Abstract: A truck hopper gate opener and method of its use are described. The opener includes a static base mounted to a floor or an industrial cart. Pivotally engaged to the base is a frame which includes an articulate arm to provide horizontal motion and a slide/track assembly to provide vertical motion to a rotary motor pivotally engaged thereto. The rotary motor includes a gate opener interface in the form of a clamp or socket configured to couple with a gate opening mechanism of a truck hopper gate, whereby when appropriately positioned and engaged the rotary motor is activated and turns the gate opening mechanism and opens the truck hopper gate.

Abstract: A closure (10) for mounting at an opening (O) of a container spout (S) comprises a compartment (32) in which material such as a tablet (T) can be positioned. The compartment comprises a wall (26) that comprises a first region (28) that is surrounded by a second bellows-like region (30) that enables the first region to be displaced from a first position to a second position to cause the material to be released from the compartment. The wall can comprise a protrusion (X) that extends into the compartment such that, when the wall is displaced to the second position, the protrusion can cause the material to be released from the compartment. Also, when the wall is displaced to the second position the first region can act directly on the material to force it out of the compartment.

Abstract: A rail car hopper gate opener is presented attached to a moving vehicle. A mechanized gate opener is attached to one end of the vehicle. The gate opener is attached in such as manner as to allow the gate opener to rise and fall with respect to the vehicle, to rotate with respect to the vehicle, to extend away and retract back toward the vehicle, and to pivot on a hinge on the vehicle attachment point.

Abstract: A rail car hopper gate opener is presented attached to a moving vehicle. A mechanized gate opener is attached to one end of the vehicle. The gate opener is attached in such as manner as to allow the gate opener to rise and fall with respect to the vehicle, to rotate with respect to the vehicle, to extend away and retract back toward the vehicle, and to pivot on a hinge on the vehicle attachment point.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a fluid from a container T having an inlet for mounting to the container so as to receive therethrough the fluid, and an outlet which is adapted to open to release fluid therefrom when a predetermined pressure is applied to the fluid in the dispenser at the outlet, and to close to retain fluid in the dispenser at a pressure less than the predetermined pressure. A wall of resilient material at the outlet has one or more panels of elastomeric material provided therein, each panel being deformable to enable the adjacent resilient material to flex at the predetermined pressure and thus enable the outlet to open.

Abstract: A closure (10) for mounting at an opening (O) of a container spout (S) comprises a compartment (32) in which material such as a tablet (T) can be positioned. The compartment comprises a wall (26) that comprises a first region (28) that is surrounded by a second bellows-like region (30) that enables the first region to be displaced from a first position to a second position to cause the material to be released from the compartment. The wall can comprise a protrusion (X) that extends into the compartment such that, when the wall is displaced to the second position, the protrusion can cause the material to be released from the compartment. Also, when the wall is displaced to the second position the first region can act directly on the material to force it out of the compartment.

Abstract: Fabricating a deformable mirror by providing a plurality of actuators and a support structure supporting and at least partially surrounding the actuators; applying an optical membrane across the actuators and at least a portion of the support structure; the optical membrane including a first area, a second area and an intermediate area elastically decoupling the first and second areas; bonding the first area to the actuators and the second area to the support structure; and polishing the optical membrane.

Abstract: A high authority deformable optical system includes an optical faceplate; a base; a plurality of circuit boards, each including at least one actuator; each actuator engaging at one end the base and at the other the optical faceplate; each printed circuit board providing conductor paths between its associated actuators and a connector device for selectively energizing the actuators.

Abstract: Fabricating a deformable mirror by providing a plurality of actuators and a support structure supporting and at least partially surrounding the actuators; applying an optical membrane across the actuators and at least a portion of the support structure; the optical membrane including a first area, a second area and an intermediate area elastically decoupling the first and second areas; bonding the first area to the actuators and the second area to the support structure; and polishing the optical membrane.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for accessing misaligned data streams includes receiving a data request, where the data request includes a request for misaligned data, and retrieving at least a portion of the requested data from a data stream buffer associated with the data stream. If the data retrieved from the data stream buffer does not comprise all of the requested data, the remainder of the requested data is retrieved from memory and combined with the data stream buffer data. In this manner, the number of memory accesses necessary to retrieve the requested misaligned data is reduced. Additional embodiments of the present invention include mechanisms for ensuring data coherence with respect to write updates and protocol requests. Moreover, the present invention advantageously reduces the need for pipeline upset events/pipeline hazards that typically result in performance degradation in pipelined microprocessors.

Abstract: A high authority deformable optical system includes an optical faceplate; a base; a plurality of circuit boards, each including at least one actuator; each actuator engaging at one end the base and at the other the optical faceplate; each printed circuit board providing conductor paths between its associated actuators and a connector device for selectively energizing the actuators.

Abstract: A method of fabricating replicated optics includes joining a substrate to replication film on a mandrel to form an assembly; applying external energy to at least a portion of the assembly to create a moment between the replication film and the mandrel to release the replication film from the mandrel and leave it joined to the substrate.

Abstract: A adaptive flow-control regulator is disclosed for use in controlling the circulation of cooling fluid through in a cooled laser mirror. The adaptive flow-control regulator utilizes a temperature-sensitive spring to control the movement of a plunger with respect to an orifice through which cooling fluid flows. Elongation of the spring is controlled by the temperature of the cooling fluid circulating around the spring. As the temperature of the coolant fluid increases from heating of the laser mirror, the spring contracts moving the plunger away from the orifice and allowing a greater volume of coolant to circulate through the mirror, thereby absorbing a greater amount of heat from the mirror structure. As the mirror is cooled by the circulating cooling fluid, the spring moves the plunger toward the orifice, thereby reducing the volume of cooling fluid circulating through the mirror's structure.

Abstract: A construction for a deformable mirror is disclosed in which each of the electrodistortive actuators used to selectively impart deformations to the mirror's reflecting facesheet are mechanically fastened to the facesheet and may be disengaged from the facesheet by operating a fusible link. In one preferred embodiment the fusible link consists of a layer of thermoplastic material covering an electrical resistive element located between the top of the actuator and the point on the facesheet at which the actuator is mechanically bonded to the facesheet. Heat generated by the resistive element may be used to melt the thermoplastic material fastening the actuator to the facesheet. The second preferred embodiment provides a fusible link consisting of an electrocapacitive layer sandwiched between two electrically-conducting layers.