Abstract: A low-power shock sensing system includes at least one shock sensor physically coupled to a chemical storage tank to be monitored for impacts, and an RF transmitter which is in a low-power idle state in the absence of a triggering signal. The system includes interference circuitry including or activated by the shock sensor, wherein an output of the interface circuitry is coupled to an input of the RF transmitter. The interface circuitry triggers the RF transmitting with the triggering signal to transmit an alarm message to at least one remote location when the sensor senses a shock greater than a predetermined threshold. In one embodiment the shock sensor is a shock switch which provides an open and a closed state, the open state being a low power idle state.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for orthopedic implant assessment. A method includes characterizing wear of an orthopedic implant including measuring a dimension in a direction that defines a path that passes through an articulating surface of a wear element of the orthopedic implant using at least one thickness sensor. An apparatus includes an orthopedic implant including a wear element having an articulating surface; and at least one thickness sensor coupled to the wear element, the at least one thickness sensor measuring a dimension in a direction that defines a path that passes through the articulating surface of the wear element. A method includes characterizing forces within an orthopedic implant including using a plurality of individually addressable pressure sensors including measuring parasitic impedance between at least two of the plurality of individually addressable pressure sensors.

Abstract: A container (1) having a body and a rim (3) defining an opening for the container, the container being made of a material such as PET or PEN, is manufactured in a two-stage process. The first stage comprises injection moulding a preform (15) which has a rim (3) formed at its mouth and a continuous body-forming portion (32) extending across the preform from the inner periphery (19) of the rim, the rim having an outwardly-directed extent and including a downwardly-extending portion (21) spaced outwardly from the inner periphery and an outwardly-extending portion (5,6,29) located outwardly of the downwardly extending portion. In the second stage the preform is placed in a moulding cavity (56) of a blow moulding apparatus (7) at an elevated temperature with the preform being located by means of the rim (3). The body-forming portion expands in the cavity to form the container side wall (20) and bottom wall (2).

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a bottle which may be closed by a push-on closure, apparatus for manufacturing the same, a bottle and a closure for the bottle. A bottle is manufactured in a multi-component assembly. The bottle preform (not shown) is made by an injection molding technique, having detents on its upwardly and outwardly facing surfaces. It is then transferred to a blow mould where it is first heated, and then shaped by inserting a blow pin through the neck of the preform to stretch it in its longitudinal axis. During this operation, the top surface of the preform is bent down, such that the detent formed on the upwardly facing surface of the preform now extends laterally into the volume of the preform. The stretched preform is then blown to take the shape of the blow mould, forming the bottle. A closure is formed by injection moulding, and is held on the bottle by the laterally extending detents.

Abstract: A chum dispensing assembly comprising a container having a substantially elongated, cylindrical configuration defining a hollow interior for the containment of chum. The container comprises a separable portion movably mounted on or connected to a remainder of the container by a connecting assembly disposed and structured to facilitate substantially linear, axial displacement of the separable portion outwardly from the remainder of the container to form a dispensing opening through which chum passes from the hollow interior. Displacement of the separable portion into the open position is normally accomplished by a predetermined “pulling” force exerted on an upper end of the container when submerged at a location where the chum is intended to be dispensed.

Abstract: An operational amplifier input stage provides a symmetrical rail-to-rail input common-mode voltage without turning off either pair of complementary differential input transistors. Secondary, or surrogate, transistor pairs assume the function of the complementary differential transistors. The circuit also maintains essentially constant transconductance, constant slew rate, and constant signal-path supply current as it provides rail-to-rail operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for space charge dosimeters for extremely low power measurements of radiation in shipping containers. A method includes insitu polling a suite of passive integrating ionizing radiation sensors including reading-out dosimetric data from a first passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor and a second passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor, where the first passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor and the second passive integrating ionizing radiation sensor remain situated where the dosimetric data was integrated while reading-out.

Abstract: A fish and game cleaning and filleting table comprises a table top having a front edge, back edge and opposing side edges, wherein the back edge is lower than the front edge, an adjustable spraying assembly that pivots in relation to the table top, removable side plates, a vented back plate, gaps defined between the back plate and side plates, tapered legs and a base adapted for mounting the table to a flat surface. The base may also be adapted for mounting the table in a boat or truck.

Abstract: A stiffened composite metal panel is made by providing a layer of metal with spaced grooves of a depth less than the thickness of the metal layer for defining separable strips of the layer and, after arranging stripes of bond-preventing material between limited portions of the respective separable strips and a second metal layer, the metal layers are passed between pressure bonding rolls with reduction in the thickness of the layer materials to metallurgically bond a portion of each separable strip to the second metal layer to form a composite metal panel while leaving a portion of each separable strip free of such bonding at the location of the bond-preventing stripe. The separable strips are then broken apart along the grooves and folded away from the second metal layer to form precisely located stiffening ribs in the composite panel.