Abstract: Pill dispensers including a housing, a bottom cap that engages an open bottom end of the housing, and a base that engages the bottom cap such that the bottom cap is spaced from the base. The bottom cap is adapted to facilitate movement of pills into a transport member, which is moveable with respect to the remainder of the bottom cap from a first position aligned with an upper opening in the bottom cap to a second position aligned with a lower opening in the bottom cap, through which a pill is dispensed.

Abstract: Germicidal light fixtures and germicidal light fixture systems. One embodiment of a germicidal light fixture includes a support structure and at least one first lighting device coupled with the support structure operative to emit ultraviolet radiation at a first predetermined wavelength. At least one second lighting device is coupled with the support structure and is operative to emit ultraviolet radiation at a second predetermined wavelength. The first and second predetermined wavelengths are selected such that ultraviolet radiation emitted from the at least one first lighting device and from the at least one second lighting device, respectively, is operative to inactivate microorganisms. At least one third lighting device is coupled with the support structure and is operative to emit visible radiation.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of an expedition cart are provided. The expedition cart includes a chassis configured and dimensioned to support a load. The expedition cart includes a first gusset plate and a second gusset plate secured to the chassis. The expedition cart further includes a first sleeve mounted to the first gusset plate and a second sleeve mounted to the second gusset plate. The first sleeve can be configured and dimensioned to releasably receive therein at least a portion of a first shaft arm. The second sleeve can be configured and dimensioned to releasably receive therein at least a portion of a second shaft arm. Exemplary expedition cart systems and methods of assembling an expedition cart are also provided.

Abstract: A suspension unit assembly comprises a strut having a first end and a second end and a coupling disposed at the first end of the strut. The coupling has a strut part connected to the strut and a mounting part configured to tilt relative to the strut part of the coupling. A spring is disposed about the strut, one end of the spring being restrained relative to the mounting part of the coupling so that tilting movement between the strut part and the mounting part of the coupling causes the spring to deform and provide a return force that acts to return the coupling to an equilibrium position.

Abstract: A portable, personal apparatus for transporting liquid having a bottle configured to contain liquid. The bottle has a longitudinal axis. A first opening open in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis in a pour position. A first cover coupled to the bottle and configured to close the first opening in a closed position. A second opening open in a direction generally orthogonal with the longitudinal axis in a fill position. A second cover coupled to the bottle and configured to close the second opening in a storage position. The second cover remaining coupled to the bottle when the second cover is in the fill position.

Abstract: A rotor for a motor comprising a frame having a hub for connecting the rotor to a shaft and a perimeter portion for interacting with a stator of the motor to cause the rotor to rotate about an axis of rotation. The frame comprises legs extending from an outer portion of the frame towards the hub, each leg having an inner end at the hub and an outer end at the outer portion of the frame, the inner ends of a first plurality of legs being spaced from the inner ends of a second plurality of legs in a direction along the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An aircraft flight surface control system and method simultaneously provides the benefits of both an active/active system architecture and in active/standby system architecture. The system is preferably implemented using hydraulic actuator assemblies and electromechanical actuator assemblies coupled to the same flight control surface. During normal system operations the electromechanical actuator assemblies are energized to supply a relatively minimal force to associated flight control surfaces. In effect, the electromechanical actuators, although energized, may be pulled along by the associated hydraulic actuator assemblies, until needed. Thus, the electromechanical actuator assemblies are controlled in a manner that closely resembles the active/standby architecture.

Abstract: A variable pressure water delivery device having an inlet valve fluidly connected to a reservoir, and connectable to a water supply, the inlet valve is at least operable between an open and closed position. The reservoir has a volume that increases elastically with increasing pressure. At least one outlet valve is fluidly connected to the reservoir and a pressure sensor is actuated by the fluid pressure in the reservoir. A controller receives an output of said pressure sensor and provides control signals to operate said inlet valve according to the output of said pressure sensor, and a desired reservoir pressure parameter.

Abstract: A care funding and care planning system (10) generates a care plan option report (192) for a care receiver. The system (10) includes a client computer (14) having an input data map (16) for receiving and storing care-receiver data (13) including predetermined, critical categories of care-receiver information. A system processor (36) processes the care-receiver data (13) through knowledge management software (12) to evaluate and select from the care-receiver data (13) at least physical functional status (72), cognitive and sensory status (74), prospective functional status (76), living environment status (84), and long-term care resource status abstractions (88). A meta needs-resource weighting engine (56) assigns care-receiver specific values (160A) to the care-receiver data abstractions (72). A dynamic data base (48) allocates values to the weighted care-receiver data abstractions (72). A report generator (58) produces a care plan options report (192) for the care receiver.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet or surround structure with an attachment for a removable front panel and a removable front panel for attachment to the cabinet. The appliance is a drum and a drum support structure supporting the drum for rotation. There is a movement interface between the drum support structure and the cabinet or surround structure, allowing the drum support structure to move between an operating condition within the cabinet and a maintenance condition wherein the drum and drum support structure are at least substantially disposed outside the envelope defined by the cabinet. In the operating condition the drum and support structure are hidden behind the removable front panel. They may be moved out to the maintenance condition after removal of the front panel.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a cabinet or surround structure with an attachment for a removable front panel and a removable front panel for attachment to the cabinet. The appliance is a drum and a drum support structure supporting the drum for rotation. There is a movement interface between the drum support structure and the cabinet or surround structure, allowing the drum support structure to move between an operating condition within the cabinet and a maintenance condition wherein the drum and drum support structure are at least substantially disposed outside the envelope defined by the cabinet. In the operating condition the drum and support structure are hidden behind the removable front panel. They may be moved out to the maintenance condition after removal of the front panel.

