Abstract: A coupling device for impedance matching a probe of a guided wave radar (GWR) system. A feed-through is for connecting to a coaxial cable or other transmission line connector that includes an inner conductor which connects to an output of a transceiver and an outer conductor that connects to an outer metal sleeve. A subwavelength coaxial transmission line (CTL) having a length from ?/5 to ?/2 is coupled to the feed-through including an inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the feed-through and an outer conductor connected to the outer metal sleeve. A mode converter (MC) having a plurality of metal fingers (7) of length 2?± twenty percent is connected to the outer conductor of the subwavelength CTL, where the MC includes a dielectric coating on its inner conductor connected to the inner conductor of the subwavelength CTL.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a threaded feed-through of a process connection to provide a launcher for a non-metallic storage tank. The storage tank includes a tank aperture in its top surface. The coupling device includes a foil nozzle including an inner upper metal foil surface that includes a threaded aperture for securing the feed-through thereto, and a first and second lower metal foil surface on respective sides of the upper metal foil surface. The foil nozzle also includes a first and a second foil level transition region disposed between the respective sides of the inner upper metal foil surface and the first and second lower metal foil surface. The foil nozzle can be configured in a cylindrical, horn, or a corrugated horn shape.

Abstract: A guided wave radar fluid level measurement system can measure the level of product in a tank. A pulse of RF energy sent along a waveguide in the tank can be reflected where the waveguide enters the product. A time of flight measurement can indicate the product level. The product inside the tank can flow and that flow can push the waveguide and thereby torque and possibly bend the waveguide. A streamlined wave guide is torqued less when the streamlining is aligned with the direction of flow. A rotating connector can provide for the waveguide to rotate and a weathervane effect can align the streamlined waveguide with the flow.

Abstract: A coaxial feed-through device (feed-through) for coupling a received process connection to a storage tank (tank) including an inner electrical conductor (probe), an outer electrical conductor; and a dielectric sleeve disposed between the probe and the outer electrical conductor. The dielectric sleeve is configured to provide an upper coaxial transmission line segment (upper CTL segment) providing a substantially 50 ohm impedance and a lower coaxial transmission line segment (lower CTL segment) which includes one or more sub-segments having an impedance that is at least forty (40%) percent higher as compared to the substantially 50 ohm impedance.

Abstract: A lift system includes an overhead support, a counterweight, a base unit including a brake and secured to a floor, a fly line, and a load line. The fly line connects the counterweight, the overhead support, and the base unit via pulleys. The brake is configured to engage the fly line to limit movement of the counterweight and a load. A manual rope brake includes a housing having a base portion, an upper portion, and a hinge rotatably connecting the upper portion to the base portion. A cam lock is within the housing between pulleys. The cam lock engages a rope when the brake is engaged, and disengages from the rope when the brake is disengaged. A portable lift system includes a container configured to carry pulleys, a base unit, a fly line, and a load line when the lift system is in transport. Related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guided wave radar level measurement device includes a process connection composed of an outer conductor and a central conductor. The central conductor is surrounded at least in part by a dielectric material. One or more resilient metal seals can be employed to form a hermetic seal around a portion of the probe. The metal seal protects the dielectric material such that the hermetic seal is isolated from process and temperature shock. The metal seal(s) can be further mated with one or more insulators and one or more gaskets, the metal seal(s) to provide a thermal and mechanical barrier as well as offering chemical resistance to the guided wave radar level measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A system includes a frame having multiple separate supports and multiple flexible rails. Each support is configured to be secured in a position apart from another support, and each flexible rail is configured to be coupled to the supports and placed under tension. The system also includes a sensor head configured to be mounted on the rails and to move back and forth along the rails. The sensor head is substantially self-contained and configured to receive operating power over the rails. The frame may further include a tensioned member configured to be coupled to the supports, and the sensor head can be configured to move back and forth using the tensioned member. The sensor head can be self-contained in that the sensor head does not push and pull any wiring assembly during movement along the rails.

Abstract: A method of monitoring hydraulic fluid levels in an aircraft includes identifying segments of operation where the aircraft meets a predetermined stability criteria, receiving output from the fluid sensor, calculating hydraulic fluid levels within the at least one hydraulic storage tank, determining a hydraulic fluid value indicative of the amount of hydraulic fluid in the aircraft based on at least the calculated hydraulic fluid level, and providing an indication of the hydraulic fluid value.

Abstract: A coaxial fluid level sensor can be easily assembled and maintained with a minimum of required tooling by using U-shaped spacers to center an inner rod within an outer shell. The U-shaped spacers can be snapped onto the inner rod before or as the inner rod is inserted into the outer shell. The sensor can be extended by attaching additional inner rods and outer shells end to end.

