Abstract: An apparatus for removing debris from a tool has a head, and the head has a tool-shaped opening with an inner wall. The apparatus further has a blunt point contiguous with the head for inserting into the ground such that a tool in the shape of the opening can be inserted into the opening, contacted with the inner wall, and removed from the opening thereby removing unwanted debris from the tool.

Abstract: A fifth wheel with a removable bearing plate includes a load structure comprising frame walls and inner bracing, and including a plurality of flanges, each of said plurality of flanges having an aperture disposed therethrough, said load structure also having at least two pivot bearings; and a bearing plate having a plurality of fasteners extending from an underside of said bearing plate disposed at locations corresponding to the disposition of said apertures configured to permit removable attachment of said bearing plate to said load structure and plurality of ridges disposed upon the underside to form a seat for said frame walls.

Abstract: A system and method of secure PIN processing in a network transaction includes a transaction manager that sends terminal data to a terminal. The terminal generates corollary data from user input and the terminal data. The corollary data is sent to the transaction manager. The transaction manager then sends the corollary data and HSM data to a hardware security module. The hardware security module generates a PIN from the corollary data and the HSM data, encrypts the PIN and generates a PIN block. The transaction manager uses the PIN block and transaction data to send a transaction request to the ATM Network.

Abstract: A fifth wheel assembly comprises a fifth wheel having a plurality of journal bearings extending generally downward from its underside, and a transverse beam member for mounting the assembly to a truck frame. The beam member is dimensioned to span across parallel longitudinal truck frame members and it includes mounting flanges extending generally downward from either lateral side where the mounting flanges have a plurality of apertures for receiving suitable fasteners inserted therein for mounting said beam member to the truck frame members. The transverse member also includes a plurality of pivot bearing pairs to receive the journal bearings of the fifth wheel which is coupled thereto by a trunnion.

Abstract: A method for distributed ignition is disclosed wherein a combustion fuel and an ignition mixture are combined where the ignition mixture comprises ignition agents and fuel and where ignition agents can be nano-metallic particles in combination with single-walled carbon nano-tubes (SWCNTs). The combination of ignition mixture and combustion fuel in the presence of oxygen are exposed to light causing heating of the ignition agents and combustion of the fuel within which the ignition agents are interspersed. A system for igniting fuels using the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An orientation-independent compartment pressure relief valve comprises a housing with a throughflow channel having an intake and an exhaust. A flange disposed around the inner wall of said housing defines an aperture within the throughflow channel and sealing flap is secured to the flange sealingly covering said aperture. Sealing flap is comprised of a relatively pliable layer and a relatively rigid layer and is oriented such that relatively pliable layer is in contact with flange. Pliable layer allows sealing flap to flexibly open in response to compartment pressure and rigid layer acts to close sealing flap irrespective of pressure relief valve's orientation in relation to a gravity vector.

Abstract: A microfibrous matrix with embedded supporting particulates/fibers and chemically reactive materials is provided as a filtration system for the removal of contaminants and other harmful agents from liquid and gaseous streams. Such materials may include chemically reactive materials as high surface area carbons, zeolites, silicas, aluminas, inorganic metal oxides, polymer resins, ZnO, ZnO/Carbon, Pt/?-Al2O3, PtCo/?-Al2O3, ZnO/SiO2 and various other catalysts, sorbents or reactants. The invention may be used to protect the intolerant anodes and cathodes of fuel cells from damaging H2S while simultaneously aiding the selective conversion of CO to CO2 in fuel streams predominated by hydrogen, to provide a highly efficient gas and/or liquid separation and purification methodology for gas masks, building filtration systems, and/or as polishing media located downstream of traditional packed bed filtration systems.

