Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling pitch angle of the wind turbine blades are disclosed. The pitch angle of all the blades can be controlled by a “spider” that moves substantially perpendicularly with respect to a plane of the turbine blades rotation. The turbine blade bearings are connected with the spider by the linkage arms. The turbine blade bearings have an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the respective turbine blades. The actuating mechanism for moving the spider can be a combination of a hydraulic piston installed inside a hollow driveshaft (to move the spider in one direction) and a spring (to move the spider in another direction). An onboard controller can receive a turbine generator output signal to decide whether the turbine is overloaded or underloaded, and if so, the onboard controller can instruct a hydraulic system to add or remove fluid from the hollow driveshaft.

Abstract: A gate arm for a swing gate incorporates a release mechanism that releases the gate arm and therefore allows the gate to swing freely about its hinges when inwardly-directed pressure applied to the gate exceeds a threshold level. The gate arm also includes a spring-loaded pivot joint that applies pressure to the gate when the gate is operating normally and is in the closed position, and further works cooperatively with the release mechanism to prevent damage to the operator and gate arm when the gate is forced open.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a pathological condition by detecting microparticles in a sample of bodily fluid using dynamic light scattering (DLS) is disclosed. The detection of microparticles in the bodily fluid by DLS may be used as an indicator of existing disease, to evaluate a risk of disease, as well as to monitor the efficacy of a treatment for disease.

Abstract: A folding tool such as a knife has an implement such as a blade pivotally attached to the handle with a pivot shaft, allowing the implement to be rotated from a closed to an open position. The invention allows the diameter of the pivot shaft to be varied, thereby allowing the diameter of the shaft to be effectively increased in the area where the implement rotates about the shaft so that the shaft extends to and makes contact with the interior surface of the bore through the implement, without restricting the ability of the blade to freely rotate about the shaft, minimizing or eliminating any tendency of the implement to wiggle relative to the handle.

Abstract: In an item-handling device, a layer head includes an item layer building platform defining an item receiving plane, the layer building platform being vertically positionable. A puller bar mounts to the layer head and moves in relation thereto within a plane above the item-receiving plane. The puller bar is positionable between a retracted position above the layer building platform and an extended position offset from the layer building platform.

Abstract: Provided is a personal traction device that includes a traction mechanism that is very comfortable underfoot, while providing excellent traction over slippery surfaces as well as excellent long-term wear.

Abstract: A method of controlling a light beam in an optical system includes a light source that directs a collimated light beam along a path, through a sample, and toward the active area of a stationary detector. The method includes the step selectively moving a lens into the path of the light beam for spreading the beam in instances where the path of the beam is altered by the sample between the source and the stationary detector The detector, therefore, is held stationary. Adjustment means are provided for increasing the intensity characteristic of the light that reaches the detector to account for a decrease in intensity that occurs when the lens is in the path of the light beam to spread the beam.

Abstract: A method and system for establishing an index useful for pricing diamonds in a standardized way that thus makes diamonds amenable for derivative trading via futures contracts or the like.

Abstract: A plate is positioned across an inlet to a catch basin and a filter strainer is inserted through an opening through the plate and into the basin. A tertiary filter completely surrounds the strainer and is suspended below the plate. Surface water flows through a primary grate that covers the catch basin, through the strainer and through the tertiary filter. The tertiary filter comprising fibrous filter media retained in a non-woven mesh fabric enclosure and the filter media is selected according to the type of contaminants that are to be removed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compact palletizers that include a stretch-wrap operation as the pallet is built. A four-sided compaction mechanism compresses the rough-built load to the final pallet size and then the entire layer is released to the pallet. Individual items or group of items are picked and placed onto a layer support device in a loose orientation. The loose orientation enables a much faster palletizing operation because the robotic arm that pick-and-places the item, the items, or the row of items, can travel much faster as it does not have to precisely locate the item, items, or row of items. During the time that a layer is being loosely constructed on the layer support device concurrent wrapping can occur.

Abstract: A folding knife incorporates an opening assist mechanism that functions to drive the blade from the closed to the open position. A pair of torsion springs held axially on the blade axis pin and within a pair of bushings are stationary relative to the knife handle. One leg of each spring is fixed to a bushing. The opposite leg of the spring rides in a pocket formed in the surface on the blade axially around the opening through which the blade axis pin is inserted. As the blade rotates from the closed position toward the open position, the legs of the springs rotate through and cooperate with structures formed on the bushings to transfer the spring pressure instantly to the blade to drive the blade open.

