Abstract: An insulator that has particular application for enclosing a switching device, such as a vacuum interrupter. The insulator includes a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a plurality of ring-shaped sheds extending from the body between the top portion and the bottom portion. The sheds are asymmetrical in an axial direction such that an axial dimension of the sheds at one side towards the front of the switching device is shorter than an axial dimension of the sheds at an opposite side towards the rear of the switching device. The axial dimension of the sheds uniformly increases from the one side to the opposite side.

Abstract: An insulator that has particular application for enclosing a switching device, such as a vacuum interrupter. The insulator includes a body having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a plurality of ring-shaped sheds extending from the body between the top portion and the bottom portion. The sheds are asymmetrical in an axial direction such that an axial dimension of the sheds at one side towards the front of the switching device is shorter than an axial dimension of the sheds at an opposite side towards the rear of the switching device. The axial dimension of the sheds uniformly increases from the one side to the opposite side.

Abstract: An anti-bounce dampener assembly for dampening the closing impact force between vacuum interrupter contacts. The dampener assembly includes a dampening spring positioned within a contact adapter, a guide tube extending through the contact adapter and the spring, where the guide tube is coupled to a fixed contact stem, and a bolt extending through the guide tube and being rigidly secured to the fixed contact stem. An impact force caused when the vacuum interrupter contacts contact each other when the vacuum interrupter is closed causes the fixed contact stem, the guide tube, the bolt and the vacuum interrupter to move against the bias of the spring and dampen the impact force. A flexible strap is electrically coupled to the fixed contact stem and the contact adapter, and flexes when the stem moves so as to maintain electrical coupling between the fixed contact stem and the contact adapter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photodiode for a wearable sensor system, the photodiode having a rectangular active area sensitive to wavelengths within the spectral range of 1200 nm to 2400 nm. The present invention also provides a wearable sensor system comprising the photodiode.

Abstract: A structure for closing an actuator in a magnetically actuated switch assembly, where the actuator includes an armature and a winding, and the switch assembly includes a manual actuation device coupled to one end of the armature and a movable terminal in a vacuum interrupter coupled to an opposite end of the armature. The structure includes commencing a closing operation of the actuator using the manual actuation device to move the armature towards a closed latch position, detecting that the actuator is being manually closed, and energizing the winding to assist moving the armature to the closed latch position when the armature gets to a predetermined distance from the closed latch position.

Abstract: A method for closing an actuator in a magnetically actuated switch assembly, where the actuator includes an armature and a winding, and the switch assembly includes a manual actuation device coupled to one end of the armature and a movable terminal in a vacuum interrupter coupled to an opposite end of the armature. The method includes commencing a closing operation of the actuator using the manual actuation device to move the armature towards a closed latch position, detecting that the actuator is being manually closed, and energizing the winding to assist moving the armature to the closed latch position when the armature gets to a predetermined distance from the closed latch position.

Abstract: A method for closing an actuator in a magnetically actuated switch assembly, where the actuator includes an armature and a winding, and the switch assembly includes a manual actuation device coupled to one end of the armature and a movable terminal in a vacuum interrupter coupled to an opposite end of the armature. The method includes commencing a closing operation of the actuator using the manual actuation device to move the armature towards a closed latch position, detecting that the actuator is being manually closed, and energizing the winding to assist moving the armature to the closed latch position when the armature gets to a predetermined distance from the closed latch position.

Abstract: A method for closing an actuator in a magnetically actuated switch assembly, where the actuator includes an armature and a winding, and the switch assembly includes a manual actuation device coupled to one end of the armature and a movable terminal in a vacuum interrupter coupled to an opposite end of the armature. The method includes commencing a closing operation of the actuator using the manual actuation device to move the armature towards a closed latch position, detecting that the actuator is being manually closed, and energizing the winding to assist moving the armature to the closed latch position when the armature gets to a predetermined distance from the closed latch position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for fault detection and direction determination with a phase overcurrent relay using individual phase torques and the negative sequence torque, and with a ground overcurrent relay using the zero sequence torque. A directional element includes a ground element logic circuit, a negative element logic circuit and a phase element logic circuit to evaluate the operation state of the system, detect a fault condition and determine the direction of the fault condition in an electrical power distribution system having multiple sources on a power grid.

Abstract: A non-invasive flange inspection system includes an ultrasonic scanning control unit and a probe with acoustic transducers coupled to the ultrasonic scanning control unit. The system also includes an output device that stores or displays ultrasonic scanning results, obtained using the ultrasonic scanning control unit and the probe on a flange in an assembled flange-to-flange pipe arrangement, for multiple radial distances along a hidden gasket sealing surface of the flange. A related method includes aligning an ultrasonic scanning probe with a flange in an assembled flange-to-flange pipe arrangement. The method also includes outputting control signals, by an ultrasonic scanning control unit, to the ultrasonic scanning probe to obtain ultrasonic scanning results for multiple radial distances along a hidden gasket sealing surface of the flange. The method also includes storing or displaying the ultrasonic scanning results for the multiple radial distances along the hidden gasket sealing surface of the flange.

