Abstract: A system for rapid collection of large volumes of dissolved gases from groundwater pumps the water from a large-diameter passage through a small-diameter restrictor passage, and then into a flow-through collection chamber. The small-diameter passage causes a drop in the hydrostatic pressure of the groundwater traveling therein, causing spontaneous ebullition of gas bubbles which are then collected in the collection chamber. Testing reveals that the gases are collected in proportion to their presence in the groundwater, and thus the system allows accurate quantification of concentrations of dissolved gas in groundwater. The system may beneficially be made easily portable, thereby allowing its use in the field as well as in laboratory settings.

Abstract: A plow including a plowing vehicle and a moldboard has a decelerating fluid actuator which allows adjustable positioning of the moldboard with respect to the plowing vehicle. The cylinder has first and second ports which are successively blocked as the piston is retracted within the cylinder, with the second port being blocked after the first port during retraction. An enclosure is provided outside the cylinder, with the enclosure interior defining a passage between the ports and connecting the ports to a fluid supply. The flow area of the passage between the ports is adjustable to create a restriction. As a result, when the piston begins retraction, the retraction speed is dictated by flow through both ports, and when the piston retracts to a sufficient degree that the first port is blocked, retraction speed is dictated by the flow through the second port and the passage.

Abstract: Methods of sampling specimens for microanalysis, particularly microanalysis by atom probe microscopy, include steps of forming a study specimen in a first study object (as by use of focused ion beam milling); removing the study specimen from the study object; situating the study specimen on a second study object; and microanalyzing the study specimen. Where the first study object is of particular interest for study, the study specimen may be taken from a functional portion of the first study object so that microanalysis will provide information regarding this functional portion. Where the second study object is of particular interest for study, the second study object may be subjected to manufacturing processes (e.g., deposition of layers of materials) after the study specimen is situated thereon so that the study specimen will provide information regarding the results of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A grout removal tool includes an adapter having a replaceable cutting blade mounted thereon. The adapter is configured to be installed within a common reciprocating saw. The adapter has a proximal attachment end for attachment to the saw, an elongated proximal leg extending from the proximal attachment end, and an elongated distal leg extending from the proximal leg at an angle to terminate in a distal end whereupon the cutting blade is attached. When the proximal attachment end of the adapter is installed within the reciprocating saw, the cutting blade reciprocates in a parallel plane beneath the plane in which the proximal leg reciprocates. When the cutting blade is reciprocated across a grouted work surface, it results in a high rate of grout removal with low dust dispersion.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns an invention used to deter auto collisions with animals, and more specifically to allow standard automobile horn to be altered in a manner such that the noise alerts animals, particularly deer, to the presence of an approaching vehicle. A timer/oscillator is selectively connectable between the vehicle horn actuator (e.g., the button on the steering wheel of the vehicle) and the vehicle horn. When the timer is connected between the horn actuator and the horn, a continuous input to the horn actuator is converted to an intermittent horn output (preferably cycling between 2-20 Hz), this intermittent horn output being synchronized with the timer pulses. Such cycling of the horn causes a flight response in animals when sounded in their vicinity.

Abstract: During a combustion cycle, a first stoichiometrically lean fuel charge is injected well prior to top dead center, preferably during the intake stroke. This first fuel charge is substantially mixed with the combustion chamber air during subsequent motion of the piston towards top dead center. A subsequent fuel charge is then injected prior to top dead center to create a stratified, locally richer mixture (but still leaner than stoichiometric) within the combustion chamber. The locally rich region within the combustion chamber has sufficient fuel density to autoignite, and its self-ignition serves to activate ignition for the lean mixture existing within the remainder of the combustion chamber. Because the mixture within the combustion chamber is overall premixed and relatively lean, NOx and soot production are significantly diminished.

Abstract: A decorative tile set of nonuniformly-shaped tiles (tiles with non-parallel sides and/or non-perpendicular comers) is manufactured for interlocking installation adjacent uniformly-shaped tiles, i.e., adjacent to tiles having parallel sides and/or perpendicular corners, as in standard flooring tiles such as laminate flooring planks. A sacrificial bed having a planar upper bed surface is provided, and trenches are cut in the sacrificial bed to define areas on the upper bed surface which at least substantially correspond to tile boundaries. At least one workpiece from which the tiles are to be cut is then provided atop the sacrificial bed with its finished face closely held against the sacrificial bed. The workpiece is then cut to produce tile blanks bounded by tile blank boundaries, with the tile blank boundaries being outwardly spaced from the desired tile boundaries by an offset distance.

Abstract: The invention involves methods and apparata for manipulating micro-/nanoobjects. A holder exerts a weak attractive force on the micro-/nanoobject (by, for example, suction from negative fluid pressure, electrostatic attraction, magnetic attraction, etc.). A vibrator coupled to the holder generates orbital motion in the holder in at least one plane. As long as the attractive force is not too high, the orbital motion of the holder will cause rotation of the micro-/nanoobject, with the attractive force of the holder maintaining the micro-/nanoobject adjacent the holder during such rotation. Once the micro-/nanoobject has been rotated to a desired orientation, the attractive force of the holder on the micro-/nanoobject can be increased to such a level that the micro-/nanoobject will be firmly fixed to the holder.

