Abstract: A communication path integrity supervision system is provided for a network of automatic alarm data transmissions. A plurality of alarm data transmitters are linked by diverse paths with a central receiver for such automatic alarm data, wherein the responsibility for carrying out integrity supervision has been largely shifted onto the remote transmitters—each responsible for its own path or paths—and shifted away from the central receiver to the extent required by the prior art “receiver-polling” protocol. Hence each transmitter generates and sends to the central receiver a succession of check-in messages. The central receiver responds to each such message by updating a table of such messages, scheduling or rescheduling the next check-in as applicable to that particular remote transmitter. An alert is signaled whenever any remote transmitter fails to meet its scheduled or rescheduled check-in. Given the foregoing, the integrity of the communication paths are supervised.

Abstract: A training headstall combines headgear with a suspended rigid noseband hanging loosely encircling the horse's muzzle, being relatively free to deliver attention-getting taps. The noseband is oblong along a major axis that defines left and right halves, and has left and right eyes on opposed sides of the major axis for attachment of corresponding lines from the headgear. The headgear also has a third line that hangs down from under the horse's chin-to-throat area and attaches to a rearward portion on the noseband for imposing a measure of damping on the noseband's motion. The noseband is produced with various asymmetries such as line-eyes that are offset as referenced along the major axis in order to enhance quicker settling of the motion with the noseband so that the horse may more surely learn that this annoying if not frightening motion can be settled by stopping to a standstill.

Abstract: An assembly (10 and 12), the construction of which makes up a taxidermy core or form for small mammals, has a limbless main body (10) and attachable/detachable locking legs (12). Locking is predominantly achieved by a male post (14) inserting inside a female receptive lock (16). When the specimen animal is being mounted, the assembly's parts (10 and 12) are serially slid in through the taxidermist's working opening in the sock-like skin, the succession in general being forelimbs (12) first, then rear limbs (12) or the main body (10). The parts (10 and 12) once slid inside can be shifted about until the male posts (14) and the female receptive locks (16) are engaged. The positional stability of the legs (12) relative to the main body (10) is enhanced by a body key (18).

Abstract: An extruded plastic sheath product is provided to cover studded steel T-posts and hence give fence lines or sign posts and improved, even aesthetic appearances. The plastic sheath product is formed with a series of internal projections which abut against features of the internal T-post and hence prevent the sheath from spinning about the T-post. For the fence line filed of use, the plastic sheath product is further given an external spine which has formations or else studs formed in it to prevent fence wire strapped to the sheath from slipping. For the sign post field of use, the sheath is further provided with a series of coupling accessories in order to construct frames and the like. Such coupling accessories optionally include Ell's, Tee's, crosses, or y-shaped splitters. The shape and arrangement of the extruded tubular sheath is especially designed to accommodate certain shape anomalies which result from the extrusion process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming wire bundles from a plurality of wire or cable is provided. A plurality of wires are withdrawn from a rack configured to easily receive and retain a wire spool axial. A driven pulling spool, preferably configured for quick-release coupling to a front loader or other vehicle, is used to pull a cable or bundle along a desired path. Pulling is facilitated by rollers, preferably configured to reduce pulling tension, intermediate endless track tuggers and/or sheaves configured to facilitate coupling to trays or scaffolding. Jacks are described for positioning or holding cables. Preferably rollers or sheaves may be positioned to guide cables along a path above the cable tray or other ultimate position.

Abstract: A fixture for a miniature thin-profile RFID proximity transponder has cap and a planar base, both produced from thin flexible plastic sheet stock. The cap is formed with an inset center that is bounded by a relatively planar, relatively floppy brim that is bounded by a spaced outer edge. The inset center is shaped and inset to define an open cavity to closely accommodate the transponder. The planar base is about the same size as a planar surface containing the cap's outer edge for closing the open cavity. An ultrasonically welded seam is utilized to join the cap's brim to a matching portion of the base in order to form thereby a relatively floppy brim composite with the transponder is situated in the closed cavity in a close fit. Adhesive on the base's exterior side allows adhesive attachment of the combination fixture and transponder to another article.

