Abstract: A decontamination system on-board a vehicle may comprise a reservoir on-board a vehicle and the reservoir contains a disinfectant solution. The system may also include a pressurized air supply on-board the vehicle; and, one or more nozzles secured on-board the vehicle and in fluid communication with the reservoir and the pressurized air supply. In addition, one or more pumps may be on-board the vehicle and the one or more pumps are in fluid communication with the reservoir and the one or more nozzles. The system may also include a programmable controller in signal communication with the one or more pumps and pressurized air supply to activate the one or more pumps and pressurized air supply to deliver the disinfectant solution and pressurized air to the one or more nozzles, wherein the solution is dispersed in atomized form in an interior space of the vehicle to be decontaminated.

Abstract: A decontamination system (10), including: a plurality of interconnected and insulated panels (18) configured to form walls (14) and a roof (16) and to define an interior (24) of an enclosure (12) configured to enclose a transportation asset; a humidifying module (30) in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure and configured to raise a temperature and a humidity of the interior of the enclosure to a predetermined temperature level and a predetermined humidity level for a timed duration; and a dehumidifying module (50) in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure and configured to lower the temperature and the humidity of the interior of the enclosure from the predetermined temperature level and the predetermined humidity level to ambient levels.

Abstract: A reusable portable decontamination system is provided for a transportation asset. The decontamination system includes a plurality of insulated panels detachably secured together to form an enclosure for the transportation asset and other equipment. The decontamination system also includes a humidifying module in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure to raise a temperature and a humidity of the interior of the enclosure to a predetermined temperature level and a predetermined humidity level for a timed duration. Additionally, the decontamination system includes a dehumidifying module in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure to lower the temperature and the humidity of the interior of the enclosure from the predetermined temperature level and the predetermined humidity level to ambient levels. A storage and decontamination module is also presented, to decontaminate one or more components of a transportation asset.

Abstract: A system for decontaminating an enclosed area includes a reservoir containing a disinfectant solution therein. One or more pumps are in fluid communication with the reservoir. One or more ports are operatively connected to the reservoir or operatively connected to an enclosed area to be decontaminated or operatively connected to the reservoir and to an enclosed area to be decontaminated. One or more connector assemblies are removably attachable to the one or more ports to provide fluid flow communication between the disinfectant solution source and the enclosure to be decontaminated.

Abstract: A decontamination system (10), including: a plurality of interconnected and insulated panels (18) configured to form walls (14) and a roof (16) and to define an interior (24) of an enclosure (12) configured to enclose a transportation asset; a humidifying module (30) in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure and configured to raise a temperature and a humidity of the interior of the enclosure to a predetermined temperature level and a predetermined humidity level for a timed duration; and a dehumidifying module (50) in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure and configured to lower the temperature and the humidity of the interior of the enclosure from the predetermined temperature level and the predetermined humidity level to ambient levels.

Abstract: A reusable portable decontamination system is provided for a transportation asset. The decontamination system includes a plurality of insulated panels detachably secured together to form an enclosure for the transportation asset and other equipment. The decontamination system also includes a humidifying module in fluid communication with an interior of the enclosure to raise a temperature and a humidity of the interior of the enclosure to a predetermined temperature level and a predetermined humidity level for a timed duration. Additionally, the decontamination system includes a dehumidifying module in fluid communication with the interior of the enclosure to lower the temperature and the humidity of the interior of the enclosure from the predetermined temperature level and the predetermined humidity level to ambient levels. A storage and decontamination module is also presented, to decontaminate one or more components of a transportation asset.

Abstract: A system for decontaminating an enclosed area includes a reservoir containing a disinfectant solution therein. One or more pumps are in fluid communication with the reservoir. One or more ports are operatively connected to the reservoir or operatively connected to an enclosed area to be decontaminated or operatively connected to the reservoir and to an enclosed area to be decontaminated. One or more connector assemblies are removably attachable to the one or more ports to provide fluid flow communication between the disinfectant solution source and the enclosure to be decontaminated.

Abstract: A decontamination system for a building comprises a disinfectant solution source with a disinfectant solution stored in a first room of the building. At least one nozzle is positioned in a second room of the building and the at least one nozzle is in fluid communication with the disinfectant source. One or more pumps are provided in fluid communication with each nozzle and the disinfectant solution source. In addition, a pressurized air supply is provided in fluid communication with each nozzle. One or more controllers is provided in signal communication with the one or more pumps and the pressurized air supply to activate the pump(s) and pressurized air supply to simultaneously deliver the disinfectant solution and pressurized air to one or more of the nozzles in a respective room. The system may also include a hub assembly with a nozzle and pump at the hub assembly to deliver disinfectant solution to the nozzle.

Abstract: A decontamination system on-board a vehicle may comprise a reservoir on-board a vehicle and the reservoir contains a disinfectant solution. The system may also include a pressurized air supply on-board the vehicle; and, one or more nozzles secured on-board the vehicle and in fluid communication with the reservoir and the pressurized air supply. In addition, one or more pumps may be on-board the vehicle and the one or more pumps are in fluid communication with the reservoir and the one or more nozzles. The system may also include a programmable controller in signal communication with the one or more pumps and pressurized air supply to activate the one or more pumps and pressurized air supply to deliver the disinfectant solution and pressurized air to the one or more nozzles, wherein the solution is dispersed in atomized form in an interior space of the vehicle to be decontaminated.

