Abstract: A sprinkler system which is controllable to provide water to an area to be sprinkled includes a sprinkler head to move between a first position and a second position. The sprinkler system further includes a sprinkler head positioner to move the sprinkler head between the first and second positions, a sprinkler head position determiner to determine a current sprinkler head position between the first and second positions, a flow control valve to control flow of water from a water supply to the sprinkler head, a flow control valve positioner to establish a current control valve position for the flow control valve between an essentially fully closed control valve position and an essentially fully open control valve position, and a controller to receive a sprinkler head position signal from the sprinkler head position determiner and send a control valve control signal to the flow control valve positioner in response thereto.

Abstract: An optical fiber arrangement has at least two optical fiber sections, each optical fiber section defining an outside longitudinally extending surface. The outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other. The invention further provides for an amplifying optical device have an optical fiber arrangement as just described, and a pump source. The amplifying optical device is configured such that the pump source illuminates the amplifying optical fiber. A amplifying arrangement is also disclosed. The amplifying arrangement includes a plurality of amplifying optical devices as just described, and each amplifier also has at least one input fiber and a first multiplexer connected to the input fiber. Each amplifier is configured such that at least one of the amplifying optical fibers is connected to the first multiplexer. The amplifying arrangement also has a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

Abstract: Apparatus forming a portable charge, debit or similar identification card which can be read using a magnetic card reader and methods for securing information are described. The preferred apparatus includes a magnetic stripe for storing information, a jamming assembly configured to emit a jamming signal which temporarily renders at least a portion of the magnetic stripe unreadable when the card is swiped through the card reader without first entering correct authentication data, and a power source adapted to supply power to the jamming assembly. Other features are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a photo-darkening resistant optical fiber includes a waveguide having a numerical aperture less than 0.15. The waveguide includes a core having a refractive index n1 and a pedestal having a refractive index n2, and wherein the fiber includes a first cladding having a refractive index n3 surrounding the pedestal, wherein n1 is greater than n2, n2 is greater than n3. The core includes silica, a concentration of alumina of between approximately 0.3 to 0.8 mole percent, a concentration of phosphate of substantially 15 mole percent, a concentration of ytterbium substantially in the range 20000 to 45000 ppm. The pedestal can include silica, phosphate and germania. The core can have substantially zero thulium dopant.

Abstract: In one representative example an underlayment stickering stacker includes a carriage/fork device configured to move a course of material with underlaid sticks from a course forming station to a hoist device, thereby forming the stack of material. The stacker also includes a rake-off device configured to facilitate removal of the course of material from the carriage/fork device. The stacker also includes a regenerative actuator configured to provide regenerative braking power to one of the hoist device, the carriage/fork device and the rake-off device.

Abstract: An optical fiber arrangement has at least two optical fiber sections, each optical fiber section defining an outside longitudinally extending surface. The outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other. The invention further provides for an amplifying optical device have an optical fiber arrangement as just described, and a pump source. The amplifying optical device is configured such that the pump source illuminates the amplifying optical fiber. A amplifying arrangement is also disclosed. The amplifying arrangement includes a plurality of amplifying optical devices as just described, and each amplifier also has at least one input fiber and a first multiplexer connected to the input fiber. Each amplifier is configured such that at least one of the amplifying optical fibers is connected to the first multiplexer. The amplifying arrangement also has a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

Abstract: Representative embodiments include a support apparatus that can be positioned between a load element and a support element to cushion the load element against vibration with respect to the support element. A receiving member and a base member are movably engaged along an axis of movement. An element engaging surface is defined on one of the members and is configured to releasably engage one of the elements. A vibration reduction device mounted between the members and configured to yieldably resist relative movement of the members toward one another.

Abstract: A hook-connector includes a first hook part and a second hook part. Each of the first hook part and the second hook part include a first plate and a second plate, and a hub disposed between the first and second plates. The hub holds the first and second plates in essentially parallel, spaced apart relationship. The hub and the first and second plates define a cord opening there-through. The hook-connector further includes a hook member that is attached to a first end of the first and second plates. The hook member includes a hook element that defines a hook opening that is sized to receive the hub of a corresponding hook part. The hook member further defines a sloped portion configured to slidingly mate against the sloped portion of the corresponding hook part in one mating configuration of the first and second hook parts.

Abstract: Apparatus for the industrial processing of a material by a fiber laser, which fiber laser emits optical radiation, the apparatus configured such that the optical radiation forms an optical power distribution on a surface of the material, including first and second optical powers which are located at respective first and second radii from a center of the optical power distribution and which are of substantially higher intensity than a third optical power which is located at a third radius from the center of the optical power distribution and which is smaller than the first and the second radii.

