Abstract: An output apparatus includes a first source of a first signal having a first state or a different second state; a second source of a second signal having a first state or a different second state; and a circuit structured to output a vital output including a first state when the first state of the first signal corresponds to the first state of the second signal and, otherwise, including a different second state. At least one of the first signal and the second signal is a static signal. The other one of the first signal having the first state and the second signal having the first state is a dynamic signal. When at least one of the first signal has the different second state of the first signal and the second signal has the different second state of the second signal, the vital output includes the different second state.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for assessing the capability of a first person to operate a machine, such as an aircraft or other transport vehicle. The method includes the steps of: (a) Sensing the value of at least one, and preferably two or more information parameters for assessing the fitness of the person operating the machine. The parameters include one or a combination of electroencephalogram information, electrocardiogram information, heart rate information, respiratory rate information, eye motion information, eyelid position information, eyelid motion information, expired gas mixture information, blood oxygen content information, blood oxygen saturation information and blood pressure information for the person operating the machine, and/or information about operation of the machine as well as information about actions taken by the person operating the machine.

Abstract: A spark arrestor for processing metal workpieces includes an annular body having an upper end wall provided with a first opening and a lower end wall provided with a second opening. The annular body has a pair of generally aligned, circumferentially offset, downwardly open first recesses, each structured to be received over at least a portion of the metal workpiece. Each recess may have having a plurality of downwardly extending first shield elements. Lateral surfaces of the annular body disposed between the downwardly open first recesses have a pair of lateral second recesses which have a plurality of second shield elements extending downwardly therefrom. A torch receiving opening is provided in the annular body to facilitate insertion of the torch. The upper end wall first opening preferably has a grid structure to resist outward migration of sparks and flames from the interior of the spark arrestor.

Abstract: A spark arrestor for processing railroad rails includes an annular body having an upper end wall provided with a first opening and a lower end wall provided with a second opening. The annular body has a pair of generally aligned, circumferentially offset, downwardly open recesses, each structured to be received over a portion of the railroad rail and each having a first plurality of downwardly extending shield elements, extending downwardly beyond the upper surface of the rail. Lateral surfaces of the annular body disposed between the downwardly open recesses have a plurality of second shield elements extending downwardly therefrom. A cutting torch or heating torch or welding torch receiving opening is provided in the annular body to facilitate insertion of the torch. The upper and lower end wall opening, each preferably having a grid structure to resist outward migration of sparks and flames from the interior of the spark arrestor.

Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, and a plurality of sides disposed therebetween to define an internal volume; an electrical busway having a number of electrical bus members, wherein at least one of the number of electrical bus members has a first bus member, a second bus member and a number of fusible links electrically connected between the first bus member and the second bus member, wherein the at least one of the number of electrical bus members is structured to electrically conduct a rated current, wherein the number of fusible links are structured to electrically conduct the rated current, and wherein the number of fusible links are structured to vaporize responsive to a current which is substantially greater than the rated current.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter apparatus includes circuit interrupter and a device. The circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a zone selective interlocking input and a zone selective interlocking output. The device includes a first input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking input, a second input electrically interconnected with the zone selective interlocking output, and an indicator circuit structured to indicate that the zone selective interlocking input occurred at the first input or that the zone selective interlocking output occurred at the second input.

Abstract: A multilayer piezoelectric generator is disclosed comprising a round, rectangular or other shaped box having a cover. In the box are top and bottom electrodes and a plurality of electricity generating layers. Each Layer comprises a plurality of piezoelectric rods held in place by a matrix layer that fits snugly in the box and configured to accept shear strains developed in the rods when pressure is applied to the cover. The layers are separated by central electrode layers. The structure is configures such that pressure is evenly spreads among all the rods and causes the rods to make contacts with the electrodes. Rods in adjacent layers are oppositely poled, and the electrodes are configured and wired such that all the rods are connected parallel such that their generated charge is summed. Adaptation of the generator to its application is done by changing the number and thickness of the layers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process that utilizes high-temperature oxidation with controlled stoichiometry in the concentration of vanadium from carbonaceous feedstock materials containing vanadium, such as residues, ashes and soots resulting from the combustion or gasification of petroleum vacuum residuum, petroleum coke, kerogen from oil shale, and bituminous sand, e.g., tar sand or oil sand, or extra heavy oil or other carbonaceous feedstocks that contain vanadium. A preferred embodiment uses a counter-rotating vortex reactor and a cyclonic, entrained-flow reactor to rapidly heat and oxidize feedstock at temperatures in the range of about 2100° F. to 2900° F., resulting in a vapor stream with entrained, solid materials comprising the concentrated vanadium species.

Abstract: A fluidic operator presence control and safety system for walk-behind and riding equipment, such as lawn mowers and the like, is provided. The system includes a first handle member mounted to a portion of the equipment, the first handle member having an internal fluid flow channel containing a fluid therein, the fluid flow channel being closed to the environment. The system further includes a first electrical switch mounted adjacent the fluid flow channel and interacting therewith. The first electrical switch being in physical communication with the fluid flow channel so that pressure variances transmitted by the fluid within the fluid flow channel as a result of manual compression of a portion of the first handle member are conveyed through the internal fluid flow channel to the first electrical switch thereby actuating the first electrical switch for enabling operation of one or more functions of the equipment.

