Abstract: An applicator for spraying an elastomeric material comprises an applicator body having an internal bore and a fluid inlet for receiving a supply of the elastomeric material. A nozzle is coupled to the applicator body and has a discharge end with a spray outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet via a fluid passageway. A needle valve is slidably mounted within the internal bore for movement between a closed position for closing the fluid passageway, and an open position for opening the fluid passageway so as to spray the elastomeric material. An air cap is coupled to the applicator body adjacent the nozzle for providing an atomizing airflow and a fan control airflow. The needle valve has a tip portion shaped to extend through the nozzle so as to be substantially flush with the discharge end of the nozzle when the needle valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A mobile coating system for coating an electrical insulator. The system includes an elongate shipping container that is transportable to a worksite, and a plurality of stations located within the shipping container. The stations include a loading station for loading an insulator to be coated, a coating station that includes a robotically controlled applicator for applying an elastomeric coating to the insulator, a curing station located after the coating station for curing the elastomeric coating, and an unloading station for unloading the coated insulator. The system also includes an endless loop conveyor for conveying the insulator through the plurality of stations. The endless loop conveyor has an elongated circular path.

Abstract: An applicator for spraying an elastomeric material comprises an applicator body having an internal bore and a fluid inlet for receiving a supply of the elastomeric material. A nozzle is coupled to the applicator body and has a discharge end with a spray outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet via a fluid passageway. A needle valve is slidably mounted within the internal bore for movement between a closed position for closing the fluid passageway, and an open position for opening the fluid passageway so as to spray the elastomeric material. An air cap is coupled to the applicator body adjacent the nozzle for providing an atomizing airflow and a fan control airflow. The needle valve has a tip portion shaped to extend through the nozzle so as to be substantially flush with the discharge end of the nozzle when the needle valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: An applicator for spraying an elastomeric material comprises an applicator body having an internal bore and a fluid inlet for receiving a supply of the elastomeric material. A nozzle is coupled to the applicator body and has a discharge end with a spray outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet via a fluid passageway. A needle valve is slidably mounted within the internal bore for movement between a closed position for closing the fluid passageway, and an open position for opening the fluid passageway so as to spray the elastomeric material. An air cap is coupled to the applicator body adjacent the nozzle for providing an atomizing airflow and a fan control airflow. The needle valve has a tip portion shaped to extend through the nozzle so as to be substantially flush with the discharge end of the nozzle when the needle valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A mobile coating system for coating an electrical insulator. The system includes an elongate shipping container that is transportable to a worksite, and a plurality of stations located within the shipping container. The stations include a loading station for loading an insulator to be coated, a coating station that includes a robotically controlled applicator for applying an elastomeric coating to the insulator, a curing station located after the coating station for curing the elastomeric coating, and an unloading station for unloading the coated insulator. The system also includes an endless loop conveyor for conveying the insulator through the plurality of stations. The endless loop conveyor has an elongated circular path.

Abstract: An applicator for spraying an elastomeric material comprises an applicator body having an internal bore and a fluid inlet for receiving a supply of the elastomeric material. A nozzle is coupled to the applicator body and has a discharge end with a spray outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet via a fluid passageway. A needle valve is slidably mounted within the internal bore for movement between a closed position for closing the fluid passageway, and an open position for opening the fluid passageway so as to spray the elastomeric material. An air cap is coupled to the applicator body adjacent the nozzle for providing an atomizing airflow and a fan control airflow. The needle valve has a tip portion shaped to extend through the nozzle so as to be substantially flush with the discharge end of the nozzle when the needle valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A connecting unit for use in a system comprising a ‘stack’ of network communication units having a cascade connection has three ports having lines for forwarding and receiving data packets and for forwarding and receiving control messages. The connecting unit increments a first signal value defining an identification number received by way of a control message at a first port, provides the received signal value by way of a control message to the third port and provides the incremented signal value by way of a control message to the second port. The connecting unit also receives a second signal value defining an active unit count by way of a control message at the first port and provides the second signal value, incremented or not in dependence on a control message received at the third port, in a control message at the second port.

Abstract: A control device for a unit in a cascade connection of network units includes control logic which increments a count of active units and passes the count to the next control device. The count is initiated and terminated by an absence of control messages at the down port and up port respectively. The incremented count is passed up the cascade and a final count is passed down the cascade.

Abstract: System, method and apparatus for compressing and decompressing image data. In an embodiment, a color cell is compressed by: defining at least four luminance levels of the color cell; generating a bitmask for the color cell, the bitmask having a plurality of entries each corresponding to a respective one of the pixels, each of the entries for storing data identifying one of the luminance levels associated with a corresponding one of the pixels; calculating a first average color of pixels associated with a first one of the luminance levels; calculating a second average color of pixels associated with a second one of the luminance levels; and storing the bitmask in association with the first average color and the second average color.

Abstract: A control device for a unit in a cascade connection of network units includes control logic which increments a count of active units and passes the count to the next control device. The count is initiated and terminated by an absence of control messages at the down port and up port respectively. The incremented count is passed up the cascade and a final count is passed down the cascade.

Abstract: A data network hub unit is stackable with other such units to constitute a hub in which each of the units can supply data packets to network data destinations and receive data packets from network data sources, and to form a closed data transmission ring which enables packets received at any unit to be transmitted from any other unit. The hub unit includes arbitration control means responsive to packet headers circulating on said ring.