Abstract: A system for managing energy consumption by equipment located at a site or a plurality of sites. The system includes a database including information relating to pieces of energy consuming equipment located at a site. A server is programmed to process utility bills and/or analyze data to predict trends in energy consumption.

Abstract: The present invention is a motorized shopping cart retriever that includes a controller that attenuates the power provided to the drive system of the retriever to prevent the retriever from being utilized to move an excessively heavy load of shopping carts. By preventing the retriever and carts from being subjected to overloaded conditions, the operational lives of the retriever and carts are maximized. The retriever is also provided with a burst mode that allows the power provided to the drive system to rapidly increase past the normal attenuated level for a brief period of time in order to reduce the time required to accelerate a retriever loaded with carts to a terminal velocity.

Abstract: A system for managing energy consumption by equipment located at a site or a plurality of sites. The system includes a database including information relating to pieces of energy consuming equipment located at a site. A server is programmed to process utility bills and/or analyze data to predict trends in energy consumption.

Abstract: A system for managing energy consumption by equipment located at a site. The system includes a database including information relating to pieces of energy consuming equipment located at a site. A server is programmed to calculate an expected energy consumption profile and to notify a user if an actual energy consumption exceeds the expected energy consumption.

Abstract: The present invention is a transfer and transport device and method for moving a patient from a bed to another location within a medical facility. The transport device includes an integral transfer mechanism for transferring a patient from a hospital bed to the device and back.

Abstract: A cart pulling vehicle for use in parking lots made up of a hand operated motor-driven base which pulls shopping carts. The device utilizes a cable that is retractably mounted on the base and stretches to surround the line of carts pulled. This cable is retracted by a pair of cable drums at its ends which are driven by torsion springs. These separate dual torsion springs place torque on the cable drums which, in turn, exert tension on each half of the cable. When the cart pulling vehicle is in motion, a lock arrangement prevents additional cable from unreeling which the tension on each side cable pulling the carts in a train-like fashion. When the vehicle is stopped, a lock is released and the cable is able to extend to surround additional carts.

Abstract: The present invention is a transfer and transport device and method for moving a patient from a bed to another location within a medical facility. The transport device includes an integral transfer mechanism for transferring a patient from a hospital bed to the device and back.

Abstract: The present invention, in one embodiment, is a device for moving a heavy cart, such as a bossie cart used to transport one-gallon jugs of milk in a bulk-milk facility. The device includes a body that has an operator platform, a steerable drive wheel and a plurality of castors that support the body, a steering tiller that is interconnected to the steerable drive wheel, and a hitch that is attached to the body and includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw interconnected by a center structure. The jaws are adapted to engage opposite sides of the cart as the device is used to move the cart.

Abstract: A cart pulling vehicle for use in parking lots made up of a hand operated motor-driven base which pulls shopping carts. The device utilizes a cable that is retractably mounted on the base and stretches to surround the line of carts pulled. This cable is retracted by a pair of cable drums at its ends which are driven by torsion springs. These separate dual torsion springs place torque on the cable drums which, in turn, exert tension on each half of the cable. When the cart pulling vehicle is in motion, a lock arrangement prevents additional cable from unreeling which the tension on each side cable pulling the carts in a train-like fashion. When the vehicle is stopped, a lock is released and the cable is able to extend to surround additional carts.

Abstract: A system for managing energy consumption by equipment located at a site. The system includes a database including information relating to pieces of energy consuming equipment located at a site. A server is programmed to calculate an expected energy consumption profile and to notify a user if an actual energy consumption exceeds the expected energy consumption.

Abstract: A method for surveying equipment assets located at a site or at multiple distributed sites. The method can include gathering and compiling any legacy data relating to equipment at a site. Based on this legacy data and the goals and objectives of the enterprise, an equipment asset data structure is created and the legacy data is converted into this structure. This data structure, including the legacy data, is then communicated to a mobile survey device. An operator then uses the mobile survey device to survey the equipment assets located at a site.

Abstract: A system and method for asset management including tracking refrigerant characteristics is disclosed. The system includes a database including information relating to a refrigerant system and a database including information relating to service technicians. A server is programmed to track a refrigerant characteristic and to provide notifications to a user relating to the refrigerant characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention is a transfer and transport device and method for moving a patient from a bed to another location within a medical facility. The transport device includes an integral transfer mechanism for transferring a patient from a hospital bed to the device and back.

Abstract: A system and method for managing enterprise assets located at geographically distributed sites. The method includes storing in a database information relating to each asset, wherein the stored information includes cost of each asset and cost of service for each asset. The method further includes tracking and storing information relating to servicing of the assets, including the cost of servicing. Information relating to the assets is then displayed to a user of the system.

Abstract: A field quality control system and real-time method for evaluating the performance of swept frequency vibrators is provided. The system includes independent sensing means adapted to be mounted with the swept frequency vibrators for developing signals representative of reaction mass accelerations and baseplate accelerations, and means for monitoring the swept frequency vibrator's pilot signal. The system also includes a signal calculating means for determining vibrator operating characteristics from the pilot sweep signal, reaction mass acceleration signal, and baseplate acceleration signal and processing means for processing the vibrator operating characteristics to obtain analysis characteristics for evaluating and adjusting the performance of the swept frequency vibrator. In operation, the present invention provides a method for analysis characteristics to analyze and adjust the performance of swept frequency vibrators in real-time on location.