Abstract: A 3-Dimensional multi-layered modular computer (3DMC) is disclosed that comprises removable layers of at least one CPU layer, at least one volatile memory layer, and at least one Input/Output (I/O) interface layers. The layers are stacked in parallel and are electrically connected to create a computing apparatus. Each of the layers is formed from encapsulating material having one or more internal cavities for chip dice, passive components, active components, and conductor's traces. A plurality of Thermal Conducting Rods (TCRs) is capable of conducting and removing heat generated by the components in the layers from the 3DMC apparatus to an external medium. Each TCR perpendicularly passes through the layers.

Abstract: A vacuum interrupter includes a number of insulative tubes having a first open end and a second open end; a first end member secured to the first open end; a second end member secured to the second open end; a fixed contact mounted on a fixed electrode extending through the second end member; a retainer; and a movable contact. The retainer includes a rigid retainer having a plurality of legs and an opening, and an insulative bushing having a smaller opening. The insulative bushing is molded over a portion of the rigid retainer. The smaller opening is within the opening of the rigid retainer and is structured to receive a movable electrode. The movable contact is mounted on the movable electrode extending through the first end member and through the smaller opening. The movable contact is capable of axially reciprocating into and out of contact with the fixed contact.

Abstract: A mobile hose winding apparatus, including a case, a hose winding mechanism for hose winding, a sprinkler mechanism and a water inlet and outlet mechanism. One end of the water inlet and outlet mechanism is used to connect to the hose on the winding mechanism while the other end is connected to the water inlet of the sprinkler mechanism; the hose winding mechanism and the water inlet and outlet mechanism are fitted in the case, with the sprinkler mechanism in the front of the case. The mobile hose winding apparatus abandons the wall-mounted connecting mode of the conventional hose winding apparatus, and thus the apparatus according to the present disclosure can be moved as a whole for operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isonitrile compounds, methods of synthesis, and uses in a variety of fields. In one aspect, the present invention includes sulfinyl methyl isonitriles and methods for their preparation. In another aspect, the present invention includes the use of sulfinyl methyl isonitriles to prepare various other isonitrile compounds and derivatives thereof. In yet another aspect, the present invention includes a relatively simple and routine synthesis of sulfinyl methyl isonitrile compounds, other isonitrile compounds and derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A spinner wheel housing (100) comprises an outer housing (10) having at least one covering element (15), at least one bottom element (16), two front wall elements (11, 12) and two trapezoidal lateral wall elements (13, 14) which are arranged at a distance from each other and encompassed by the front wall elements. At least one of the lateral wall elements (13, 14) has a recess for receiving a guiding sleeve. A guiding sleeve cover (40) is pressed against this lateral wall element (14) by means of at least three clamping claw devices (50) which are fixed to the lateral wall element next to the recess for receiving the guiding sleeve and/or a bottom support element (16). The bottom element is connected to a base support element (17) by means of a plurality of clamping claw devices (70). The base bearing element is adapted to be fixed to a blasting compartment or a foundation.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including a control unit (310), adapted to be implanted within a patient (324), and a corkscrew-shaped electrode mount (400), adapted to be implanted in a wall of a stomach of the patient. The corkscrew-shaped electrode mount includes first (404) and second (424) electrodes, at respective sites of the electrode mount, and a controller (420), wirelessly coupled to the control unit. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for controlling volatiles in recycled carbon black, such as from pyrolysis of tires, includes deagglomerating the recycled carbon black to substantially reduce the carbon black particle size and impinging an air current on the carbon black particles, preferably in a countercurrent direction, to increase the processing temperature and thereby enhance the release of volatiles. Associated apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a wireless data transmitting and receiving system that wirelessly transmits a signal regarding a torque acting on a rotary shaft and/or a rotation angle of the rotary shaft from a data transmitting unit disposed in the rotary shaft to a data receiving unit.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Abstract: A transponder that may be used as an RFID tag includes a passive circuit to eliminate the need for an “always on” active RF receiving element to anticipate a wake-up signal for the balance of the transponder electronics. This solution allows the entire active transponder to have all circuit elements in a sleep (standby) state, thus drastically extending battery life or other charge storage device life. Also, a wake-up solution that reduces total energy consumption of an active transponder system by allowing all non-addressed transponders to remain in a sleep (standby) state, thereby reducing total system or collection energy. Also, the transponder and wake-up solution are employed in an asset tracking system.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes at least one pole; a plurality of first terminals; a plurality of second terminals; a plurality of pairs of separable contacts; and a plurality of field-configurable jumpers. Each of the plurality of field-configurable jumpers electrically connects two of the pairs of separable contacts in series. Each of the plurality of field-configurable jumpers are electrically connected to: (a) two of the first terminals, (b) two of the first terminals or (c) two of the second terminals; or one of the first terminals and one of the second terminals.