Abstract: An air-to-air coupling 13 (e.g. for receiving a probe in probe-and-drogue refuelling) comprises retaining members 19, 27 for interacting with a further member (e.g. a refuelling probe) to hold the further member in place. An active drive system 39, 21 may drive the holding members and may thereby also actively drive the further member into place. Alternatively the active drive 39, 21 may drive another member such as a locking member 31 to hold the retaining members 19, 27 in position once the further member is in place. The active drive releases the retaining members 19, 27 or moves them out of position to allow the further member to be removed. This allows the further member to be inserted and removed with a lower force than is used to hold it in place. The coupling may also be used for in-air recovery of an unmanned aircraft.

Abstract: A plant support tower cleaning system for cleaning a plant support tower is provided. A drive actuator propels the tower through the tower cleaning system. One or more linear or rotating first structures each have at least one projection. One or more first actuators coupled to the one or more first structures push the at least one projection of the one or more first structures against a stem side of plant material in containers in the tower as the tower is propelled through the system. A rotating second structure has at least one circumferential projection to pull plant material from a root side of the plant containers as the tower is propelled through the system. A second actuator rotates the second structure.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a circuit can include a pass device configured to receive an input voltage and provide an output voltage. The circuit can further include a current sink coupled with a control terminal of the pass device, the current sink being configured to discharge the control terminal of the pass device to limit the output voltage in response to the input voltage exceeding a threshold voltage. The circuit can also include a switch coupled in series with the current sink, the switch being configured to enable the current sink in response to the input voltage exceeding the threshold voltage.

Abstract: An air-to-air coupling 13 (e.g. for receiving a probe in probe-and-drogue refuelling) comprises retaining members 19, 27 for interacting with a further member (e.g. a refuelling probe) to hold the further member in place. An active drive system 39, 21 may drive the holding members and may thereby also actively drive the further member into place. Alternatively the active drive 39, 21 may drive another member such as a locking member 31 to hold the retaining members 19, 27 in position once the further member is in place. The active drive releases the retaining members 19, 27 or moves them out of position to allow the further member to be removed. This allows the further member to be inserted and removed with a lower force than is used to hold it in place. The coupling may also be used for in-air recovery of an unmanned aircraft.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a circuit can include a pass device configured to receive an input voltage and provide an output voltage. The circuit can further include a current sink coupled with a control terminal of the pass device, the current sink being configured to discharge the control terminal of the pass device to limit the output voltage in response to the input voltage exceeding a threshold voltage. The circuit can also include a switch coupled in series with the current sink, the switch being configured to enable the current sink in response to the input voltage exceeding the threshold voltage.

Abstract: A lighting assembly is provided that is configured for use with a hydroponic farm, preferably a hydroponic farm utilizing horizontal racks. The light assembly includes one or more LED boards affixed to a thermally conductive mounting fixture. The number and location of the LED boards which are mounted to the fixture is primarily dependent upon the size and layout of the hydroponic racks within the hydroponic farming facility. A light shield, which surrounds the LED boards and the mounting fixture, extends the entire length of the light assembly. The light shield is sealed to both light assembly end caps, thereby providing a completely sealed lighting unit.

Abstract: A plant harvesting system for use with a vertical hydroponic tower, the hydroponic tower containing a plurality of vertically aligned plants. The harvesting system includes a payload transport system and a harvester. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the harvester upward and downward. In addition to cutting plant stalks while moving upwards along the face of the hydroponic tower, the harvester also groups and collects the plant leafs.

Abstract: A plant harvesting system is provided for use with a vertical hydroponic tower, the hydroponic tower containing a plurality of vertically aligned plants. The harvesting system includes a payload transport system and a harvester. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the harvester upward and downward. In addition to cutting plant stalks while moving upwards along the face of the hydroponic tower, the harvester also groups and collects the plant leafs.