Abstract: An asset tracking system including a dispatching system and a movable object module. The dispatching system includes a processing device configured for controlling the dispatching system, a position information receiver configured for receiving position information associated with a movable object, a position data store configured for storing the position information, and a report module configured for reporting the position information to a first non-owning entity, wherein the report module includes a verification unit configured for receiving verification information corresponding to the first non-owning entity; and a position information reporter configured for, upon receipt of the verification information, providing the position information to the first non-owning entity, wherein the position information is inaccessible to a second non-owning entity lacking the verification information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for fault detection and direction determination with a phase overcurrent relay using individual phase torques and the negative sequence torque, and with a ground overcurrent relay using the zero sequence torque. A directional element includes a ground element logic circuit, a negative element logic circuit and a phase element logic circuit to evaluate the operation state of the system, detect a fault condition and determine the direction of the fault condition in an electrical power distribution system having multiple sources on a power grid.

Abstract: An asset tracking system including a dispatching system and a movable object module. The dispatching system includes a processing device configured for controlling the dispatching system, a position information receiver configured for receiving position information associated with a movable object, a position data store configured for storing the position information, and a report module configured for reporting the position information to a first non-owning entity, wherein the report module includes a verification unit configured for receiving verification information corresponding to the first non-owning entity; and a position information reporter configured for, upon receipt of the verification information, providing the position information to the first non-owning entity, wherein the position information is inaccessible to a second non-owning entity lacking the verification information.

Abstract: A paintball gun preferably includes an electro-pneumatic flow distribution mechanism such as a solenoid valve having a port connected to a pneumatic mechanism. For instance, the solenoid valve may include an input port receiving compressed gas from a compressed gas supply and an output port connected to the pneumatic mechanism. The solenoid valve can be enabled to direct compressed gas to and/or from the pneumatic mechanism to operate a bolt. The bolt may be coupled to the pneumatic mechanism.

Abstract: A paintball gun preferably includes an electro-pneumatic flow distribution mechanism such as a solenoid valve having a port connected to a pneumatic mechanism. For instance, the solenoid valve may include an input port receiving compressed gas from a compressed gas supply and an output port connected to the pneumatic mechanism. The solenoid valve can be enabled to direct compressed gas to and/or from the pneumatic mechanism to operate a bolt. The bolt may be coupled to the pneumatic mechanism.

Abstract: An electrical control unit preferably can control operation of a paintball gun having a solenoid valve with an input port that receives compressed gas from a compressed gas supply and an output port connected to a pneumatic mechanism. For instance, the electrical control unit can contain a network of electronic components configured to receive an input signal from a trigger-actuated switch and send a signal to the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve can, for instance, direct compressed gas to and/or from the pneumatic mechanism to operate a bolt or firing valve connected to the pneumatic mechanism in response to the signal from the electrical control unit.

Abstract: Push Mark consists of a pin with an adhesive coating or other attachment mechanism. The adhesive coating of the head or other attachment mechanism is attached to the back of a picture frame or other hanging instrument in approximately the spot where a nail or hanger will support it against a wall. Once the adhesive coating or other attachment mechanism is put in place, the frame or other hanging instrument is pressed firmly against the wall, allowing the pin to leave a mark where the nail or nails will be placed for hanging the frame or instrument.

Abstract: An electrical control unit preferably can control operation of a paintball gun having a solenoid valve with an input port that receives compressed gas from a compressed gas supply and an output port connected to a pneumatic mechanism. For instance, the electrical control unit can contain a network of electronic components configured to receive an input signal from a trigger-actuated switch and send a signal to the solenoid valve. The solenoid valve can, for instance, direct compressed gas to and/or from the pneumatic mechanism to operate a bolt or firing valve connected to the pneumatic mechanism in response to the signal from the electrical control unit.

Abstract: A paintball gun preferably includes an electro-pneumatic flow distribution mechanism such as a solenoid valve having a port connected to a pneumatic mechanism. For instance, the solenoid valve may include an input port receiving compressed gas from a compressed gas supply and an output port connected to the pneumatic mechanism. The solenoid valve can be enabled to direct compressed gas to and/or from the pneumatic mechanism to operate a bolt. The bolt may be coupled to the pneumatic mechanism.

Abstract: An electronically-operated pneumatic launching device preferably includes a gun-shaped body having a trigger. A bolt preferably permits a projectile to be loaded into a chamber during a loading operation. The bolt can be configured to be opened by the application of pneumatic force. A valve is preferably located in the body and selectively supplies compressed gas from a compressed gas source to the chamber during a firing operation. An electrical circuit is also preferably arranged in the body to initiate the firing operation of the paintball gun in response to actuation of the trigger.