Abstract: A process for treating a conductor winding component of a dynamoelectric device incorporates a cryogenic cycle having a ramp down phase during which the conductor winding component is ramped down from at least about −100° F. in a dry cryogenic environment to about −300° F. over several hours, preferably greater than five (5) hours and including seven (7) hours or more, followed by a cryogenic hold phase during which the conductor winding component is held at about −300° F. over an additional several hours, preferably greater than twenty-four (24) hours and including thirty-six (36) hours or more, followed by a cryogenic ramp up phase during which the conductor winding component is ramped up to about −200° F. over another several hours, preferably greater than twelve (12) hours and including eighteen (18) hours or more.

Abstract: Remote online utilization of video data for analyzing potential alarm events from an automatic alarm network includes the following. A premise-protecting control panel communicates with a sensor, providing a message in some or all cases of sensor signals. A remote receiver receives the messages of the control panel. A camera device is combined with the sensor for acquiring video data that allows further analysis into the matter of a given sensor-detected event. The camera device is configured with stateless network communication protocols and server processing to achieve network service of video data upon request. Correspondingly, the receiver is configured with compatible stateless network communication protocols and then also browser processing wherein the receiver can transmit network requests to the camera device for network service of said video data. The foregoing achieves remote online analysis of the video data in the matter of the given sensor-detected event.

Abstract: A valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery cell (2,40) has positive and negative plates (10,11,41,42) separated by separator media (12,43) and held together under pressure. The separator is adapted to support therein an electrolyte. Each plate has a first single or plurality of tabs (12,13,46) on a first side and a second single or plurality of tabs (15,16,47) on a second side of the plate, each tab being connected to a busbar (17,18,49,50) to form positive and negative busbars on each of the first and second sides of the plate. The cell may be alternatively configured in a spirally-wound arrangement or in a prismatic arrangement of flat plates. The cell may be constructed of a plurality of such positive and negative plates. A VLRA battery (1, 40) may be constructed of one or a plurality of such VLRA cells, in which case the busbars of neighboring cells are connected by welded joints. The busbars are serviced by at least plural pairs of positive and negative terminals (24,25,33,34,52,53,54,55).

Abstract: A pictorial tour process acquires material for producing pictorial tours from given amusement venues and then publishes those pictorial tours on an Internet website so the web users can get a “you are there” perspective of the given amusement venue. In particular as applied to the game of golf, a golf website presents pictorial tours of various golf courses by means of shot-by-shot teachings from a player's perspective of the recommended play of a given hole. Such a shot-by-shot teaching tour entertains, teaches as well as allows a web user to judge whether the given course is attractive or suitable to that user. The web users get to see not just the beauty and skill-challenge of the course, but also check such factors as whether the course will adversely challenge to their health if they have conditions of, eg., weak heart or impaired walking mobility, or otherwise cause discomfort because of eg., desert heat or mountain coolness, and so on. Some course allow carts, others don't.

Abstract: A convertible, combination batter-mixer and -applicator machine combines mixing and applying functions in one machine as well as affords conversion among at least three modes of use. In a first mode, the batter is preferably handled by mixing up one batch at a time from materials whose input quantities are specified in terms of defined weight-ratios, and then the batch is used up completely until depleted. In a second mode, the batter is preferably handled by mixing up one batch at a time from materials whose input quantities are adjusted in order to meet a defined-viscosity, and then the batch is used up completely until depleted. The third mode involves re-circulating the batter stock and calls for continuous re-stocking of batter by mixing in the input materials at varying intervals to the existing stock and in input quantities that are adjusted in order to meet the defined-viscosity.

Abstract: A method for making a sex determination in avian hatchlings involves the following activities. A process line is equipped to process an endless plurality of hatchlings. The process line has an ultrasound inspection station for the hatchlings. The ultrasound inspection results are analyzed to find the presence of given sex-determinative structure for each hatchling. If the given sex-determinative structure is found then a first category assignment is made. The hatchling is sorted according to its category assignment. The category assignments might number two or three or so including positively-identified one sex, positively-identified other sex, and default to waste for any of various reasons.

