Abstract: A bite valve for controlling fluid flow from a fluid source includes a sleeve and a hollow valve core. The sleeve includes an outlet end and an opposite, a sleeve outer surface and an opposing sleeve inner surface, and an outlet lip. The core includes a core body including distal and inlet ends. The core includes an inlet defining a flow channel. The core includes a core central chamber and the flow channel extending to the central chamber. The core includes an annular chamber formed about the core body within the sleeve inner surface. The core includes flow ports disposed radially about the core body. The core includes an outer rim that is cooperatively sized and configured with the outlet lip with the outer rim in sealing engagement with the outlet lip and out of sealing engagement when the sleeve deformed towards the core body for discharging fluid flow.

Abstract: A spaghetti squash apparatus includes microwaveable packaging configured to contain spaghetti squash. The spaghetti squash has a skin of the spaghetti squash removed and the spaghetti squash is cut into a predetermined number of spaghetti squash portions, the predetermined number of spaghetti squash portions being packaged in the microwaveable packaging based on weight. Additionally, the spaghetti squash apparatus includes instructions for spaghetti squash preparation located on the packaging. The instructions include heating the spaghetti squash portions in the microwaveable packaging, cooling the spaghetti squash portions in the microwaveable packaging, and interacting with the spaghetti squash portions in the microwaveable packaging until noodles are formed.

Abstract: A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. Rail cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, and a bogie having at least four flanged rail wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame of the rail car. A method for unloading the rail cars includes lifting the front of the frame of the rail cars and pivoting the rail cars by an angle alpha from the track direction at an unloading area, and lowering the front end of the frame to the ground to allow truck access to trailers on the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

Abstract: A spaghetti squash package can include microwaveable packaging and instructions for spaghetti squash preparation including heating content of the microwaveable packaging and interacting with the content of the microwaveable packaging until noodles are formed.

Abstract: A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. Rail cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, and a bogie having at least four flanged rail wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame of the rail car. A method for unloading the rail cars includes lifting the front of the frame of the rail cars and pivoting the rail cars by an angle alpha from the track direction at an unloading area, and lowering the front end of the frame to the ground to allow truck access to trailers on the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

Abstract: A quick release connector is provided that uses a plurality of the ball bearings to engage shaft of a releasable member. The use of multiple ball bearings along different faces of a shaft of a releasable member minimizes vibrations and provides an improved quick release connector adapted for use with microphones, boom arms, ball joints and similar structures used with sound recording or photography equipment.

Abstract: A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. Rail cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, and a bogie having at least four flanged rail wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame of the rail car. A method for unloading the rail cars includes lifting the front of the frame of the rail cars and pivoting the rail cars by an angle alpha from the track direction at an unloading area, and lowering the front end of the frame to the ground to allow truck access to trailers on the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

Abstract: A spaghetti squash package can include microwaveable packaging and instructions for spaghetti squash preparation including heating content of the microwaveable packaging and interacting with the content of the microwaveable packaging until noodles are formed.

Abstract: A ship to railroad intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing railroad cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon. Railroad cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, supported between bogies. Conveyor hooks are pivotally mounted to the frame, and a guide roller with hook guide is provided to adjustably support the conveyor hook(s) below the frame of the railroad car. A method for loading or unloading the railroad cars includes lifting a conveyor hook from a drag chain conveyor using the interaction of the guide roller with a pivot board mounted at the chain conveyor, while shipping container(s) are placed on the railroad car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of railcars involved in ship to railroad intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

Abstract: A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. Rail cars have a frame with a front end and a rear end, and a bogie having at least four flanged rail wheels is pivotally mounted to the rear of the frame of the rail car. A method for unloading the rail cars includes lifting the front of the frame of the rail cars and pivoting the rail cars by an angle alpha from the track direction at an unloading area, and lowering the front end of the frame to the ground to allow truck access to trailers on the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a replacement insert, which may be used for replacing stripped threads and providing the new smooth surface for a washer/gasket on component, such as for a vehicle. The insert has an inner and outer threaded surface, and the inner threads are merely partially formed in the inner cavity of the insert, leaving an unthreaded surface proximate the end of the insert. The insert has a shoulder with a greater diameter than the hole into which it is inserted, to stop further insertion. The insert can be threaded into the hole using the thread chaser bit screwed insert, and continued rotation of the chaser past a thread stop can form remaining threads, allowing for application of torque to install the insert in the component.