Abstract: A method to enhance oil recovery from a fractured carbonate reservoir, the reservoir being accessible via a production well. The method includes injecting a surfactant solution including surfactants into the production well, and injecting a second well treatment process into the production well. The second well treatment process includes a second well treatment solution. The second well treatment solution is selected from the group consisting of a scale inhibition squeeze process, a well acidizing process, a chemical process to reduce water production rate, carbon dioxide injection for stimulation of a production or injection well, an acid fracturing process, and a hydraulic fracturing process. The surfactant solution and the second well treatment solution are injected into the production well within less than about six months from one another.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing optical radiation (10) comprising a pump array (8) for providing pump radiation (7), a first pump combiner (1), and a waveguide (3), wherein the pump radiation (7) from the pump array (8) is coupled into the waveguide (3) via the first pump combiner (1), and wherein the waveguide (3) comprises a pump guide (4) for guiding the pump radiation (7), and a gain medium (5) which emits the optical radiation (10) when it is pumped by the pump radiation (7).

Abstract: Apparatus for providing optical radiation includes a pump source and at least one first amplifying waveguide. The first amplifying waveguide emits optical radiation in excess of 1400 nm when pumped by the pump source. In one embodiment, the pump source can include a plurality of laser diodes and a plurality of second amplifying waveguides. In this arrangement the first amplifying waveguide is pumped by the second amplifying waveguides, the second amplifying waveguides are pumped by the laser diodes, and the second amplifying waveguides are configured to improve the beam quality of radiation emitted by the laser diodes.

Abstract: A verification system for an interchangeable component configured to be mated with a receiving system. The system includes a key device supported by the interchangeable component. The key device includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal comprising component identification characteristics. The system further includes a lock system having a signal receiver and a verification component. The signal receiver is configured to receive the signal from the key device transmitter and pass the signal to the verification component. The verification component is configured to use the signal to determine whether or not the component should be admitted to the receiving system, and to generate an authorization signal if the component should be admitted.

Abstract: Representative embodiments provide for a computer including a program code configured to cause a processor to invert and thereafter calibrate first and second data sets, subtract the inverted second data set from the inverted first data set to derive a time-lapse data set, calculate a model including a plurality of parametric values, sort the plurality of parametric values into a plurality of bins, select, map and calibrate a plurality of optimal parametric values from the plurality of bins, and plot the plurality of calibrated optimal parametric values to represent at least one physical characteristic of a subterranean reservoir of hydrocarbons. The method includes deriving a time-lapse data set from a first seismic data set and a second seismic data set, deriving a model, sorting the plurality of values into bins, selecting, mapping and calibrating a plurality of optimal values from the bins, and plotting the calibrated values.

Abstract: One embodiment provides for a material reclaiming apparatus for use with a bulk storage bin. The bulk storage bin includes a bottom which defines an elongated plurality of outlet openings from the storage bin. The material reclaiming apparatus includes a plurality of gates. Each gate is associated with a respective outlet opening, and each gate is moveable from a first position (blocking the associated outlet opening), to a second position (not blocking the associated outlet opening). The material reclaiming apparatus further includes a traveling reclaimer located beneath the bottom of the bulk storage bin, and which is configured to travel along the bottom beneath the gates. The traveling reclaimer includes a gate actuator. As a result of positioning the traveling reclaimer under any given gate, the gate actuator engages the gate to allow the gate actuator to move the gate from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming concrete structures includes a first truss module and a second truss module, as well as a first and a second concrete form. The apparatus further includes a first and a second actuator device. Each first and second actuator device is mounted on the respective first and second truss module, and each first and second actuator device can move the respective first and second form translationally with respect to the respective first and second truss module. A yoke connects the first truss module to the second truss module to thereby place the concrete forms in generally parallel, spaced-apart relationship. A climbing device attached to the yoke can engage a climb rod and can move the apparatus upward along the climb rod.

Abstract: Apparatus for filtering optical radiation, which apparatus comprises a waveguide (50), and which waveguide (50) comprises a grating (51) having a first reflection wavelength band (52) having a first average wavelength (53) and a first group delay (54), and a second reflection wavelength band (55) having a second average wavelength (56) and a second group delay (57), wherein the first group delay (54) and the second group delay (57) are different in at least a portion of the second reflection wavelength band (55).

Abstract: Sticker handling apparatus include an actuating assembly that operatively supports one or more sticker support brackets. The actuating assembly includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to impart motion to the sticker support bracket in a first dimension and the second actuator is configured to impart motion to the sticker support bracket in a second dimension different from the first dimension. The actuating assembly can thus be selectively actuated to move the one or more sticker support brackets in a manner such that one or more stickers are contacted and lifted by respective sticker support brackets and moved from a sticker in-feed conveyor to respective sticker trays supported on respective fork arms with no substantial rotation of the one or more sticker support brackets.

Abstract: An optical filter having at least one optical fiber component and a thermal compensation device which includes a first, second and third member in which the thermal compensation device has a first and a second fixing point, the first, second and third members are made from materials having first, second and third thermal expansion coefficients, the optical fiber component is attached to the thermal compensation device at the first and the second fixing points thus defining a composite thermal expansion. The optical filter is such that the composite thermal expansion compensates for thermal behavior of the optical fiber component.