Abstract: A jib assembly and a method of operating a jib assembly are provided. The jib assembly comprises: an outer section having a hollow outer body; a middle section having a hollow middle body and positioned coaxially with the outer section and located partially inside the outer section; an inner section having a hollow inner body and positioned coaxially with the middle section, and located partially inside the middle section; and a stroke cylinder having a cylinder base and a piston end, the cylinder base of the stroke cylinder being connected to a base wall of the outer section and the piston end being connected to a tip portion of the inner section, and the stroke cylinder being configured to move simultaneously the inner section from inside of the middle section and to move the middle section from inside of the outer section.

Abstract: An indexable piercing tip mounts to a nose portion of one of the jaws of a heavy-duty demolition shears so as to enclose and protect top, bottom, front, and two opposing side surfaces of the nose portion during use of the shears. The piercing tip has a first operative position in which a first set of piercing and shearing edges of the piercing tip are presented for use. When the first set gets dull or worn, the piercing tip can be rotated/indexed 180° degrees so as to present a second set of piercing and shearing edges of the piercing tip for use.

Abstract: An indexable piercing tip mounts to a nose portion of one of the jaws of a heavy-duty demolition shears so as to enclose and protect top, bottom, front, and two opposing side surfaces of the nose portion during use of the shears. The piercing tip has a first operative position in which a first set of piercing and shearing edges of the piercing tip are presented for use. When the first set gets dull or worn, the piercing tip can be rotated/indexed 180° degrees so as to present a second set of piercing and shearing edges of the piercing tip for use.

Abstract: An integrated MEMS waveguide modulator, including: a static, non-suspended waveguide to guide light traveling through the waveguide; and a dielectric slab movable into and out of an evanescent field surrounding the waveguide using an actuation mechanism, wherein the dielectric slab is movable between a first position that is farthest away possible for the slab from the waveguide and a second position that is closest possible for the slab from the waveguide, wherein dispersion characteristic of the light is controlled by moving the dielectric slab from an unactuated mode that is at the first position to an actuated mode that is at the second position, and wherein the dielectric slab is layered to include non-uniform refractive index profile.

Abstract: An indexable piercing tip mounts to a nose portion of one of the jaws of a heavy-duty demolition shears so as to enclose and protect top, bottom, front, and two opposing side surfaces of the nose portion during use of the shears. The piercing tip has a first operative position in which a first set of piercing and shearing edges of the piercing tip are presented for use. When the first set gets dull or worn, the piercing tip can be rotated/indexed 180° degrees so as to present a second set of piercing and shearing edges of the piercing tip for use.

Abstract: Heavy-duty material processors (e.g., shears, concrete crushers) include a jaw that pivotally connects to another jaw. A hydraulic cylinder extends between the jaws to open and close the jaws in a shearing motion. Cutting/shearing/crushing blade inserts mount to detachable blade holders, which in turn mount to one of the jaws. Wedge blocks securely and detachably attach the blade inserts to the remainder of their associated jaw, and rely on force-amplifying wedge surfaces to ensure a secure attachment. The detachable blade holders may include lateral flanges that extend across an otherwise exposed face of their respective underlying jaw bodies to protect the jaw bodies during use. A blade on one of the jaws is laterally adjustable, which helps to free a jam if one of the jaws gets jammed into the space between blades in the other jaw.

Abstract: Heavy-duty material processors (e.g., shears, concrete crushers) include a jaw that pivotally connects to another jaw. A hydraulic cylinder extends between the jaws to open and close the jaws in a shearing motion. Cutting/shearing/crushing blade inserts mount to detachable blade holders, which in turn mount to one of the jaws. Wedge blocks securely and detachably attach the blade inserts to the remainder of their associated jaw, and rely on force-amplifying wedge surfaces to ensure a secure attachment. The detachable blade holders may include lateral flanges that extend across an otherwise exposed face of their respective underlying jaw bodies to protect the jaw bodies during use. A blade on one of the jaws is laterally adjustable, which helps to free a jam if one of the jaws gets jammed into the space between blades in the other jaw.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dual tilt, ballasted photovoltaic module racking are provided herein. Under one aspect, a system for supporting first and second photovoltaic modules can include first and second elongated stiffeners respectively configured to be coupled to and support the first and second photovoltaic modules. The system also can include first and second feet respectively configured to be coupled to first and second grooves respectively provided within first and second ballasts. The system also can include a first stiffener hinge rotatably coupling the first and second stiffeners to one another, a first foot hinge rotatably coupling the first foot to the first stiffener, and a second foot hinge rotatably coupling the second foot to the second stiffener. At least one of the first stiffener hinge and the first and second foot hinges can include a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond a respective predetermined angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dual tilt, ballasted photovoltaic module racking are provided herein. Under one aspect, a system for supporting first and second photovoltaic modules can include first and second elongated stiffeners respectively configured to be coupled to and support the first and second photovoltaic modules. The system also can include first and second feet respectively configured to be coupled to first and second grooves respectively provided within first and second ballasts. The system also can include a first stiffener hinge rotatably coupling the first and second stiffeners to one another, a first foot hinge rotatably coupling the first foot to the first stiffener, and a second foot hinge rotatably coupling the second foot to the second stiffener. At least one of the first stiffener hinge and the first and second foot hinges can include a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond a respective predetermined angle.

