Abstract: A height adjustable tow mount assembly wherein locked engagement of corresponding through holes disposed in a tow mount member and an elongate member compresses a dampener member between an abutting front surface of the hitch platform elongate member and a rear surface of the tow mount member to thereby reduce movement and associated vibration between the hitch platform and tow mount member.

Abstract: A height adjustable multiple hitch assembly including a shank hitch channel platform and a tow mount member with a base block configured for squared alignment within the channel having opposed flanges with aligned pairs of side holes, the block blasé having a plurality of through holes for engaged coupling with corresponding aligned side holes by a fastening member to thereby reduce the movement between the hitch platform and tow mount member that may be enhanced by a dampener member attached to a rear planar surface of the block base or a recessed column of the channel member.

Abstract: A multiple hitch assembly and method of use thereof including a hitch platform having a channel member and multiple hitch member having a block base. A dampening member may be affixed such that coupling of the multiple hitch member by locked engagement of received through holes of the block base and paired side holes disposed in flanges of the channel member compresses the dampening member upon the recessed column of the hitch platform to absorb and thus attenuate the load and associated torque imparted by movement and rub between the hitch platform and multiple hitch member to thereby reduce associated rattle noise, and vibration.

Abstract: A multiple hitch assembly and method of use thereof including a hitch platform having a channel member and multiple hitch member having a block base. A dampening member may be affixed such that coupling of the multiple hitch member by locked engagement of received through holes of the block base and paired side holes disposed in flanges of the channel member compresses the dampening member upon the recessed column of the hitch platform to absorb and thus attenuate the load and associated torque imparted by movement and rub between the hitch platform and multiple hitch member to thereby reduce associated rattle noise, and vibration.

Abstract: A step hitch assembly providing a platform surface elevated from the ground level of a vehicle for facilitating access to a rooftop surfaces and elevated objects on or about the rooftop surface including a trailer hitch member attachable to a vehicle hitch receiver, a step platform having at least two substantially planar surfaces in substantially parallel alignment adjoined by a transverse panel to thereby define a space therebetween fastenable to the vehicle hitch receiver in alternative horizontally and vertical orientations and having a plurality of corresponding transverse spaced perforations sized and spaced in transverse alignment for detachable coupling of a tow accessory hitch receiver having receiver holes to corresponding spaced perforations and a locking member capable of alternatively securing the hitch receiver in an extended position wherein the hitch receiver ball protrudes from the step platform or in a retracted position wherein the tow accessory hitch receiver ball is retracted in the space

Abstract: A step hitch assembly providing a platform surface elevated from the ground level of a vehicle for facilitating access to a rooftop surfaces and elevated objects on or about the rooftop surface including a trailer hitch member attachable to a vehicle hitch receiver, a step platform having at least two substantially planar surfaces in substantially parallel alignment adjoined by a transverse panel to thereby define a space therebetween fastenable to the vehicle hitch receiver in alternative horizontally and vertical orientations and having a plurality of corresponding transverse spaced perforations sized and spaced in transverse alignment for detachable coupling of a tow accessory hitch receiver having receiver holes to corresponding spaced perforations and a locking member capable of alternatively securing the hitch receiver in an extended position wherein the hitch receiver ball protrudes from the step platform or in a retracted position wherein the tow accessory hitch receiver ball is retracted in the space

Abstract: A system for securing electric power grid operations from cyber-attack, the system comprising a collection of security services distributed throughout a smart grid in two main categories of services; central security services and edge security services.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to avoiding a collision between an aircraft and an obstacle when the aircraft is being moved on a ground surface via a ground vehicle. Sensors can be mounted in and/or on the aircraft. The sensors can detect obstacles located in proximity to the aircraft and can communicate information to a processor onboard the aircraft. When the processor determines that an obstacle is located in proximity to the aircraft, the processor generates a warning generator signal, which causes an apparatus to communicate a warning signal that is perceptible to an operator of the ground vehicle to warn the operator of the obstacle.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to methods and systems for avoiding a collision between an aircraft and an obstacle when the aircraft is being moved on a ground surface via a ground vehicle. When a processor onboard the aircraft determines that the obstacle is located in proximity to the aircraft, the processor generates a warning generator signal, which causes an apparatus to communicate a warning signal that is perceptible to an operator of the ground vehicle to warn the operator of the obstacle.

Abstract: A system for recharging the batteries in an electrically powered vehicle which is owned or operated by an authorized party and wherein the recharging of the batteries is carried carried out at a site away from the premises owned or controlled by the authorizing party includes (a) first communication means for communicating between the site and an electrical utility for requesting the recharging of the batteries at the site, (b) authorization confirmation means for confirming that the authorized party is in fact authorized to recharge the batteries at the site, (c) second communication means between the electrical utility and the site for confirming authorization of the authorized party and for enabling the recharging of the batteries at the site, and (d) accounting means for calculating the cost of recharging the batteries and properly assessing that cost to the authorized party.

Abstract: A method for communicating between a utility and individual customer locations includes the step of communicating between the utility and customers and between the utility and customer equipment located at each individual customer location via the Internet or via an advanced utility meter. The method of communicating typically includes the additional steps of providing each individual customer location with an advanced utility meter and using each individual utility meter to communicate between the utility and the advanced utility meter, to communicate between the advanced utility meter and the individual customers and to communicate between the advanced utility meter and equipment locator and each individual customer location.

Abstract: A byte-swapping circuit is provides for interfacing PCI systems to VMEbus systems. The circuit allows the PCI bus to selectively enable or disable byte swapping whether the VMEbus system is in master mode or slave mode. Also, the circuit delays the assertion of the DS0/DS1 VMEbus signals until after the byte swapping circuit has completed its operation, thus avoiding violations of the VMEbus timing specification. Finally, the circuit optimizes its performance during block transfer operations by maintaining its byte-swapping configuration constant during each bus cycle in a given block transfer. Thus, the circuit configures itself for the first bus cycle, but eliminates the reconfiguration delay for each bus cycle afterwards. The circuit can also byte-swap data bytes being transferred on the address bus during multiplexed block transfer cycles.