Abstract: A system for removing particles from an air stream includes a housing having an air stream inlet at a first end thereof and an air steam exhaust at a second end thereof. The housing defines a flow path between the air stream inlet and the air stream exhaust. At least one liquid introduction jet disposed between the air stream inlet and the air stream exhaust injects liquid droplets into the air stream. A scrubber disposed between the at least one liquid introduction jets and the air stream exhaust for removes smaller particles from the air stream.

Abstract: An improved ostomy bag comprises an outwardly facing irrigation line attachment adapter. A removable vent housing may be attached to the attachment adapter, where the vent housing is attached during normal operation of the ostomy bag, where the vent housing may comprise a charcoal filter and a scent absorbing medium for reducing odors which may vent from the ostomy bag. The vent housing is attached with quick-connect connectors, and is easily removed so that a conduit may be attached to the attachment adapter, where the conduit is attached to a source of flushing liquid, such as a squeezable reservoir or faucet.

Abstract: A foundation for a tall vertical structure, such as a wind turbine installation, features anchor bolts having a grout cap slid over the anchor bolt, where the grout cap has a flared skirt which seals against the open annulus formed by the anchor bolt and its accompanying PVC sleeve, where the top of the PVC sleeve is generally flush with the bottom of the grout trough. The grout cap extends from its bottom which abuts the bottom of the grout trough, up and extending at least partially into a bolt hole in the tower flange. A method of protecting anchor bolts utilizing the grout cap is also described.

Abstract: Truss structures assembled from modules comprising one hinge link, four spacer links and four apex joinders, one at each end or each hinge link. The second hinge link to complete a tetrahedron is missing from the module, and is provided by the hinge link of a next in line module so as to provide a series of joined tetrahedrons. When the strut is assembled, the apex joinders enable the strut to be formed into a wide variety of shapes.

Abstract: A threaded collapsible insert is utilized for insertion into a hole in a workpiece for subsequent installation of a threaded fastener. The insert has a axially-aligned opening extending for most or all of the entire length of the body of the insert. The hollow body has a first section and a second section, where the wall thickness of the first section is less than the wall thickness of the second section, such that the first section preferentially collapses upon application of a linear force to the insert. The second section comprises internal threads for engaging the fastener. The head member has a top side and an underside. The underside of the head member may comprise a plurality of knurls radiating outwardly on the underside of the flange. The outside of the first section may also comprise a plurality of axially aligned rib members extending from the proximal end to the distal end.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument has a sound chamber and a neck attached to the sound chamber. A fingerboard is attached along the neck. The musical instrument has an electronic device such as a chromatic tuner or a preamplifier, which is either mounted inside or on the exterior of the musical instrument. The fingerboard has a plurality of position markers which are flush with an edge face of the fingerboard. One or more of the position markers illuminates to display output from the electronic device. The position marker may either be the top of a light emitting diode attached to the electronic device, or the position marker may be the terminating end of a length of fiber optic cable, where the opposite end of the fiber optic cable abuts a light emitting diode mounted within the housing of the electronic device.

Abstract: A pair of pipe bunks are utilized on in combination with a flatbed truck, deck of a work boat, or other conveyance means for securing loads of long, heavy, structural members during transportation. The pipe bunks have particular utility for oilfield tubulars. Each pipe bunk comprises a horizontal base member which is attached cross-wise to the flatbed of the truck, or deck of the workboat. A horizontal beam is attached to the horizontal base member and a vertical member is affixed to each opposing outside end of the horizontal beam. Adjustable slide members are slidingly attached to the horizontal base member, where each adjustable slide member has a vertical member which is disposed in offset facing relation with a respective outside vertical member. The slide members are attached to the horizontal base member with guide members. The slide members are adjustable with respect to the distance of each from the respective outside vertical member to accommodate the width of the desired load.

Abstract: The present invention relates to fuel additives, fuel compositions and methods of manufacture in which the additives are provided to impart desired properties to fuels. These properties include, without limitation, reduction of nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions from the exhaust stream of internal combustion engines using the fuels. Preferred embodiments of an additive form of the composition include a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of urea, cyanuric acid, triazine, ammonia and mixtures thereof, a carrier blend comprising an alkoxylated alcohol, a polyalkylene glycol ester and an alkanolamide and water. The additive may be provided in a concentrate form by addition of a solvent or may be provided as a final form fuel composition. A method of additive manufacture and is disclosed.

Abstract: In a foundation for a wind turbine, the foundation has a large number of anchor bolts which are axially placed within the bore hole for mounting a tower flange of the wind turbine. In contrast to the practiced method, the present invention utilizes the fabrication of separate bolt packages, in which the bolts of each bolt package are configured to have an inner arc of bolts and outer arc of bolts, where each bolt in the bolt package is retained, by position retention means, in a fixed position with respect to the position of the other anchor bolts in the pre-assembled package. The present invention describes the position retention means for forming each pre-assembled package and a method of using the position retentions for constructing a foundation for a wind turbine.

