Abstract: An accelerometer arrangement and method are described for determining accelerations of an inground tool. First and second triaxial accelerometers are supported such that a normal sensing axis of the first triaxial accelerometer is at least generally orthogonal to the normal sensing axis of the second triaxial accelerometer for determining the accelerations along the three orthogonal axes based on a combination of sensing axis outputs from one or both of the triaxial accelerometers. A weaker sensing axis of one triaxial accelerometer can be supported at least approximately normal to a weaker sensing axis of another triaxial accelerometer such that the weaker axes are not used. The triaxial accelerometers can be supported such that one axis of one accelerometer can be redundant with respect to another axis of another accelerometer. One triaxial accelerometer can be mounted on a tilted plane with respect to another triaxial accelerometer.

Abstract: A transmitter is powered by a regulated battery voltage and is installable in one of a plurality of different housings, each housing is characterized by a different design and each can form part of an inground tool for performing an inground operation in which a drill string extends from a drill rig to the inground tool. An antenna driver drives an antenna based on the regulated voltage to emanate an electromagnetic signal for remote reception. A controller limits power consumption from the regulated voltage so as not to exceed a power consumption threshold, irrespective of installation of the transmitter in any one of the housings when the transmitter would otherwise exhibit a different power consumption for each housing design. A corresponding method is described. Features relating to power consumption threshold modification based on temperature as well as mechanical shock and vibration are described.

Abstract: A wirelessly controlled LED lighting system comprising: an LED lighting device further comprised of an LED circuit board with one or more light-emitting diode (LED) chips and an antenna attached to said LED circuit board; an LED drive current source; a wireless radio controller attached to said LED Drive current source; associated packaging, heat-sink and optics; embedded software; and a wireless internet gateway system further comprised of a gateway system device, a control device and application software.

Abstract: A non-slip surface is provided comprising a surface having at least one arcuate lug, said arcuate lug comprising a raised center portion and raised and twisted side portions for preventing slippage. Additionally, a process is provided comprising the steps of cutting an arc into a surface, raising and twisting said arc in relation to said surface by bending said surface along a secant perpendicular to a line connecting the midpoint of said arc and the secant, creating at least one arcuate lug in said surface.

Abstract: A non-slip surface is provided comprising a surface having at least one arcuate lug, said arcuate lug comprising a raised center portion and raised and twisted side portions for preventing slippage. Additionally, a process is provided comprising the steps of cutting an arc into a surface, raising and twisting said arc in relation to said surface by bending said surface along a secant perpendicular to a line connecting the midpoint of said arc and the secant, creating at least one arcuate lug in said surface.

Abstract: A double tongue and groove rail expansion assembly is provided with ancillary equipment to limit dimensional flexing of a railroad track caused by instabilities in the underlying earthen surface, or variable work loads, or temperature changes effecting the longitudinal dimensions of the rails, or any and all combinations of such stresses. The ancillary equipment includes pushover assemblies for control of lateral and vertical forces, tieplate assemblies for control of longitudinal and vertical forces and an electrical bonding system to maintain electrical balance across the area of rail joinment.

Abstract: A drill housing includes an internal cavity for receiving a unitary tubular support member rotatably supported by bearing assemblies in the drill housing. The tubular support member is connected through meshing gears to a drive shaft of a rotary motor mounted externally on the drill housing. An upper end portion of the tubular support member is rotatably supported by a first bearing assembly and is nonrotatably connected to a drill retaining member that extends into a central bore of the tubular support member. The drill retaining member has a socket for receiving the shank of a drill steel. A lower end portion of the tubular support member is rotatably supported by a second bearing assembly. An enlarged intermediate body portion of the support member separates the upper and lower end portions and supports the first and second bearing asemblies.

Abstract: A railroad plate and connectable shim are disclosed for fastening railroad tracks over ground having a flat or raised topography in an economically feasible manner. The instant system provides a base plate with a sloping grooved channel for reception of the lower flange of a rail to be held in place in combination with a trapezoidal shim to insure the proper cant of the rail over the various topographical areas of the country. The instant base plate, trapezoidal shim, rail and railroad tie are all fastened via a set of screws which are angled or toed-in towards the center of gravity of the rail. Stepped washers, each possessing a thickened portion, are provided between the bottom of the screw head and the upper shoulder surface of the lower flanges, both inside and outside the central vertical portion of the rail. The washers are omitted in securing back assemblies to the ties where joints are formed between the ends of adjacent rails.

Abstract: A pump system includes a source of fluid under pressure conveyed into a fluid chamber containing meshing gears which are rotated by the pressurized fluid to, in turn, transmit rotation to a unitary valve member positioned in a housing. Rotation of the gears also displaces fluid at a preselected flow rate through an inlet port of the housing and into a first inlet port of the rotary valve member. During the first one half cycle of rotation of the rotary valve member, fluid is conveyed through a first set of aligned outlet ports of the valve member and the valve housing to a water pump for displacing a water piston. The water piston is displaced to convey water through a first conduit. During the second one half cycle of rotation of the rotary valve member, fluid is conveyed through a second set of aligned outlet ports of the valve member and the valve housing to displace the water piston in an opposite direction to convey water through a second conduit.

Abstract: A railroad plate and connectable shim is disclosed for fastening railroad tracks over ground having a flat or raised topography in an economically feasible manner. The instant system provides a base plate with a sloping grooved channel for reception of the lower flange of a rail to be held in place in combination with a trapezoidal shim to insure the proper cant of the rail over the various topographical areas of the country. The instant base plate, trapezoidal shim, rail and railroad tie are all fastened via a set of screws which are angled towards the center of gravity of the rail.