Abstract: A water-resistant electric motor includes a housing for receiving an electric motor armature therein and an end cap for closing an open end of the housing. The housing includes a drive shaft aperture within a cylindrical recess that receives a journal bearing and a ring seal. The end cap includes a wire access hole for receiving power supply wires. Surrounding the wire access hole is a ridge with cut-outs. A wire cover plate is seated on top of the ridge and includes cut-outs that correspond to the cut-outs in the ridge so that the power supply wires are accommodated therein when the cover plate is secured to the ridge. The wire access hole includes a grommet to seal the hole.

Abstract: A decorative trim for an automotive vehicle which simulates the exhaust stack of an automotive motor is claimed. The exhaust stack simulator comprises a base plate from which multiple tubes protrude which simulate pipes exhausting from the engine of an automobile. A gasket is installed between the base plate and the vehicle surface to protect the surface and to adjust for irregularities in the surface of the vehicle. A backing plate on the interior surface of the vehicle distributes the weight of the base plate across the surface of the vehicle. Studs affixed to support brackets on the base plate pass through openings in the gasket, the vehicle and the backing plate, and the components are joined together with standard fasteners.

Abstract: A fifth wheel mounting bracket is provided. Said mounting bracket allows for the transfer of the load placed on the hitch plate through the mounting pin rather than through its contact surface with the saddle bearing of the hitch plate.

Abstract: A system for determining depth, height and other reference information with respect to features on a workpiece is disclosed. A camera is mounted in a CNC toolholder so that the lens of the camera is coaxial with a rotational axis of the CNC toolholder. A laser is mounted radially outward from the camera, and directs a laser beam angularly toward the workpiece and within the field of view of the camera. With knowledge of the precise angle of, the laser beam with respect to the rotational axis of the toolholder, height and depth information of features on the workpiece may be obtained from where the reflection of the laser beam falls on the CCD array of the camera. A computer, which may be the computer of the CNC machine, may be provided with the height, depth and other reference information.

Abstract: A method and system for analyzing flow of a substance in a sewer system determines a first flow velocity at a first location and a second flow velocity at a second location. Using a processor, the travel time between the two locations is determined using only the flow velocities and a constant. The travel time may then be used to provide a substantially accurate determination of net flow between the two locations.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for deterministic registration for communication networks comprises transmitting a node register command over a network, the node register command comprising a first plurality of bits and a second plurality of bits, the first and second plurality of bits addressing a range of nodes that should respond to the node register command, and a plurality of time slot delays, during each of the plurality of time slot delays, listening to the network for a response from a node in the range of nodes, the node determined by each of the plurality of time slot delays, and responsive to detecting a response, determining a responding node corresponding to the response and designating the responding node as registered.

Abstract: A process for preparing an extrudable product suitable for forming into a chewable pet food and comprising between about 56% to about 80% dry wheat gluten mix, between about 9% to about 28% liquid plasticizer mix and between about 8% to about 18% moisture by weight of the product is disclosed. The process comprises mixing the dry wheat gluten mix with water in an extruder, to form a moist wheat gluten mix, and mixing the moist wheat gluten mix with a liquid plasticizer mix and extruding at a temperature of less than 70° C. to form the extrudable product. The invention also relates to the extrudable product and to the chewable pet food formed therefrom by means of either further extrusion or injection moulding.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for compacting and baling leaves, grass clippings, sticks, pine straw and other debris on lawns, yards, or fields is provided. The apparatus 10 may have diagonal brushes 26 to gather debris for processing though a crusher 28, a conveyor belt 30 to transport the crushed debris, and a baler 32 to compact and bale the debris. The baler 32 may compact the debris by rotating the debris in a continuous band 52, into which baling material 72 may be inserted to bale the debris. Alternatively, the debris may be gathered and feed into a crusher 28 that deposits the crushed debris directly into the baler 32 for compacting and baling. Further still, the apparatus 10 may gather the debris with brushes 26 and feed it onto a conveyor mechanism 30 that then introduces it into a crusher 28. The crushed debris may then be feed into a baling mechanism 32 that compacts and bales the debris for easy removal and disposal.