Abstract: In an aspect, a process for removing a tail end of Brussels sprouts comprises separating a Brussels sprout from a stack and transferring it to a longitudinal transport track. On the track, the Brussels sprout is manipulated to position a longest dimension of the Brussels sprout perpendicular to a direction of travel of the transport track. Near an end of the track, a position and an orientation of each Brussels sprout is defined by photographic detection. Each Brussels sprout is removed from the transport track by a gripper. A position and an orientation of the gripper are defined using the detected position and orientation of the Brussels sprout to be removed. The gripper is re-oriented and moved along a knife to remove the tail end of the Brussels sprout. The Brussels sprout is removed from the gripper and collected.

Abstract: A rail-road intermodal freight system. In an embodiment, a conveyor system is provided for placing rail cars in a position for loading shipping containers thereon, while an over-the-road trailer is secured to the rail car. By utilizing the method, efficient loading and unloading of train involved in intermodal shipments may save considerable time, and thus reduce costs.

Abstract: A power system for short trains. In an embodiment, an over-the-road tractor is configured with drive gears on a drive axle to interface with driven gear systems on a rail car. By utilizing the apparatus, a method for efficient delivery of goods in containers on semi-trailers may be achieved, thus saving considerable time, and reducing costs.

Abstract: A processed cauliflower mixture includes a plurality of cauliflower stem pieces cut from a cauliflower stem, a plurality of cauliflower crown pieces cut from a cauliflower crown, and packaging containing a mixture of the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces and the plurality of cauliflower crown pieces. The cauliflower stem is treated, prior to being cut into the plurality of cauliflower stem pieces, such that the cauliflower stem mimics the visual and tactile effects of the cauliflower crown.

Abstract: A cauliflower processing comprises pre-washing a cauliflower, including removing unwanted dust, residual, and debris from the cauliflower. Further, the method includes a step for washing the cauliflower with a wash solution containing at least one of sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, organic acids, chlorine dioxide, silver ion, water treated with ozone, water treated with pulsed electric field, and water treated with ultraviolet radiation. Finally, the method includes a step for pulverizing the cauliflower, including at least one of the steps of sizing, grinding, sanding, cutting, dicing, chopping, and crushing the cauliflower.

Abstract: A cauliflower processing comprises pre-washing a cauliflower, including removing unwanted dust, residual, and debris from the cauliflower. Further, the method includes a step for washing the cauliflower with a wash solution containing at least one of sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite, organic acids, chlorine dioxide, silver ion, water treated with ozone, water treated with pulsed electric field, and water treated with ultraviolet radiation. Finally, the method includes a step for pulverizing the cauliflower, including at least one of the steps of sizing, grinding, sanding, cutting, dicing, chopping, and crushing the cauliflower.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary valve and rotary disk fluid dispensing system that sanitizes valve ports using UV radiation during non-use. Steam and ozinated water can also be used for stripping and disinfecting portions of the dispenser that can be accessed by the public. The system also uses detectors including hall detectors and a camera to inspect for blockage of valve ports, tampering or improper operation of the rotary valve disc.

Abstract: Reservations for emergency/urgent care are made by users using a queue feature that identifies earliest available reservations at nearby care facilities that are identified based on user-selected facility search parameters. The queue feature identifies the earliest available reservations based on user-selected treatment categories and facility-selected capacity characteristics for the treatment categories, and recommends a best reservation. The treatment categories can be for example adult, child/pediatric, urgent care, direct admit, walk-in, or worker's comp. And the capacity characteristics can be for example wait time, black-out period, and/or maximum number of reservations per time period. In addition, a reservation-update feature enables the care facilities to update the capacity characteristics for the treatment categories at their facilities to reflect changed conditions.