Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a tension of an anchor embedded in a dam are described. A dynamic impulse response of the dam is empirically obtained in such that a portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response is dominated by a dynamic behavior of the anchor. Furthermore, a set of modeled impulse responses that map to a set of tension values for the anchor are obtained. Next, a closest matching modeled impulse response from the set of modeled impulse responses that is a closest match to the portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response that is dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor is determined. Finally, a tension value from the set of tension values is selected, which is the closest match to the portion of the dynamic impulse response dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor. As such, the tension value of the anchor can be determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods of determining a tension of an anchor embedded in a dam are described. A dynamic impulse response of the dam is empirically obtained in such that a portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response is dominated by a dynamic behavior of the anchor. Furthermore, a set of modeled impulse responses that map to a set of tension values for the anchor are obtained. Next, a closest matching modeled impulse response from the set of modeled impulse responses that is a closest match to the portion of the empirical dynamic impulse response that is dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor is determined. Finally, a tension value from the set of tension values is selected, which is the closest match to the portion of the dynamic impulse response dominated by the dynamic behavior of the anchor. As such, the tension value of the anchor can be determined.

Abstract: A needle-bearing device for injecting medicinal fluid from a pre-filled vial is provided. After use, the needle is retracted into the body of the device to prevent inadvertent contact with the sharpened end of the needle. In one embodiment, the invention provides a manually actuable button that effectuates retraction of the needle after use. In another embodiment, retraction is effectuated automatically after the injection is complete.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for loading live poultry into cages for shipment to a processing station. The system comprises a trailer having an assembly and movement station to accept the deposit of live poultry. After deposit, the poultry moves by conveyor belt to a drop chute where the poultry is weighed in batches at a weighing station, and thence each weighed batch is in-turn deposited upon another conveyor at a conveying station to be moved to discrete cages at the cage loading station. The poultry is loaded by batches into individual cages arranged in stocked arrays. After each batch is loaded into cages thereby filling all cages of the stacked array, the cage array is automatically moved to a cage deployment station to be subsequently shipped to a processing plant.

Abstract: A needle-bearing device for injecting medicinal fluid from a pre-filled vial is provided. After use, the needle is retracted into the body of the device to prevent inadvertent contact with the sharpened end of the needle. In one embodiment, the invention provides a manually actuable button that effectuates retraction of the needle after use. In another embodiment, retraction is effectuated automatically after the injection is complete.

Abstract: A needle-bearing device for injecting medicinal fluid from a pre-filled vial is provided. After use, the needle is retracted into the body of the device to prevent inadvertent contact with the sharpened end of the needle. In one embodiment, the invention provides a manually actuable button that effectuates retraction of the needle after use. In another embodiment, retraction is effectuated automatically after the injection is complete.

Abstract: A new extendable vehicle bumper for warning a driver of a vehicle that their vehicle is coming close to contact with an object such as a wall or another vehicle. The inventive device includes an elongate contact bumper with a plurality of telescopic fluidic piston-cylinder actuators coupled to one side of the contact bumper. Each of the telescopic fluidic piston-cylinder actuators has a mounting portion for attachment to the bumper area of a vehicle. A remote controller is electrically connected to the telescopic fluidic piston-cylinder actuator. The remote controller has an actuator and a warning indicator. The actuator of the remote controller permits selective extending and retracting of the telescopic fluidic piston-cylinder actuators. The warning indicator warns a user when the telescopic fluidic piston-cylinder actuators are pushed from the extended position towards the retracted position by the contact bumper.

Abstract: A dressing holder for a patient with an abdominal dressing, has a back panel made of at least partly elastic material such as LYCRA material. The panel extends around the back and along the flanks of the patients, leaving an exposed abdominal area. The area is spanned by elastic straps leaving at least some of the abdomen exposed for the passage of drains or for the exposure of ostomies and the like. Hook and loop tape is used at the edges of the back panel and at the ends of the straps to hold the straps to the back panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting information to be read and for sequentially highlighting the lines of the supported material comprising a support plate positionable in a generally vertical orientation having a front surface adapted to receive and support material to be read; a line bar slidably coupled to one edge of the support plate, the line bar having a portion positionable across a horizontal strip of the front face of the device to sequentially highlight lines to be read, the support bar adapted to be moved downwardly in response to the actions of an operator; frictional components at the edge of the line bar received in the track, the frictional components adapted to retain the line bar at a particular elevational orientation where last set but to move downwardly vertically in response to an exterior force; a vertically extending stepping bar secured to the rear face of the support plate adjacent to the track the stepping bar including spaced recesses for receiving the locking bar, each recess having a sho

Abstract: An apparatus for retrieving marine seismic cable uses an endless traction member which defines a helical path of at least two turns for pulling the cable in a uniform fashion without forming overlapping layers.

Abstract: A seal between an object such as a cable, cable splice or branch-off, and a surface such as a recoverable sleeve by means of a flexible envelope containing a void-filling composition. The void-filling composition undergoes a change from a low viscosity on installation, which allows the flexible envelope to conform to the object, to a high viscosity after installation, which gives mechanical strength to the seal. Deformation of the flexible envelope on installation may be brought about by installation of the recoverable sleeve or other surrounding surface.

Abstract: A distributed microbending sensor cable is described comprising a core structure having discontinuities or ridges on its surface which ridges extend longitudinally of the core. An optical fiber is wrapped helically about the core in contact with the ridges with the adjacent contact points in one embodiment being a distance apart which is the distortion wave length of the selected optical fiber.In a modification of the sensor cable the distance .LAMBDA. between adjacent contact points is varied along the length of the sensor to impart a weighted characteristic to the sensor response.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting and converting pressure signals to modulated light signals by microbending optical fibers as a function of the pressure signals. Transducers are described which include a length of multimode optical fiber supported at spaced points across a flexible diaphragm. Movement of the diaphragm in response to the pressure signals microbends the optical fiber to induce attenuation of light travelling along the fiber as a function of the signals.

Abstract: A keyless chuck for attaching a drill bit to the rotary shaft of a drill. A sun gear is fixed to the rotary shaft and coacts with a set of planetary gears to rotate a body member having a plurality of threaded jaw members movably attached thereto. A screw ring member coacts with the jaw members to selectively cause the jaw member to open and close when the jaw members rotate relative to the screw ring member. A ring gear member is attached to the screw ring member and coacts with the planetary gears to allow the screw ring member to normally rotate with the jaw members unless substantial resistance is applied to the ring gear member to hinder its rotation.

Abstract: Electrical connections to line substrates, such as cables, are made by employing a radially shrinkable coil member which is positioned about the substrate in an expanded form and is then caused or allowed to revert to a smaller radius so that it grips the substrate. In preferred embodiments the coil member is made from a heat-recoverable material or is made from a resilient material which is held in an expanded form by a disburdenable material, e.g. a fusible material such as solder, which is subsequently removed, deformed or destroyed so as to cause connection. The devices are especially suitable for connecting earth leads to the sheaths of mineral insulated cables in the vicinity of terminations and splices thereof.