Abstract: A communications method for a vehicle consist (10) comprising a lead (14) and a remote (12A/12B/12C) powered vehicle, the lead (14) vehicle comprising first (29A) and second (29B) antennas each associated with a radio, and the remote vehicle (12A/12B/12C) comprising third (29A) and fourth (29B) antennas each associated with a radio. The method comprises transmitting an outbound message from the lead (14) vehicle, receiving the outbound message at the third antenna (29A) and supplying a signal to the associated radio for producing a first received signal, and receiving the outbound message at the fourth antenna (29B) and supplying a signal to the associated radio for producing a second received signal, determining a first and second signal quality metric for the respective first and second received signals, selecting the first or second received signal for processing by the remote vehicle (12A/12B/12C) in response to the first and second signal quality metrics.

Abstract: A portable computer system and method of operating a vehicle using the portable computer system in a communication-based train control (CBTC) system territory is provided. The portable computer system includes a sensor and a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the sensor and to the CBTC system, wherein the portable computer system configured to be removably coupled to the vehicle. The method includes verifying that the vehicle is operating with one of a non-operational CBTC computer system and a non-CBTC computer system, and removably coupling a portable computer system including at least one sensor and a transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the sensor to the vehicle such that the transceiver is coupled in communication with the CBTC system.

Abstract: Several methods of calibrating a wavelength-modulation spectroscopy apparatus configured to measure a concentration of an analyte in a sample gas are disclosed. Each of the methods allows for calibration and recalibration using a relatively safe gas regardless of whether the sample gas for which the concentration of the analyte can be determined is a hazardous gas. In one embodiment of the invention, calibration that is sample-gas specific is accomplished by determining a first slope coefficient and calibration function for the sample gas, after which a scaling factor can be determined based on the first slope coefficient and a second slope coefficient for the same or a different sample gas and used in a subsequent calibration (or recalibration) to scale the calibration function. In other embodiments of the invention, calibration that is not sample-gas specific is accomplished to allow for the determination of the analyte concentration in variable gas compositions and constant gas compositions.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus is provided that can include at least one probe receiving unit. The at least one probe receiving unit can be capable of processing data corresponding to one or more of image information of the type that can be generated by a visual inspection probe, eddy current information of the type that can be generated by a eddy current probe, and ultrasound information of the type that can be generated by a ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A method for operating an off-shore wind turbine and a wind-turbine is provided. The off-shore wind turbine is at least temporarily situated in water and includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the at least one rotor blade, wherein the wind turbine further includes a wind turbine control. The method includes determining at least one of a water condition; in dependence of the outcome of the determining, defining peak shaver settings; and pitching the at least one rotor blade according to the peak shaver settings. Furthermore, the wind turbine has a sensor adapted for measuring one of the water current-speed, the water current direction and the water level at or close to the wind turbine.

Abstract: An inspection apparatus can process image data of one or more frames. In one aspect processing of image data can include processing for determination of a motion parameter. In one aspect an inspection apparatus can be controlled responsively to the processing of image data for determination of a motion parameter.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a composition for a damping wedge in an ultrasonic probe having a wedge body is disclosed, the composition including: a viscoelastic material having a ratio of the imaginary part to the real part of the modulus of elasticity of at least about 5% and an acoustic impedance less than that of the wedge body; a filament-shaped filler in an effective amount to provide good dispersability in the viscoelastic material and to substantially match the acoustic impedance of the damping wedge to the wedge body; and a viscosity enhancer in an effective amount to increase the viscosity of the composition to maintain a homogenous distribution of the filament-shaped filler by preventing the filament-shaped filler from settling.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor including at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the rotor blade. The method includes: determining an actual value of a first variable indicative of an overspeed state of the wind turbine; determining an actual value of a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to the rate of change over time of the first variable; and, estimating an occurrence of an overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least the determined actual values of the first and second variables. The pitch drive system pitches the rotor blade for aerodynamically braking the rotor based on the result of the estimation.

Abstract: An adjustable height backsplash for an appliance such as a cooking range is disclosed. The backsplash includes an upper wall mount mountable to a wall; a lower wall mount mountable to the wall at a selectable distance from the upper wall mount; an upper faceplate mountable to the upper wall mount and including an upper front panel; and a lower faceplate mountable to the lower wall mount and including a lower front panel. After installation, the upper front panel and the lower front panel together substantially cover a continuous portion of the wall.

Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a compressor and a turbine coupled to opposing ends of the shaft. The system includes a thrust collar including a cylindrical portion and a flange configured to radially extend from one end of the cylindrical portion. The thrust collar is configured to rotate with the shaft. A sensor is positioned within a separation of an outer surface of the thrust collar flange, and the sensor is configured to monitor the separation as indicative of the radial motion of the shaft. Additionally, a method is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger.

