Abstract: An ice fishing apparatus with an integrated audible and visual bite indication includes a rod handle with a hollow region that encloses a portion of an audible and visual indicator and circuit assembly. The assembly includes a wire that flexes into engagement with a contact pin when a strike from a fish is detected and closes an indication circuit to activate an audible alarm and an LED indicator light. A tip-up with an integrated audible and visual bite indication for use with an ice fishing rod includes a housing that encloses a portion of an audible and visual indicator and circuit assembly. The assembly includes a wire that flexes into engagement with a contact pin when a strike from a fish is detected and closes an indication circuit to activate an audible alarm and release a mast and flag visual indicator.

Abstract: A multi-purpose gravity-fed feeder system comprising a timed-access control system configured to simultaneously provide a combination of different nutrient-rich feed attractants to a target animal at a feeder site during specific hours, the timed-access control system comprising a synchronizing actuator control board with LCD interface, linear actuators, two or more actuator push-pull arms, an actuator tower with assembly mount, a solar panel and charge controller. The feed storage system comprises at least one feed access control door assembly, a dividable hopper with a removeable baffle configured to separate the different nutrient, protein-rich feed attractants and feed metering devices.

Abstract: There is provided a segmented vacuum jacketed tank system. The system includes a segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank having a vacuum tank main portion between vacuum tank end portions. The vacuum tank main portion includes a vacuum tank skin having an outer surface and an inner surface, vacuum tank skin segments, and a longitudinal cross section with a profile geometry configured for buckling prevention for the vacuum tank skin under external pressure loads. The vacuum tank main portion includes multipurpose stiffener member(s) configured to carry one or more of system transport line(s), a liquid fuel, or a nitrogen gas in an interior. The system includes a pressure tank within the segmented structurally integrated vacuum tank. The pressure tank is configured to store a cryogenic fluid and includes a pressure tank main portion between pressure tank end portions. The system further includes a vacuum cavity.

Abstract: A tank system includes a vacuum tank having a vacuum tank skin, and a pressure tank mounted within the vacuum tank having one or more pressure tank skin segments having a total circumference that is less than that of a complete circle, resulting in one or more longitudinal gaps respectively between the one or more pressure tank skin segments. The tank system includes one or more gap control mechanisms configured to control a width of the one or more longitudinal gaps in a manner facilitating movement of the one or more pressure tank skin segments between at least the following positions: a retracted position in which there is a radial gap between each pressure tank skin segment and the vacuum tank skin, and a fully extended position in which at least a portion of each pressure tank skin segments is in contact with the vacuum tank skin.

Abstract: A weedless lure body having an hollow elliptical cone shape, has an oblique opening angled upward from an elliptical base along a first side wall of the weedless lure body. The body further includes a second side wall positioned around an opposing vertex to the first side wall. A shank of a hook is formed with grabbing barbs, which are embedded in the second side wall. The weedless lure body collapses upon itself in use for retrieval, with a fish on the hook. A casting lure includes a flexible tubing housing encapsulating a flexible braided wire. One end is attached to an interior side of an attachment end of the wire within the flexible tubing housing. A second end of the wire positioned below the first end is attached to a shank of a hook, the flexible tubing including an opening through which the barbed end of the hook extends.

Abstract: An auxiliary propulsion apparatus of an air vehicle may include an engine mounted in a fuselage of the air vehicle, a generator configured to be driven using power from the engine, a compressor configured to be driven by the engine or the generator, a battery configured to store electricity generated by the generator, an electricity distributor connected to the generator, the battery and the main propulsion apparatus and configured to distribute electricity generated by the generator to the battery and to a main propulsion apparatus, and at least one nozzle device configured to jet high-pressure gas, supplied from the compressor, to an outside of the fuselage.

Abstract: The rapidly interchangeable fishing lure system disclosed herein gives an angler the ability to switch tackle faster, more efficiently, and more cost effectively while fishing, and allows the angler to be more conscious of the environment. The system comprises, generally, an adapter mechanism between a fixed receiver and an interchangeable lure that allows the angler to change tackle without cutting the leader line in their setup. The interchangeable lure may be attached to the fixed receiver via the adapter mechanism, and may be disconnected from the receiver via the adapter mechanism. A second interchangeable lure may then be attached to the receiver via the adapter mechanism without the need for cutting any lines or replacing any attachments. In this way the angler may switch between tackle equipment rapidly, and as desired, without significant down time or the creation of waste.

Abstract: An animal feedstuff processing system for processing animal feedstuff includes an animal feedstuff storage device for storing a pile of animal feedstuff, a separating device for removing a quantity of feedstuff from the pile and including a rotatable separating element and a first drive for the separating element, a movement device with a second drive, and configured for moving the separating device and the pile of feedstuff towards each other. A sensor is arranged for determining a relative position of the separating element with respect to the pile of feedstuff. A controller is configured to control the animal feedstuff processing system. During at least a part of the movement of the separating device and the pile of feedstuff towards each other, the separating device is driven in an idle mode by the first drive, wherein the separating element has no operable contact with the pile of feedstuff.

Abstract: A cargo system for an aircraft may include one or more of the following: a cargo deck configured for the receipt of bulk cargo, the cargo deck including at least one deck panel; and a cargo transport system including a track for moving a cargo container; and at least one floor fixture exposed on the cargo deck, where the cargo transport system includes an installed state and an uninstalled state, the track being secured to the floor fixture when the cargo transport system is in the installed state and the track being displaced from the cargo deck when the cargo transport system is in the uninstalled state.