Abstract: A system for applying a two-part adhesive to a substrate includes two separate trays for holding a 15 gallon capacity drum containing a two-part adhesive compound, where the trays are tiltable independent of each other, a prime mover for providing an output torque, a first pump connected to the prime mover for receiving the output torque, the first pump having an inlet and an outlet, a second pump connected to the prime mover for receiving the output torque, the second pump having an inlet and an outlet, a first compound in communication with the inlet of the first pump, a second compound in communication with the inlet of the second pump, a first accumulator in communication with the outlet of the first pump, a second accumulator in communication with the outlet of the second pump, a first manifold in communication with the outlet of the first pump, and a second manifold in communication with the outlet of the second pump. A plurality of applicators is included.

Abstract: Heavy-duty material processors (e.g., shears, concrete crushers) include a jaw that pivotally connects to another jaw. A hydraulic cylinder extends between the jaws to open and close the jaws in a shearing motion. Cutting/shearing/crushing blade inserts mount to detachable blade holders, which in turn mount to one of the jaws. Wedge blocks securely and detachably attach the blade inserts to the remainder of their associated jaw, and rely on force-amplifying wedge surfaces to ensure a secure attachment. The detachable blade holders may include lateral flanges that extend across an otherwise exposed face of their respective underlying jaw bodies to protect the jaw bodies during use. A blade on one of the jaws is laterally adjustable, which helps to free a jam if one of the jaws gets jammed into the space between blades in the other jaw.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dual tilt, ballasted photovoltaic module racking are provided herein. Under one aspect, a system for supporting first and second photovoltaic modules can include first and second elongated stiffeners respectively configured to be coupled to and support the first and second photovoltaic modules. The system also can include first and second feet respectively configured to be coupled to first and second grooves respectively provided within first and second ballasts. The system also can include a first stiffener hinge rotatably coupling the first and second stiffeners to one another, a first foot hinge rotatably coupling the first foot to the first stiffener, and a second foot hinge rotatably coupling the second foot to the second stiffener. At least one of the first stiffener hinge and the first and second foot hinges can include a respective mechanical stop inhibiting rotation of that hinge beyond a respective predetermined angle.

Abstract: A refrigerant management system is interchangeably connectable to a plurality of refrigeration systems and can manage one or more connected refrigeration systems. The refrigerant management system includes a portable system housing for securing various components in a self-contained unit. The refrigerant management system includes a work panel that can be arranged on the top of the system housing. The work panel includes various operational efficiency improvement devices that allow a user to use, store and organize various movable items that would otherwise be carried separately from the refrigerant management system.

Abstract: A system for applying a two-part adhesive to a substrate includes two separate trays for holding a 15 gallon capacity drum containing a two-part adhesive compound, where the trays are tiltable independent of each other, a prime mover for providing an output torque, a first pump connected to the prime mover for receiving the output torque, the first pump having an inlet and an outlet, a second pump connected to the prime mover for receiving the output torque, the second pump having an inlet and an outlet, a first compound in communication with the inlet of the first pump, a second compound in communication with the inlet of the second pump, a first accumulator in communication with the outlet of the first pump, a second accumulator in communication with the outlet of the second pump, a first manifold in communication with the outlet of the first pump, and a second manifold in communication with the outlet of the second pump. A plurality of applicators is included.

Abstract: A system for maintaining photovoltaic modules includes an elongated rail including first and second support surfaces and a first mounting surface disposed between the first and second support surfaces. An array of the photovoltaic modules is coupled to the first mounting surface and raised relative to the first and second support surfaces. A first vehicle can be disposed on the first and second support surfaces and can include a motor; a maintenance module selected from the group consisting of: a spray system configured to spray a product, and a remote inspection module; and first and second support legs suspending the maintenance module relative to the photovoltaic modules of the first array and being movably coupled to the first and second support surfaces so as to laterally and sequentially move the maintenance module in a direction parallel to the elongated rail responsive to actuation of the motor.

Abstract: A refrigeration efficiency monitoring system detects degradation of a refrigeration system by monitoring a deviation from a normal operating status of the refrigeration system at an early stage of such degradation. The monitoring system detects and calculates a plurality of system parameters associated with the refrigeration system. The monitoring system then determines a decrease in efficiency of the refrigeration system based on comparison between the system parameters and reference values representative of the normal operating status, and generate a service recommendation based on the determination.

Abstract: The invention features an indexable wear plate/piercing tip insert that is configured to be removably and repositionably attached to the front, nose portion of the upper, movable jaw of a metal demolition shears. The insert functions as both a wear plate and a piercing tip and is indexable in that a non-worn or less worn portion of the wear surface of the wear plate portion of the insert, and non-worn shearing and piercing edges of the piercing tip portion of the insert, can be presented simultaneously simply by rotating the insert 180° and reattaching it to the nose portion of the upper, movable jaw of a metal demolition shears.

Abstract: The invention features an indexable wear plate/piercing tip insert that is configured to be removably and repositionably attached to the front, nose portion of the upper, movable jaw of a metal demolition shears. The insert functions as both a wear plate and a piercing tip and is indexable in that a non-worn or less worn portion of the wear surface of the wear plate portion of the insert, and non-worn shearing and piercing edges of the piercing tip portion of the insert, can be presented simultaneously simply by rotating the insert 180° and reattaching it to the nose portion of the upper, movable jaw of a metal demolition shears.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of troubleshooting process issues using an Expert System. More specifically, the invention involves transmitting, to an Expert System, Remote Performance Management (RPM) data based on Distributed Control System (DCS) information and subsequently translating the RPM data. The Expert System determines a solution along with an associated confidence level. The Expert System may prioritize the solution and simultaneously signal the DCS to automatically implement the transmitted solution.