Abstract: A condition responsive indicating device, comprising a local transceiver, configured to communicate with a signal box alarm panel, and a processor, coupled to the local transceiver. The condition responsive indicating device also comprises a remote transceiver, coupled to the processor and configured to connect to at least one network as well as a memory, coupled to the processor. The condition responsive indicating device further comprises programming in the memory, wherein execution of the programming by the processor configures the condition responsive indicating device to implement the following functions. First, to receive an input message via the local transceiver, the input message including a protocol designator. Second, to select a protocol based on the protocol designator of the input message. Third, to transmit an output message via the remote transceiver, over at least one outbound network from the at least one network, utilizing the selected protocol.

Abstract: A tractor-trailer ID system comprising a tractor device in a tractor, the tractor device including a tractor transceiver, a tractor display, and a tractor controller. The system also including a trailer device in the trailer, the trailer device including a trailer transceiver, and a trailer controller. The tractor-trailer ID system is configured to display, via the tractor display, load pickup instructions to a driver of the tractor, determine that the trailer has been connected to the tractor, and after determining that the trailer is connected to the tractor, transmit, from the trailer transceiver to the tractor transceiver, a trailer ID, confirm, via the tractor controller, the trailer ID.

Abstract: A rheological measurement method and device (e.g., a viscometer or rheometer) for measuring rheological properties are disclosed. A rheological property such as viscosity is determined by detecting data corresponding to torque between a drive shaft and a measurement shaft, producing an optical signal corresponding to the detected data, sending the corresponding optical signal with an optical transmitter supported by a rotational structure coupled to the drive shaft, receiving the optical signal from the optical transmitter with an optical receiver supported by a stationary structure of the rheological measurement device, producing an electrical signal corresponding to the received optical signal, and generating a measurement signal based on the electrical signal that corresponds to the torque between the drive shaft and the measurement shaft.

Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes an assembly housing which supports a motor assembly, a working fan assembly which includes a working fan rotated by the motor assembly which draws in and exhausts working air, and a cooling fan assembly which includes a cooling fan rotated by the motor assembly which draws in and exhausts cooling air. The assembly housing includes a motor vent cover associated with the cooling fan assembly, wherein the motor vent cover further includes a sidewall with at least one vent hole therethrough and at least one socket aligned with the at least one vent hole. The assembly also includes a body having a tube opening extending therethrough, and an inner facing surface with at least one tail receivable in the at least one socket so that the at least one vent hole is contiguous with the tube opening.

Abstract: A throughflow motor assembly includes a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft and a housing with a motor assembly mounted to one end and a housing opening therethrough. A fan assembly is rotated by the rotatable shaft and received in the housing at an end opposite the motor assembly. The housing includes a partition which partitions the fan assembly and the motor assembly from one another, and includes at least one centrally located flow passage extending therethrough. The fan assembly draws air over the motor assembly, through the housing opening and at least one centrally located flow passage, and then into the fan assembly which exhausts the air.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for measuring properties of a material are disclosed. A device is configured to automatically identify a property of the material such as a surface of the material as a measuring head of a spindle engages the material as the spindle is lowered. After the material surface is identified, the device is configured to automatically lower the measuring head to a predefined depth within the material with respect to the material surface. The device may measure another property of the material such as a rheological property with the measuring head at the predefined depth. The device may change the depth of the measuring head during measurement of the rheological property.

Abstract: An electronics assembly having a substrate, a heat-conductive body spaced from the substrate, a temperature dependent electronic component mounted on the substrate, and a heating element in thermal contact between the temperature dependent electronic component and the heat-conductive body. Methods of making and using an electronics assembly are also provided.

Abstract: Pressure vessels that operate at elevated temperatures and pressures (e.g., 600° F./316° C., 20000 psig), and ultrasonic transducers and signal connectors for use therein, are described. The pressure vessels include a housing defining a cavity. The housing includes a cylindrical body with plugs positioned within openings of the cylindrical body. Each plug has a recess extending from an external surface to a location ultrasonically adjacent the cavity. The pressure vessels additionally include transducer assemblies positioned within respective plug recesses. Each transducer assembly includes a signal connector positioned within the recess adjacent the external surface, a transducer having a piezoceramic element positioned within the recess at the location ultrasonically adjacent the cavity, and a metallic interconnection spring interconnecting the transducer to the signal connector.

Abstract: An autoloader is disclosed for staging samples in vials to be loaded automatically into an analyzer such as a moisture analyzer for moisture analysis. The analyzer uses vials to hold small amounts of sample materials. The autoloader holds the vials in a horizontal orientation for delivery to and removal from the analyzer.

Abstract: A texture analyzer having a support structure including a base plate, a carriage support, and a moveable carriage that receives a load cell module; a fixture to receive a sample between the base plate and the load cell module; a memory storing support structure and load cell module deflection parameters; and a processor. The processor is configured to identify the load cell module, retrieve the support structure deflection parameters and one of multiple load cell module deflection parameters, obtain raw measurement signals from the load cell module, and refine the raw measurement signals to compensate for deflection in the load cell module using the retrieved load cell module deflection parameters and support structure deflection parameters.

