Abstract: A building system includes a communication network, a plurality of wireless nodes, a plurality of passive wireless devices, a plurality of sensors, and a processing circuit. The wireless nodes are disposed within a building and are operably coupled to the communication network. Each passive wireless device is affixed to an object within the building, and contains first information regarding at least one property of the object. Each the passive wireless device is configured to communicate wirelessly to the wireless nodes using power derived from communication signals detected in the passive wireless device. The sensors are configured to generate second information representative of sensed temperature throughout the building, each sensor operably connected to the communication network. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the first information from the wireless devices and the second information from the sensors.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a probe includes at least one shank, optical components disposed within the shank for transmitting light into a sample and collecting light from the sample, and electrical components disposed within the shank for recording an electrical signal from the sample. In certain embodiments, a method includes collecting light from the sample using a first shank of the probe, recording an electrical signal from the sample using a second shank of the probe, and analyzing the collected light and the electrical signal.

Abstract: Method, riser assembly and gas handler for diverting gas from a riser. The riser assembly includes a riser having a first end and a second end and a conduit extending from the first end to the second end; a gas handler connected to the riser and provided between the first end and the second end, the gas handler having an external casing; plural pipes attached to an outside of the riser such that at least one pipe of the plural pipes enters through the external casing; and a gas vent pipe configured to start at the gas handler and extend towards the second end of the riser and the gas vent pipe is further configured to divert a gas from the gas handler through the outside of the riser.

Abstract: A two-sided substrateless multichip module including at least one die layer having at least one die. At least one bottomside interconnect layer is coupled to a bottom surface of the at least one die. At least one topside interconnect layer is coupled to a top surface of the at least one die. One or more embedded electrical connections is configured to provide an electrical interconnection between the at least one bottomside interconnect layer and the at least one die and/or the at least bottomside interconnect layer and the at least one topside interconnect layer and/or the at least one topside interconnect layer and the at least one die, wherein the at least one bottomside interconnect layer includes one or more electrical contacts on a bottom surface of the multichip module and the at least topside interconnect layer includes one or more electrical contacts on a top surface of the multichip module.

Abstract: A glass melting furnace has a gas inlet positioned proximate to a charging section oxy-fuel combustion region to introduce gas into the region and to at least partially displace gas having a partial pressure of alkali vapor from the region, and optionally a gas outlet is adapted to provide an exit for a volume of furnace atmosphere. A method for reducing alkali vapor corrosion of glass furnace refractory structures includes providing a gas inlet proximate to the oxy-fuel combustion region; introducing a volume of gas from the inlet into the region, displacing a volume of gas having a partial pressure of alkali vapor from the region; and, optionally providing a gas outlet adapted to provide an exit for a volume of furnace atmosphere.

Abstract: Valve assemblies and methods of designing valve assemblies having a valve ball, an upper seat, and a lower seat. When fluid pressure is applied to the valve ball, the valve ball will float in the axial direction between an upper position, a neutral position, and a lower position in response to fluid pressure. The valve assembly may be made suitable for internal blowout preventers.

Abstract: A fixture and method for aligning a vehicle fender and door, particularly a fixture for an assembly line point that attaches to a vehicle door and moves a front edge of the door to a spacing element, attaches to a vehicle fender, moves the fender to the spacing element and to a pre-defined 3-dimensional relationship with the door, and holds the fender in the pre-defined relationship while the fender is secured in place on the vehicle.

Abstract: An anti-theft equipment locking cover, including a first cover part adapted to overlie a first part of an item of equipment; the first cover part having a flange adapted to underlie a first edge of the item of equipment; a second cover part to overlie a second part of the item of equipment; the second cover part having a flange adapted to underlie a second edge of the item of equipment; the first and second cover parts being disposed in confronting relation to one another so that the item of equipment is fully covered by the confronting first and second cover parts; a tab secured to the first cover part; a slot formed in the second cover part that slideably receives the tab; a distal free end of the tab extending through the slot; an aperture formed in the distal free end of the tab; and a locking device adapted to extend through the aperture to prevent retraction of the tab from the slot.

Abstract: A pointer to teach a robot to repetitively manipulate a brazing nozzle is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the pointer allows the robot to manipulate the brazing nozzle at a preselected work distance away from a surface along a multi-dimensional path on a complex work piece. The pointer includes a base portion for connection with an end of a robot arm. The pointer additionally has a main body having a length inclusive of the base portion approximating the length of the brazing nozzle and the preselected work distance of the brazing nozzle away from the work piece. A contact portion of the pointer is continuous with the main body and is provided for contacting the work piece. The contact portion has two small parallel spaced surface flats. The surface flats of the contact portion are generally aligned in a common plane at the preselected work angle with respect to the robot arm.

Abstract: A method of using a robot to repeatedly manipulate a brazing nozzle is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes using a pointer to teach the robot to manipulate the brazing nozzle at a preselected angle with respect to, and length away from, an instant surface along a multi-dimensional seam line on an automotive sheet metal body. The pointer includes a base portion for connection with an end of a robot arm. The pointer additionally has a main body having a length inclusive of the base portion approximating the length of the brazing nozzle and the preselected work distance of the brazing nozzle away from the work piece. A contact portion of the pointer is continuous with the main body and is provided for contacting the work piece. The contact portion has two small parallel-spaced surface flats. The surface flats of the contact portion are generally aligned in a common plane at a preselected angle with respect to the robot arm.

Abstract: A device to measure round objects, especially threaded objects is shown where three cam surfaces located on the interior of an annular ring are contacted by rollers which are advanced or retracted as a cam surface is traversed. The traverse of the cam surface allows change in diameter formed by the rollers and by locking the cam position, a fixed gauge is formed. The rollers directly contact the part to be measured. As applied to thread measurement, the three point gauge uses annular rollers to measure properties of thread fit and use when the rollers have the threads slightly offset from each other to make a pitch test set. The device allows a single gauge to handle at least 12 normal go and no-go gauging functions with just change of rollers for various fit and pitch classes. The gauge also is settable at special sizes near a standard size due to a range of adjustment.