Abstract: A rotary heat engine has a cylindrical engine block containing a rotor with four equally spaced pistons and corresponding cylinders extending radially in the rotor. The pistons are pivotally connected to connecting rods that are in turn connected to a shaft at an inner end of each connecting rod. The engine block has a cover thereon and the block can have heating and cooling locations that create heating and cooling chambers within the rotor, thereby causing the pistons to reciprocate and causing the rotor to rotate within the engine block. The pistons reciprocate within the rotor while the rotor rotates within the engine block.

Abstract: A portable workstation has a closed position and an operating position and can be easily installed or removed by one person. A portable workstation has two walls that are hingedly connected to either side of an elongated member with a foldable work surface hingedly connected to both walls, the work surface being shaped to provide a continuous work surface when unfolded. The workstation also has one or more foldable shelves. Preferably, all of the components of the workstation remain connected to the workstation in the closed position and in the operating position, and no assembly is required. One person can install or remove the workstation from a work area without tools.

Abstract: A self-closing drawer slide has a housing with a linear channel extending therein at an inner end of an outer longitudinal section. A catch is slidably mounted within the channel and has pivot pins 36 extending out either side thereof (only one side is shown) into corresponding slots in the sides of the channel. The catch is symmetrical about a longitudinal centre line of the housing and rocks rearward to unlock and engage a latch on an inner longitudinal section and forward to lock and release the latch. The catch is biased to slide to an inner end of the channel when the catch is unlocked and there are no external forces on the slide.

Abstract: A side rail for installation in a shredder and method of fabrication in which the side rail has fingers that are partially embedded in a base. The fingers are made from steel and the base is made from cast aluminum. The fingers have a dovetail shape at an outer end thereof that is immersed in molten aluminum in a mold. When the aluminum is allowed to harden the fingers are embedded in the base. The side rails are much lighter weight than previous side rails, and are still sufficiently strong to be used in a mobile shredder.

Abstract: A bin tunnel having collapsible sides is used with a truck box of a truck to load content into the truck box from a bin that is sized to fit within the bin tunnel when the bin tunnel is in an open position. When the bin tunnel is in a closed position a footprint of the bin tunnel is very small compared to the open position because the sides are retracted. The footprints can be less when the bin tunnel is in the closed position from thirty (30) percent of the footprint of the bin tunnel in the open position. When the bin tunnel is closed, the contents of the truck box are secure as the space inside of the closed bin tunnel is too small to allow access to the interior.

Abstract: A self-contained pre-manufactured roof top unit is used to circulate fresh air, heat or cool a building. The housing has a blower connected into a circulation system to circulate air into and out of the building. The unit has a pressure relief opening for connection into the building that is used to relieve air pressure buildup within the building. The pressure relief opening is part of a pressure relief passage that is independent of the blower and has an exhaust vent that opens and closes automatically in response to pressure differential between the building and ambient air.

Abstract: A height indicator as provided on an articulating support arm at a workstation. The height indicator has a scale and a needle moves up and down the scale as a platform of the support arm is raised or lowered relative to a base.

Abstract: A mobile shredder has a shredder mounted in a truck box in combination with a vibratory hopper. The vibratory hopper is open on one side and opens into a fixed hopper. The fixed hopper is mounted on the shredder and is shaped to direct material to be shredded into the shredder. The vibratory hopper and the fixed hopper are located immediately adjacent to one another, but slightly apart from one another, so that vibration of the vibratory hopper does not cause vibration of the fixed hopper.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a hub mounted on a rotatable shaft with a ring concentrically mounted on the shaft. The ring is connected to drive wheels, which in turn drive generators to produce electricity. A controller is connected to control the speed of the turbine by controlling the number and force of contact between the wheels and the ring and also controlling other components such as the pitch, yaw and brakes for the turbine while monitoring the wind conditions.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing parallel-plate microstructures by integrating the microstructures in a chip using a CMOS process is provided. A MEMS variable capacitor, a tunable band-pass filter, tunable matching networks, and capacitive RF-MEME switches all having vertically movable components and are integrated into a chip.

