Abstract: A system and method for a valve for an expandable gas or fluid valve is disclosed. The valve comprises an electromagnetic switch with a male connector on one face, and a female connector on an opposite face. The electromagnetic switch has a passageway connecting the male connector with the female connector. An output port is switchably connected to the passageway by the electromagnetic switch. The male connector on one face can be coupled to the female connector on another electromagnetic switch, forming a line or chain of electromagnetic switches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that measures the flow through a conduit (702) by measuring the Coriolis coupling between two vibration modes in the conduit. The conduit is first excited at two different vibration modes at two different frequencies (704). The coupling between the two modes is determined by forcing the phases of the two modes at the off mode frequency to be zero (708). The flow through the conduit can then be determined using the magnitude of the forces required to drive the phases of the two modes at the off mode frequency to zero (710).

Abstract: A meter electronics and method for detecting a residual material in a flow meter assembly are provided according to the invention. The meter electronics includes a processing system adapted to direct the flow meter to vibrate the flow meter assembly and receive a vibrational response from the flow meter assembly. The meter electronics further includes a storage system configured to store flow meter parameters and data. The meter electronics is further characterized by the processing system being configured to compare the vibrational response to a predetermined residual material threshold to detect the residual material.

Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a power supply, an electrostatic precipitator cell, and a door. The door closes the electrostatic precipitator cell inside the air cleaner. The air cleaner further includes a door switch that is actuated by the door when the door is substantially closed. The air cleaner further includes a cell presence switch. The electrostatic precipitator cell actuates the cell presence switch when the electrostatic precipitator cell is at least partially inserted into the air cleaner. The cell presence switch and the door switch enable electrical power to be supplied from the power source to one or more air cleaner components when the electrostatic precipitator cell is at least partially inserted into the air cleaner and when the door is substantially closed.

Abstract: A cord management system operable to reduce or eliminate various forces exerted on a vacuum cleaner power cord. The system includes a swiveling strain relief incorporated into the vacuum handle and collars, used to connect sections of dirty air conduit, having exterior portions that enable the power cord to be retained in a secure manner.

Abstract: An ergonomic appliance handle is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The appliance handle includes a base adapted to be affixed to a handle portion of an appliance, a handle grip, and a pivot device for pivotally attaching the handle grip to the base. The pivot device is positioned at a first location on the base. The pivot device allows the handle grip to pivot on the base between at least two pivoting positions. The appliance handle further includes a pivot restraint device for removably latching the handle grip in a closed position of the at least two pivoting positions. The pivot restraint device is positioned at a second location on the base that is spaced-apart from the first location.

Abstract: A knob attachment assembly formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is provided. The knob attachment assembly includes a control device housing (105) and an actuation member (106) coupled to the control device housing, the actuation member including a first engagement surface (140). The knob attachment assembly further includes a gripping device (104) including a first interference surface (158), the gripping device being selectively coupled to the actuation member and positionable between a locked position, wherein the gripping device is coupled to the actuation member by interference of the first engagement surface and the first interference surface, and an unlocked position, wherein the gripping device is removable from the actuation member.

Abstract: A de-icing information system processes weather data indicating precipitation rate and temperature to determine a check time for a de-icing fluid. The de-icing fluid remains effective if applied after the check time, and the de-icing fluid may not remain effective if applied before the check time. The de-icing information system transfers the de-icing information indicating the check time.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the invention includes a chassis, a fan unit including a blower housing mounted to the chassis and an inlet housing affixed to the blower housing, and a baseplate affixed to the chassis. An access aperture is formed in the baseplate. The access aperture extends at least partially over the fan unit. A door can be included in the baseplate. A bearing washer is positioned between the blower housing and the inlet housing and provides a substantially air-tight seal between the blower housing and the inlet housing. The inlet housing includes a bearing face, an inlet conduit portion, a slide flange, and a slide block. The slide block slides into and engages the slide flange and further slides into and engages the chassis of the vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: An air cleaner including a constant current power supply is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes a collector cell and a constant current power supply coupled to the collector cell. The constant current power supply is configured to maintain a substantially constant electrical current output to the collector cell, compare an output voltage of the constant current power supply to an upper voltage threshold VU and to a lower voltage threshold VL, and shut down the constant current power supply if the output voltage is not between the upper voltage threshold VU and the lower voltage threshold VL.

