Abstract: Apparatus and methods for producing ultrashort optical pulses are described. A high-power, solid-state, passively mode-locked laser can be manufactured in a compact module that can be incorporated into a portable instrument. The mode-locked laser can produce sub-50-ps optical pulses at a repetition rates between 200 MHz and 50 MHz, rates suitable for massively parallel data-acquisition. The optical pulses can be used to generate a reference clock signal for synchronizing data-acquisition and signal-processing electronics of the portable instrument.

Abstract: A lockable manhole cover includes, for example, a manhole cover installable in an opening in a manhole frame, a locking member attached via a pin and slot arrangement beneath the manhole cover, and a lever pivotally attached to the manhole cover. A lower end portion of the lever is operably engageable with the locking member to move the locking member relative to the manhole cover. The lever is disposable in a lowered position so that an end portion of the locking member is operably engageable with a portion of the manhole frame for use in inhibiting removal of the lockable manhole cover from the manhole frame. The lever is disposable in a raised position so that the end portion of the locking member is operably disengageable with the portion of the manhole frame to allow removal or installation of the lockable manhole cover from or in the manhole frame.

Abstract: A locking assembly attachable to a manhole cover includes an arm disposable in a lowered position with the arm disposed in a first orientation engageable with a manhole frame supporting the manhole cover to inhibit removal of the manhole cover from a manhole frame, and disposable in a raised position and in a second orientation operable to allow removal of the manhole cover from the manhole frame. In an embodiment, the locking assembly may include the arm attached to a movable member having a spiral, helix, or curved groove and in which the movable arm is receivable in a bushing and a pin receivable in the groove.

Abstract: A lockable manhole cover incudes, for example, a manhole cover installable in an opening in a manhole frame, a locking member attached via a pin and slot arrangement beneath the manhole cover, and a lever pivotally attached to the manhole cover. A lower end portion of the lever is operably engageable with the locking member to move the locking member relative to the manhole cover. The lever is disposable in a lowered position so that an end portion of the locking member is operably engageable with a portion of the manhole frame for use in inhibiting removal of the lockable manhole cover from the manhole frame. The lever is disposable in a raised position so that the end portion of the locking member is operably disengageable with the portion of the manhole frame to allow removal or installation of the lockable manhole cover from or in the manhole frame.

Abstract: A locking assembly attachable to a manhole cover includes an arm disposable in a lowered position with the arm disposed in a first orientation engageable with a manhole frame supporting the manhole cover to inhibit removal of the manhole cover from a manhole frame, and disposable in a raised position and in a second orientation operable to allow removal of the manhole cover from the manhole frame. In an embodiment, the locking assembly may include the arm attached to a movable member having a spiral, helix, or curved groove and in which the movable arm is receivable in a bushing and a pin receivable in the groove.

Abstract: A manhole cover includes a support having an upper surface and a peripherally-extending portion. An outer insulating member is disposed over the entire upper surface of the support, and the support comprises a first material and the outer insulating member comprises a second material different from the first material. The peripherally-extending portion of the support is positionable over the lip of the manhole ring. The outer insulating member is positionable between the upper surface of the support and the upper surface of the rim of the manhole ring when the manhole cover is received in the manhole ring. In one aspect, the support comprises cross-members defining a grate having passageways through the support. In another aspect, the support comprises metal, and the outer insulating member comprises a composite of resin, reinforcement fibers, and stone aggregate. In another aspect, screen inserts are disposed in a plurality of passageways in the outer insulating member.

Abstract: A manhole cover includes a support having an upper surface and a peripherally-extending portion. An outer insulating member is disposed over the entire upper surface of the support, and the support comprises a first material and the outer insulating member comprises a second material different from the first material. The peripherally-extending portion of the support is positionable over the lip of the manhole ring. The outer insulating member is positionable between the upper surface of the support and the upper surface of the rim of the manhole ring when the manhole cover is received in the manhole ring. In one aspect, the support comprises cross-members defining a grate having passageways through the support. In another aspect, the support comprises metal, and the outer insulating member comprises a composite of resin, reinforcement fibers, and stone aggregate. In another aspect, screen inserts are disposed in a plurality of passageways in the outer insulating member.

