Abstract: A method for controlling an energy terminal, comprises determining a metric indicating a future availability of an energy resource at an energy terminal based on usage data associated to use of the energy resource by the energy terminal, generating control data to control the distribution of the energy resource between the energy terminal and an energy infrastructure based on the metric, and communicating the control data to the energy terminal.

Abstract: A breakaway pole including an elongated pole body extending between a bottom end and an upper end and a base connected to the bottom end of the elongated pole body. The base includes an interior flange having at least one slot. The breakaway pole includes a breakaway clamp mounted on the at least one slot of the interior flange of the base. The breakaway clamp includes a nut and a clamp body. The clamp body has a tapered main body and two lateral breakaway flanges. The lower portion of the tapered main body is positioned within the slot of the interior flange of the base. The two lateral breakaway flanges extend laterally outward from the upper portion of the tapered main body so that the two lateral breakaway flanges contact the interior flange of the base laterally beyond the at least one slot.

Abstract: A pole assembly includes an elongated tubular member having an outer periphery with a pair of grooves therein, each groove defining a concave sidewall portion and a flat sidewall portion, a cam member comprising a plate-shaped portion and a pair of arms extending from a surface of the plate-shaped portion, the cam member configured to, while the major surface is adjacent a portion of the outer periphery, be rotated to cause each arm of the pair of arms to engage a respective groove of the pair of grooves, and a mount portion comprising a body defining a cavity having a pair of elongated sidewalls configured to engage respective outer surfaces of the pair of arms while the mount portion covers the cam member and the cam member is at least partially within the cavity to prevent the pair of arms from disengaging from the pair of grooves.

Abstract: A lighting pole is disclosed, which includes a hollow tube, and at least two nonintersecting walls extending over an axial length of the hollow tube to divide an interior of the hollow tube into at least three isolated chambers. At least one of the three isolated chambers defines a gap separating at least two of the isolated chambers.

Abstract: A breakaway pole including an elongated pole body extending between a bottom end and an upper end and a base connected to the bottom end of the elongated pole body. The base includes an interior flange having at least one slot. The breakaway pole includes a breakaway clamp mounted on the at least one slot of the interior flange of the base. The breakaway clamp includes a nut and a clamp body. The clamp body has a tapered main body and two lateral breakaway flanges. The lower portion of the tapered main body is positioned within the slot of the interior flange of the base. The two lateral breakaway flanges extend laterally outward from the upper portion of the tapered main body so that the two lateral breakaway flanges contact the interior flange of the base laterally beyond the at least one slot.

Abstract: A lighting pole is disclosed, which includes a hollow tube, and at least two nonintersecting walls extending over an axial length of the hollow tube to divide an interior of the hollow tube into at least three isolated chambers. At least one of the three isolated chambers defines a gap separating at least two of the isolated chambers.

Abstract: A rope arresting apparatus for use with a rope having a first end and a weighted second end is disclosed. The rope arresting apparatus includes a cam portion for exerting frictional force on the rope and a pinching portion. The cam portion has a resting position and a pinching position. At the resting position, the cam portion is in frictional contact with the rope when the tension on the weighted second end of the rope is less than or equal to tension on the first end of the rope. A pinching point is formed when the cam portion at the pinching position engages the rope against the pinching portion.

Abstract: A rope arresting apparatus for use with a rope having a first end and a weighted second end is disclosed. The rope arresting apparatus includes a cam portion for exerting frictional force on the rope and a pinching portion. The cam portion has a resting position and a pinching position. At the resting position, the cam portion is in frictional contact with the rope when the tension on the weighted second end of the rope is less than or equal to tension on the first end of the rope. A pinching point is formed when the cam portion at the pinching position engages the rope against the pinching portion.

Abstract: An embeddable breakaway utility pole comprises separate upper and lower aluminum pole pieces, wherein the lower pole piece is to be embedded below ground surface. The upper and lower pole pieces are interconnected by a weld which defines a breakaway zone enabling the upper pole piece to break off the lower pole piece in response to vehicular impact. The weld can be connected to a backer ring which provides a guide surface that axially aligns the pole pieces. Alternatively, the pole can be formed of a single pole piece which is welded between its ends to form a weakened region that defines the breakaway zone.

Abstract: A breakaway pole installation includes a vertical pole having an anchored lower section anchored to a foundation and including a breakaway device for fracturing upon an impact of predetermined force. A decorative cover extends around the pole's lower section. The cover includes a lower foot and an upper lip. The pole includes an outward bump-out situated within the cover. The bump-out includes an energy transfer portion spaced below the cover's lip and above the cover's foot for transferring impact energy from the cover to the pole. The energy transfer portion has a height extending at least 60 mm above and 60 mm below a point of impact disposed about 450 mm above the foundation. The energy transfer portion has a maximum horizontal spacing from the cover of up to about 6 mm.

