Abstract: A heating apparatus for the combustion of highly variable biofuel feed stocks is generally provided. The apparatus generally includes a combustion chamber or burn box adapted to receive a regulated feed of biomass. The burn box includes a grate for receipt of a distributed mass of the regulated feed, and further includes an oscillating blade adjacent to the grate for agitation of the distributed mass of the regulated feed received thereby. The combustion apparatus for the production of thermal energy from a biofuel of the subject invention is preferably and further characterized by means for producing the distributed mass of the regulated feed of biofuel, and/or a burn box incorporating an oxygen manifold assembly adjacent to the grate.

Abstract: A weapon grip assembly for attachment to a forward portion of a weapon is provided. The invention includes a base assembly supported for operative engagement by a handle. The base assembly includes clamps adapted to be secured to a forward portion of the weapon and further includes a post having a clamp end adapted to retain the clamps for pivot motion with respect thereto. The post of the base assembly is received within a bore of the handle, a mandrel being interposed between the handle and the clamps of the base assembly. As the base assembly is drawn into the handle, by rotation of the handle about the post of the base assembly, the mandrel receives the clamp end of the post, with an upper free surface thereof engaging the clamps for pivoted closure about a portion of the weapon in furtherance of securing the weapon grip assembly thereto.

Abstract: A tensile testing apparatus is provided, and generally includes an X-Y automated stage, and a first specimen holder for holding and transferring force to a specimen to a first portion of a specimen. The first specimen holder is operatively supported by the X-Y automated stage. A Z-automated stage, a multi-function nanotensile transducer head assembly, and a second specimen holder for holding and transferring force to a second portion of the specimen is further provided. The second specimen holder is operatively linked to the Z-automated stage via the nanotensile transducer head assembly. Variable displacement modalities, and non-Z alignment assessment and adjustment are enabled by the multi-function nanotensile transducer head assembly, as well as the X, Y, and Z automated stages.

Abstract: A collapsible firearm stock system is generally provided and preferably includes a shoulder stock system adapted to receive a buttstock thereon, and a locking linkage having a first linkage portion, a second linkage portion, and a hinge pin operatively uniting the first and said second linkage portions. One of the linkage portions is carried by the shoulder stock assembly so as to define a terminal end therefore, the other of the linkage portions being adapted to be carried by a firearm. Each of the linkage portions are adapted so as to automatically unite in locking engagement upon axial alignment of the shoulder stock assembly with the firearm about the hinge pin.

Abstract: An electrical power supply system for an electrically powered motor vehicle, said vehicle including an electric motor, and a transmission device for transmitting energy between the drive wheels and the motor, said vehicle further including electrical accessories, in particular an air-conditioning device. Said system comprises a first rechargeable battery serving to power the electric motor and a second rechargeable battery serving to power the electrical accessories of the vehicle, the batteries being connected in parallel to the motor. The invention also relates to a method for controlling such a system.

Abstract: A pier support system provides an arrangement for constructing a pier either onsite or offsite. Support apparatus provides four sides arranged in a square which are supported vertically from a planar pier support base. The walls are inset from the edge of the pier support base to provide a margin around the sides of the base to permit constructing an outer wall using blocks and cement adjacent to each support side. Two methods of attaching a footing base to a site are shown. The pier support base is attached to the upper side of an installed footing base by a two axis and verticality adjusting apparatus. The outer wall is constructed after the bases are connected and then the pier verticality is adjusted and a cap installed to complete the pier.

Abstract: An optoelectronic controller for regulating an optical signal. The controller includes a ridge or rib waveguide in an SOI-type substrate. The controller also includes an active zone formed by a plurality of thin layers of silicon. The layers are either N+ type doped or P+ type doped. The zone is defined between an N+ doped zone and a P+ doped zone which together form a PIN diode. The optoelectronic controller is all-silicon and operates by carrier desertion.

Abstract: A contact for use in a test set which can be mounted to a load board of a tester apparatus. The contact, which serves to electrically connect at least one lead of a device being tested with a corresponding metallic trace on the load board, has a first end defining multiple contact points. As the contact is rotated about an axis generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the contact, successive contact points are sequentially engaged by a lead of the device being tested.

Abstract: A roasting rack assembly having a roasting rack for receipt of a roast, and a rack support structure is provided. The rack support structure includes a frame for receipt of the roasting rack, and legs depending from the frame. The frame is adapted to permit egress of the roasting rack therefrom in furtherance of delivering a roast from the roasting rack, through the rack support structure, and to a serving platter underlying the rack support structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of efficiently adding software modules to large scale data processing systems. The customer is supplied all potentially applicable software modules upon system installation. However, each optional software module requires a key for enabling user access. Whenever the user needs an additional key on an emergency basis, it is requested via the Internet. Upon receipt of the request, the software supplier verifies entitlement of the requester to the key including licensing, payment, and configuration concerns. The key is supplied over the Internet upon verification of entitlement.

