Abstract: A battery tester for efficiently extracting intrinsic characteristics of a battery. The battery tester comprises a sensing unit, a controller, a bi-directional power converter, and an energy storage unit so that energy discharged from a battery during testing is stored in the energy storage unit and recycled back to the battery. The battery tester uses a high current pulse test and a switching excitation test with a modified particle swarm optimization algorithm to analyze precise model parameters that can be used to describe the health conditions of a battery.

Abstract: A battery tester for efficiently extracting intrinsic characteristics of a battery. The battery tester comprises a sensing unit, a controller, bi-directional power converter, and an energy storage unit so that energy discharged from a battery during testing is stored in the energy storage unit and recycled back to the battery. The battery tester uses a high current pulse test and a switching excitation test with a modified particle arm optimization algorithm to analyze precise model parameters that can be used to describe the health conditions of a battery.

Abstract: A mount for a shaft includes a collar, disposable around the shaft, a first mating piece and a second mating piece. The collar includes first and second tapered outer surfaces that taper away from each other. The first mating piece has a first tapered aperture that is configured to mate with the first tapered outer surface of the collar. The second mating piece has a second tapered aperture configured to mate with the second tapered outer surface of the collar. The first and second mating pieces are adapted to be aligned such that when the collar is mated with the first and second mating pieces, the shaft is substantially perpendicular to the first mating piece.

Abstract: Frames for mounting windows within the walls of enclosures for isolating or sealing substances such as radioactive or other hazardous substances from the surrounding environment. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a two-piece frame that is welded into the wall of an enclosure. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a three-piece frame that is clamped to the wall of an enclosure. The frame assemblies may also be used to mount structures other than windows to enclosure walls, such as ducts or pipes intended for passing power, gas, vacuum, or other utilities into the interior of an enclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impact-reduction box through which the hoisting ropes of a mining shovel or other machine pass. The impact-reduction box includes a roller frame subassembly and spring box subassemblies attached thereto on either side. The impact-reduction box is configured so that when the hoisting cables impact the box during undesirable whipping, the roller frame subassembly will move in reaction while the spring box subassemblies will remain essentially motionless. The mining shovel will feel less of the impact of the jolting hoisting rope, and the rope will not suffer the wear and tear of frequent slapping against the machine such that the rope will be less likely to completely break.

Abstract: Frames for mounting windows within the walls of enclosures for isolating or sealing substances such as radioactive or other hazardous substances from the surrounding environment. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a two-piece frame that is welded into the wall of an enclosure. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a three-piece frame that is clamped to the wall of an enclosure. The frame assemblies may also be used to mount structures other than windows to enclosure walls, such as ducts or pipes intended for passing power, gas, vacuum, or other utilities into the interior of an enclosure.

Abstract: Frames for mounting windows within the walls of enclosures for isolating or sealing substances such as radioactive or other hazardous substances from the surrounding environment. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a two-piece frame that is welded into the wall of an enclosure. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a three-piece frame that is clamped to the wall of an enclosure. The frame assemblies may also be used to mount structures other than windows to enclosure walls, such as ducts or pipes intended for passing power, gas, vacuum, or other utilities into the interior of an enclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impact-reduction box through which the hoisting ropes of a mining shovel or other machine pass. The impact-reduction box includes a roller frame subassembly and spring box subassemblies attached thereto on either side. The impact-reduction box is configured so that when the hoisting cables impact the box during undesirable whipping, the roller frame subassembly will move in reaction while the spring box subassemblies will remain essentially motionless. The mining shovel will feel less of the impact of the jolting hoisting rope, and the rope will not suffer the wear and tear of frequent slapping against the machine such that the rope will be less likely to completely break.

Abstract: Frames are disclosed for mounting windows within the walls of enclosures for isolating or sealing substances such as radioactive or other hazardous substances from the surrounding environment. In a first embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a two-piece frame that is welded into the wall of an enclosure. In a second embodiment of the present invention, a window assembly includes a three-piece frame that is clamped to the wall of an enclosure. The frame assemblies may also be used to mount structures other than windows to enclosure walls, such as ducts or pipes intended for passing power, gas, vacuum, or other utilities into the interior of an enclosure.

