Abstract: A method for removal of deposits such as hydrate plugs from a pipeline is provided including inserting a thruster pig connected to a return flow line into the pipeline The pig is then advanced forward into the pipeline by pumping a thrusting fluid into an annulus between the pipeline and the return flow line while removing deposits continuously or intermittently and returning flow as appropriate from ahead of the pig through the return flow line. The return flow line is then disconnected from the pig after sufficient deposit removal and retrieved from the return flow line. Next, the pig may then be transported through the pipeline by the pipeline fluid to a pig receiving location once the pipeline flow is resumed.

Abstract: A valve gate assembly for regulating a flow of molten material into a mold. The valve gate assembly includes a movable valve that can move between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The valve gate assembly further includes an actuating system operatively cooperating with the valve to move the valve and infinitely position the valve between the fully closed position and the fully open position.

Abstract: An omni direction vehicle (ODV) with a frame having a round surface about its perimeter rotatably coupled to a trailer mule hitch assembly having an axle, wheels and a fifth wheel plate located generally above the axle. Two independent drive wheels located on an axis through the center of the ODV frame are mounted at the same distance from a central vertical axis through the frame. Each wheel is powered independently of the other and can rotate at variable speeds in either direction. The ODV is capable of movement in any direction by rotating the axis of the drive wheels to a position which is perpendicular to the desired direction of travel. The ODV can spin about its vertical axis such that the axis of the drive wheels can be oriented at any direction without changing the original footprint of the space that the frame occupies over the ground. Thus, the combined ODV/trailer mule hitch assembly can rotate about the center of the fifth wheel plate.

Abstract: A pump apparatus for an adjustable metering and dispensing pump apparatus for food products including a product piston moving in a product cylinder, the product cylinder being connected to a food hopper and a dispensing nozzle. The pump apparatus also includes a cylindrical valve moving within a central aperture in the product piston to selectively open and close passageways also in the product piston which communicate with intake and outlet ports connected to the product cylinder. The valve is attached to a valve piston moving within a valve piston cylinder and the valve piston cylinder is attached to a source of compressed air, to a sensor and to a control assembly. The control in turn is connected to a foot switch to allow an operator to initiate a cycle of the pump apparatus.

Abstract: A valve gate assembly is provided for regulating a flow of molten material through a gate and into a mold. The valve gate assembly includes a movable valve having a closed position closing the gate to prevent molten material from entering the mold and an opened position opening the gate to allow molten material to enter the mold. The valve gate assembly further includes a biasing assembly operatively cooperating with the valve and providing a force to urge the valve in the closed position. The valve has a shoulder for cooperating with the molten material to create backpressure to move the valve against the force to the open position.

Abstract: An adapter assembly including a base for supporting a SINCGARS radio and a radio frequency power amplifier, a first connector for electrically connecting with the SINCGARS radio and a second connector for electrically connecting with the power amplifier, a first power supply electrically connected with the first connector and a second power supply and a third power supply, the second power supply and the third power supply each being electrically connected with the second connector.

Abstract: A manifold assembly is provided for conveying injection molding material from a molding material supply into a mold. The manifold assembly includes a manifold having a manifold flow passage extending therealong. The manifold assembly also includes at least one nozzle extending outwardly from the manifold to a distal end. The at least one nozzle includes a central nozzle passage extending from and in fluid communication with the manifold flow passage. The at least one nozzle extends on an angle from the manifold to be tangential to an arcuate surface of a part to be molded.

Abstract: A resistance heating system is provided which includes a resistance heater, a source of alternating current electricity connected by conductors to the resistance heater, and a controller comprising a timer arranged to connect the source of alternating current electricity to the resistance heater for a selected time period and to disconnect the source from the resistance following the selected time period. In an embodiment, the resistance heating system is provided with a controller configured to be connected to a source of alternating current electricity and having a plurality of cable plug receptacles arranged to receive electricity. An electricity conducting cable having a cable plug at one end is configured to be received in the receptacles and has a resistance heater provided at an opposite end. A master timer may be connected with a communication arrangement to the controller. The master timer is arranged to control an electric output of a plurality of the receptacles.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a sensor with a face having several tracks spaced apart from one another. One of these tracks has a first electrode and a second electrode separated by an electrically nonconductive gap. Also included is a detection device extending across the tracks to receive signals by capacitive coupling. Sensor circuitry electrically coupled to the tracks and the detection device is structured to generate a first number of bits from a sequential signal pattern applied to the tracks in accordance with an established sequence. The circuitry is also structured to generate a second number of bits as a function of a first signal and a second signal. The first bits and second bits represent a position of the detection device along the tracks with the first bits being more numerically significant than the second bits.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor with a face having several tracks spaced apart from one another. One of these tracks has a first electrode and a second electrode separated by an electrically nonconductive gap. Also included is a detection device extending across the tracks to receive signals by capacitive coupling. Sensor circuitry electrically coupled to the tracks and the detection device is structured to generate a first number of bits from a sequential signal pattern applied to the tracks in accordance with an established sequence. The circuitry is also structured to generate a second number of bits as a function of a first signal and a second signal. The first bits and second bits represent a position of the detection device along the tracks with the first bits being more numerically significant than the second bits.

