Abstract: The invention is a method to detect a weak interface signal in a guided wave level measurement device. The device includes a waveguide, a signal generator and a signal receiver, the signal generator and signal receiver being operationally connected to the waveguide. The method includes the steps of transmitting an outgoing signal; monitoring the signal received at the signal receiver to detect a first signal level that exceeds or equals a first threshold level (TH1) and if such a signal level is detected, continue monitoring the received signal to detect a second signal level that exceeds or equals TH1. Finally, if a second signal level in excess of TH1 is detected, continue monitoring the received signal to detect a third signal level that exceeds or equals a second threshold level TH2.

Abstract: A timer survey system performing the steps of: placing a first reference point and a second reference point on a tree trunk, wherein an actual distance between the first reference point and the second reference point is a known distance, “A1”; capturing an image of that portion of the tree trunk having the reference points placed on the trunk; measuring on the image an image distance, “D1”, between the first reference point and the second reference point; measuring on the image an image distance, “D2”, between the left outer boundary and the right outer boundary of the tree trunk; and calculating an actual distance, “A2”, between the left outer boundary and the right outer boundary of the tree trunk as follows: A2=[(D2÷D1)(A1)].

Abstract: A micro-nozzle for generating micro-bubbles. The micro-nozzle includes a liquid inlet forming a liquid path, a gas inlet, and a constricting wall positioned in the liquid path and shaped to abruptly constrict said liquid path to a width of less than approximately 20 um and then gradually diverge.

Abstract: A method and a system are provided for the safe berthing of marine vessels in the high seas and other unprotected open waters. The invention allows a large vessel to be berthed alongside in close enough proximity to a marine structure so that conventional loading arm equipment may be used to load and unload the vessel under most environmental conditions. One or more floating dolphins moored to the bottom of the sea and provided with fendering means are used for berthing the vessel alongside to the marine structure. The preferred type of floating dolphin is a triangular semi-submersible moored buoyant structure comprising three buoyant column members, or “caissons”, arranged invertical fashion, three buoyant hull segments, or “pontoons”, that support and separate the column members and provide heave damping to the moored buoyant structure, and three horizontal bracing members that retain the tops of the column members in place.

Abstract: The invention is a method of determining the phase difference between two interferometric images. The method includes the steps of measuring the intensities of the two beam arms, and measuring the intensities of the interfering beam arms at two different times (two frames). From the recorded data, the phase angle between the arms can be determined for each frame. These frame phase angles subtracted, and the sine of the difference is taken. The resulting data set is examined to determine a multiplicative factor that converts the minimum and maximum to the bounds of the sine function (?1, +1). This multiplicative factor is applied to a bounded trig function of the difference of the frame angles, and the inverse of the bounded trig function is taken, resulting in the phase difference between frames.

Abstract: The invention is a system for facilitating credit card transactions. The system operates in a setting that includes a merchant platform, a System platform and a subscriber mobile device. The merchant platform is in electronic data communications with the System platform and the subscriber mobile device is in electronic data communication with the System platform. The merchant platform receives transaction information though voice communications from a subscriber and a portion of the transaction information is sent electronically to the System platform. The System platform electronically communicates a subset of the portion to the mobile communications device, and the mobile communications device sending data related to account information to the System platform. The System platform electronically transmitting this account information to a Processor for payment authorization.

Abstract: An extendable lighting system having a main housing with a bottom wall and upwardly extending side walls. A lamp housing is retractable positioned within the main housing and a flexible diaphragm connects to the main housing above the bottom wall and connects to the lamp housing to create a substantially enclosed space between the diaphragm and the bottom wall. An air passage communicates with the enclosed space.

