Abstract: A trailer having support wheels and a frame adapted to be hitched to a truck, includes a support track extending longitudinally for supporting an unload conveyor. The conveyor is mounted by a turret to the support track and, thus, to the trailer frame, permitting the turret to move in a fore-to-aft direction, as well as to rotate about the vertical for about 180°, providing flexibility in use as well as transport and storage. A support module, carrying at least one storage container is mounted on the trailer frame. The storage containers may be provided in a number of different sizes and they may be arranged in various configurations suiting the user's needs. The turret is positioned along the track beneath a desired seed container, which may then be unloaded by the conveyor to fill a planter seed box or grain drill, or for other seed handling applications.

Abstract: A software-based application enables network communication devices in a wireless network to receive and display video from a plurality of network enabled cameras positioned in a plurality of select spaced apart geographic locations. Various types of network enabled cameras may be employed, including disparate cameras manufactured by different manufacturers. In addition, group pre-sets may be created by network administrators for easy access by end-users in the field.

Abstract: A bollard assembly having a post and a sleeve. The post has a cylindrical post wall forming a cavity and a passage in the post wall. The passage has a first section that extends longitudinally along the post wall and a second section that intersects the first section and extends crosswise to the first section. The sleeve has a cylindrical sleeve wall forming a cavity and a latch pin that is attached to the sleeve wall and extends into the cavity. The sleeve is adapted to receive the post such that the latch pin travels through the passage in the post wall.

Abstract: A plastic container includes a squeezable bottle providing a lower main liquid reservoir for storing a cleaning solution, an upper dispensing receptacle for measuring and dispensing a measured quantity of liquid, and a transfer duct communicating a lower portion of the main liquid reservoir with an upper portion of the dispensing receptacle for transferring liquid from the main liquid reservoir to the upper dispensing receptacle. After the main liquid reservoir is filled through an opening at the base of the dispensing receptacle, the opening is closed with an insert equipped with a check valve. This same container is adapted to a single flow or double-flow proportioning container by providing a drop tube which opens the check valve and permits liquid to pass from the main reservoir through a check valve housed in a cap assembly, thence through a metering tip to a delivery tube which is in fluid communication with a proportioning device.

Abstract: There is provided a system that includes (a) a power feed that distributes a high DC voltage in a building, where the high DC voltage is in a range of about 300 to 600 VDC, (b) a converter, coupled to the power feed, that receives the high DC voltage, and scales the high DC voltage to a low DC voltage, and (c) a controller that controls a firing rate of the converter so that the low DC voltage is in a range of about 23 to 48 VDC.

Abstract: A floor cleaning machine includes a driven brush for sweeping debris and dirt into a dirt container which is supported by a retracting arm actuated by a powered actuator, such as an hydraulic cylinder, between a use position in which said dirt container is sealed to a dirt discharge opening to collect all the dirt, and a raised, dumping position. Between the use position and the dumping position, the dirt container is maintained in the same disposition to avoid inadvertent spillage of its contents, by the cooperation of an articulating linkage which includes an auxiliary arm. The auxiliary arm is releaseably fixed to the machine by a latch to maintain the desired disposition of the dirt container while raising the container. When the dirt container is raised to the dumping position, and the latch is released, the dirt container pivots to dump its contents.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes for measuring one or more surfaces of a part utilizing both Photogrammetry and laser tracking devices. The measured part may comprise the barrel of an airplane. In other embodiments, varying types of surfaces may be measured in both airplane and non-airplane applications. In one embodiment, such a process may comprise measuring at least one surface of a part utilizing Photogrammetry, and simultaneously measuring the at least one surface utilizing laser tracking.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a final heading of a turning vehicle, such as a rotorcraft. The system may include an algorithm that calculates an advance prediction of a final heading that will be achieved after control input is terminated. The system may also include a device, such as a display, for conveying predicted final heading information to an aircraft controller, such as a pilot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an air-gap-insulated exhaust manifold (1) of an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, having a collecting line (2) that extends in a longitudinal direction (3), an outlet opening (4) oriented in the longitudinal direction (3), multiple inlet openings (5) oriented across the longitudinal direction (3) and a flange (6) that extends in the longitudinal direction (3) and includes the inlet openings (5), wherein an inside pipe (11) is situated in an outside pipe (10), forming an air-gap insulation, and whereby a gas-carrying outside pipe section (13) is provided in the area of at least one of the inlet openings (5) and leads from the respective inlet opening (5) to an assigned inside pipe inlet (14) which is at a distance from the flange (6). The inside pipe (11) is attached to the outside pipe (10) only in an attachment area (15).

