Abstract: Exemplary inventive practice improves the taxiing dynamics of a seaplane by propulsively imparting roll moments so as to continually encourage levelness of the two wings, thereby maintaining both wings completely above (out of) the water. Two matching motor-driven propellers are correspondingly positioned at or near the wingtips. A computer receives sensory motion inputs and transmits sequential commands that continually adjust the respective propulsive forces of the wingtip propellers by effecting equal and opposite changes in their respective rotational speeds. An increase in one wingtip propeller's rotational speed is concomitant a decrease in the other wingtip propeller's rotational speed, wherein the increase and the decrease are of the same magnitude. The seaplane rolls upward on the wing whose wingtip propeller is increasing in rotational speed. Control of the seaplane's rolling motion is thus enabled by a sustained propulsive equilibrium between the two wingtip propellers.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying damage to an embankment includes acquiring satellite imagery of an area of the embankment, generating a set of input data from the satellite imagery, removing at least one anomaly in the set of input data to obtain a cleaned set of input data, and identifying the damage by determining a dam motion area indicative of ground motion in the embankment from the cleaned set of input data and determining an anomalous vegetation area and an anomalous wetness area indicative of seepage in the embankment from the cleaned set of input data.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying damage to an embankment includes acquiring satellite imagery of an area of the embankment, generating a set of input data from the satellite imagery, removing at least one anomaly in the set of input data to obtain a cleaned set of input data, and identifying the damage by determining a dam motion area indicative of ground motion in the embankment from the cleaned set of input data and determining an anomalous vegetation area and an anomalous wetness area indicative of seepage in the embankment from the cleaned set of input data.

Abstract: A portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom offers features providing users with temporary toilet functions in a physically and emotionally secure environment while offering the owner/operator a cost-effective means of providing service. The portable restroom accomplishing the foregoing objectives includes the features of: improved ventilation; devices for no-touch sanitary safety practice; devices which facilitate personal carry in objects; combination “hover” handle and no touch door latch; a toilet seat with improved durability; improved door hinge installation and performance; improved base fastener retention; an improved base; and high-lift bearing surface and relief.

Abstract: A portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom offers features providing users with temporary toilet functions in a physically and emotionally secure environment while offering the owner/operator a cost-effective means of providing service. The portable restroom accomplishing the foregoing objectives includes the features of: improved ventilation; devices for no-touch sanitary safety practice; devices which facilitate personal carry in objects; combination “hover” handle and no touch door latch; a toilet seat with improved durability; improved door hinge installation and performance; improved base fastener retention; an improved base; and high-lift bearing surface and relief.

Abstract: An accessible or ADA/ANSI compliant style of portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom includes one or more of the features of: structural supports and/or curved sidewall segments allowing for the use of lighter weight material or construction of thinner walls and roof; improved holding tank structure; improved joints; vertical and horizontal grab bars; grab bar mounts which are molded into the restroom sidewall and facilitate mounting high impact yet flexible tubing; an improved lightweight floor structure, and a floor having upturned flanges which provide an area for attachment of the sidewalls; and integrated recesses in the floor for lift truck forks, among other features. A floor structure is also provided that comprises a sheet of material forming a floor, the material having an upturned flange surrounding its perimeter, and a threshold formed by a recess in the upturned flange on the perimeter of the plastic sheet.

Abstract: An accessible or ADA/ANSI compliant style of portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom includes one or more of the features of: structural supports and/or curved sidewall segments allowing for the use of lighter weight material or construction of thinner walls and roof; improved holding tank structure; improved joints; vertical and horizontal grab bars; grab bar mounts which are molded into the restroom sidewall and facilitate mounting high impact yet flexible tubing; an improved lightweight floor structure, and a floor having upturned flanges which provide an area for attachment of the sidewalls; and integrated recesses in the floor for lift truck forks, among other features. A floor structure is also provided that comprises a sheet of material forming a floor, the material having an upturned flange surrounding its perimeter, and a threshold formed by a recess in the upturned flange on the perimeter of the plastic sheet.