Abstract: A UV disinfection device having a contact chamber, the chamber being a container with an interior, a top portion and a bottom portion. A partition is positioned in the interior to form a first and second chamber, where the first and second chambers are in fluid communication near the bottom portion of the container. The container has an inlet in one of the first or second chambers, where the inlet is formed in the container near the top portion. The device includes an outlet in the other of the first or second chambers, and an ultraviolet lamp is positioned in either the first or second chambers.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for converting a two wheel vehicle to a three wheel vehicle. The mounting assembly includes a swing arm assembly having two arms connected by an intermediate member with each of the arms having a pivotal connector attached to one of their ends. A third link has a first end pivotally connected to the intermediate member and a second end free of the swing arm assembly. The mounting assembly may be adapted to fit the frames of Harley Davidson V-Rod model motorcycles by using arm extensions that connect the swing arm shaft assembly to the frame of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A method for manufacture and assembly of a concrete structure includes manufacturing, at a first location, wall sections and floor/ceiling sections. The wall sections include interior form walls of adjustable separation, and may include interior and exterior finish features, interior rebar, electrical and water supply, and optional fabric forms. The floor/ceiling sections include forms that have adjustable components, and may include rebar, interior finish features, and electrical and heating components. Wall sections and floor/ceiling sections are rotatably and slidably/rotatably attached to one another to define structure segments. Structure segments may be placed in shipping containers for transport. Structure segments are transported to a construction site in a compact orientation, manipulated to an assembled position, and then concrete is inserted into forms defined by the segments and permitted to cure.

Abstract: A reactor chamber for placement in a wastewater treatment system, where the reactor chamber has a chamber formed from a sidewall which forms an interior of the chamber. The sidewall has a top portion and a bottom portion and fixed channel growth media positioned in the interior of the chamber. The fixed channel growth media is positioned below the top of the sidewall, so that when positioned in a treatment system, most of the growth media is located below the water level in the treatment system. The top of the sidewall near the water level (when positioned in a treatment system) is substantially impermeable to wastewater. The reactor includes an air distribution manifold system having a series of air release sites positioned below the fixed channel growth media and adapted to release air which disperses upwardly through the fixed channel growth media. Influent is discharged into the treatment tank near the air discharge sites.

Abstract: Power tong jaws comprising one or more dies which are rotatable.

Abstract: A method to determine the capacity of a plant over a time window of interest, the time window having a time length P, having the steps of: (a) gathering the plant's historical production data over a selected time period of length L and calculating the cycle entries of availability fractions for that data set; (b) calculating capacity C(i,1) for each contiguous portion p(i,1) of length p of the cycle entries from the previous step; (c) storing that calculated capacities C(i,1); (d) randomly shuffling the cycle entries; (e) calculating the capacity C(i,2) for each contiguous portion p(i,2) of the shuffled cycle entries; (f) storing the calculated capacities C(i,2); and (g) repeating steps (e)–(f) for a sufficient number of iterations, and then creating a histogram of the calculated capacities C(i,j).

Abstract: A pipe fitting aligning device having at least one square block assembly slidably positioned on a reference tool. The square block assembly includes a slot with a vertical scale extending therefrom. The device may include at least one compass assembly slidably positioned on the reference tool and spaced apart from the square block assembly.

Abstract: A method for individualizing an Internet/Intranet global directory and for adaptively changing the global directory structure based upon the individual alterations of multiple users. The method provides a default computer directory of prearranged files on a server computer. Client directory customization data is then provided to the server computer. With this information, the default directory is reconfigured into an individualized Internet/Intranet directory by modifying a copy of the default Internet/Intranet directory based upon the directory customization data. Further aspects include the step of updating the client directory customization data based upon user inputs; the step of collecting a history of client directory customization data; or the step of updating the default computer directory based on a history of client customization data.

Abstract: A wheel spinner for mounting on a rim of a vehicle wheel and enhance ornamental features of a tire. Direct current motors cause rotation of the spinner independently from rotation of the tires. A user operates a remote control for sending a sending to the drive motors to regulate the speed and direction of rotation of the spinner independently from the tire rotation. A cover plate secures the spinner to the rim of the vehicle wheel.

Abstract: A method is provided for simultaneously developing caverns while depositing wastes or other materials in them. A well is first drilled into a salt formation and the development of a salt cavern by means of solution mining is initiated. When the development of the cavern has been carried out to an extent sufficient to accommodate the injection of a prescribed amount of wastes or other materials, injection of the wastes or other materials through the well is started while continuing to develop the cavern by solution mining. The injection of the wastes or other materials may be carried out continuously or intermittently. The proportion and rates of wastes or other materials and mining water injected into the well are monitored and regulated so that cavern development continues at a rate that allows the cavern to reach an intended prescribed size while the wastes or other materials are injected and deposited into the cavern.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a polymer based circuit by the following steps. A mold of a design is formed through a lithography process. The design is transferred to a polymer substrate through a hot embossing process. A metal layer is then deposited over at least part of said design and at least one electrical lead is connected to said metal layer.