Abstract: A gate arm for a swing gate incorporates a release mechanism that releases the gate arm and therefore allows the gate to swing freely about its hinges when inwardly-directed pressure applied to the gate exceeds a threshold level. The gate arm also includes a spring-loaded pivot joint that applies pressure to the gate when the gate is operating normally and is in the closed position, and further works cooperatively with the release mechanism to prevent damage to the operator and gate arm when the gate is forced open.

Abstract: A method for extraction of gas from liquid provides for reliable and accurate extraction of gases dissolved in fluids and routing the extracted gas to an analytical instrument. An extraction module comprises one or more fluorosilicone membranes molded into the shape of a flattened disk. The membranes are retained in a housing in a spaced apart relationship. The membrane is permeable to target gas(es), but not to the fluid. Porous support members support the membranes and prevent damage to them and the housing defines separate fluid flow paths for the fluid and the gas extracted from it. Fluid is passed over the membrane in a first fluid phase; target compounds in the fluid diffuse across the membrane to a second fluid phase until equilibrium is achieved.

Abstract: A low-cost disposable tourniquet cuff includes: a first sheet formed of flexible material that is impermeable to gas; a second sheet facing the first sheet and formed of flexible material impermeable to gas; a bladder seal joining the first sheet to the second sheet around a perimeter to form an inflatable bladder within the perimeter; port means communicating pneumatically with the bladder and releasably connectable to a tourniquet instrument; stiffener means contained within the inflatable bladder and formed of gas-impermeable material less flexible than the first sheet, wherein the stiffener means has a stiffener width dimension less than the bladder width dimension and is joined to the first sheet to form a non-inflatable portion of the first sheet; and securing means attached to the non-inflatable portion of the first sheet and adapted to allow a surgical user to releasably secure the cuff around the limb at the desired location so that the bladder overlaps upon itself.

Abstract: Low-cost tourniquet cuff apparatus includes: an inflatable bladder formed of flexible material having a bladder width dimension when the bladder is uninflated and a having a bladder length dimension sufficient for encircling a limb of a surgical patient at a desired location on the limb and for overlapping upon itself, wherein the bladder includes a bladder first inner surface facing a bladder second inner surface along the bladder length dimension and across the bladder width dimension when the bladder is uninflated; securing means for securing the overlapping bladder around the limb at the desired location; port means communicating pneumatically with the inflatable bladder and releasably connectable to a tourniquet instrument for supplying the bladder with pressurized gas; and stiffener means having a predetermined stiffness and having a stiffener width dimension less than the bladder width dimension, wherein the stiffener means is non-releasably attached to the bladder first inner surface within the inflat

Abstract: A pawl assembly comprising a pawl held in a floating engagement with a support structure and being operable to engage a ratchet, the support structure having an abutment portion, wherein in a first phase, on initial contact with the ratchet, the pawl remains in the floating engagement and is operable to move into a second phase, in which the pawl is operable to contact the abutment portion, to rotate the pawl towards full engagement with the ratchet.

Abstract: A runoff water filter is defined by an elongate, tubular mesh container filled with a filter medium that is selected for the ability of the filter medium to remove target pollutants from the runoff water. In a first disclosed embodiment, vermiculite is used as the primary filter medium for its ability to bind cationic compounds, principally zinc, from water running off metal buildings. Other filter media may also be employed to remove other target pollutants.

Abstract: Apparatus for estimating a magnitude of leakage from a surgical tourniquet system while pressure in a cuff of the system is regulated near a reference pressure.

Abstract: A gas extraction apparatus provides for reliable and accurate extraction of gases dissolved in fluids and routing the extracted gas to an analytical instrument. An extraction module comprises one or more fluorosilicone membranes molded into the shape of a flattened disk. The membranes are retained in a housing in a spaced apart relationship. The membrane is permeable to target gas(es), but not to the fluid. Porous support members support the membranes and prevent damage to them and the housing defines separate fluid flow paths for the fluid and the gas extracted from it.

Abstract: An adaptive surgical tourniquet comprises: an inflatable cuff for encircling a limb of a patient; pressurizing means for pressurizing the cuff; pressure relief means for depressurizing the cuff; cuff pressure sensing means for sensing cuff pressure; limb occlusion pressure sensing means for sensing the patient's initial limb occlusion pressure at a selected time; physiologic characteristic sensing means for sensing a physiologic characteristic of the patient; and pressure regulator means for establishing an adapted limb occlusion pressure that is a predetermined function of the initial limb occlusion pressure and the physiologic characteristic, wherein the pressure regulator means is operable after the initial limb occlusion pressure is sensed for selectably activating the pressurizing means and the pressure relief means to maintain the cuff pressure above the adapted limb occlusion pressure for a time period suitably long for the performance of a surgical procedure.