Abstract: A wood support member for attaching a first wood member to a wood side structure defining an interior peripheral edge, the wood support member is attachable to the peripheral edge, comprising a top, a bottom, a first end, a second end, a front face and a rear face. The wood support member can comprise a first plurality of kerfs in the front face and a second plurality of kerfs in the rear face, the plurality of kerfs each extending from the top to the bottom. The kerfs in the first plurality of kerfs can be spaced equidistant from each other and the kerfs in the second plurality of kerfs can be spaced equidistant from each other, and each kerf in the first plurality of kerfs can be spaced equidistant from each kerf in the second plurality of kerfs. The wood support member can have an uninstalled state, in which each kerf in the first plurality of kerfs is parallel to the other kerfs, and an installed state, in which each kerf in the first plurality of kerfs is not parallel to the other kerfs.

Abstract: A latch and keeper combination is utilized for securing a radome to an aircraft fuselage. The keeper has a keeper housing and an eyebolt member which extends toward the latch from the keeper housing. The latch has a pivoting handle member pivotally attached to a latch housing. A hook member depends from the handle member. Once the hook member is generally placed about the eye bolt, depressing the handle member further causes the hook to rotate within the latch housing. As the handle member is completely depressed, the hook member fully engages the eye bolt, while at the same time members axially extend from the latch to engage the keeper which provides a resistance to shear between the latch and keeper. The apparatus may also have a safety which prevents the handle from fully closing until the eye bolt is fully engaged by the hook member, thereby providing visual confirmation that the latch has completely engaged the keeper.

Abstract: A mobile harvesting unit which utilizes a high volume fan to separate crops from foreign matter, has a dust suppression system which substantially reduces particulates which are discharged with the fan exhaust. The dust suppression system has two stages. The first stage separates larger particles of foreign matter by deploying an air stream cleaning chain upstream of the fan. The second stage is contained within a air stream discharge duct. Within the air stream discharge duct, a liquid, such as water, is sprayed into the dust entrained air stream. The moistened air stream flows through a plurality of collection members which extend radially from a brush drum, where the moistened dust particles are accumulated on the collection members, such that the volume of dust particles contained within the air discharged from the harvesting unit is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A shell purfling strip has sufficient flexibility to be placed within a curved configuration. The purfling strips are sufficiently flexible to be placed, as a single unit, in curved channels which require the strip to bend. The flexibility results from a laminated structure comprising a layer of binding material overlain by an organic shell layer, with a bonding agent attaching the layers together. The organic shell layer comprises a plurality of precisely placed breaks along its length. The binding material retains the individual fragments of the shell layer in the strip, but because the binding material comprises a flexible material, such as rubber, the layer of binding material is sufficiently flexible to allow the purfling strip to flex longitudinally and transversely. The shell purfling strips may be attached in parallel relationship to other perfling components such that the perfling components can be installed as a unit.

Abstract: A self-aligning tap is used to produce correctly aligned new threads in an existing smooth bore hole. The design of the tap's shank, flutes, and cutting surfaces is that of commonly used existing taps. The flat end of the tap—the end that enters the existing bore hole—contains a threaded bore. A removable pilot that aligns the tap to the axis of the existing bore consists of a cylindrical body with a diameter slightly smaller than the existing bore hole, and a length no greater than the diameter of the major diameter of the tap. The upper end of the cylindrical pilot—the end that shoulders against the tap—comprises a threaded stem whose thread pitch matches that of the tap end's bore, and whose length is slightly less than the tap end bore's depth.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus which removably attaches to the front tubular bumper of a go-kart, allowing a person lifting the front of the go-kart to lift more easily and without excessive bending of the back. The lifting apparatus has a handle member, and a bumper engagement structure which depends from the handle member. The bumper engagement structure is configured to removably attach to the parallel-oriented upper tube and lower tube which make up the front bumper of the go-kart.

Abstract: A wind turbine installation comprises anchor bolts having a sheath or sleeve which extends above the cement foundation and the overlying grout layer. If desired, the sleeve may partially extend inside the base flange of the wind turbine tower. The sleeve may be manufactured from polypropylene, polyethylene or other materials having satisfactory mechanical properties, primarily that the material be capable of withstanding sufficient plastic deformation to cause the material to conform to the shape of the threads of the anchor bolts without the material failing. This swaging operation results in a crimped end which forms an interference fit with the threads of the anchor bolt thereby preventing or limiting the intrusion of water or other liquids into the bolt-sleeve annulus during the installation of the turbine foundation.