Abstract: A lighting truss system uses metal truss sections with at least one powered main truss chord between end flanges. A fixture slot is disposed along an outside length of the powered main truss chord. Inside, an extruded aluminum support is positioned inside the powered main truss chord. This supports a pair of power buss bars with insulators that are accessible on one side through the fixture slot. A male-male plug can then be used during assembly on stage for interconnecting exposed open ends of corresponding powered main truss chords between the adjoining end flanges.

Abstract: A simplified assembly truss system rivets each power track inside one chord of each truss span so that the electrical components cannot be misaligned inside the chord during final assembly. The chord is slotted to receive lighting heads in its mid-sections, and short end slots allow interconnecting plugs to be inserted into matching power track ends. A stop captured by the rivets near each chord-end indexes the interconnecting plugs to ensure the final electrical assembly is correct.

Abstract: A license plate security frame comprises a solid inner back plate that is secured to a vehicle and a outer front rim hinged to it that traps the license plate and covers the mounting screws. Hinges at the bottom allow the inner back plate and outer front rim to open like a clamshell, and a cylinder lock mounted at the top to the outer front rim engages a lock pin mounted to the inner back plate. Clear corner covers are included to protect any stickers on the caged-in license plate, and are attached inside the outer front rim in the appropriate corners. The main surface of the license plate including the license numbers and their background are exposed through the middle of the outer front rim.

Abstract: A rain-gutter cleaning system has an agitator head that is mounted to the top end of a long suction tube and pole and supported aloft by them. A vacuum pump on the ground is connected to bring rain-gutter debris down the suction tube and into a collection bag. The agitator head includes opposite, synchronized rotating paddles that tear and break up tangles and clogs encountered in a rain gutter and that helps direct the loosened debris down the throat of the suction tube. An optional camera mounted atop the agitator head allows an operator on the ground below to see the performance inside of the rain gutter on a small monitor screen.

Abstract: A clog resistant, pilot operated pilot valve having two fluid paths, one path for fluid flow from the valve input to the valve output, and the second path for fluid flow through input and output pilot apertures. The opening and closing of the pilot apertures controls the flow of fluid between the input and output of the pilot valve. A clog resistant pilot operated valve in which fluid flows through the pilot fluid path only during the time of transition from an valve open to a valve closed condition, or vice-versa, thereby reducing the probability of failure due to contaminants blacking the pilot activation path. A clog resistant pilot operated valve in which the plunger, used to open and close the pilot fluid paths, is ribbed in construction to reduce the probability that contaminants will cause seizure of the plunger movement.

Abstract: A recycling plant comprises a main conveyor that rotates horizontally near ground level. Collected mixed refuse is brought in by trucks on a driveway surrounding the main conveyer. Loaders or dozers are used to move the refuse onto the main conveyer where it will enter a processing unit straddling the main conveyer. Two or more such processing units can be positioned around the circle formed by the main conveyer. An adjustable height conveyer rides on top of the heaps of refuse entering on the main conveyor and compresses the mass so it can enter a first grinding mill. The refuse is ground and torn into small pieces. A second grinding mill further reduces the size of the pieces. A magnetic pickup uses electromagnets to levitate out bits of iron and steel which are carried away and put in a salvage bin. A manual sorting and picking station with takeaway conveyors and salvage bins allows personnel to manually pick paper, plastic, and glass for recycling.

Abstract: A FM-CW radar system comprises a frequency modulated continuous wave digital generator that produces both in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) outputs to orthogonally oriented transmitter antennas. A linearly polarized beam is output from a switched antenna array that allows a variety of I-and-Q pairs of bowtie antennas to be alternately connected to the transmitter and receiver. The receiver inputs I-and-Q signals from another bowtie antenna in the array and mixes these with samples from the transmitter. Such synchronous detection produces I-and-Q beat frequency products that are sampled by dual analog-to-digital converters (ADC's). The digital samples receive four kinds of compensation, including frequency-and-phase, wiring delay, and fast Fourier transform (FFT). The compensated samples are then digitally converted by an FFT-unit into time-domain signals. Such can then be processed conventionally for range information to the target that has returned the FM-CW echo signal.

Abstract: A FM-CW radar system comprises a frequency modulated continuous wave digital generator that produces both in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) outputs to orthogonally oriented transmitter antennas. A linearly polarized beam is output from a switched antenna array that allows a variety of I-and-Q pairs of bowtie antennas to be alternately connected to the transmitter and receiver. The receiver inputs I-and-Q signals from another bowtie antenna in the array and mixes these with samples from the transmitter. Such synchronous detection produces I-and-Q beat frequency products that are sampled by dual analog-to-digital converters (ADC's). The digital samples receive four kinds of compensation, including frequency-and-phase, wiring delay, and fast Fourier transform (FFT). The compensated samples are then digitally converted by an FFT-unit into time-domain signals. Such can then be processed conventionally for range information to the target that has returned the FM-CW echo signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for luring attack-prone, rabies-infected mammals (e.g., carnivores, bats) into restraint and/or euthanasia but not luring normal, uninfected animals.