Abstract: A laundry machine includes a cabinet and a laundry holding drum rotatably supported therewithin. The drum includes a wall and a drum hatch comprising a section of the wall. A motor is connected to rotate the drum. A controller is configured to operate the motor to drive the drum through a closing operation. The closing operation includes rotating the drum in a direction to bring the drum opening toward the drum hatch to re-close the opening with the drum hatch and to detect stopping of the drum rotation. The controller may provide user feedback that a closure disruption has occurred. The drum hatch is configured to close circumferentially, with a leading edge of the drum hatch approaching a leading edge of the remaining wall. The leading edges are shaped such that interposition of fabric between the leading edges during closure stops the drum hatch reaching a fully closed position.

Abstract: A latch having a pop-up knob is disclosed. When the knob is extended it provides a handle for pulling on a door. The door can be closed with the knob either up or down. With the knob up, the latch pawl can be disengaged from a keeper attached to the door frame by pulling the door open. With the knob down, the latch pawl remains in an extended position behind the keeper and the door cannot be pulled open. The latch further includes means for selectively retaining the knob in the down position, and means to block the rotational movement of the latch pawl when the knob is in the down position.

Abstract: A laundry drying machine includes a cabinet and a laundry holding drum rotatably supported within the cabinet for rotation. The drum includes a wall that is circumferential relative to the rotation and a drum hatch that is a section of the wall. The drum forms an enclosure together with at least one stationary end surface centred on the axis of rotation of the drum. A motor is connected to drive rotation of the drum and a fan provides a flow of air through the interior of the drum. The drum includes an outlet opening centred on the axis of rotation and an annular filter screen extending from the periphery of the drum outlet and rotating with the drum. The annular screen is connected along one circumferential edge to the drum. There is an annular sliding seal between the other annular edge of the screen and the outlet duct and an annular sliding seal between the outlet duct and the drum external to the annular filter screen.

Abstract: A self adjusting foot arrangement for an appliance cabinet has a first socket connected with the cabinet and a second socket connected with the cabinet spaced apart from the first socket. A foot downwardly protrudes from each socket and is moveable along axis into and out of the respective socket. A non-extensile band is fixed at one end to the first socket, passes into the first socket to bear on the first foot and is fixed at its other end to the second socket passing into the second socket to bear on the second foot. The band passes over the top of each foot within the respective socket.

Abstract: A clothes drying appliance includes a cabinet and a drum inside the cabinet supported on a drum support structure. A belt passes around the drive pulley of a drive motor and around the drum for driving rotation of the drum in either direction. A belt tensioning device includes a pair of spaced apart tensioning pulleys each having an axis of rotation substantially parallel with the axis of rotation of the drive pulley. An imaginary line between the centres of the tensioning pulleys separates the drive pulley from the drum. The pulleys are supported on a yoke and the yoke passes around the drive pulley, with the tensioning pulleys spaced sufficiently close to impinge upon the path of the belt passing around the pulley and drum. A biasing agent such as a spring presses the pulleys toward the drum by urging the yoke toward the pulley.

Abstract: A process for producing turbine rotors and other large rotating components of power-generating gas turbine engines using powder metallurgy techniques. The process involves forming a powder of a gamma prime or gamma double prime precipitation-strengthened nickel-based superalloy whose particles are about 0.100 mm in diameter or smaller. The powder is placed in a can and consolidated to produce an essentially fully dense consolidation, which is then hot worked to produce a billet of a size sufficient to form a forging of at least 2300 kg. The billet is forged at a temperature and strain rate to produce a forging with a uniform fine grain of ASTM 10 or finer. Thereafter, the forging may undergo a heat treatment to achieve a desired balance of mechanical properties while retaining a uniform grain size of ASTM 10 or finer.

Abstract: A contact lens is provided in which tunable nanoparticles are embedded or otherwise coated on the lens to extinguish near-infrared energy. In one preferred embodiment, the tunable nanoparticles are nanoshells consisting of a dielectric core and a metal shell, wherein the plasmon resonance frequency is determined by the relative size of the core and the metal shell. With the capability to alter the relative size of the core and the metal shell, nanoshells are uniquely tunable nanoparticles, allowing a range of optical extinctions. In another embodiment, the nanoshells are tuned to extinguish energy from other parts of the energy spectrum. In one desired embodiment of the invention, these plasmon resonant structures are introduced into the lens polymer prior to formation or manufacturing of a lens. In another embodiment of the invention, these nanoshells are coated on a contact lens after formation of the lens.