Hyperspectral data with actual sampled and measured ground data to facilitate obtainment, e.g., prediction, of a more accurate forest inventory. The resulting inventory can represent an empirical description of the height, DBH and species of every tree within the sample area. The use of probabilistic sampling methods can greatly improve the accuracy and reliability of the forest inventory.

Abstract: A process for ionizing a liquid can comprising flowing the liquid through a capillary wire bonding tip and applying sufficient voltage to electrospray the liquid sample as it exits therefrom. The electrospray ionization process can further involve passing a liquid sample through an axially disposed aperture in a ceramic capillary wire bonding tip in which the terminus of the aperture flares into a bell-shape where the liquid sample exits therefrom. An add-on device can include gel electroelution and separating devices, and a ceramic capillary sample injection tip for carrying out the aforesaid electrospray ionization process. An adjustably mounted cartridge can also be provided with the add-on device for interchangeably receiving the ceramic capillary sample injection tip.

Abstract: A truck mounted brake assembly wherein a brake cylinder assembly and slack adjuster each have a first end connected to a first brake beam, and a second end coupled to each other via a first lever pivotally attached to a second brake beam, such that movement of the brake beams relative to each other applies and releases the brakes. The slack adjuster can have a trigger operating slack adjustment, and a rod member can have one end connected to the first brake beam and an opposite end coupled to the trigger via a second lever pivotally attached to the second brake beam, such that movement of the brake beams relative to each other causes the rod member to operate the trigger. The trigger can be connected to the second lever in a length adjustable manner, and a piston travel indicator can be provided adjacent the brake cylinder assembly.

Abstract: Card reader/writer devices and methods for reading/writing both M-cards, PICCs, and/or S-cards, wherein such devices can comprise a magnetic head (which can have multiple tracks), an A/D converter, a gated buffer module associated with the A/D converter, an F2F decoder associated with the gated buffer module for enabling the integration of multiple discrete M-card reader formats with decoder functions, and an integral PICC data processor, which can perform the functions of a PCD, for reading/writing a PICC along with the M-card. An internal RF analog antenna circuit can be provided for receiving signals from the PICC, or an external PCD antenna can be connectable to the RF circuit. The F2F decoder can be integrated with the PICC data processor, and the A/D converter can process analog data from both the magnetic head and the RF antenna circuit. A contact module could also be provided to read/write an S-card.