Abstract: There is described method and apparatus for processing signals of a telephonic communication, where the signals represent sensitive and non-sensitive information. A described method comprises processing the signals to provide a first version of the signals that is to be recorded and a second version of the signals that is to be output as audio; monitoring at least the first version of the signals to detect, in said at least the first version of the signals, one or more instances of one or more predetermined characteristics that represent the sensitive information conveyed by the signals; and modifying said at least the first version of the signals by removing the identified predetermined characteristics from said at least the first version of the signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an aircraft structure comprising a first sub-structure, having a first box cross-section, a second sub-structure, having a second box cross-section, and a joint joining a first end region of the first sub-structure to second end region of the second sub-structure, wherein the joint comprises an overlap region where the end regions of the first and the second sub-structures overlap such that the first sub-structure is inside the second sub-structure. The present invention also provides an aircraft comprising such an aircraft structure and a method of manufacturing an aircraft structure.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.

Abstract: Dual mounting head scanners measure the thickness of flexible moving porous webs and employ an air clamp on the operative surface of the lower head to maintain the web in physical contact with a measurement surface. As the web is held firmly by the clamp, the vacuum level that is established is indicative of the porosity of the membrane. As compressed air is supplied to a vacuum generator at a given operational pressure, the rate of airflow through the web can be inferred from the vacuum pressure measurements. The rate of airflow through the membrane and therefore the porosity of the membrane are related to the vacuum level. It is not necessary to measure the airflow through the membrane. From the vacuum pressure measurements, the membrane's permeability can also be determined by correlation to empirical data. Thickness measurements are effected by optical triangulation and inductive proximity measurements.

Abstract: Dual mounting head scanners measure the thickness of flexible moving porous webs and employ an air clamp on the operative surface of the lower head to maintain the web in physical contact with a measurement surface. As the web is held firmly by the clamp, the vacuum level that is established is indicative of the porosity of the membrane. As compressed air is supplied to a vacuum generator at a given operational pressure, the rate of airflow through the web can be interred from the vacuum pressure measurements. The rate of airflow through the membrane and therefore the porosity of the membrane are related to the vacuum level. It is not necessary to measure the airflow through the membrane. From the vacuum pressure measurements, the membrane's permeability can also be determined by correlation to empirical data. Thickness measurements are effected by optical triangulation and inductive proximity measurements.

Abstract: A method of mediating communications between a first computing device and a second computing device, by an intermediary computing device, comprising establishing a communications link to each of the first and second computing devices, receiving a first message from the first computing device, the content of the first message comprising information in a protected format, converting at least part of the information in the protected format to an unprotected format, and transmitting a second message to the second computing device, the content of the second message comprising at least part of the information in the unprotected format.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a chassis configured to move back and forth along multiple rails. The apparatus also includes electrical contacts configured to form electrical connections to the rails. The apparatus further includes a power converter/conditioner configured to receive power from the rails via the electrical contacts and to convert the power into a different form and/or condition the power. In addition, the apparatus includes one or more sensors configured to measure at least one characteristic of a material, where the one or more sensors are configured to operate using the power from the power converter/conditioner. The electrical contacts could touch the rails and receive the power directly from the rails. The electrical contacts could also touch rail contacts and receive the power indirectly from the rails via the rail contacts.

Abstract: A method of monitoring hydraulic fluid levels in an aircraft includes identifying segments of operation where the aircraft meets a predetermined stability criteria, receiving output from the fluid sensor, calculating hydraulic fluid levels within the at least one hydraulic storage tank, determining a hydraulic fluid value indicative of the amount of hydraulic fluid in the aircraft based on at least the calculated hydraulic fluid level, and providing an indication of the hydraulic fluid value.

Abstract: A method for predicting faults in an aircraft thrust reverser system, the method includes receiving a position signal, determining a variation in the position signal relative to a reference position, predicting a fault in the thrust reverser based on the variation, and providing an indication of the predicted fault.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising an adaptive cruise control system and an engine control module is provided. The engine control module is coupled to the adaptive cruise control system. The method comprises issuing a speed reduction signal from the adaptive cruise control system, verifying a speed reduction with a first sensor using the adaptive cruise control system, verifying the speed reduction with a second sensor using the engine control module, thereafter, receiving a resume signal from an operator input device, and executing a speed increase of the vehicle with the engine control module in response to receiving the resume signal with the engine control module.

Abstract: Dual mounting head scanner system measures the thickness of a flexible continuous moving web such as paper by employing an optical senor positioned in the upper head to determine the distance between the optical sensor and the upper surface of the paper while a displacement sensor positioned in the lower head determines the distance between the displacement sensor, which includes an RF coil, and a reference surface on the upper head. An air clamp and vacuum source assembly on the operative surface of the lower head maintains the moving web in physical contact with a measurement surface that is incorporated in the operative surface. The optical sensor directs incident radiation onto the web at the measurement surface. Thermal isolation of the two sensors eliminates thermal interactions.