Abstract: A circuit and method for reducing the reverse leakage current in a reverse-biased diode device, such as a Schottky diode, is disclosed. The diode device is electrically coupled between an N-channel depletion mode device and a P-channel depletion mode device, and the gates of the depletion mode devices are electrically coupled to opposite terminals of the circuit so that both are either in an ON state or an OFF state, based on a voltage applied to terminals of the circuit. When the circuit is forward-biased both depletion mode devices are in an ON state and when the diode device is reversed biased both the depletion mode devices are in the OFF state. The depletion mode devices in the OFF state reduce a reverse leakage current of the diode device. This reduction is useful for applications that require efficient diode operation, such as solar cell systems.

Abstract: A plant container is provided which is designed to be inserted within the slot of a hydroponic tower, where the hydroponic tower includes both a matrix media and a moisture and nutrient transport system (e.g., a wicking strip). The plant container includes (i) a plant cup configured to hold a plant's root structure along with a small portion of plant growth media; (ii) an insertion blade that insures that as the plant container is inserted into the hydroponic tower slot, the matrix media and the associated wicking strips are pushed to either side of the plant cup; and (iii) a handling member that aids container insertion and removal, and which may include an alignment surface that insures that the plant container is fully inserted and aligned during the insertion procedure.

Abstract: A plant container is provided which is designed to be inserted within a cut-out in a hydroponic tower. The plant container includes (i) a plant cup configured to hold a plant's root structure along with a small portion of plant growth media; (ii) a pair of side wings extending from the sides of the plant cup, the side wings helping to direct water and nutrients to the plant roots contained within the plant cup; (iii) at least one handling rail that aids plant container insertion and removal, and which may include an alignment surface that insures that the plant container is fully inserted and aligned during the insertion procedure; and (iv) a fastener configured to hold the plant container within the tower cut-out.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition, which comprises an aqueous solvent and forms a transparent colorless coating, which yields markings of high contrast on exposure to energy. It also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.

Abstract: The present invention provides coating compositions for marking substrates, which comprises a color former, an amine salt of an organic metal compound, a binder, a solvent, and optionally additional components, wherein the amine salt of the organic metal compound is of formula (I) in which X is silicon or boron, and E and F are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h in which R6 and R7 are the same or different are hydrogen, C1-4-alkyl, C1-4-alkoxy, halogen, amino or carboxy, and for X=silicon o=1 and p=0, and R1 is aryl, aralkyl or C1-4-alkyl, or o=1 and p=1, and R1 and R2 together form a one residue selected from the group consisting of a, b, c, d, e, f, g and h, and for X=boron o=0 and p=0, and R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and are hydrogen, C1-12-alkyl, C1-6-hydroxyalkyl, allyl, aralkyl or arylsulfonyl, in which aralkyl or arylsulfonyl can be substituted with C1-4-alkyl, or R3 and R4 together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a m

Abstract: A bullet for use with a small caliber rifle comprises a jacket and a lead core provided within the jacket. The jacket is drawn from a copper alloy material. A bearing surface portion of the jacket has a nominal thickness less than about .010? and the copper alloy material of at least the bearing surface portion of the jacket has a nominal hardness that is substantially greater than an as-drawn hardness of the copper alloy material of the bearing surface portion of the jacket.

Abstract: A bullet comprises a casing engaging segment, a rifling leade mating segment, and a tip segment. The rifling leade mating segment has a frusto-conical shape tapering from a first diameter at a first end portion thereof to a second diameter at a second end portion thereof. The rifling leade mating segment extends from a first end portion of the casing engaging segment. The tip segment extends from the second end portion of the rifling leade mating segment. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition, which comprises a latent activator. It also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.

Abstract: A high-pressure fixed munition for a low-pressure launching system having a cylindrical body with a centrally located bore is provided. The bore of the munition has a reduced diameter on the charge end in which a primer charge is positioned. The bore is filled above the primer charge with a propellant and above the propellant with a payload. The payload may include multiple buckshot pellets, frangible buckshot pellets, tear gas, multiple slugs, frangible slugs, paint balls, rubber pellets, bean bags, or the like. The munition may also include a pressure disk between the propellant and the payload, and tactile ridges or on the outside surface of the munition body or be of a specific color for purposes of identification of the payload.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition, which comprises a latent activator. It also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition, which comprises an aqueous-based solvent and forms a transparent colourless coating, which yields markings of high contrast on exposure to energy. It also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.