Abstract: An improved method to detect and locate electrical faults is provided. A method of operating a circuit breaker in an electrical circuit configured with at least one of a first main circuit breaker at a first layer of circuit protection having a first direction of current flow, and at least one second circuit breaker downstream of said at least one first main circuit breaker having a second direction of current flow, and at least one third circuit breaker downstream of said at least one second circuit breaker having a third direction of current flow, wherein one of said at least one first, second, or third circuit breakers is in short time pick-up, is provided, and comprises steps to determine the location of the fault and adjust the trip time delay of the circuit breakers according to predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Ultrasonic pipeline inspection apparatus which utilizes two different wave modes (e.g. a horizontally polarized shear mode and a symmetric Lamb wave mode) to discriminate different defect types by comparing corresponding signals collected from defects. EMATs may detect the signals. The detected amplitudes of the collected signals from both wave modes are compared to calculate a ratio, which may be compared with a distribution of ratio values for known defects to evaluate the type of defect detected. The apparatus may be a sensor module mountable on a pipeline vehicle and having a plurality of sensors distributed around its periphery.

Abstract: An apparatus including a frame, a door and a compliant hinge mechanism hingably mounting the door to the frame, the compliant hinge mechanism including a resistance configured to provide a preload to balance the door in a first open position and an increasing force resisting further opening of the door when the preload is overcome and the door is opened past the first open position.

Abstract: A wind energy system is provided, with the wind energy system having a tower; a machine nacelle; a lower yaw bearing; and an upper yaw bearing; the lower yaw bearing and the upper yaw bearing being arranged to pivotably connect the machine nacelle to the tower of the wind energy system. Further, a yaw bearing system for use in a wind energy system and a method for operating a wind energy system are provided.

Abstract: A method for embedding frames of image data in a streaming video is disclosed, comprising the steps of receiving a plurality of frames of image data of a target object over a period of time; compressing the plurality of frames of image data; embedding the plurality of compressed frames of image data in a streaming video; initiating a control signal during the period of time to embed a particular frame of image data; selecting a frame of image data from the plurality of frames of image data received near the time the control signal is initiated; embedding a user data marker in the streaming video; and embedding the selected frame of image data in the streaming video as user data, wherein the embedded selected frame of image data has a higher quality than the embedded plurality of compressed frames of image data.

Abstract: A control circuit for activating at least one emergency light when a vehicle's brakes are applied is described. The control circuit includes a pressure switch configured to selectively couple a power source and an electronically-operated actuator to facilitate selectively energizing the electronically-operated actuator. The electronically-operated actuator includes at least one contact set configured to couple the power source to the at least one emergency light when the electronically-operated actuator is not energized. The control circuit also includes a manual reset circuit coupled to the pressure switch and to the electronically-operated actuator. The manual reset circuit configured to facilitate energizing the electronically-operated actuator upon receipt of an operator input.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a rotor having a hub and at least one rotor blade, wherein the operating height of the hub is adjustable. Further, a method for operating a wind turbine is provided, which includes varying the height of the wind turbine.

Abstract: An improved high viscosity fuel injection pressure reduction system and method is disclosed for use in an internal combustion engine. The system may include a first fuel line and a second fuel line. The first fuel line may be configured to be coupled upstream of a combustion chamber of the engine when the engine is operated with the first fuel and to provide a first pressurized volume when installed. Likewise, the second fuel line may be configured to be coupled upstream of the combustion chamber of the engine when the engine is operated with the second fuel and to provide a second pressurized volume when installed. The first and second volumes of the fuel lines may provide peak injection pressures lower than a desired pressure when the engine is operated with the first and second fuels, respectively.

Abstract: A gas analyzer is disclosed herein. The gas analyzer includes a light source for transmitting a radiation and a sampling chamber having a first opening for receiving a gas sample, a second opening for removing the gas sample, at least one optical window towards the radiation allowing the radiation to traverse the gas sample and also having a first wall and a second wall opposite to the first wall, the first wall and second wall edging the sampling chamber to guide the gas sample from the first opening to the second opening. The gas analyzer also includes at least one detector for receiving the radiation after traversing the gas sample. The first wall and the second wall of the sampling chamber is curved and at a predetermined distance from each other, an overall shape of the second wall being mostly similar to the first wall.

Abstract: Methods of performing ultrasonic testing are disclosed, comprising the step of determining a temperature gradient of an ultrasonic wedge. In one embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises the steps of determining a sound velocity gradient of the ultrasonic wedge to determine the time it takes for sound waves emanating from a plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements attached to the ultrasonic wedge to reach a point of interest within a test object, and firing each of the ultrasonic transducer elements in a timed sequence based on the times such that sound waves from each of the ultrasonic transducer elements reach the point of interest at the same time. In other embodiments of the invention, the total attenuation and acoustic impedance of a sound wave traveling through the ultrasonic wedge is determined to adjust the amplitude of the sound wave such that the sound wave has sufficient amplitude to perform the ultrasonic testing.