Abstract: According to the invention a drinking vessel (10) comprises a generally cylindrical container (11) adapted to contain liquid and a generally cylindrical lid (12) adapted to close the container. The lid comprises a generally cylindrical outer member (20), a generally cylindrical inner member (22) located within the outer member so as to define a generally cylindrical aperture (50) between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member, and a generally cylindrical sealing element (21) located in the aperture. The sealing element normally forms a seal between the outer surface of the inner member and the inner surface of the outer member but is deformable by suction at the end of the aperture remote from the container so as to cause liquid within the container to flow, from the end of the aperture adjacent to the container, out through the aperture under the action of the suction.

Abstract: A digital data file storage system is disclosed in which original data files to be stored are dispersed using some form of information dispersal algorithm into a number of file “slices” or subsets in such a manner that the data in each file share is less usable or less recognizable or completely unusable or completely unrecognizable by itself except when combined with some or all of the other file shares. These file shares are stored on separate digital data storage devices as a way of increasing privacy and security. As dispersed file shares are being transferred to or stored on a grid of distributed storage locations, various grid resources may become non-operational or may operate below at a less than optimal level. When dispersed file shares are being written to a dispersed storage grid which not available, the grid clients designates the dispersed data shares that could not be written at that time on a Rebuild List.

Abstract: A current measurement device using a Rogowski coil having a generally toroidally shaped core with flattened faces, a first winding in one direction, a second winding forming a return loop, and a temperature compensation and scaling network coupled to the coil. The core has concentric cavities and a rough surface to restrain movement of the coil winding. A Faraday shield is wrapped over the coil. One shield is “serpentine,” having staggered (offset) lateral extensions from a central region. An alternate shield has a generally circular central region with extensions in generally radial directions. The shield is formed of three layers comprising a non-ferromagnetic metal central layer surrounded by insulative layers. At an end tab of the shield, the metal layer is exposed for connection to a ground lug or other connector. An insulative housing envelops the coil and electrical network. An output wire terminates in an industrial connector. A resistive network may be implemented with the current measurement device.

Abstract: An ergonomic keyboard having a mount and a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows is provided. Each row is comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion, and a right portion. The left and right portions extend tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively. The arcuate portion, of each row is convex to the user side of the keyboard, and at least two keys in each arcuate portion are elongated. Alphanumeric indicia on the keys can be arranged in the QWERTY pattern.

Abstract: Provided are methods for controlling operation of a voltage regulator of a single-phase of a three-phase power system to regulate a measured voltage. One of the methods includes recording a first elapsed time between detecting a first excursion of the measured voltage from an in-band area to an out-of-band area, and a first return of the measured voltage to the in-band area. The method also includes recording a second elapsed time period (dip period) between detecting the first return and a second excursion of the measured voltage from the in-band area to an out-of-band area. If the second elapsed time period is less than a predetermined dip time period, causing a tap position change of the voltage regulator upon expiration of a countdown period initiated upon detecting the first excursion, thereby adjusting the measured voltage to the in-band area while allowing a voltage drop of limited length.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for detecting a power system condition of a power system. The system includes at least a first and second intelligent electronic device (IED) operatively coupled to the power system at respective first and second power system locations. Each IED is configured to calculate a measured time value based on a frequency dependant parameter such as a secondary voltage signal at their respective locations, to compare the measured time value to a reference time value to form a time error, and to transmit the time error. The system further includes a third IED configured to compare respective time errors received from the first and second IEDs to form a time differential error, to map the time differential error back to their power system locations, and compare the time differential error to a predetermined threshold to determine the power system condition.

Abstract: A livestock unloading system for unloading livestock from a storage unit of a transport vehicle to a processing plant or storage facility. The unloading system includes a conveyor system whereby livestock ride from the storage unit to their destination. The conveying system includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from a coop during the unloading process. A truck positioner positions the transport vehicle for the proper unloading process.

Abstract: A device (1) for the induction hardening of components (2) which have a circular cross section, especially crankshafts, has two inductor half-shells (4, 5) arranged along a portion of the periphery of the component (2) to be hardened. At least one of the two inductor half-shells (4, 5) has only one inductor segment (6) through which current flows.

