Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for winding an elongate strap onto a winch. The winch has a hub member to which may be coupled the strap winding apparatus and a reel element fixed to the hub member about which may be wound the elongate strap. The strap winding apparatus has a protective housing and a winding assembly at least partially retained within the housing. The winding assembly includes a coupling ring sized to fit over the hub member for selective mating therewith and a spool assembly. The spool assembly has a spool member mounted in surrounding relation with the coupling ring, a cord which may be wound about the spool member and which may be pulled to urge rotation of the spool member in a first direction, and a torsion spring member connected to both the housing and the spool member.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle snow clearing systems and more specifically, to an apparatus for clearing snow and ice from the roof or top surface of a commercial vehicle such as, a tractor trailer. The apparatus includes at least one upright member with a longitudinal axis and a lifting carriage assembly coupled to the at least one upright member for movement along the longitudinal axis thereof. A carriage driving assembly is operatively connected to the lifting carriage assembly and the lifting frame for selectively moving the lifting carriage assembly along the longitudinal axis of the at least one upright member. Also provided is a snow clearing assembly carried by the lifting carriage assembly and positionable on the roof or top surface of the vehicle.

Abstract: A distributed orbit and propagation method for use in a predicted GPS or GNSS system, which includes a predicted GPS server (PGPS Server), a source of high accuracy orbit predictions (Orbit Server), a global reference network (GRN Server) providing real-time GPS or GNSS assistance data to the PGPS Server, a predicted GPS client (PGPS Client) running on a device equipped with a GPS or AGPS chipset. In response to requests from the PGPS Client, the PGPS Server produces and disseminates an initial seed dataset consisting of current satellite orbit state vectors and orbit propagation model coefficients. This seed dataset enables the PGPS Client to locally predict and propagate satellite orbits to a desired future time. This predictive assistance in turn helps accelerate Time To First Fix (TTFF), optimize position solution calculations and improve the sensitivity of the GPS chip present on, or coupled with, the device.

Abstract: A system is provided for the verified exchange of messages through an electronic message exchange system and for the verified archiving of such messages. More particularly, the message format of an initiating message, and optionally of subsequent messages in the exchange of messages, is structured to command the recipient of the message to accept or to express a lack of acceptance of the content of the transmitted message, or to reply in some other structured manner. The entirety of an exchange of messages between two (or more) parties, including the acceptance or non-acceptance of content at any stage of the exchange, is recorded in the secure archives of an authenticator, which facility can verify the authenticity, sequence, date, time and content of and parties to any exchange of messages sent within the inventive system, including acceptance or non-acceptance of content of a given message at any stage of the exchange.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical (MEMS) structures and switches employing movable actuators wherein particular ones of which move perpendicular to an underlying substrate and particular others move in a direction substantially parallel to the underlying substrate thereby providing more positive actuation.

Abstract: A polyphasic multi-coil generator includes a drive shaft, at least first and second rotors rigidly mounted on the drive shaft so as to simultaneously synchronously rotate with rotation of the drive shaft, and at least one stator sandwiched between the first and second rotors. A stator array on the stator has an array of electrically conductive coils mounted to the stator in a first angular orientation about the drive shaft. The rotors each have an array of magnets which are circumferentially equally spaced around the rotor and located at the same radially spacing with respect to the centre of the rotor and the drive shaft at a first angular orientation relative to the drive shaft. The arrays of magnets on adjacent rotors are off-set by an angular offset relative to one another.

Abstract: The present invention generally pertains to a single ram baler having a preflap assembly and a shear blade assembly. More specifically, the single ram baler of the present invention comprises a preflap assembly operable to pre-compact recycled material of smaller size in a compaction chamber of the baler to improve density properties of the bales produced therewith and to increase the efficiency of the baler. The baler is also operable with recycled material of large dimensions by operating the shear blades assembly without using the preflap assembly.

Abstract: The present description discloses a method for resizing an input image having input pixels. The method comprises segmenting the input made into region types by assigning one of the region types to each one of the input pixels; and interpolating the input image according to the region type assigned to each one of the input pixels to produce a resized image having interpolated pixels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for moistening and handling at least one bale. The apparatus includes an open-topped tank for containing a liquid for moistening the at least one bale, a base and a mast assembly extending upwardly from the base. The mast assembly is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The apparatus further includes a boom carried by the mast assembly. The boom is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the base. There is also provided a bale gripping device that depends from the boom. The bale gripping device includes a bale guide for maintaining the at least one bale engaged in a submerged position within the tank to facilitate moistening of the at least one bale. A method of moistening and handling at least one bale is also disclosed.

Abstract: A road shoulder working, grooming and compacting apparatus is configured to demountably cooperate with self-propelled operator-controlled machines. The apparatus comprises a first component for controllably working an outer portion of a road shoulder region to urge granular aggregate materials therefrom toward and onto a road surface, a second component positioned posterior to the first component and vertically movable between disengaged and engaged positions for controllably transferring granular aggregate material from a road surface to a road shoulder region, and a third component positioned posterior the second component for controllably distributing, grooming and compacting granular aggregate materials contained within the road shoulder region. The first and third components are movable between raised retracted positions and laterally-deployed lowered positions for engaging and working road shoulder regions while the self-propelled operator-controllable machine travels along a road surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrostatic discharge (ESD) device tester and a method of operating the tester. In an embodiment, the method comprises operating the tester by uniquely identifying an ESD device to be tested using identification means provided on the tester; taking at least one test measurement of the uniquely identified ESD device using testing means provided on the tester, the testing means being configurable in dependence upon data associated with the uniquely identified ESD device; and storing the at least one test measurement in a storage means provided in the tester. A running average of test measurements for the uniquely identified ESD device may be stored on the tester in order to compare a test measurement against the running average. A test is repeated if a test measurement falls outside of a predetermined range of the running average.