Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a vaccine for the prevention of F. necrophorum bacterial infections, comprising isolating the F. necrophorum bacteria from a bovine species, growing the bacteria in a suitable growth medium for a period equal to between about 10 hours and about 18 hours so as to achieve a bacterial population equal to at least 1×105 CFU/ml, terminating the growth, and using a whole cell culture to form the vaccine. Additionally, the present invention relates to the vaccine comprised of a killed whole cell population of the F. necrophorum bacteria taken from a bovine. The present invention further relates to a method for preventing footrot and liver abscesses caused by F. necrophorum bacteria.

Abstract: The invention provides a remotely controlled furnace tap hole tapping system. The system is pneumatically driven and is able to tap holes placed at different heights, different positions, and different angles. The invention replaces an oxygen filled lance which is consumable, with a solid metal lance. The lance is carried by a carrier system, which moves long a track. The invention provides a gantry that is able to move the carrier system to different tracks. The pneumatic drive system cools the tapping system, in addition to driving the tapping system.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus dispensing a liquid bait in a refillable manner. The invention provides a transparent bait station in which is mounted to a structure. A liquid bait is injected into the bait station to initially fill and then refill the bait station. The bait is a slow acting toxicant and attractant. The bait station is formed to allow access by bugs, but not by larger animals. The bait station is also able to protect the bait from wind and rain. The bait station prevents leakage of the toxicant if the bait station is tumbled or placed in an incorrect position. The bait station is able to hold two different liquid baits, which may be two different poisons, or a poison and an attractant. An embodiment of the bait station provides a series of inner walls to minimize the leakage of liquid bait, if the liquid bait station is tumbled.

Abstract: An enclosure for housing people in the event of a serious air quality degradation is provided. A pressurized enclosure, either permanent or temporary, includes an air supply system for filtering and subsequently supplying clean air to the interior of the enclosure. The structure will be deployable and/or activated from a remote control station or from the protective structure itself. Life support elements are stored in the enclosure for use as needed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing conditioned air to an aircraft parked at an airport. The air conditioning unit is able to accommodate various aircraft sizes. The unit uses two blowers to allow an increase in variation in the volume of air supplied without changing the static pressure of the air supplied. The unit also uses dampers to accommodate aircraft with one and two air hose connections.

Abstract: A deployable flexible walled enclosure for housing people in the event of a serious air quality degradation is provided. A pressurized enclosure, either stored in a permanent location or transportable to a selected site, includes an air supply system for filtering and subsequently supplying clean air to the interior of the enclosure. The structure is compactly packaged when not in use and is capable of being deployable and/or activated from a remote control station in time of need. A small cache of life support elements are stored in the predeployed enclosure for use as needed upon deployment.

Abstract: A transmit-receive station connected to a high speed ring bus carrying data signals that may be received from and sent to each station on the ring bus has two sources of transmit clocking signals. One source is based on the frequency and phase of data signals received on the ring bus from another station and the other source is a local crystal oscillator having essentially the same frequency as the first source but in an indeterminate phase. When changing the source of clocking signals for transmission of data originating at the station, bit slippage may be minimized by providing the local oscillator output signal in four phases and using the phase most nearly aligned with the other clocking signal when the change is made. Control of access to transmit by a station employs a token having a message field of seven bits and a access control bit.

Abstract: The invention provides a chemical mixture device that avoids the mixing of large batches of chemicals and provides a continuous and precisely mixed mixture. For mixing water and a chemical, a large water tank and a chemical tank supply water and chemicals to first and second mixing tanks. As small batches are mixed in one mixing tank, the mixture is drawn from the other mixing tank.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for managing retort over-pressure during pressure cooling. The invention allows the specification of an initial cooling temperature and a final cooling temperature and a final cooling pressure. Using these values the invention provides a pressure ramping to manage retort over-pressure.

Abstract: The invention provides a transfer valve for a sterilizer/cooker, which is almost lubeless, or is lubeless. Packing strips and packing rings are provided, which are made of high temperature thermo plastics compounded with internal lubricants, such as Teflon or silicon, and graphite.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotary cooler with three regions. The regions are separated by baffles with holes, which provide a slowed laminar air flow. Each region has its own recirculation system.

Abstract: An improved transparent armor piercing protection system that acts as a vision window in an armor system. The transparent armor piercing protection system comprises angled louvers with mirror surfaces in an aperture in armor. A sheet of transparent material is also provided adjacent to the aperture.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for simulating a system, which provides a recording of steps taken in operation of the system. The invention provides teaching and evaluation for the use and repair of the system.

Abstract: The invention provides a series of bi-directional aseptic volume filler cylinders, that are able to provide measured volume fillers as the piston is driven in both directions by providing an aseptic disk value which is able to direct material in the desired directions. Both sides of the chamber are able to draw material from a single passage and output material to a single passage.

Abstract: The invention provides a three layer liner for armor to reduce spall and the spall angle. The liner provides a high impedance.The liner is formed by layers of silastic rubber with tungsten powder. Successive layers have a decreasing concentration of tungsten powder, causing the density of the successive layers to decrease. This decreasing density causes the high impedance of the liner. The liner is made by casting a layer of the silastic rubber with the tungsten powder mixed in with a second layer of silastic rubber with a lower density of tungsten powder. The material is then pressed into a sheet. One side of the sheet is wet with silastic rubber and merged with a fabric layer.

Abstract: The invention provides modular armor for a vehicle. The modular armor comprises an outer cover with a plurality of mounting racks attached to the vehicle. Armor panels may be added to or removed from the mounting racks as needed.

Abstract: The invention provides an indirect linkage between a spring and a hatch supported by the spring. The torque or moment applied by the hatch is significantly curved. The indirect linkage which provides a first varying moment arm and a second varying moment arm and utilizes a varying ratio between the first moment arm and the second moment arm to provide an applied spring torque which matches the shape of the torque curve applied by the hatch.

Abstract: The invention provides a tire changing and balancing machine. On the same shaft used to mount and demount a tire, a wheel assembly is balanced. A tire on a wheel assembly is placed between a breaker blade and a breaker pad. The breaker blade collapses the tire. The wheel assembly is then mounted on a shaft. A mounting and demounting head is used to remove the tire from the wheel assembly. A new tire is placed on the wheel assembly. The mounting and demounting head is then used to mount the new tire on the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly and mounted tire are then spun on the shaft and balanced.

Abstract: The invention provides a wheel balancer with a filtering system that reduces signal noise using a phase shift and subtraction circuit. In addition the inventive wheel balancer utilizes an automated parameter entry device, and a fast data refresh system which reduces the burden on the central processing unit CPU.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the quality of a coating on a plate. The invention uses a method of measuring the impedance of a coating on a plate, which uses the steps of placing the coating on a plate in a chamber, and then placing a counter electrode in the chamber so that the coating lies between the plate and the counter electrode. A reference electrode is placed in the chamber so that the coating lies between the reference electrode and the plate, and the chamber is filled with a fluid with an ionic substrate. A potentiostat induces a voltage between the plate and the reference electrode, and the impedance of the coating is measured to determine the quality of the coating.