Abstract: An apparatus and method detects an open condition of a grounding path provided by a rotor grounding brush electrically connecting a rotor body of a rotor to electrical ground. The rotor includes an insulated field winding wrapped around the rotor body and is configured to generate a magnetic field upon receipt of an exciter voltage across lower and upper extremities of the insulated field winding. The method includes applying a square wave voltage signal to a second end of each of a first and a second buffer resistor, where a first end of each of the buffer resistors is operatively connected to respective upper and lower leads of the exciter voltage source, and calculating the total capacitance between the insulated field winding and electrical ground. The total capacitance when compared to a pre-selected capacitance value is determinative of the absence of the grounding path.

Abstract: An illuminated panel portion for vehicles or vehicle accessories is provided having a generally translucent panel defining a selected design. The translucent panel is disposed in an aperture of an adjacent panel of the vehicle or vehicle accessory such that the outer surfaces of the translucent panel and adjacent panel are substantially flush. A light source is disposed in relation to the panel for illuminating the translucent panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method estimates a plurality of synchronized phasors at predetermined times referenced to an absolute time standard in an electrical power system. The method includes acquiring and determining a frequency of a power system signal, sampling the power system signal at a sampling interval rate based on a frequency of the power system signal to form signal samples, and generating a plurality of acquisition time values based on an occurrence of each of the signal samples at a corresponding plurality of different times referenced to the absolute time standard. The method further includes adjusting a phasor of each of the signal samples based on a time difference between a corresponding selected acquisition time value and a predetermined time referenced to an absolute time standard to form the plurality of synchronized phasors.

Abstract: An improved Rogowski coil is formed on a toroidal core made of a thermoplastic or other moldable material, the core having a preferably continuous groove or grooves extending around the core. The grooves correspond in size to magnet wire which registers within the grooves, thus controlling the specific location of the wires. The grooving may be helical. A return loop can be provided for return path cancellation, or a reverse winding can be added in a direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the main coil. In using the return loop, a resistive network can be added to improve the cancellation of the return path due to the effect of geometries. In addition, it can compensate for thermal and other variations.

Abstract: A multi-band antenna for multi-band radio frequency telecommunications. The multi-band antenna includes a conductive patch separated from a ground plane by a dielectric material. A slot pattern formed in the conductive patch defines a perimeter substantially surrounding two feed pins and arranged symmetrically about a center line. The slot pattern includes one or more inwardly extending arms projected along axes that pass between the two feed pins. The axes may be parallel to the center line. The slot pattern may be arranged using folded slots. In one embodiment, circular polarization is realized at GPS frequency by using one feed pin and linear or circular polarization is realized by using one or two feed pins for other bands. The feed pins may be controlled independently without a fixed phase and amplitude arrangement necessary to achieve a fixed polarization (linear, circular, or elliptical), which allows for adaptive pattern and polarization agility.

Abstract: Provided is a system relay-to-relay direct communication system and method in a power system. The relay-to-relay direct communication system includes a first protective relay having a first transmit module where the first transmit module includes a first microcontroller adapted to provide a plurality of data channels. Each of the plurality of data channels is associated with channel data having a variety of bit-lengths. The relay-to-relay direct communication system also includes a second protective relay directly coupled to the first protective relay via a communication link. The second protective relay includes a first receive module where the first receive module including a second microcontroller adapted to provide the plurality of data channels. A speed of receipt of the channel data by the first receive module is adjustable based on an assignment of the channel data to the plurality of data channels of the first transmit module.

Abstract: Provided is a handheld communication tester and method for testing direct serial communication capability of an IED. The first IED includes an equal plurality of transmit bit channels and receive bit channels. The handheld communication tester includes a housing sized for single-hand portability, a connector disposed in a wall of the housing and adapted for connection to the IED or a serial communication link to the IED, and a microcontroller disposed inside of the housing and operatively coupled to the connector. The microcontroller is programmed to detect synchronization with the IED, to automatically detect and store a Baud rate of the IED, automatically detect and store a transmit identification of the IED, and automatically detect and store a receive identification of the IED. The transmit identification is used to encode transmissions from the IED, and the receive identification is used to encode transmissions received by the IED.

Abstract: Provided is an intelligent electronic device-to-intelligent electronic device direct communication system in a power system, for performing a power system data redundancy check therebetween. The communication includes a first intelligent electronic device adapted for deriving power system data from a selected portion of the power system. The first intelligent electronic device is associated with a first transmit module for transmitting the derived power system data. A second intelligent electronic device is further provided and adapted for deriving power system data from the selected portion of the power system, wherein the second intelligent electronic device is associated with a first receive module.