Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for drilling in an environment having a fluid and a bed. The method includes positioning a platform such that the fluid is between the platform and the bed; and assembling a guide, the assembled guide being straight. The method subsequently acts to place the guide such that the guide is supported by the platform, and a major length of the guide and a normal to the bed defines an angle, the angle being substantially greater than 0. Thus, the positioned guide allows for sending a variable angle drill inside the guide, from the platform into the bed.

Abstract: A modular debris rack device for preventing foreign or other materials from entering into fluid, water intake, inlet, or outlet equipment and facilities, flow control systems, hydraulic structures, waterways and marine structures and facilities and/or intermediately retaining foreign or other materials at or within such structures and waterways being comprised of one or plurality of linear or curved upper, lower, opposing, radial, conical, and/or side to side rack frames, and/or optionally installed intermediate rack frames with solid or tubular round, square, rectangle, angled, or other shape removable rigid rack bars, and/or removable flexible rack cables, cords, chain, rope, or other type flexible longitudinal structures that may be collectively referred hereinafter as “rods”, or “rack retention elements” to fit the desired rack orientation and spacing installation requirements.

Abstract: An underwater guiding device comprised of one or combination of a plurality of rigid guide segments, and/or telescoping guide segments where one or plurality of segments are of fixed length and one or plurality of segments are telescoping permitting use of either a single segment, a plurality of rigid guide segments for incremental extension of the assembly, and a combination of rigid guide segments and a telescoping guide segment or segments for sectional, infinitely adjusted, and dynamic extension and retraction of the guide assembly. The assembly can be secured to a stationary or moving work surface with static or dynamic control of individual segments, multiple guide segments, and assembly. The guide can be adjusted to any length and for any angle of operation. The guide is a method for guiding underwater submerged elongated structures through the water column into and through marine and other bottom surface, and subsurface materials.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for drilling in an environment having a fluid and a bed. The method includes positioning a platform such that the fluid is between the platform and the bed; and assembling a guide, the assembled guide being straight. The method subsequently acts to place the guide such that the guide is supported by the platform, and a major length of the guide and a normal to the bed defines an angle, the angle being substantially greater than 0. Thus, the positioned guide allows for sending a variable angle drill inside the guide, from the platform into the bed.

Abstract: A method of retrofitting an existing vending machine having products stacked vertically in a horizontal orientation in a number of storage locations and utilizing an electro-mechanical device for dispensing said products horizontally via a delivery channel to a delivery port, comprising: a) replacing said number of selectable storage locations having vertically stacked and horizontally oriented product with a plurality of product shelves each having a plurality of product storage locations having horizontal columns of vertically stored products; b) replacing said existing electromechanical device for dispensing said vertically stacked and horizontally oriented product with a product dispensing system that retrieves product from the horizontal columns of vertically oriented product in response to a customer selection; and, c) providing a channel that will convert the vertically oriented product delivered by the dispensing system that converts the vertically oriented product to a horizontally oriented position

Abstract: A method of moving an elevator to a product location in a vending machine to receive product from the product location, including the steps of: providing an indicator associated with each product location; providing a sensor associated with the elevator; moving the sensor first to a position near an expected position of one of the indicators; and searching for an actual position of the indicator. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is an underwater guiding apparatus being a sectional and telescoping assembly of two or more segments where one or more segments are static and one or more segments are movable permitting the extension and retraction of the assembly varying its length by extending and retracting the telescoping assembly. The assembly has a base for anchoring the guide to a fixed or variable elevation work surface with fixed or dynamic control with one or more binding blocks with set screws and pins. The guide can self adjust its angle of installation.

Abstract: In order to solve problems in the art, the present invention has been devised to bundle underwater tubing, hoses, cables, lines and other similar structures. The invention includes the use of an ambient temperature shrink device requiring no external heat source, temperature modification, change, or external devices or influence to install the bands. It is well known to unite several underwater hoses, tubes and cables by simply taping them together with the product commonly called “duct tape.” however the duct tape constantly rips, delaminates, unwraps, wears away, comes off and cannot be decontaminated easily. Furthermore, its leaves an adhesive residue and is unprofessional looking. Finally, it requires excessive effort to remove.

Abstract: In order to solve problems in the art, the present invention has been devised to bundle underwater tubing, hoses, cables, lines and other similar structures. The invention includes the use of an ambient temperature shrink device requiring no external heat source, temperature modification, change, or external devices or influence to install the bands.

Abstract: A microprocessor based time-of-use electricity meter register uses an external real time clock powered by a backup battery during a power outage to measure real time elapsed during the outage. Upon detection of a power outage, line power and real time data are transferred by the microprocessor to an external, non-volatile memory, the external real time clock is energized by the backup battery and the clock reset to accumulate elapsed real time (days, hours, minutes, seconds) during the duration of the outage. Upon resumption of line power, the elapsed real time accumulated by the clock and the content of the non-volatile memory are transferred to the microprocessor, the backup battery is disconnected from the external real time clock and the real time previously stored in the nonvolatile memory is updated by the elapsed real time so that no customer billing data are lost during the outage.

Abstract: A single optical port in an electric meter is multiplexed between at least two internal systems by using a multiplexer circuit which has a set of data lines which can be connected to the optical port and to one of the internal systems. The multiplexer is controlled by means of a magnetic reed switch which is mounted within the cover of the meter, so no mechanical changes to the meter cover are required.

Abstract: A method of coating the glass envelope of a photoflash lamp with a thermoplastic material, the method comprising: preheating the glass envelope at a predetermined temperature for approximately one minute; immersing the heated envelope into a fluidized bed of powdered thermoplastic material from 1 to 5 seconds; removing the coated lamp from the fluidized bed; and postheating the coated envelope at a predetermined temperature for about 1 minute. To assist in preventing inadvertent flashing during these steps, the lamp can be held by a heat sink structure gripping the ignition leads or primer tube.