Abstract: A transition sleeve is inserted into a transition tube of a vacuum system of a vacuum sweeper. The transition sleeve extends the useful life of the transition tube by sacrificially wearing instead of the transition tube. Such wear arises from abrasive grit and other materials swept up by the vacuum sweeper. The transition sleeve is desirably formed using wear-resistant materials. The transition sleeve can include a flange at one end to allow the transition sleeve to be held in the transition tube without using fasteners or bonding agents. A first portion of an interconnection structure is provided at the other end of the transition sleeve and engages with a second portion of the interconnection structure provided at a first end of an extension sleeve to connect the extension sleeve to the transition sleeve. The extension sleeve allows the transition sleeve to be used with transition tubes of varying lengths.

Abstract: A method of forming battery grids or plates that includes the step of mechanically reshaping or refinishing battery grid wires to improve adhesion between the battery paste and the grid wires. The method is particularly useful in improving the paste adhesion to battery grids formed by a continuous battery grid making process (such as strip expansion, strip stamping, continuous casting) that produces grid wires and nodes with smooth surfaces and a rectangular cross-section. In a preferred version of the method, the grid wires of battery grids produced by a stamping process are deformed such that the grid wires have a cross-section other than the rectangular cross-section produced by the stamping process. The method increases the cycle life of a battery.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for a small-scale machine includes a pair of opposing, individually-driven wheels, associated motors and possibly one or more gear assemblies. The motors receive separate drive signals from a control electronics subsystem of the wheel assembly. The motors can be connected to the wheels via the gear assemblies. Because the wheels are separately driven, driving the two wheel assemblies at similar or different speeds drives the wheel assembly over straight or curved paths. An orientation assembly allows the orientation of the wheels to the machine to be controllably altered. A height adjusting assembly allows the distance between the wheels and a point on the machine where the wheel assembly is attached to be adjusted. The rotational axis that the wheel assembly rotates about when re-oriented need not pass through either wheel of the wheel assembly. The wheels can be driven by control signals generated by on-board control electronics.

Abstract: A battery grid includes a frame that includes a top element, a bottom element, a first side element, and a second side element. The battery grid also includes a plurality of wires provided within the frame and defining a plurality of open areas and a current collection lug extending from the top element in a first direction. The battery grid further includes at least one feature provided in the battery grid that is configured to reduce the amount of growth of the battery grid in the first direction due to corrosion of the battery grid during the life of the battery grid.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of battery plates includes forming a strip including a plurality of battery grids. Each battery grid includes a grid network bordered by a frame element and includes a plurality of spaced apart grid wire elements. Each grid wire element has opposed ends joined to one of a plurality of nodes to define a plurality of open spaces in the grid network. The method also includes deforming at least a portion of a plurality of the grid wire elements such that the deformed grid wire elements have a first transverse cross-section at a point intermediate their opposed ends that differs from a second transverse cross-section taken at least one of their opposed ends. The method also includes applying a lead alloy coating to the strip, applying battery paste to the strip, and cutting the strip to form a plurality of battery plates.

Abstract: Reference markers are attached to rails and/or other dynamically moving components of railroad tracks, and/or located at fixed and stationary positions adjacent to the track. When images of railway rolling stock are obtained, the reference marker(s) appear in the image. Accordingly, measurements of various aspects and parameters of various components of the railway rolling stock can be obtained at high precision and/or accuracy relative to the railroad track component to which the reference marker is attached and/or relative to the stationary position. The reference markers allow one or more images, obtained at some intervening time interval, to be accurately and precisely aligned relative to the reference marker(s) regardless of the dynamic motion of the railroad track component(s) and/or of the rolling stock that occurred as the images were captured. The reference markers can include optical, thermal or other indicia. The indicia have known dimensions and/or known distances from an image capture device.

Abstract: Some food pathogens are not well controlled by lethality treatments followed by refrigeration. A food processing facility according to this invention reduces the likelihood that food pathogens will be able to enter the food processing facility, or spread should they be able to enter. The food processing facility is divided into a plurality of area, with different areas having different allowed actions that can be taken on the food product, different rules and/or procedures for persons who are allowed entry, and/or different levels of cleanliness. The food processing facility includes a plurality of separate rooms for processing the food product, each including separate food processing machines, air handling systems, drain systems and/or often-used supplies and tools. Different air pressures within different areas limit the possible movement of airborne food pathogens. Sanitizing stations are placed between various ones of the different areas.

Abstract: A device for electrically connecting a plurality of batteries includes a member including a handle and two arms extending from the handle. The handle includes a first portion, a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and a connector extending between the first portion and the second portion. The member also includes a contact coupled to a first of the two arms for contacting at least a portion of a battery terminal when the device is secured to a battery. The first of the two arms is configured for securing the device to a first side of a battery and a second of the two arms is configured for securing the device to a second side of the battery.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for estimating the angle of attack of wheels, wheelsets, trucks and railway vehicles traveling over a track employing a wayside system having a plurality of sensors, adjacent to the rails of the track, for detecting the passing of each wheelset of each truck. Each sensor communicates its moment of activation and length of activation caused by a passing wheel to a sensor monitoring unit for use in determining the angle of attack of the passing wheel, wheelset, truck and railway vehicle. The estimated angle of attack of the wheelset at different locations along the track may be used to detect a hunting wheelset, truck or railway vehicle.

Abstract: A fillet board for filleting fish having spines or horns on their pectoral fins extending outwardly from the sides of the fish body. The board defines apertures each sized to receive the horn of a fish laid flat on one side with the horn secured by the board. A plurality of apertures are sized and spaced along a portion of the length of the board to accommodate fish of different sizes. The fillet board has a spacer element to elevate the board above a supporting surface to provide clearance for fish horns to extend below the board. The fillet board includes a tail clamp for securing the tail of a fish.

Abstract: A state of charge indicator for a battery having a liquid electrolyte includes a viewing rod having an observation surface at a first end, a conical reflection surface at a second end, and a generally cylindrical outer surface intermediate the first end and the second end. The viewing rod includes a central longitudinal axis. The state of charge indicator also includes a ball cage coupled to the second end of the viewing rod through which the electrolyte can flow and at least one ball guide channel provided in the ball cage and arranged obliquely with respect to the central longitudinal axis. The ball guide channel includes an upper boundary surface adjacent the conical reflection surface. The upper boundary surface is smoothly connected to the conical reflection surface.

Abstract: A method of determining a stratification of an electrolyte in an active mass of positive electrode plates in rechargeable batteries includes determining a variation of at least one of a charging current and a charging voltage of the rechargeable battery occurring during charging of the rechargeable battery; and detecting a stratification of the electrolyte from an increased charging current consumption in the rechargeable battery as compared to an identical rechargeable battery without stratification when there is a fixed charging voltage variation or a reduced charging voltage when there is a fixed charging current variation.

Abstract: A horizontally-aligned, adjustable scroll including scroll assemblies frictionally and/or mechanically engaging a base pedestal. The scroll also includes a fixed display horizontally-aligned between the scroll assemblies. The scroll is adjustable by moving the scroll assemblies forward and backward to improve positioning of the fixed display.