Abstract: A weapon grip assembly for attachment to a forward portion of a weapon is provided. The invention includes a base assembly supported for operative engagement by a handle. The base assembly includes clamps adapted to be secured to a forward portion of the weapon and further includes a post having a clamp end adapted to retain the clamps for pivot motion with respect thereto. The post of the base assembly is received within a bore of the handle, a mandrel being interposed between the handle and the clamps of the base assembly. As the base assembly is drawn into the handle, by rotation of the handle about the post of the base assembly, the mandrel receives the clamp end of the post, with an upper free surface thereof engaging the clamps for pivoted closure about a portion of the weapon in furtherance of securing the weapon grip assembly thereto.

Abstract: An actuator device applies force to an integrated circuit package to enable temporary contact between a plurality of contacts on the integrated circuit package and to a set of test contacts carried on a contactor support. A cover is hinged at one side, and rotates to position that allows an actuator element to apply force through a lead backer to the integrated circuit package or its leads, pressing the integrated circuit contacts against the test contacts. A latch opposite to the hinge holds the cover in the closed position. An interlock mechanism may be provided to prevent operating the latch unless the actuator element has withdrawn the lead backer from the integrated circuit or its leads, thereby preventing damage to components.

Abstract: A system is provided for visible surface determination in furtherance of photorealistic rendering in a computer graphics environment. The system includes a scene database and a processor, visual characteristics of objects of an image frame of a scene of the scene database are delimited as geometric primitive. The processor, for executing an interval analysis, to a user degree of certainty, accurately and deterministically ascertains a visible solution set of an area not exceeding a pixel dimension for a pixel of an array of pixels that form said image frame.

Abstract: Apparatus using two hinged L-shaped squares to determine perpendicular with respect to a plane. Placing the apparatus against a plane with the squares offset angularly with respect to each other and placing an object to be secured to a plane adjacent to the hinge within fins parallel to the hinge permits securing the object perpendicular to the plane with one hand while holding the apparatus and object with the other hand.

Abstract: Apparatus for bending stock to an acute angle. A hydraulic cylinder with a ram extendable under hydraulic pressure provides the bending power. The ram automatically retracts from an extended position when hydraulic pressure is removed. One end of an apparatus supporting arm consists of a slide bar. The slide bar end of the arm is secured to a support with the opposite end pivotably mounting a forming die and a lever. The lever pivotably mounts a forming roller. The lever carries the forming roller around the die and bend stock secured to the die around the die. A slide is slideably attached to the slide bar. The cylinder and ram are pivotably attached extending between the slide and the lever.

Abstract: A promotional sheet assembly assembleable from components of a single material web processed in a multi-station press is provided. The assembly includes opposing surfaces bearing printed information and/or indicia thereon, and a consumer premium delimited by one or more of visible, revealable, and/or machine readable information.

Abstract: A promotional hang tag having clasping and flag portions and a line-of-weakness delimiting the portions in furtherance of disengaging the flag portion from the clasping portion is provided. The clasping portion includes an anchor and an anchor retainer. The anchor retainer includes an elongate slot and opposingly paired slits extending from opposing ends of the elongate slot. The elongate slot is characterized by an axis of elongation and is dimensioned to receive a free end portion of the anchor, the anchor received by the anchor retainer and retained within the elongate slot.

Abstract: Apparatus to permit handicapped persons with arm and/or hand injury to manipulate a variety of objects. A extension supports a clamp on one end opposite a hand rest on the other. Straps are used to secure the forearm and hand in place on the apparatus. A bar, which extends outwardly from the rest, can have a variety of items attached to permit manipulating them with the apparatus. A supplemental structure can be attached to the apparatus on the side opposite to the clamp and rest with an open channel along the extension to better engage elongated items. Straps can also be used to secure the elongated items within the channel.

Abstract: A weapon grip assembly (16) for attachment to a forward portion of a weapon is provided. The invention includes a base assembly (20) supported for operative engagement by a handle (22). The base assembly includes clamps (24) adapted to be secured to a forward portion of the weapon and further includes a post (38) having a clamp end adapted to retain the clamps (24) for pivot motion with respect thereto. The post (38) of the base assembly (20) is received within a bore of the handle, a mandrel (32) being interposed between the handle (22) and the clamps (24) of the base assembly (20). As the base assembly (20) is drawn into the handle (22), by rotation of the handle (22) about the post (38) of the base assembly (20), the mandrel (32) receives the clamp end of the post (38), with an upper free surface thereof engaging the clamps for pivoted closure about a portion of the weapon in furtherance of securing the weapon grip assembly (16) thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operation of a biomass stove utilizes three proportional integral derivative (PID) controllers as part of a closed loop to control the fuel feed rate, the convection fan speed and the combustion fan speed. The first loop controls room temperature, the second loop controls the convection fan speed and the third loop controls the combustion fan. Appropriate temperature readings are utilized for the first and second loop. The third loop, which utilized feedback of the ratio between the heat exchanger temperature to the exhaust temperature, in addition to measuring these temperatures also references a library of look-up tables of such ratios over the entire heat range of the stove that have been correlated to combustion efficiency, as an input. This enables the operator to optimize the heat output for any operating point.