Abstract: A device for expelling bees from a bee hive, the bee hive having a portion containing at least one bee frame, the device comprising: a board for covering the portion of the bee hive, the board having a bottom side to face towards said portion, the board further comprising an inlet for receiving an air flow and at least two outlet slits arranged at the bottom side for directing at least a part of the air flow into the portion of the bee hive, a conduit system connecting the inlet and the at least two outlet slits, the outlet slits extending over a length of the at least one bee frame.

Abstract: A system and method for removal of phosphates from a closed loop estuarine or marine recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), involving denitrification in the presence of a media substrate for: 1) anaerobic nitrate, nitrite and ammonia removal and 2) sequestering of excess phosphate in the RAS. Phosphate is precipitated in or on the denitrifying biofilm formed on the media substrate as phosphate salts. The phosphate salt-containing media substrate can be removed from the RAS, the phosphates can be removed, and both the substrate and the phosphates can be reused or recycled.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved, quantitative, standardized method of hydrating succulent plants by a plant owner. The method includes calculating the amount of water and watering frequency required, depending on environmental conditions, such as substrate used to grow a plant, relative humidity and temperature, and using a demarcated container for watering the plant, all of which maintains and prolongs the health, vitality, beauty and longevity of the succulent plant.

Abstract: An arrangement in a rotary milking system includes a rotating platform, an entry thereto and an exit therefrom. A selection gate arrangement at the exit of the rotating platform selectively guides animals, which have been milked in the rotary milking system and leave the rotating platform through the exit, back to the entry of the rotating platform or to a waiting area. A control device is provided for (i) determining whether an animal, which has been milked and leaves the rotating platform through the exit, has at least one udder compartment that was incompletely milked the last time the animal was milked, and (ii) controlling the selection gate arrangement to guide the animal back to the entry of the rotating platform or to the waiting area provided that the animal has at least one udder compartment that was incompletely milked the last time the animal was milked.

Abstract: A milker unit liner dome having an inner surface and flow diverters joined to the inner surface to redirect teat dip from an inlet to provide more uniform coverage of dip on a teat. The liner dome can also include more than one flow diverter for redirecting teat dip flow.

Abstract: A vertical planting tray comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal shelves held together by outer side walls and a plurality of vertical struts located therebetween with the struts connected to and supporting the shelves, the struts being substantially thin and narrow an defining a plurality of planting stations with the horizontal shelves in which vertical plants may be grown. The substantial open wall structure between stations permits improved plant performance.

Abstract: A device and method for delivering drugs or sending or receiving information to or from a lab test animal over a long period of time without having the cords attached to the animal tangle as it moves around in its enclosure.

Abstract: Technologies for reducing the risk of disbonding between two bonded members at areas of differing strain in the members are provided. Where the difference in strain between the two bonded members becomes excessing, movement of the members relative to each other may cause a traditional rigid adhesive to fail, resulting in a disbond or delamination in one or both composite members at the point of differing strain. Disbonding may be minimized or prevented by placing a compliant material, such as a thin sheet of rubber, between the structural members at the point of differing strain. The compliance of the material may allow the compliant material to deform enough to remain bonded to both structural members when subjected to a stress that might otherwise disbond or delaminate the bonded members.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for an aircraft turbojet engine includes a pylon and connecting rods for taking up the thrust of the turbojet engine which is connected to the pylon. In particular, the suspension assembly includes an insulator which is separate from the pylon and thermally insulates the connecting rods from the turbojet engine.

Abstract: A shrimp aquaculture structure including a set of at least two raceways each having a length, width, and at least one depth to give an average depth, and including two ends, two side walls having a top, a sloped bottom joining each side wall at two side wall junctions. Some of five raceways may be stacked at least partially on top of another of the five raceways. According to another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a process of shrimp aquaculture by using the set of five raceways and sequentially transferring shrimp form one raceway to another once the shrimp reach a given average size.

Abstract: A pet fountain assembly that includes a cover with a drinking bowl formed therein that straddles a sidewall of a basin that can be user-provided enclosing a pump within a pumping chamber defined therebetween. The cover has a downwardly extending sidewall divided by openings that can be generally U-shaped or V-shaped into a plurality of supports on which the cover. In a preferred embodiment, one of the supports is disposed outboard the basin sidewall resting on the ground and another one of the supports is disposed inboard the basin sidewall resting on a bottom of the basin providing a water passage enabling water from the basin to reach the pump. The inboard support can provide an overflow spillway as well as define a shroud disposed between the pump and water in a lower drinking bowl of the basin. The basin can include an outwardly offset seat that locates the pump.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air intake for an aircraft nacelle that includes a shroud that can be mounted on the fan casing of a turbojet engine. The shroud is sized so as to define a circumferential gap relative to the casing. Punctual linking means between the shroud and the casing are discretely distributed at the periphery of the shroud.

