Abstract: A wheel assembly is provided, particularly for use with a vehicle, for example a scooter or a bicycle and the like, for operation in both eccentric and concentric modes. The wheel rim of the assembly rotatably and concentrically supports a wheel hub thereon. An offset axle is supported on the wheel hub radially spaced from the central axis of the wheel for rotation with the wheel hub relative to the wheel rim about the central axis. The offset axle rotatably connects to the frame of the vehicle. A locking mechanism selectively engages the wheel hub for rotation with the wheel rim in the eccentric mode, while the rim rotates freely about the central axis relative to the rim in the concentric mode. In this arrangement, any variety of simple clutch mechanism between the hub and the rim is effective for converting between the eccentric and concentric modes of operation.

Abstract: A seeding apparatus plants seed in the ground with a minimum soil disturbance. A base plate is provided which is supported for sliding movement along the ground and which includes a plurality of seed apertures formed therein. A metering system meters seed from a seed hopper to the seed apertures. Reciprocating push-rods subsequently push the seed through the seed aperture to a prescribed depth below a surface of the ground. As the seed remains in contact with moist soil below the surface of the ground, rapid germination results without concern for seed runoff when seeding sloped surfaces.

Abstract: A wind turbine assembly includes a venturi passage and a rotor in proximity thereto for rotation about an axis lying substantially perpendicular to the venturi passage. A rotor chamber partially surrounds the rotor. A port communicates between the rotor chamber and a low pressure point of the venturi passage. A remaining exposed portion of rotor is rotated by wind forces pushing the rotor. Communication of the rotor chamber with the venturi passage reduces pressure in the rotor chamber to increase efficiency of the wind forces pushing on the rotor blades.

Abstract: A projectile including a spherical core and a hook or loop outer cover, has an overall diameter, including the cover which is equal to or less than an internal diameter of a 68 caliber paintball gun for use in the gun in place of paintballs. The diameter of the projectile permits gravity fed, drop loading of projectiles into a conventional paintball gun barrel without an compression of the projectile being required whatsoever. The resultant small gap surrounding the projectile within the barrel permits some pressurized gas to escape around the projectile when firing, thus limiting the velocity of the projectile to a safer velocity for closer range use of conventional paintball guns. A gun is also described having a shuttle for pushing a projectile through the barrel thereof by action of a stretched resilient band. The barrel is sized similarly to a conventional 68 caliber paintball gun for firing either paintballs or the projectiles described herein.

Abstract: An ergonomic handle for a hand tool includes a main portion extending in a longitudinal direction between a gripping portion and a tool head supporting portion opposite the gripping portion. Both the gripping portion and the tool head supporting portion are offset at an inclination in relation to the longitudinal direction of the main portion at a compound angle including a lateral angle and a vertical angle to ensure proper alignment while improving the line of sight to the tool head. The handle is suited for a hammer system in which removable fastening means secure the tool head to the handle to permit various adjustments to be made to the tool head. A tension member is also received through the handle under tension so that the handle is pre-stressed under compression for added strength.

Abstract: A momentum management system for attitude control of a spacecraft includes a housing to be fixed to the spacecraft and a momentum wheel rotor in the housing for storing angular momentum. A gimbal assembly mounts the rotor in the housing. The rotor is driven by a drive with its output coupled to the rotor. A torque generation imparts torque to the rotor about axes orthogonal to the drive axis. The gimbal assembly includes a gimbal ring coupling the drive output to the rotor. The gimbal ring in turn includes flexure joints connecting the gimbal ring to the drive and the rotor. The flexure joints are configured to permit the rotor to tilt about two flexure axes orthogonal to the drive axis to incline the rotor axis through a range of angles from about 0 degrees to about 7 degrees with respect to the drive axis under the control of said torque generation device. The preferred flexure joint is formed from two resilient, crossing webs.

Abstract: An explicit definition of a geometric object is converted into a level set which implicitly defines the geometric object. The explicit definition is converted to a form for efficient ray casting. Magnitude and sign values are assigned to a grid of voxels using ray casting in which the magnitude value represent a minimum distance from the voxel to the object and the sign value defines whether the voxel is inside or outside the object. The magnitude and sign values may be removed of discontinuities and smoothed before an accurate level set implicitly defining the object is achieved. Run length encoding may be applied to define a sparse level set in which consecutive voxels having identical values are compressed into a single value including a marker to indicate a quantity of the consecutive voxels.

Abstract: A training appliance for a goaltender is used in training goaltenders in a sport of the type having a goal including two, spaced apart upright posts and a crossbar joining the posts to define a goal mouth, foe example ice hockey. The appliance includes a band of stiff material and a mounting arrangement for mounting the band on the goal at a position spaced to a front side of the goal mouth and extending transversely across the goal mouth to be engaged by the goaltender to prevent backing into the goal in the face of oncoming play.

Abstract: A mud flap is provided for a vehicle which comprises a panel member of rubber having a top mounting end for securement within the wheel well of a vehicle, a bottom free end having a metallic accent plate supported thereon and respective inner and outer sides extending between the ends of the panel member. A recessed portion in the panel member received the accent plate therein and includes a peripheral lip to overlap the peripheral edges of the accent plate. The use of a peripheral lip which overlaps a peripheral edge of the accent plate prevents separation of the plate from the panel member when the panel member is deformed by wind and debris in use. Accordingly dirt and debris are not permitted to be lodged between the plate and the panel member, thus preventing deformation and an unattractive appearance to the mud flap.