Abstract: An electric machine and method for forming the same comprises a rotor, a rotor winding disposed on the rotor and having a body portion and end turn portions, and a non-metallic cylinder arranged around the rotor to restrain both the body portion and the end turn portions of the winding against forces resulting from a rotation of the rotor. No portion of an inner circumference of the cylinder is smaller than an outer circumference of the rotor so that the cylinder may be slid around the rotor without obstruction during construction of the electric machine. The cylinder surrounds a body portion of the rotor and extends axially beyond end faces of the rotor and has a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The rotor includes a plurality of venting passages and at least one opening formed therein to allow a balance plug to be engaged therein.

Abstract: An electric machine and method for forming the same comprises a rotor, a rotor winding disposed on the rotor and having a body portion and end turn portions, and a non-metallic cylinder arranged around the rotor to restrain both the body portion and the end turn portions of the winding against forces resulting from a rotation of the rotor. The cylinder is preferably a single integral cylinder made of a graphite epoxy. The cylinder surrounds a body portion of the rotor and extends axially beyond end faces of the rotor and has a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The rotor includes a plurality of slots formed therein to enable a plurality of venting passages to be established and at least one opening formed therein to allow a balance plug to be engaged into an opening. The cylinder also includes a protrusion on its inner periphery to engage a groove on the outer periphery of the rotor.

Abstract: An electric machine and method for forming the same comprises a rotor, a rotor winding disposed on the rotor and having a body portion and end turn portions, and a non-metallic cylinder arranged around the rotor to restrain both the body portion and the end turn portions of the winding against forces resulting from a rotation of the rotor. No portion of an inner circumference of the cylinder is smaller than an outer circumference of the rotor so that the cylinder may be slid around the rotor without obstruction during construction of the electric machine. The cylinder surrounds a body portion of the rotor and extends axially beyond end faces of the rotor and has a plurality of holes defined therethrough. The rotor includes a plurality of venting passages and at least one opening formed therein to allow a balance plug to be engaged therein.

Abstract: Hydrogen leakage from a generator core through stator windings into the generator coolant water is measured by flowing air into the coolant water exiting the stator windings and measuring the hydrogen content of the gas vented from a coolant water reservoir. The flow of air into the coolant water also oxygenates the coolant water to prevent undesirable formation of less stable cuprous oxide layers and enhance the formation of a protective cupric oxide film on the inside surfaces of the copper stator windings. In another form, trace gas is introduced into one of the generator core environment and the coolant water and a detector measures the magnitude of the trace gas leaked between the generator core environment and the coolant water as an indication of the magnitude of hydrogen leakage escaping from the generator core into the stator water coolant system.

Abstract: A golf putting practice device has an elongate runner for supporting a rolling golf ball from a putting location at one end of the runner to a cup formed in the other end of the runner. An overshoot gutter is provided adjacent and beyond the cup and the cup and the gutter are connected in communication with a ball return structure by way of a ramp structure which guides golf balls to the ball return device. The ball return device includes a track which extends alongside the runner to the putting location.

Abstract: A current/flow comparator for generating an alarm signal whenever the instantaneous flow rate of a coolant fluid cooling the armature of a dynamoelectric machine falls below a predetermined percentage of a desired instantaneous flow rate, which desired flow rate varies as a function of the square of the instantaneous current flowing through the armature, is disclosed.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine including a stator core mounted on keybars. The keybars are in turn supported on spring bars which are fastened to the frame of the machine. The mounting arrangement permits relative movement between the core and the frame and between the keybars and the adjacent spring bars so as to minimize transmission of vibration from the core to the frame. The core is cooled by causing gas under pressure to be forced radially inwardly through first passages in the stator core and radially outwardly through second passages in the core, these first and second passages alternating along the length of the stator. In order to prevent leakage of cooling gas between the inflowing gas stream and the outflowing gas stream which would otherwise reduce the amount of cooling gas flowing through the aforementioned stator core passages, a plurality of baffles are positioned on the spring bars in regions where such leakage might otherwise occur.