Abstract: The invention pertains to mobile telephones and can be used during telephone conversations while, for example, operating a mode of transportation. The universal hands-free unit for mobile telephones contains the main module containing a speaker and control electronics, a holder for the mobile telephone, a microphone, an attachment module, and a changeable connection module for electrical connection of the control electronics with the electrical circuits of the mobile telephone. The holder of the mobile telephone is constructed in the form of two plates oriented parallel to each other at a distance L which may be changed by moving at least one plate relative to the other plate with the help of a mechanism located in the body of the main module. A fixating bracket attached to each holding plate, each fixating bracket is made in the shape of a base with several parallel resilient fins.

Abstract: A pinball elevator has an inclined conveyor belt tensioned between two pulleys and driven by an electric motor. The belt is perforated with a series of spaced circular apertures for receiving the pinball. Preferably, the apertures have a diameter of about 80% of the diameter of the pinball. A lower one of the pulleys is rotatably mounted beneath the playfield of the pinball machine, and an upper one of the pulleys is rotatably mounted above the playfield. The ball is received by the belt at an entrance location, and is ejected from the belt at an exit location. The ball passes above and over the upper pulley when being conveyed by the belt from the entrance location to the exit location. The upper pulley has a concave central region to prevent the pinball from being prematurely ejected from the belt by the upper pulley. At the entrance location, the pinball sits on the belt and abuts against a wall of the playfield.

Abstract: A pinball machine has a plurality of ball-deflecting components mounted to a playfield section. The playfield section is selectively translated in response to player input, so that the ball is deflected by the ball-deflecting components to locations selected by the player. The translation of the playfield section, for example, is responsive to the conventional push-button switches that are operated by the player for activating flippers, and in this case the push-buttons activate respective solenoids for translating the playfield section in two different directions. The playfield section, however, could be translated in different directions along two or three orthogonal axes in response to a more complex player-input device such as a joy-stick.

Abstract: A flipper in a pinball machine is rotated by a motor, permitting control of the angular position or velocity of the flipper by the pinball machine in response to player input, ball position or game sequences. The flipper is controlled internally through software of the microcomputer that keeps track of game sequences and the player's score, or externally via a switch or control manipulated by the player. Preferably the angular position of the flipper is sensed, and the motor can rotate the flipper in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. In one embodiment, the flipper is rotated by more than 360 degrees to intermittently permit a timing shot when passage of the ball is synchronized to the rotation of the flipper. For example, the flipper may intermittently open a path for a ball to a target, or may intermittently permit the ball to be deflected by the flipper to a target.

Abstract: An electronic alphanumeric indicator is disposed at a target location on the playfield of a pinball machine. The electronic alphanumeric indicator, for example, is disposed just above and behind the target, or in the top portion of the target. For a drop target, the target is transparent and the electronic alphanumeric indicator is mounted on the back side of the target. The electronic alphanumeric indicator, for example, indicates the number of points associated with the target, or the time remaining for the player to complete a task on the playfield.

Abstract: A gate and target assembly is raised from a first position, wherein a target is positioned in a channel on a playfield to interfere with passage of a ball through the channel, to a second position, wherein the target is positioned above the channel so as not to interfere with passage of the ball through the channel. In a preferred construction, a plurality of targets are pivotally mounted between two opposed upright brackets that extend from the playfield and define opposite sides of the channel, and the targets are moved from the first position to the second position by energizing a solenoid that is linked to a swinging crank pin of the assembly. Moreover, the assembly is covered by the simulated head of an animal, such as a hippopotamus, and the simulated animal head pivots up and down with the targets. A timer circuit, for example, keeps the simulated animal head up and the channel open for a predetermined period of time beginning when any one of the targets is struck.