Abstract: A multi-port RF MEMS switch, a switch matrix having several multi-port RF MEMS switches and an interconnect network have a monolithic structure with clamped-clamped beams, cantilever beams or thermally operated actuators. A method of fabricating a monolithic switch has clamped-clamped beams or cantilever beams.

Abstract: A firing assembly for a paintball gun has a dynamic piston assembly that moves forward relative to a stationary guide assembly as the gun is being fired. The piston assembly contains a compressed gas storage compartment located entirely within the piston assembly. As the gun fires, air from the gas storage compartment blows into a breech to propel the paintball forward from the breech.

Abstract: An adjustable mouse support for use with a base is provided with an elongated member, a mounting member, a bracket and a platform. The elongated member has a first pivot axis with the mounting member and a second pivot axis with the bracket. The mounting member and the bracket are located at opposite sides of the elongated member. The platform is pivotally mounted to the bracket about a third pivot axis. The first and second pivot axes are parallel to one another and allow for rotation of the elongated member and the bracket within a vertical plane. The third pivot axis is perpendicular to the first and second pivot axes and allows for rotation of the platform within a horizontal plane. The first pivot axis can be locked.

Abstract: A keyboard tray can be mounted on an articulating arm and has a passage extending from side to side. A mouse support is slidably mounted within the passage and has a closed position and an extended position. When extended, an outer end of the mouse support can be pivoted forward relative to the tray.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically processing images from a micro-array uses an image processor that is controlled by software. The software controls the microprocessor to process images to ensure that the images meet a predetermined threshold. The microprocessor automatically calculates a size of spot image, a spacing between adjacent spot images, generates a first grid and adjusts the first grid to fit the spot images being processed.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a hopper of a transport vehicle has an open position in which the gate lies substantially in a vertical plane adjacent to the hopper wall and a closed position in which the gate lies substantially in a horizontal plane. The gate moves longitudinally in guides between the two planes. Several gates can be located adjacent to one another to retain or discharge particulate material in several hoppers separated by partition walls.

Abstract: An articulating support arm is used with a work station and has a central body with two ends. The inner end has a base pivotally connected thereto and the outer end has a platform pivotally connected thereto. The platform has an angled abutment that is integral with the platform and is located to be contacted by a slider that moves from side to side on a threaded shaft located on the central body. As the shaft is rotated, the slider slides along the abutment to vary the pitch of the platform relative to the body.

Abstract: A dispensing machine for elongated containers has a plurality of clusters arranged within a housing. The clusters each have an actuator and comprise four tubes that are bound together with an interstice along a central axis of the cluster. The actuator is mounted in the interstice and each cluster is supported by a first bracket. A plurality of clusters are mounted from front to rear in the housing with the first brackets being removably mounted in a retainer. The clusters in the retainer form a set and can be tilted forward to replenish the tubes with containers. There are several sets side by side within the housing. The clusters of each set are held in place by one attachment that can be opened without tools to remove the clusters of that set.

Abstract: A tensioner and method for use in holding the mouth of a bag in an open position has an annular body made of flexible and resilient material with a perimeter of fixed length. The tensioner can be compressed by manually forcing a periphery of the annular body inward. In the compressed position, the annular body is inserted into the mouth of the bag and the inward pressure is removed to allow the annular body to expand against the sides of the bag with sufficient pressure to hold the bag open and to hold the annular body in the installed position within the bag. A tensioner and bag in combination is also described.

Abstract: A three dimensional waveguide is integrated with a MEMS structure to control a signal in various RF components. The components include switches, variable capacitors, filters and phase shifters. A controller controls movement of the MEMS structure to control a signal within the component. A method of construction and a method of operation of the component are described. The switches have high power handling capability and can be operated at high frequencies. By integrating a three dimensional waveguide with a MEMS structure, the components can be small in size with good operating characteristics.