Abstract: A valve gate assembly for regulating a flow of molten material into a mold. The valve gate assembly includes a movable valve that can move between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The valve gate assembly further includes an actuating system operatively cooperating with the valve to move the valve and infinitely position the valve between the fully closed position and the fully open position.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a sensor with a face having several tracks spaced apart from one another. One of these tracks has a first electrode and a second electrode separated by an electrically nonconductive gap. Also included is a detection device extending across the tracks to receive signals by capacitive coupling. Sensor circuitry electrically coupled to the tracks and the detection device is structured to generate a first number of bits from a sequential signal pattern applied to the tracks in accordance with an established sequence. The circuitry is also structured to generate a second number of bits as a function of a first signal and a second signal. The first bits and second bits represent a position of the detection device along the tracks with the first bits being more numerically significant than the second bits.

Abstract: A tubing and connector system including a plastic tubing or hose having a helical outer surface, a plastic lock nut having a helical internal surface with the same thread pitch as the pitch of the tubing outer surface, and a fitting having several barbs formed on its outer surface. The tubing and connector system has few parts and is easy to assemble by having the inner surface of the tubing engage the barbs of the fitting, and the lock nut, being mounted on the outer surface of the tubing, is rotated over the tubing and the fitting so as to squeeze the tubing between the lock nut and the fitting. Disassembly for washing is also easily accomplished by backing the lock nut away from the fitting and pulling the tubing off of the fitting.

Abstract: A method of planning a path for a multi-axis machine. The method includes specifying kinematic limits for each axis of the multi-axis machine, breaking the path into a sequence of linear moves, and deriving a jerk pulse array for each axis for each move.

Abstract: A pager-based alert system includes a monitor center that is in telephonic or data communication with a paging station allowing the command center to send multi-digit code words where selected digits comprise an address for selecting one or more of a plurality of physical units (paging receivers) and to direct the receiver to output visible and/or audible signals indicative of a particular alert condition. By providing the physical unit with graphic icons overlaying the visual indicators, an observer can readily determine the nature of the alert condition so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.

Abstract: A manifold for conveying injection molding material into a mold from a molding material supply and method for making same includes a main flow member having a central flow passage extending through the main flow member along a longitudinal axis of the main flow member. The main flow member also includes a plurality of branching passages each transverse to and in fluid communication with the central flow passage. The main flow member has an outer surface that is generally round in cross sectional shape. The outer surface is machined so as to be generally round in cross sectional shape.

Abstract: A tubing and connector system including a plastic tubing or hose having a helical outer surface, a plastic lock nut having a helical internal surface with the same thread pitch as the pitch of the tubing outer surface, and a fitting having several barbs formed on its outer surface. The tubing and connector system has few parts and is easy to assemble by having the inner surface of the tubing engage the barbs of the fitting, and the lock nut, being mounted on the outer surface of the tubing, is rotated over the tubing and the fitting so as to squeeze the tubing between the lock nut and the fitting. Disassembly for washing is also easily accomplished by backing the lock nut away from the fitting and pulling the tubing off of the fitting.

Abstract: A tube plug kit including a tube plug having a housing member and a locking member, the housing member having a smooth longitudinal bore communicating with a threaded portion, the locking member mounted on the housing member. An insert member having a first threaded end portion is received within the threaded portion of the bore, an enlarged portion positioned to be drawn within the smooth portion of the longitudinal bore in response to rotation of the insert member in the longitudinal bore and a drive portion configured to receive a torque applying tool in a rotationally driving manner. A torque limiting region is located in the insert member to limit an amount of torque the drive portion can transmit to the first threaded end portion.

Abstract: A semi-automated computer-implemented method for designing manifold assemblies. The method can include receiving a number of design parameters for the design of a manifold assembly and applying the number of design parameters to a heater and zoning logic to generate a manifold assembly design.

Abstract: Industrial equipment is monitored by at least one industrial controller assigned to each group of industrial equipment. Queues are established by logic within one of the industrial controllers for each group. Each queue holds a number of event records. Logic is established in each industrial controller for storing an indication of a detected event associated with a time stamp as an event record in a queue. A group computer is interconnected with each industrial controller in the group. A scan rate is established for each queue in that group. Event records are read from each queue based on the scan rate for that queue. The event records for all queues in a group are accumulated by the group computer and forwarded to a server. The group computer may dynamically set the scan rate and/or the queue length for each queue based on records read from the queue.