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is capable of achieving bidirectional, full-duplex communication with an optical transceiver. In some instances, the communication is achieved over a single electrical connection of the transceiver and via the use of a duplexing circuit on the transceiver and a complementary duplexing circuit on a distal circuit coupled to the transceiver via the single electrical connection. The techniques described may be used to modify existing optical transceivers to provide diagnostic or health information without interrupting normal transceiver operation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection reference standard for composite materials having porosity may include a member, having at least one thickness and defined by a plurality of holes, that is manufactured from a fiber-free polymer resin. The ultrasonic inspection reference standard may have similar acoustic properties to prior art, porous, fiber-reinforced, composite reference standards, at lower manufacturing cost. A photo-polymer resin reference standard, having at least one thickness and defined by a plurality of holes, may be created using a stereo lithography process. The polymer resin reference standard may replace more costly porous, fiber-reinforced, composite reference standards. The ultrasonic inspection reference standard, manufactured from a polymer resin, may be used for ultrasonic inspection of porous, fiber-reinforced composite parts in the aircraft industry and in other non-aircraft applications.

Abstract: A system and method of performing a ply layup for a composite panel is provided. The system and method may include attaching an electronically identifiable tag to at least one of a plurality of plies, and checking, using the electronically identifiable tag, to ensure the proper sequence of plies for the panel is being followed.

Abstract: An image shifting apparatus may capture multiple frames of an image, with each frame offset by a sub-pixel offset distance. After capture, the various sub-pixel offset images may be registered together and analyzed using known resolution enhancement algorithms. Super resolution algorithms, for example. may take the various frames and perform edge identification and peak extraction routines to improve the resolution of high frequency data within an image. The image shifting apparatus may include an actuation controlled optical compensator within the imaging system that may be adjusted to create a sub-pixel offset image of an original reference image. The optical compensator may be an image-stabilizing element, for example, capable of forming sub-pixel shifts in an image plane.

Abstract: A programmable and alternately configurable lighting fixture including a light emitting diode array adapted to affixed within a fixture housing. The lighting fixture includes a controller that is adapted to selectively power the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide two or more light beam patterns, each of the two or more light beam patterns selectively directable to two or more distinct lighting areas. The controller and the plurality of light emitting diodes are conductively connected to a power supply. The controller is programmable such that the lighting fixture is adaptable to various seating and lighting configurations, for instance a two seat/two beam configuration, a three seat/three beam configuration or a four seat/four beam configuration. Interchangeable lens assemblies are configured to appropriately direct and focus the selected number of lighting beams to the selected and distinct lighting areas.

Abstract: A system and method for loading a new data and searching data sets to identify data elements with the data set that meet user defined criteria. A notification that new data set is available is received by a first server, the new data set is transferred to the first server, and the first server stores the new data set and an old data. At least a portion of the old data set and the new data set are transferred from the first server to the second server, which is in communication with the first server, which stores the portions of the old data set and new data set. The second server receives user search requests and: (1) processes queries in response to the user search requests by running a first search process using the portion of the old data set prior to receiving a command to switch to the new data set; and (2) processes queries in response to the user search requests by running a second search process using the portion of the new data set after receiving the command to switch to the new data set.

Abstract: A method of determining the attitude of a spinning spacecraft is provided. The method includes stabilizing the spacecraft, initializing the attitude of the spacecraft using star tracker data, and estimating the attitude of the spacecraft.

Abstract: An animal identification and security system and method assigns an identifying code uniquely associated with each system member and each animal owned by the member. An identification code imprinted on a marker attached to the animal includes information uniquely identifying the animal's owner including a two letter abbreviation of the state of residence, a numerical identifier of the county of residence, and an assigned number designating the owner's ranch/farm within the indicated county. The identification code further includes a letter designation of the type of animal and the individual animal's number within the owner's herd/flock, as well as a two letter designation of the animal's country of origin. The identifying codes are maintained in a computerized system at a central location for dissemination on a global information network for facilitating the return of lost or stolen animals to the rightful owner and to indicate the origin of all registered animals.

Abstract: The invention discloses differing embodiments of apparatus, and methods for their use, which are designed to aide in lifting bed mattresses and tucking in bed covers. In some embodiments, kits are disclosed which include wedge apparatus for lifting bed mattresses, and tuck apparatus for tucking in bed covers. In other embodiments, wedge apparatus for lifting portions of bed mattresses are disclosed. In still other embodiments, tuck apparatus for tucking in bed covers are provided. Additional embodiments disclose methods for using the kits, wedge apparatus, and tuck apparatus.

Abstract: A safety device for hand tools includes a casing having a first clasp secured to the casing for mounting to the tool. A second clasp is mounted to a retractable cable connected to a constant tension cable reel mounted within the casing: The cable is payed out of and retracted into the bottom of the housing in its normal use position, and the second clasp is attached to a fixed support or “lock point” located below the normal working height of the tool. In use, when the tool is held by a worker and the housing is upright, a lock plate is disengaged from a ratchet plate fixed to the retractable reel so the tool is freely moveable relative to the lock point and easily maneuvered. If the tool is dropped, the reel retracts the cable as the tool begins to fall. The device is inverted as it falls below the lock point.