Abstract: A drone docking station that includes an elevated platform fixed above the ground for drone docking is provided. The platform has a first locking element and a second locking element adapted on the drone to correspond to the first locking element to fulfill auto-alignment while the drone is approaching or docking the platform as well as auto-separation while the drone is leaving or about to leave the platform. A bearing and identification system is also included to identify location and bearing of the drone relative to the platform.

Abstract: A parachute retention system may include a container and a replaceable flap. The container can be attached to a vehicle and can hold a parachute. The container may have a first attachment member. A replaceable flap may have a second attachment member that connects to the first attachment member and that has a flexible barrier portion for enclosing at least a portion of the container to retain the parachute therein.

Abstract: A harness for heating and/or cooling a wearer (e.g., a pet) of the harness includes an outer cover including a harness neck strap and a harness chest strap for securing the harness about the wearer of the harness, an internal surface having a breathable fabric material, at least one sensor attached to the harness chest strap, a thermal control device that cools or heats the wearer of the harness, a controller to activate the thermal control device, and straps arranged over an external surface of the outer cover.

Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft has a body (2), a rotor (3) positioned so as to extend outward from within the body (2) and to rotate about its axis, at least one blade (4) extending outward from the rotor (2) and providing lift and/or thrust force to the body (2) by its movement, at least one outer blade (401) positioned in the blade (4) and providing lift and/or thrust force to the body (2), and at least one mechanism (5) enabling the outer blade (401) to switch from a retracted first position in which the it is almost entirely located in the blade (4) to a second position in which it extends outward from the blade (4) by moving linearly under the influence of the centrifugal force generated during the movement of the rotor (2).

Abstract: A configurable spacecraft attachment and deployment system and a method of constructing a configurable spacecraft attachment and deployment system are provided herein. In one embodiment, the configurable spacecraft attachment and deployment system includes: (1) a connecting structure configured to secure at least one spacecraft to a launch interface, (2) an actuating assembly configured to constrain the spacecraft to the connecting structure before deployment thereof and release the spacecraft from the connecting structure when deployed, and (3) a deploying mechanism coupled to the connecting structure and configured to eject the spacecraft from the attaching structure, wherein the connecting structure, the actuating assembly, and the deploying mechanism are modular components and the connecting structure and deploying mechanism are selected to form the system based on parameters of the spacecraft.

Abstract: An aquaculture system including a fish holding unit which is fluidly connected to a water recirculation conduit, a water treatment unit, a water inlet, and a feed storage unit. The system further includes a feed loading section. When feed is added into the system at the feed loading section the feed is transported to the fish holding unit. In another aspect the invention relates to a method of transporting a feed in a recirculated aquaculture system.

Abstract: A lighter than air airship (1) comprising a gas-filled flexible hull (2) which is elongate with a longitudinal axis (1?) and with a front end (4) and a rear end (5), wherein a harness-structure (3) is abutting an outer side of the hull (2) and not perturbing the hull and not extending through the hull, the harness-structure (3) is made of a bendable material and carries a propeller engine (10) for forward thrust of the airship (1), rechargeable batteries (11) for providing electrical power to the propeller engine (10), and a solar panel for providing electrical power to recharge the batteries (11).

Abstract: A pet absorbent sheet having a thickness direction, a first direction orthogonal to the thickness direction, and a second direction orthogonal to the thickness direction and the first direction includes: a top-surface sheet disposed on a top-surface side; a back-surface sheet disposed on a back-surface side; an absorbent body disposed between the top-surface sheet and the back-surface sheet; and colored portions disposed on a back-surface side of the top-surface sheet and that are visible from a top-surface side of the top-surface sheet. A region that overlaps the absorbent body includes: colored regions where the colored portions are disposed; and a non-colored region where the colored portions are not disposed between the colored regions in the first direction. The non-colored region is disposed throughout an entire region of the absorbent body in the second direction.

Abstract: An evacuation slide light system may comprise a sensor, a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor, and a projector light operably coupled to the controller. The sensor may be configured to measure at least one of a pressure of the evacuation slide or a stretch of a material of the evacuation slide. The controller may determine the pressure of the evacuation slide based on the signal from the sensor. The controller may be configured to command the projector light to emit a first image if the pressure of the evacuation slide is less than a threshold pressure and to emit a second image if the pressure of the evacuation slide is greater than or equal to the threshold pressure.

Abstract: An aircraft capable of VTOL and forward flight is fitted with a side body articulating propulsion system on the port and starboard sides of the fuselage. The side body articulating propulsion system has plural sets of port and starboard propulsor units controlled for synchronized rotation. The propulsor sets are supported in a triangular airframe designed to support the propulsor units equally spaced apart from one another along a propulsor slope that is angled about 30-60 degrees from horizontal. Synchronized rotation of the propulsor sets is accomplished by an articulation controller, which may be a parallelogram linkage and linear actuator. A port nacelle surrounds the port propulsor units and a starboard nacelle surrounds the starboard propulsor units. A cargo cavity is accessed through the aft end of the airframe. The airframe can be lengthened in the fore direction by attaching an ante-module and/or in the aft direction by an expansion module.

Abstract: A brake device for braking rotation of an input shaft includes a selectively operable trigger brake that includes: a static element; a trigger brake shaft mounted for rotational and axial movement relative to the static element and the input shaft; a preloaded torsion spring rotationally coupled to the input shaft but permitting a limited rotational movement between the trigger brake shaft and the input shaft; a roller jamming mechanism operable upon the relative rotation between the trigger brake shaft and the input shaft exceeding a predetermined amount to stop rotation of the input shaft upon operation of the trigger brake; and a brake actuator for selectively moving the trigger brake shaft into and out of engagement with a contact surface of the static element. Engagement of the contact surface of the static element and the trigger brake shaft overcomes the preload of the torsion spring.