Abstract: A communicator device including a network interface for facilitating internet protocol (IP) communication, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) device interface for facilitating communication with a PSTN device and a processor. The processor is configured to communicate with a user application via an IP connection, receive instructions via the IP connection, generate a telephone ring signal based on the instructions, output the telephone ring signal to the PSTN device via the PSTN device interface, in response to the PSTN device providing a response to the telephone ring signal, establish a tip/ring connection between the PSTN device and the communicator device, and perform a data exchange between the user application and the PSTN device via a communication link that includes the IP connection and the tip/ring connection.

Abstract: An asset monitoring system includes a server, and a monitoring system mounted in a container. The monitoring system includes a camera, a transceiver, and a controller configured to control the camera to capture images of the inside of a container, and control the transceiver transmit the images to a server. The server is configured to process the images to determine loading data including at least one of an unused volume or an unused floor space inside the container, and transmit the loading data to a customer computer.

Abstract: A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.

Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft extending therethrough and a working fan assembly having at least one working fan rotated by the rotatable shaft. The motor-fan assembly includes a motor cover that substantially encloses the motor assembly. The motor assembly provides a cover opening extending therethrough and the rotatable shaft extends through the opening. The motor-fan assembly also includes a cooling fan assembly with at least one cooling fan rotated by the rotatable shaft which fan draws cooling airflow over the motor assembly. A motor vent cover is coupled to the motor cover with the at least one cooling fan therebetween. The motor vent cover has a cooling air outlet through which cooling airflow is exhausted.

Abstract: A nickel and chromium alloy having a combined wt. % of nickel and chromium of at least 97 wt. %, wherein the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the alloy. The alloy may be provided in strip form and has adequate ductility for the manufacture of various products, such as sheaths for flux cored welding electrodes. A method of making the alloy strip includes forming a powder charge that is 97 to 100 wt. % of nickel and chromium combined and the chromium accounts for 33 to 50 wt. % of the charge, roll compacting the powder charge to form a green strip, sintering the green strip to form a sintered strip, and cold rolling and annealing the sintered strip to form the alloy strip.

Abstract: Linear actuators driven by everted ball screw assemblies are described herein. In some examples, the everted ball screw assembly includes a hollow screw shaft with internal threads, a ball cylinder concentrically positioned therein and having external threads, and a plurality of balls sized to fit in a substantially contiguous series along a working pathway that is defined by the space between the internal and external threads. One or more limiters prevent the ball cylinder from rotating. A motor rotates the hollow screw shaft, thereby driving the balls along the pathway and imparting linear motion to the ball cylinder, which is coupled to a connecting rod for actuating a load. The ball cylinder in some examples includes an internal return path with scoop elements that are sized and shaped to guide the balls into the internal return path and then back onto the working pathway.

Abstract: Linear actuators are described herein. In particular embodiments, a linear actuator includes an everted ball screw assembly comprising a hollow screw shaft with internal threads, a ball cylinder concentrically positioned therein and having external threads, and a plurality of bearing balls sized to fit in a substantially contiguous series along a working pathway defined by the space between the internal and external threads. The linear actuator may include a support bearing for rotatably supporting the screw shaft in a housing. The ball cylinder in particular embodiments includes an internal return path along which the balls return to the working pathway. The everted ball screw assembly may include a lash reduction assembly and one or more scoop inserts that are sized and shaped to guide the balls into the internal return path and back onto the working pathway.

Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes an assembly housing which supports a motor assembly and a working fan assembly having a working fan rotated by the motor assembly which draws in and exhausts working air. The motor-fan assembly also includes a cooling fan assembly which provides a cooling fan rotated by the motor assembly that draws in and exhausts cooling air. The assembly housing has at least one of an inlet insert and an outlet insert through which working air or cooling air passes. The inserts are removable from the assembly housing.

Abstract: Linear actuators driven by everted ball screw assemblies are described herein. In some examples, the everted ball screw assembly includes a hollow screw shaft with internal threads, a ball cylinder concentrically positioned therein and having external threads, and a plurality of balls sized to fit in a substantially contiguous series along a working pathway that is defined by the space between the internal and external threads. One or more limiters prevent the ball cylinder from rotating. A motor rotates the hollow screw shaft, thereby driving the balls along the pathway and imparting linear motion to the ball cylinder, which is coupled to a connecting rod for actuating a load. The ball cylinder in some examples includes an internal return path with scoop elements that are sized and shaped to guide the balls into the internal return path and then back onto the working pathway.

Abstract: Linear actuators are described herein, In particular embodiments, a linear actuator includes an everted ball screw assembly comprising a hollow screw shaft with internal threads, a ball cylinder concentrically positioned therein and having external threads, and a plurality of bearing balls sized to fit in a substantially contiguous series along a working pathway defined by the space between the internal and external threads. The linear actuator may include a support bearing for rotatably supporting the screw shaft in a housing. The ball cylinder in particular embodiments includes an internal return path along which the balls return to the working pathway. The everted ball screw assembly may include a lash reduction assembly and one or more scoop inserts that are sized and shaped to guide the balls into the internal return path and back onto the working pathway.