Abstract: An outdoor cooking grill has a cooking surface and at least one induction coil below the cooking surface. A power supply provides current to the at least one induction coil heating the cooking surface.

Abstract: An ice delivery device includes a bin for storing ice, a rotatable helical auger for delivering ice, and a rotatable agitator wheel with multiple flexible arms to help break up agglomerations of ice. The agitator wheel is mounted such that as the auger is rotated the auger successively engages arms of the agitator wheel to rotate the agitator wheel. If the agitator wheel encounters an obstruction, such as a mass of agglomerated ice, the auger displaces the flexible arm out of the plane of the agitator wheel thus permitting the auger to continue rotate to deliver ice. The agitator wheel is mounted on a pair of flexible liners, which are displaceable by agglomerated ice.

Abstract: An ice delivery device includes a bin for storing ice, a rotatable helical auger for delivering ice, and a rotatable agitator wheel with multiple flexible arms to help break up agglomerations of ice. The agitator wheel is mounted such that as the auger is rotated the auger successively engages arms of the agitator wheel to rotate the agitator wheel. If the agitator wheel encounters an obstruction, such as a mass of agglomerated ice, the auger displaces the flexible arm out of the plane of the agitator wheel thus permitting the auger to continue rotate to deliver ice. The agitator wheel is mounted on a pair of flexible liners, which are displaceable by agglomerated ice.

Abstract: Flexible sturdy base containers and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The flexible sturdy base container includes a rigid base element formed of a relatively rigid material. The rigid base element includes a bottom and a perimeter wall having an outward facing surface. The container also includes a flexible wall element formed of a relatively flexible material. The flexible wall element is affixed to the outward facing surface of the perimeter wall of the rigid base element and extends in a direction away from the bottom of the rigid base element. The flexible wall element and the bottom of the rigid base element together form an exterior of the flexible sturdy base container.

Abstract: A control module adapted for use as either a master controller or device controller in a distributed electrohydraulic system includes a microprocessor-based control circuit with digital memory having stored therein a plurality of programs for controlling operation of the controller in a variety of applications. A plurality of analog inputs provide a mechanism for connecting sensor signals or the like to input ports of the control microprocessor. A plurality of electrohydraulic valve driver circuits have inputs for receiving valve control signals from the control microprocessor, and outputs for selective connection to electrohydraulic valves coupled to the devices to be controlled. Serial communication circuitry is coupled to the control microprocessor and adapted for connection to a high-speed electrohydraulic bus.

Abstract: A rotary hydraulic machine which includes a housing having a shaft mounted for rotation within the housing about a shaft axis. A cylinder block is coupled to the shaft for co-rotation with the shaft within the housing and includes a plurality of cylinders disposed in a circumferential array parallel to and surrounding the shaft axis. A piston is disposed to reciprocate within each of the cylinders and is coupled to a yoke for determining displacement of the pistons within the cylinders. A valve plate is mounted on a valve block and includes kidney-shaped slots for registering with the cylinders as the cylinder block rotates, and thereby connecting the cylinders to pump input and output ports. A microprocessor-based controller is externally mounted on the pump valve block and includes internal memory having various remotely-selectable control programs prestored therein.

Abstract: A rotary hydraulic machine which includes a housing having a shaft mounted for rotation within the housing about a shaft axis. A cylidner block is coupled to the shaft for co-rotation with the shaft within the housing and includes a plurality of cylinders disposed in a circumferential array parallel to and surrounding the shaft axis. A piston is disposed to reciprocate within each of the cylinders and is coupled to a yoke for determining displacement of the pistons within the cylinders. A valve plate is mounted on a valve block and includes kidney-shaped slots for registering with the cylinders as the cylinder block rotates, and thereby connecting the cylinders to pump input and output ports. A microprocessor-based controller is externally mounted on the pump valve block and includes internal memory having various remotely-selectable control programs prestored therein.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic control system that includes a plurality of electrohydraulic devices coupled to a remote master controller by a high-speed serial communication bus. The bus has a serial differential transmission line, and a control line for indicating impending transmission of data from one controller and conditioning the other controllers to receive information. Sections of the communication bus are electrically isolated from each other, while maintaining data and control line signal integrity therebetween, by electro-optical interface modules that include transmitters and receivers interconnected by lengths of fiber optic line, and interface drivers having signal ports respectively interconnecting the fiber optic transmitters and receivers to associated sections of the communication bus.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic system includes a plurality of electrohydraulic devices individually controlled by on-board microprocessor-based control electronics. Each individual device controller is connected to and addressable by a master controller for coordinating operation of the various devices. An electrohydraulic servo valve assembly includes a hydraulic manifold having a valve spool variably positionable therein under control of a torque motor. A microprocessor-based controller is connected to the torque motor and is mounted on the manifold by a cover which encloses and protects both the controller and the torque motor. A watchdog timer in the microprocessor-based controller monitors pulsewidth modulated signals to the torque motor for terminating operation in the event of signal loss. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the servo valve assembly is coupled to a linear actuator which has its position monitored by an electroacoustic transducer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the various functions of an internal combustion engine using a program-controlled microprocessor having a memory preprogrammed with various control laws and associated control schedules receives information concerning one or more engine-operating parameters such as manifold pressure, throttle position, engine coolant temperature, air temperature, and engine speed or period and the like. These parameters are sensed or measured and then the value thereof is supplied to input circuits for signal conditioning and conversion to digital words usable by the microprocessor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the various functions of an internal combustion engine using a program-controlled microprocessor system having a memory preprogrammed with various control laws and associated control schedules receives information concerning one or more engine-operating parameters such as manifold pressure, throttle position, engine coolant temperature, air temperature, engine speed or period, and the like. These parameters are sensed and then supplied to input circuits for signal conditioning and conversion into digital words usable by the microprocessor system. The microprocessor system computes a digital command word indicative of a computer-commanded engine control operation and output circuitry responds to predetermined computer-generated commands and to the computed digital command word for converting them to corresponding pulse-width control signals for controlling such engine operations as fuel-injection, ignition timing, proportional and/or on-off EGR control, and the like.