Abstract: A self-vacuum arrangement for pneumatic equipment is provided. A Venturi device having first and second ports and a central tap is provided. A first check valve having a first port operably coupled with the central tap of the Venturi device is configured to prevent pneumatic flow from the central tap through the first check valve. Optionally included is a second valve having a first port operably coupled with the first port of the Venturi device, and a second port operably coupled with the second port of the Venturi device.

Abstract: A gas test system (300) is disclosed comprised of a flow loop (302), a blower system (304), a temperature control system (306), a reference meter system (308), and a unit under test (UUT) system (310). The UUT system connects a unit under test (UUT) to the flow loop. The blower system receives the gas under pressure at an inlet (321), and generates a high flow rate of the gas out of an outlet (322) while generating a low pressure rise from the inlet to the outlet. The temperature control system receives the flow of gas from the blower system and controls the temperature of the gas. The reference meter system and the UUT in the UUT system measure a property of the gas circulating through the flow loop. The measurements of the reference meter system can be compared to the measurements of the UUT to calibrate the UUT.

Abstract: A valve island that has the PC board captured in the expansion station is disclosed. The PC board is held into the expansion station by a feature on the PC board that interferes with the inside of the wire-way of the expansion station sub-base.

Abstract: A remote monitoring system is described which enables monitoring of flow meters or other scientific instruments from a remote location using the GSM cellular phone network. The system includes a wireless modem utilizing the GSM cellular phone network, a central processing unit, connection of a scientific instrument to the central processing unit, power supply (e.g. one or more batteries), and an enclosure for housing the components.

Abstract: A precipitation measurement device measures a precipitation rate of falling precipitation. A first probe is exposed to the falling precipitation. A first temperature sensor detects a first probe temperature. A second probe is shielded from the falling precipitation. A second temperature sensor detects a second probe temperature. A heating element heats the first probe and the second probe when turned on, but not when turned off. After being heated and when the heating element is turned off, the first probe cools at a first temperature drop rate, and the second probe cools at a second temperature drop rate. Circuitry processes a difference between the first temperature drop rate and the second temperature drop rate to determine the precipitation rate of the falling precipitation.

Abstract: A clamp device for removably attaching a vacuum cleaner component to a structure according to an embodiment of the invention includes a clamp adapted to removably attach to the structure, a slot formed in the clamp, and a knob attached to the vacuum cleaner component. The knob slides into the slot of the clamp and the vacuum cleaner component is removably held in the clamp by the knob.

Abstract: An air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The air cleaner includes an air duct including an inlet end and an outlet end, a pre-filter positioned at the inlet end, an electrostatic precipitator positioned in the air duct downstream of the pre-filter, a post-filter positioned in the air duct downstream of the electrostatic precipitator, and a fan unit positioned in the air duct downstream of the post-filter. Airflow travels from the inlet end to the outlet end. The airflow first encounters the pre-filter, encounters the electrostatic precipitator after encountering the pre-filter, encounters the post-filter after encountering the electrostatic precipitator, and encounters the fan unit after encountering the post-filter. Each of the pre-filter, the electrostatic precipitator, and the post-filter can be separately installed and removed from the air duct.

Abstract: A carbon filter panel for an air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The carbon filter panel includes a frame including one or more side members and a frame interior space and a plurality of spaced-apart carbon elements extending across the frame interior space. Airflow can pass between the plurality of carbon elements and through the carbon filter panel.

Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter is operable as a vibrating tube densitometer where a flowtube is driven to vibrate at a fundamental frequency from which density of the material flowing through the flowtube may be calculated. The drive gain is monitored as an indicator of multiphase flow including gas and liquid components where a substantial increase in drive gain indicates gas damping of the flowtube vibrations due to a transient bubble entering the flowtube. The gas damping effects of the transient bubble and the correspondingly reduced density readings are remediated by the use of historical density measurements corresponding to periods of flow when no transient bubble has entered the flowtube.