Abstract: An accessible or ADA/ANSI compliant style of portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom includes one or more of the features of: structural supports and/or curved sidewall segments allowing for the use of lighter weight material or construction of thinner walls and roof; improved holding tank structure; improved joints; vertical and horizontal grab bars; grab bar mounts which are molded into the restroom sidewall and facilitate mounting high impact yet flexible tubing; an improved lightweight floor structure, and a floor having upturned flanges which provide an area for attachment of the sidewalls; and integrated recesses in the floor for lift truck forks, among other features. A floor structure is also provided that comprises a sheet of material forming a floor, the material having an upturned flange surrounding its perimeter, and a threshold formed by a recess in the upturned flange on the perimeter of the plastic sheet.

Abstract: An accessible or ADA/ANSI compliant style of portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom includes one or more of the features of: structural supports and/or curved sidewall segments allowing for the use of lighter weight material or construction of thinner walls and roof; improved holding tank structure; improved joints; vertical and horizontal grab bars; grab bar mounts which are molded into the restroom sidewall and facilitate mounting high impact yet flexible tubing; an improved lightweight floor structure, and a floor having upturned flanges which provide an area for attachment of the sidewalls; and integrated recesses in the floor for lift truck forks, among other features.

Abstract: A portable restroom is provided. The portable restroom offers features providing users with temporary toilet functions in a physically and emotionally secure environment while offering the owner/operator a cost-effective means of providing service. The portable restroom accomplishing the foregoing objectives includes the features of: improved ventilation; devices for no-touch sanitary safety practice; devices which facilitate personal carry in objects; combination “hover” handle and no touch door latch; a toilet seat with improved durability; improved door hinge installation and performance; improved base fastener retention; an improved base; and high-lift bearing surface and relief.

Abstract: A portable urinal appliance is provided comprising a funnel (7) for receiving urine; a flexible hose (8) connected to the funnel; a container (6) connected to the flexible hose for receiving and storing urine input at the funnel; wherein the appliance further includes a funnel support (10), located with respect to the container so that when the appliance is not in use the funnel is held upright and higher than the level of urine in the container.

Abstract: A graft caliper provides for a first member having a first pick at its distal end and its proximal end attached to a handle. A second member of the graft caliper is disposed above the first member and has a second pick at its distal end that extends beyond the first pick. The proximal end of the second member is attached to an adjuster which causes the second member to move from a first position to a second position in order to change a distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick. The graft caliper provides for an indication of at least one metric for describing the distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick and places an identifier on a surface of bone representing the location of a tunnel to be formed through a femur, tibia or any other anatomical structure.

Abstract: A simple yet effective adjustable laminoplasty implant and procedure includes a member positioned within or through a hole formed through a spinous process, and an elongated element is provided with a medial end coupled to the member and a lateral end configured for engagement with a bone mass fixation device. The elongated element may be a bent rod. The rod may have a medial end with a cross-section that is smaller than that of the lateral end. The member positioned within or through a hole formed through a spinous process may be a sleeve with angled endcaps. The endcaps may include bone-engaging teeth. Alternatively, the sleeve may have a central bore and barbs that engage with surrounding bone when an elongated member is inserted in the bore. The mass fixation device may a pedicle screw. The pedicle screw may be configured to receive a transverse rod. Alternatively, the mass fixation device may itself be a rod. Method of performing a laminoplasty In accordance with the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A graft caliper provides for a first member having a first pick at its distal end and its proximal end attached to a handle. A second member of the graft caliper is disposed above the first member and has a second pick at its distal end that extends beyond the first pick. The proximal end of the second member is attached to an adjuster which causes the second member to move from a first position to a second position in order to change a distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick. The graft caliper provides for an indication of at least one metric for describing the distance the second pick extends beyond the first pick and places an identifier on a surface of bone representing the location of a tunnel to be formed through a femur, tibia or any other anatomical structure.

Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel (5) supported in a housing (1) for rotation about a turbine axis. An annular inlet passage (9) is defined between first and second radial inlet surfaces, one of said first and second inlet surfaces being defined by a moveable wall member (40). A substantially annular array of vanes (41) is provided which extend across the inlet passageway (9); each vane (41) being fixed to said first inlet surface. Each vane (41) has first and second major vane surfaces (45, 46) having a chordal length extending between a radially outer leading vane edge (47) and a radially inner trailing vane edge (48), the first major vane surface (45) facing generally away from the axis and the second major vane surface (46) facing generally towards the axis. A rib (43) extends across at least a substantial portion of the chordal length of at least one of the first and second major vane surfaces (45, 46) of one or more vanes (41) of the array.

Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel (5) supported in a housing (1) for rotation about a turbine axis. An annular inlet passage (9) is defined between first and second radial inlet surfaces, one of said first and second inlet surfaces being defined by a moveable wall member (40). A substantially annular array of vanes (41) is provided which extend across the inlet passageway (9); each vane (41) being fixed to said first inlet surface. Each vane (41) has first and second major vane surfaces (45, 46) having a chordal length extending between a radially outer leading vane edge (47) and a radially inner trailing vane edge (48), the first major vane surface (45) facing generally away from the axis and the second major vane surface (46) facing generally towards the axis. A rib (43) extends across at least a substantial portion of the chordal length of at least one of the first and second major vane surfaces (45, 46) of one or more vanes (41) of the array.

Abstract: A simple yet effective adjustable laminoplasty implant and procedure includes a member positioned within or through a hole formed through a spinous process, and an elongated element is provided with a medial end coupled to the member and a lateral end configured for engagement with a bone mass fixation device. The elongated element may be a bent rod. The rod may have a medial end with a cross-section that is smaller than that of the lateral end. The member positioned within or through a hole formed through a spinous process may be a sleeve with angled endcaps. The endcaps may include bone-engaging teeth. Alternatively, the sleeve may have a central bore and barbs that engage with surrounding bone when an elongated member is inserted in the bore. The mass fixation device may a pedicle screw. The pedicle screw may be configured to receive a transverse rod. Alternatively, the mass fixation device may itself be a rod. Method of performing a laminoplasty In accordance with the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tube assembly (202) for installation of one or more optical fibres is disclosed. The assembly comprises a plurality of elongate flexible first tubes (204) for receiving one or more optical fibres. A first layer (206) is arranged outwardly of the tubes, and a second layer (220) is arranged radially inwardly of the first layer to substantially fill a void between at least the radially outermost first tubes and the first layer.

Abstract: A fibre optic cable includes a core of primary coated optical fibres embedded in an inner layer of acrylate material, having sufficient tensile strength when cured to lock at least the outermost fibres in place and still allow the fibres to be easily broken out of the assembly for termination and splicing purposes. The hardness of the acrylate layer is such that at least the outermost fibres of the bundle are restricted from moving axially relative to the inner layer. The inner layer is then surrounded by a loose thin jacket formed from a mixture of high density polyethylene having a Shore hardness greater than or equal to 60 and a generally uniformly distributed slip agent, including a polyether modified poly (dimethylsiloxane) material such as polyether modified hydroxy functional poly (dimethylsiloxane) material. The mixture from which the outer layer is formed is compacted by means of heat and pressure.

Abstract: A system (130) for monitoring rail line wayside equipment (132). The system includes circuitry (147) for generating information regarding an operating status of the wayside equipment. The information is communicated to a plurality of user locations, such as via a first communications link (164) that transmits the information to a passing locomotive (145) and a second communications link (166) that transmits the information to locations remote from the wayside equipment. The second communications link may utilize an existing locomotive diagnostic communications pathway to a data center, from where information is uploaded to the Internet (150).