Abstract: A restraining cable and rack system comprises material-bay dividers with cable restraints that can be laced-through, end-attached, and adjusted to a variety of heights on vertical bars. Long sticks or sheets of material are stood on-end inside the bays for retail display. The restraining cables are positioned to prevent the retail material from falling out of the bays.

Abstract: A pilot operated shutoff valve system with leak detector for automatically shutting off a water supply to appliances such as a clothes washing machine, dishwashing machine, sink, toilet, or refrigerator equipped with an ice maker, comprising a sealing member movable within said valve body between an open position wherein the sealing member does not block main fluid flow, and a closed position wherein the sealing member blocks main fluid flow.

Abstract: An automated warehouse system row cart includes a lifter that uses cams to raise and lower pallets. Three symmetrical cam lobes are cut into a hollow cylinder. Three matching cam lifters ride these lobes and are attached to an elevator plate. A stepper motor running in one direction is used to raise and lower the elevator plate by virtue of the action between the cam lobes and lifters.

Abstract: A material-rack system comprises an offset safety netting, a perimeter cable suspension system for the netting, offset brackets to anchor the perimeter cable suspension system away by adjustable amounts, and vertical extension posts that bolt to the face of the upper frame parts of a pallet rack. The curtain netting is supported around its edges by attachments to taut wire ropes that are supported by the offset brackets. Such offset brackets slip over the vertical frame parts of the pallet rack. The brackets are always flush ended with the netting, and include several mounting points for the frame attachment.

Abstract: A modular propeller comprises a center hub with an integrated front cap and an aluminum core encapsulated with fiber-reinforced composite polymer resin. A set of replaceable blades have bases that slip into and interlock with corresponding slots in the center hub. An elongated rear cap retains the blades in the center hub. The rear cap includes a nozzle section for expelling exhaust gasses that pass through the center parts of the hub and blade bases.

Abstract: A pallet rack safety net system comprises two parallel horizontal wire ropes that are stretched along the top and bottom edges of a shelf opening. A pair of hung left and right screens of flexible netting are attached between the top and bottom wire ropes so that they can be horizontally separated at the middle of the shelf opening. The inside vertical edges of each screen are finished with a metal bar and a clasp so the screens can be latched together at the middle. The outside left and right edges of the screens are secured to the outside of the shelf opening. If used on a top shelf that has no supports at each side of the opening, a pair of support posts are included that hold aloft the top horizontal wire rope. A network of stays and guys are used to reinforce each such post.

Abstract: A plasma transport system uses a slow-wave power signal in external radio-frequency (RF) inductors to force plasmas to flow through ducts, such as from a plasma generator to a point of use. A magneto-hydrodynamic force is deliberately created by the RF inductors to displace plasma electrons down along the inside of the ductwork. A charge separation results that both drags the ions along and slows down the electrons with the ion drag. The consequence is that both electrons and ions are motivated down the ductwork and the overall plasma charge stays neutral. A directed stream of energetic ions and neutral gas atoms can be realized. The RF electric fields induced in the plasma tend to counteract any electron cooling and help maintains the plasma electron temperature enough to reduce later reionization power demands.

Abstract: A pallet rack safety net system comprises two parallel horizontal wire ropes that are stretched along the top and bottom edges of a shelf opening. A pair of hung left and right screens of flexible netting are attached between the top and bottom wire ropes so that they can be horizontally separated at the middle of the shelf opening. The inside vertical edges of each screen are finished with a metal bar and a clasp so the screens can be latched together at the middle. The outside left and right edges of the screens are secured to the outside of the shelf opening. If used on a top shelf that has no supports at each side of the opening, a pair of support posts are included that hold aloft the top horizontal wire rope. A network of stays and guys are used to reinforce each such post.

Abstract: A C-clamp capo comprises a string press for clamping down on the strings of a string-instrument against a front side of a fretboard. An extension arm curves behind and has an idler clamp with a first pivot attachment. Such enables a clamping action against a backside of the fretboard. A continuous insert having a positioning bumper that ensures consistent positioning against the fretboard is disposed all along an inside surface of the string press from a distal end across the first pivot attachment bridging over to an inside surface of the idler clamp and out to its distal end. A locking lever has a second pivot attachment to the extension arm behind the first pivot attachment, and provides a locking action against a backside of the idler clamp. A setscrew disposed in the locking lever provides an adjustable locking action between the idler clamp and the locking lever, e.g., for a range of thicknesses of the fretboard to be accommodated.