Abstract: A highway lighting apparatus includes a lighting fixture, and a vibration damper. The vibration damper includes a housing having a ball chamber, the chamber being of square shape. One or two vibration damping balls are mounted in the chamber for independent free rolling movement therein. If two balls are used, the ball diameter is shorter than one-half of each of the four chamber sides. If the damper is used on a pole having a side-mounted light fixture, the housing would include a downwardly open socket receiving the top end of the pole, with a center axis of the pole coinciding with respective center axes of the chamber and the socket. In the case where the damper is used on a pole having a top-mounted light fixture, the damper would be mounted below the light fixture on a side of the pole.

Abstract: An embeddable breakaway utility pole comprises separate upper and lower aluminum pole pieces, wherein the lower pole piece is to be embedded below ground surface. The upper and lower pole pieces are interconnected by a weld which defines a breakaway zone enabling the upper pole piece to break off the lower pole piece in response to vehicular impact. The weld can be connected to a backer ring which provides a guide surface that axially aligns the pole pieces. Alternatively, the pole can be formed of a single pole piece which is welded between its ends to form a weakened region that defines the breakaway zone.

Abstract: A breakaway transformer base for a lighting pole includes four upstanding corner members (preferably formed of aluminum castings), and four side sheets. Each side sheet is attached to two of the corner members, e.g., by welds or fasteners, thereby interconnecting the corner members. Each corner member forms bolt holes for enabling the base to be bolted to a lighting standard and to an anchored foundation.

Abstract: A pole vibration damping means includes an annular housing with internal radial pole encircling chambers in which lead spheres are provided for effecting damping of first mode harmonic vibrations with the assembly being attached to the upper end portion of the pole and operating in conjunction with a pole vibration damping device mounted medially for damping second harmonic mode vibrations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the switch-gap between the overlapping metal tongues of a reed switch contained in a glass envelope, in which a beam of radiation energy is directed through the envelope onto a localised area of at least one of the tongues for a specific period of time, thereby effecting thermally-induced bending of the tongue in question about the irradiated area, wherein a radiation source is used which delivers radiation energy having a wavelength in a range in which the radiation is absorbed by the glass envelope to a considerable extent, and wherein the beam of radiation energy is focussed and measured in such a manner that the proportion between the irradiated glass volume of the envelope and the irradiated metal area of at least one of the tongues that is obtained is such that the temperature of the glass undergoes a temperature increase of less than 100 Kelvin during the time required for heating the metal to the melting point.

Abstract: A hollow aluminum pole has access to its interior through a hand hole frame having an access aperture which can be blocked by a cover having a lower end pivotally attached to the hand hole frame by a pivot pin. The pivot pin is biased inwardly by a coil spring which permits outward movement of the cover to a position in which it can be rotated downwardly out of alignment with the access opening.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjusting the switch-gap between the overlapping metal tongues of a reed switch contained in a glass envelope, in which a beam of radiation energy is directed through the envelope onto a localised area of at least one of the tongues for a specific period of time, thereby effecting thermally-induced bending of the tongue in question about the irradiated area, wherein a radiation source is used which delivers radiation energy having a wavelength in a range in which the radiation is absorbed by the glass envelope to a considerable extent, and wherein the beam of radiation energy is focussed and measured in such a manner that the proportion between the irradiated glass volume of the envelope and the irradiated metal area of at least one of the tongues that is obtained is such that the temperature of the glass undergoes a temperature increase of less than 100 Kelvin during the time required for heating the metal to the melting point.

Abstract: The electromechanical device of the present invention is a low profile reed switch package for surface mounting on a printed circuit board. The reed device package includes a reed switch with two signal terminals emanating from opposing sides thereof. A leadframe is employed with signal conductors and ground conductors. The signal conductors are respectively attached to each of the signal terminals. A ground shield surrounds the body of the reed switch. The ground conductors are connected to the ground shield on a first side of the reed switch with the signal conductor on one side of the reed switch being positioned between the two ground conductors. Another pair of ground conductors are connected to the ground shield on the other side of the switch and are similarly positioned with the other signal conductor positioned therebetween.

Abstract: A method for determining a price for a print job and a method for ensuring compliance with a pricing model. A computer system receives a set of specifications for the print job and calculates first and second estimated prices for the print job with respect to first and second printers. The estimated prices are based on pricing information provided by each of the printers for each of the components specified in the set of specifications. The first and second printers are informed of the set of specifications and the identity of the buyer. The printers can then contact the buyer to negotiate a portion of the specifications and arrive at a negotiated price.

Abstract: A new board mounted electromechanical device is provided that mounts to a relay substrate to form a low profile reed relay. The reed relay is electrically connected to the electrical contacts via a signal traces and additional electrical traces located on the same side of the relay substrate which connect to the relay's signal and shielding. Additional traces on both sides of the signal traces of the reed relay provide a co-planar wave guide to maintain the desired impedance of the signal path. The reed relay is mounted in an inverted manner into a cut-out in the main circuit board so that the other portion of the reed relay itself is sits within the cut-out in the main circuit board. As a result, the reed relay component is recessed below the surface of the main circuit board resulting in an overall low profile circuit board.