Abstract: The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for placing a large rigid buoyant platform in the low stratosphere of earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 20 km, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. The platform can serve several uses, either individually or in any combination. These uses include uninterrupted radio and light communications, radar and optical observation including very powerful radars and solar power electricity generation. Long, strong and light tethers connect the buoyant structure to the ground which hold it in position against wind forces. The electricity output from a photovoltaic array is used to power platform uses and can also be coupled to high voltage transmission lines which transmit power from the platform to the earth's surface during daylight hours. Power can also be transmitted up to the platform during darkness to power facilities mounted on the platform ensuring continuous operation.

Abstract: The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for placing a large utility scale photovoltaic array in the low stratosphere of earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 20 km, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. This is accomplished using a large light-weight, rigid, buoyant structure to support the large photovoltaic array. Long, strong and light tethers connect the buoyant structure to the ground and hold it in position against wind forces. The electricity output from the photovoltaic array is then coupled to high voltage transmission lines which connect from the platform to the earth's surface. The electricity is then transmitted through the high voltage transmission lines to the earth's surface where it is connected to the electrical supply grid and provides lower cost, more reliable electricity.

Abstract: A self-adjusting, self-actuating and clamping apparatus employing only non-elastic material parts for vertically or approximately vertically and also downwardly securing Christmas trees or, more generically, other items configured similar to the Christmas tree trunk, to be secured vertically or approximately vertically and downwardly such that in the specific case of the Christmas tree the apparatus can accommodate various sized tree trunks as well as various peripherally/externally configured tree trunks. More specifically, when the apparatus is employed to secure a Christmas tree, or other items configured similar to the Christmas tree trunk, the stability of the Christmas tree, or other items configured similar to the Christmas tree trunk, is increased. In addition, the apparatus can be mounted on a turn-table so as to facilitate the process of decorating the Christmas tree.

Abstract: A system that attached to mechanized milking equipment allows its automation that solves the subclinical mastitis by “differentiating” among each individual mammary quarter the time when teat cups must be removed after the milk is over, in an asynchronous and independent manner from other teat cups. Minimize the negative consequences of over-milking as a results of not removing teat cups on time after the milk flow has stopped; reduces economic, financial and productivity problems arisen as a result of subclinical mastitis mainly caused by over-milking; thus improving the product quality and amount. Mastitis produces somatic cells in milk, the greater the amount of these cells the lower the price received by the producer. Damage to the mammary gland may be permanent resulting in the loss of the gland and may be contagious.

Abstract: To reduce sound emission and at the same time improve stability, a multilayer board for acoustic insulation is proposed that includes, but is not limited to a core sheet arranged between a first and a second covering layer. At least one of the two covering layers is of a closed design. The core sheet is firmly connected in a planar fashion to the covering layers. The core sheet comprises slits that extend within the core sheet in the direction of the core sheet thickness, which slits reduce the shear stiffness of the board and thus ensure an improved acoustic insulation effect. On both sides the core sheet comprises continuous edge zones, which extend parallel to the covering layers. An aircraft can have an interior lining formed by panels that comprise the multilayer boards in order to provide acoustic insulation.

Abstract: A litter box includes a tray having a bottom wall and side walls extending upward from the bottom wall. At least one of the side walls has an upper portion that is moveable from a retracted position to an upright position. A plurality of bags are in the tray, each containing a layer of litter. The layers of litter are separated from one another by the bags. In another embodiment, the plurality of bags of litter are provided in an outer bag that can be placed into a tray. In use, upper portions of each bag are lifted over the side walls to expose the litter in that bag. After use, the entire layer of litter can be removed by removing the associated bag. The next layer of litter is then exposed for use.

Abstract: A landing gear (3) provided with first and second longitudinal bearing skids (4, 5) and with first and second transverse crossbars (6, 7). The landing gear includes at least one resilient fastener device (10) together with at least one blocking means (20) and at least one centering means (30) for each crossbar.

Abstract: An aircraft taxi drive system includes a motor that is configured to transfer power to an aircraft wheel via a drive chain, such that the motor rotates the aircraft wheel via the drive chain. In some examples, the drive chain is movable between first and second positions. In the first position, the drive chain, such as an exterior surface of the drive chain, is engaged with a driven sprocket that is mechanically connected to an aircraft wheel. In the second position, the drive chain is disengaged from the driven sprocket.