Abstract: A tank agitator connects to a low head feed and causes agitation by discharging through a port that might rotate, oscillate, or otherwise issue a pulsing stream. This agitator has a housing with a turbine plenum and an exhaust plenum. A turbine in the turbine plenum spins by the flowthrough of the feedwater and exhausts to the exhaust plenum. A hollow drive shaft is spun by the turbine and extends through the exhaust plenum and to terminate outside the housing. It has an aperture that allows water in the exhaust plenum to flow into its lumen. A nozzle caps the shaft and is bent such that the discharge issuing therefrom sweeps in circles with the spinning of the drive shaft. A variant form of the agitator includes a drive train that incorporates a drag link to convert the spinning input of the turbine into an oscillating output in the drive shaft. In another variant form, the discharge is pulsed.

Abstract: A mechanical litter stick is provided with a mechanism for cycling an operative pick through a given back-and-forth stroke both for stripping litter off a spike end as well as affording better manipulation of articles of litter as by plucking.

Abstract: An orthopedic method for dynamically enhancing proper posture utilizes an elastic base garment and halter strap system. The base garment is generally collarless and sleeveless, as a stocking-like tube interconnecting a pair of shoulder pads and a waist band, which have hook-fastener securing areas. Correspondingly, the elastic halters have hook-fastener tag ends. The halter's hook fasteners are secured to the base garment's hook-fastener securing areas such that one halter supplies tension between an origin on the right shoulder pad and a termination on the waist band approximately on the left side, as the other halter supplies tension between an origin on the left shoulder pad and another termination on the waist band approximately on the right side, by courses stretching diagonally across the garment's back. Thus the halters provide diagonally-crossing filaments of tension across the patient's back in order to oppose slouching and thereby enhance proper erect posture.

Abstract: A conveyor bed has opposed sides and transverse nose bars on the ends of the sides to form an open frame. The sides carry also rungs. Elongated wear strips lay on the rungs to form a deck for a conveyor to slide thereon. The ends of the sides are formed with open mortises. The nose bars extend between opposite lateral ends formed a T-headed tenons. The tenons releasably couple with the open mortises. Hence the nose bars are adapted to couple onto the ends of the sides be locked there by the felt weight of the conveyor rolling over the nose bars. The elongated wear strips have an upper edge forming a conveyor supporting surface and a lower edge formed with notches. The notches are sized for receiving the rungs. Thus the notched wear strips are adapted to be weighted down in place on the rungs by the weight of the conveyor sliding thereon. The notches are sized for closely fitting the rungs to better stabilize the wear strips from unwanted displacement.

Abstract: A kick-strengthening practice soccer ball is given a little extra weight but preferably softened also for enhance shock absorption when kicked. The practice ball has an inflatable bladder, a carcass of tough durable material, and an intermediary sheath of substantially non-stretchable, flexible material for restraining expansion of the bladder when inflated to pressure. Thus the sheath thereby reduces the outward pressure on the carcass while also increasing the dimensional stability of the ball. A shock-absorbing weighting material interposed between either the bladder and sheath or sheath and carcass. The weighting material accounts for between about 4% and 40% of the total weight of the practice ball when inflated to pressure. If a nominal average weight for a standard matchball is taken to be between 14 to 16 ounces, the weighting material adds an additional increment from anywhere between about 1 and 10 ounces.

Abstract: A combination sheath and frost-resistant wall hydrant include a hydrant having a wall-penetrating conduit and intermediate wall bracket. There is an internal valve seat between the bracket and indoor or inlet end, and so is located in a presumptively warm indoor climate and spaced back from the wall and/or outdoors so as to reduce chances of freezing outdoor temperatures freezing water stopped behind the valve seat. The sheath telescopes over the hydrant's inlet end until the sheath's leading end mates against the hydrant's bracket. The leading end is vented for venting leakwater from the hydrant outdoors and not indoors in cases if the hydrant bursts by freezing because water got stopped in the conduit between the valve seat and outlet and failed to drain despite an open outlet. The sheath's trailing end seals onto the hydrant somewhere behind the valve seat.