Abstract: A grease gun holder includes a mounting plate having apertures therein for securement to an upright supporting surface, for example a wall, using suitable fasteners. A clip is provided on the mounting plate for securably receiving the tubular body of the grease gun therein. A drip tray is also provided on the mounting plate spaced below the clip. A nozzle holder secures a nozzle of the grease gun to the mounting plate above the drip tray. The holder permits a grease gun to be readily stored with minimal mess as any leakage or drips of grease which may occur from either the tubular body or the nozzle can be collected within the tray.

Abstract: Agricultural waste lagoons are the predominant method currently utilized to contain large quantities of livestock by-products such as manure. Clay liners are the most common materials used to line the bottom of storage lagoons in order to prevent waste effluent seepage. Clay liners are an economical lining material and have a hydraulic conductivity of less than 1×10?7 cm/s. Proper containment of waste in storage lagoons is critical to avoid the implications of local groundwater contamination. A hydraulic conductivity probe was designed to alleviate the negative aspects of the current methods used to determine hydraulic conductivity. The probe includes a housing for insertion into the ground, electrical potential gradient means for generating an electrical potential gradient in the ground and pressure sensing means for measuring changes in pressure in the ground.

Abstract: A strapping system is used to strap loads to the deck of trailers and/or trucks. The system includes a pair of rollers supported by a frame above the deck which extend in a longitudinal direction of the deck. Strapping is rolled onto the rollers. Anchors at the free ends of the strapping can be secured along opposing sides of the deck. A tightener in the form of a crank and ratchet mechanism is coupled to the rollers for tensioning the strapping spanning between the rollers and the free ends anchored to the sides of the deck. The load, for example large round bales, is retained beneath the strapping under tension. The tightener permits common tensioning of all strapping of each roller in a single, time saving operation to ensure loads readily secured before transport.

Abstract: A distillation system is provided having an evaporation conduit and a condensing conduit connected by a transfer system for transferring distillate vapour from the evaporation conduit to the condensing conduit to condense the distillate. The evaporation and condensing conduits operate under vacuum pressure. An intake conduit and a return conduit communicate in an unrestricted manner between a source of solution and the evaporation conduit. A distillate conduit communicates with the condensing conduit for dispensing condensed distillate therefrom. A radiant heat capturing system is provided for capturing and using heat radiated from the distillate conduit to generate power.

Abstract: A railway indicator device is provided for indicating a condition associated with a particular section of track of a railway. The device includes a post supported in the ground adjacent the railway track which pivotally supports a swing arm thereon for movement between a raised position extending vertically above the post and a lowered position extending horizontally across the railway track spaced above the ground. An indicator panel, for example a blue flag indicator is supported on the free end of the swing arm for pivotal movement therewith relative to the post. The pivoting swing arm permits the indicator panel to be readily retracted or deployed by a single operator while minimizing opportunity for the indicator panel to be lost or damaged as commonly occurs with conventional designs of indicators used on railways.

Abstract: A portable space heater is provided in which a sealed vessel includes electrical heating elements for containing a fluid to be heated. A cooling tube communicates between an outlet at a top of the vessel and an inlet pipe extending down into the vessel. The inlet pipe includes an open top end for operating the vessel substantially at atmospheric pressure. A cooling fan directed at the cooling tube causes steam escaping from the outlet of the vessel to be condensed and returned at the inlet pipe. Plural independent electrical heating elements are provided for accurate control of heat output from the heater. The fan includes an inlet pipe extending upwardly thereabove for drawing air from the top of a space to be heated.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for providing substantially uniform illumination. The apparatus includes an elongate reflector housing with an inner surface having a substantially constant profile in cross section which is generally concave, an optical center being defined at a geometric focus of the profile of the inner surface. In a preferred embodiment, substantially uniform illumination is achieved by providing an elongate light source positioned within the elongate reflector housing such that a geometric center of the light source is situated preferably spaced outwardly from the optical center of the housing, away from the inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A propulsion linearizing mechanism is provided for linearizing a fluid flow. The mechanism includes a frame having a cylindrical outer baffle which rotatably supports a plurality of propeller elements thereon. Each propeller element defines a respective sweep area as the propeller element is rotated which overlaps sweep areas of adjacent propeller elements. The outer baffle circumscribes an outer periphery of the collective sweep areas of the respective propeller elements. The propeller elements rotate in the same direction whereby forces of curvature flow of adjacent propeller elements substantially cancel one another to linearize fluid flow through the mechanism. Additional baffles and infills within the areas of non blade sweep may be provided for particular applications of the mechanism.

Abstract: A manifold device connects in series between the wellhead and the outer casing of a well for providing access to the outer casing of the well without removing the wellhead. The device includes a tubular body for receiving the tubing string of the well therethrough. Plural access passages are formed in the tubular body to extend generally in the longitudinal direction of the body between an external end which is spaced radially from the hollow interior of the tubular body and an internal end converging in communication with the hollow interior at the bottom end of the manifold device. Well servicing tools can be inserted into the casing annulus defined between the outer casing and the tubing string of the well through one of the access passages formed in the tubular body of the manifold device.