Abstract: A trailer hitch locking system is provided for securing a trailer while hitched to a vehicle or protecting the trailer from theft while unhitched. The locking system includes a hitch lock, a ball lock, and a receiver pin lock.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning liquid-filled tanks, e.g., aquariums, includes an inner cleaning assembly which moves across the interior wall of the tank and an outer cleaning assembly which moves across the exterior wall of the tank. The inner and outer cleaning assembly are magnetically attracted to each other so that manipulation of the outer cleaning assembly results in corresponding motion of the inner cleaning assembly. The inner cleaning assembly bears a cleaning pad which moves across the tank wall to clean matter therefrom. The inner cleaning assembly is buoyant so that interruption of the magnetic engagement between the inner and outer cleaning assemblies results in the inner cleaning assembly floating to the top of the liquid-filled tank for easier retrieval.

Abstract: Apparata and methods for rapid design of objects/shapes in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools and in Virtual Reality (VR) environments are described. The underlying geometric representation of the objects within the design tool is optimized so that design activities such as modeling, editing, rendering, etc. can be processed extremely rapidly, thereby enhancing the response time of the design tool. The representation is preferably provided in two parts, which may be referred to as a “design intent model” and a “shape model”. The design intent model is a higher-level representation wherein elements are arranged in hierarchical parent-child relationships which record the elements' assembly sequence. The shape model is a lower-level representation storing more detailed information about the elements and their relationships.

Abstract: A mechanism for diverting articles from a first conveying path to a second conveying path comprises a drive chain arrangement comprising chain loops having projecting members over part of their periphery, so that as loops rotate an article is raised by the projecting members and conveyed in the direction of the second path. The projecting members comprise rollers arranged between two chains. The rollers may be arranged to roll on respective guide rails so that an article is conveyed into the second conveying path in an accelerated manner.

Abstract: A fluid filling system has a filling unit which is repositionable with respect to a filling station. The filling unit includes a filling head and a dispensing switch. The filling station has a filling position at which a container may be placed for filling with fluid. A container fill sensor is provided at the filling position so that it may detect the degree to which a container is filled. A movable switching member is also provided on the filling station, and it communicates with the container fill sensor and moves to different positions in accordance with the degree to which a container at the filling position is filled. The filling unit is repositionable with respect to the filling station so that the filling unit may be situated adjacent the filling station with its filling head situated over the filling position, or may be moved to allow the filling unit to rest at other locations. When the filling unit is resting adjacent the filling station with its filling head situated over the filling position (i.

Abstract: An ejection port gun lock includes an elongated body and a slide member which is slidably affixed to the body to move along a slide path (with the slide path being oriented generally parallel to the length of the body) between an engaged position within a gun ejection port and a disengaged position in the ejection port. A locking member is provided on the body adjacent to the slide path, and the locking member is movable between a locked position wherein it extends into the slide path to engage the slide member, and an unlocked position allowing motion of the slide member.

Abstract: A wing plow assembly includes a base member for mounting to a plowing vehicle (or to structures connected to a plowing vehicle, such as on a plow frame for a front moldboard). Upper and lower height adjustment arms each have a base end pivotally anchored to the base member, and an opposing plow end pivotally linked to a plow positioning leg. The base member, height adjustment arms, and plow positioning leg form a parallelogram linkage wherein the plow positioning leg may vertically swing on the height adjustment arms about the base member. A wing plow having a length extending between a inner end and a outer end has its inner end affixed to the plow positioning leg so that the wing plow may also vertically swing about the base member, thereby allowing the wing plow to be raised and lowered with respect to the base member (and thus with respect to the plowing vehicle).

Abstract: Methods of sampling specimens for microanalysis, particularly microanalysis by atom probe microscopy, include steps of forming a study specimen in a first study object (as by use of focused ion beam milling); removing the study specimen from the study object; situating the study specimen on a second study object; and microanalyzing the study specimen. Where the first study object is of particular interest for study, the study specimen may be taken from a functional portion of the first study object so that microanalysis will provide information regarding this functional portion. Where the second study object is of particular interest for study, the second study object may be subjected to manufacturing processes (e.g., deposition of layers of materials) after the study specimen is situated thereon so that the study specimen will provide information regarding the results of the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A coin operated amusement machine of the “pusher” type has means for providing a mystery payout to the user, a mechanism for diverting coins either to the user directly as winnings or back into the playing loop, means for influencing the ratio of winning and losing coins and a plurality of ways to enter coins into the machine.

Abstract: An electric whisk is provided having an electric battery compartment (2) and a closure (40) for the compartment, with means (8) to ensure that the closure cannot be deployed to close the compartment without providing an electrical connection. In alternative aspects, the whisk includes a guard (20) to at least partially prevent liquid from entering the whisk housing (1) at the place at which the whisk axle (11) emerges from the housing. A method is also provided to electroplate the whisk housing whilst protecting the electric motor (10) from the electrolyte.

Abstract: A coupler lock for securing a device within a sleeve of a vehicle hitch to prevent unauthorized removal of the device which can include a hitch ball insert, a cargo platform, bike carrier or similar accessory designed to be attached to the vehicle. The coupler lock includes a lock housing removably attached to one end of a lock bar configured to pass through apertures within the hitch sleeve and insert. The lock housing has a plurality of ball bearings radially movable in and out of an annular groove to lock and release the bar. A locking cup longitudinally movable within the lock housing in response to movement of the lock cylinder retains the bearings within the groove or releases the bearings from removal of the lock bar from the lock housing.