Abstract: A traction control system for a machine having two driven wheels is disclosed. Braking mechanisms controllably apply braking forces to each of the driven wheels. Transducers produce an actual speed signal having a value proportional to the rotational velocity of each driven wheel. A microprocessor produces a desired speed signal having a value representative of a desired rotational velocity of each driven wheel, and an error signal representative of the difference between the values of the desired and actual speed signals. The microprocessor additionally multiplies the error signal by a gain value and produces a braking command signal to the braking mechanism to apply braking forces to a slipping wheel. The present invention provides the advantage of modifying the gain value based on machine operating conditions in order to achieve good performance.

Abstract: A method for reducing the brake pressure commanded by a traction control system of a machine is disclosed. The method includes the steps of estimating the instantaneous heat energy associated with an applied brake, estimating the accumulated heat energy associated with the applied brake during the time period that the brake is applied in response to the instantaneous heat energy; comparing the accumulated heat energy to a maximum allowable heat energy value; and reducing the magnitude of the braking command signal to reduce the applied brake pressure in response to the accumulated heat energy being greater than the maximum allowable heat energy value.

Abstract: A spectrometer for analyzing a sample substance which comprises a chamber (40) for supporting a sample to be analyzed. A gas drive circuit (42) communicates with the chamber (40) and the gas drive circuit (42) and chamber (40) are at least partly enclosed within a heated jacket (44). The gas flow through the gas circuit and chamber (40) entrains sample molecules in the flow and a nozzle (30) is provided to spray the gas flow and entrained molecules as a supersonic beam seeded with the molecules between a pair of plates (32 and 34) between which an electric field is created. The electrodes (32 and 34) comprise Stark electrodes. A microwave source (50) and a receiver (60) are arranged so that the source (50) produces a microwave beam which passes through the supersonic beam as the beam expands between the electrodes 32 and 34 which is detected by the detector 60. The detector 60 detects an absorption signal of the molecules which seed the supersonic beam.

Abstract: A load toting vehicle apparatus includes a vehicle such as a pick up truck having a special cylindrical bumper, rotably mounted to the rear thereof, with special bumper mounting brackets. The bumper mounting brackets have sleeves for the cylindrical bumper to rotate in, and a pair of spears are removably attachable to the cylindrical bumper for spearing a load of hay, or the like. The bumper has a rotating mechanism for rotating the bumper in the sleeves so as to lift the spears and any load mounted on the spears. The vehicle can be driven to spear a load of hay, or the like, then the load lifted and moved with the vehicle to a different location. The spears can be removed from their operating position and stored inside the hollow cylindrical bumper and locked in the bumper with a threaded clamp. The actuating mechanism includes a leverage bracket attached to the cylindrical bumper and connected with a hydraulic cylinder for rotating the cylindrical bumper.

Abstract: An adaptive welding apparatus has an optical sensing system for detecting the cross sectional configuration of a weld groove by linearly scanning a monochromatic light source across the groove while viewing the reflected light with a raster scan type TV camera. A microprocessor receives signals from the camera, computes the weld groove cross sectional configuration, and calculates the area of the cross section. The angular deviation of the scan path is estimated and corrective calculations are made to compensate for the erroneously large computed area caused by the scan path being skewed from perpendicular to the weld groove. The microprocessor controls at least one of the wire feed speed, travel speed, and voltage to effect proper weld groove fill characteristics in response to the calculated area.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding a welding torch along a weld groove has a visual sensing system for detecting the weld groove cross sectional configuration and relative position of the edges of weld groove. The positional and cross sectional information is assimilated under microprocessor control to actively guide the welding torch through the control of a series of servo motors and adaptively position the welding electrode at an optimal preselected location with the weld groove.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a welding system having automatic groove tracking and adaptive groove filling capabilities. Data produced by a coordinated laser spot projector (10) and TV-scanner (12) combination is determined to an Intel 8085 computer (28) to provide a substantially continuous analysis of groove locations in a three-axis coordinate system as well as groove depth and area. Location information is fed to an LSI-11 computer (38) to control the tracking function through coordinate axis servo-type drives (46) and to control a fourth-axis or "swing" function which provides freedom between the welding torch (14) and the optical system (10, 12) which leads the torch by several inches. The groove depth and area information is also fed to the LSI-11 to control the welding parameters, i.e.; deposition rate and voltage and produce the desired weld along the groove.

Abstract: A biologically engineered plasmid coding for the production of .beta.-glucosidase. The plasmid can be incorporated into various microorganisms to enable the microorganism to digest cellobiose, which is produced from cellulose by an endo- or exocellular cellulase. One particular application is the incorporation of this plasmid into a microorganism which produces ethanol. Preferably, this ethanol producing microorganism is also ethanol tolerant.