Abstract: A shunt for a charging contact assembly may include an elongate elastic support substrate and a conductor disposed of the elongate elastic support substrate for transferring electrical current. A charging contact assembly may include a connector to connect to a source of electrical energy for receiving electrical current and a brush coupled with the connector for contacting a conducting surface to transfer the electrical current. The charging contact assembly may also include a shunt fixedly connected to the connector and the brush for transferring the electrical current from the connector to the brush, where the shunt includes an elongate arcuate elastic support substrate fixedly connected to the connector and the brush, and a conductor disposed of the elongate arcuate elastic support substrate and extending between the connector and the brush.

Abstract: A charging contact assembly can include a brush for configured to translate in a first direction generally perpendicular to a second direction of travel of the charging contact assembly. The brush can include a first contact surface for contacting the conducting surface, and a second contact surface parallel to the first direction of translation of the brush and perpendicular to the second direction of travel of the charging contact assembly. The charging contact assembly can also include a connector having a connection for connecting to a source of electrical energy, and a connector contact surface electrically coupled with the connection and arranged parallel to the second contact surface of the brush to contact the second contact surface of the brush. The charging contact assembly can further include a biasing mechanism for biasing the connector contact surface of the connector into contact with the second contact surface of the brush.

Abstract: A coating includes a polymeric resin lacking an intumescent material, a deconstructed nanoporous material, and solids of a fire-retarding solution. The deconstructed nanoporous material and the solids of the fire-retarding solution are incorporated into the polymeric resin to form a thermally-insulating, fire-retardant coating having a homogenous consistency. Methods of forming the coating are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fire retardant material includes a deconstructed nanoporous material including a plurality of elements, and solids of a fire-retarding solution within the elements of the nanoporous material. A method of forming the fire retardant material includes combining a nanoporous material and a fire-retarding solution such that elements of the nanoporous material absorb the fire retarding solution, and evaporating liquid from the elements of the nanoporous material having the fire-retarding solution absorbed therein such that a concentrate or solids thereof remain within the elements of the nanoporous material.

Abstract: A shunt for a charging contact assembly may include an elongate elastic support substrate and a conductor disposed of the elongate elastic support substrate for transferring electrical current. A charging contact assembly may include a connector to connect to a source of electrical energy for receiving electrical current and a brush coupled with the connector for contacting a conducting surface to transfer the electrical current. The charging contact assembly may also include a shunt fixedly connected to the connector and the brush for transferring the electrical current from the connector to the brush, where the shunt includes an elongate arcuate elastic support substrate fixedly connected to the connector and the brush, and a conductor disposed of the elongate arcuate elastic support substrate and extending between the connector and the brush.

Abstract: An energy transmission and control system includes a power supply, a conductive support to electrically couple to the power supply, and a vehicle to electrically couple to the conductive support to receive electrical energy from the power supply. The conductive support can be configured to support the vehicle for travel along the conductive support and to transmit the electrical energy from the power supply to the vehicle. The electrical circuit can be configured to transmit a communications signal at a low frequency of about five hundred kilohertz or less. The vehicle can include a translating contact for electrically coupling the vehicle to the conductive support, a switch for selectively transmitting the electrical energy from the power supply to an electrically powered element or subsystem, and a controller to receive the communications signal and operate the switch to selectively transmit the electrical energy to the electrically powered element or subsystem.

Abstract: An energy transmission and control system includes a power supply, a conductive support to electrically couple to the power supply, and a vehicle to electrically couple to the conductive support to receive electrical energy from the power supply. The conductive support can be configured to support the vehicle for travel along the conductive support and to transmit the electrical energy from the power supply to the vehicle. The electrical circuit can be configured to transmit a communications signal at a low frequency of about five hundred kilohertz or less. The vehicle can include a translating contact for electrically coupling the vehicle to the conductive support, a switch for selectively transmitting the electrical energy from the power supply to an electrically powered element or subsystem, and a controller to receive the communications signal and operate the switch to selectively transmit the electrical energy to the electrically powered element or subsystem.

Abstract: A reel device may include a stator and a rotor rotationally coupled with the stator. The rotor may include a drum for spooling a cable. The reel device may also include a biasing mechanism configured to rotate the rotor to spool the cable onto the drum, and a magnet connected to one of the stator or the rotor. The other of the stator or the rotor may include a conductive material that interfaces with the magnet when the rotor is turned to slow spooling of the cable onto the drum.

Abstract: An energy transmission and control system includes a power supply, a conductive support to electrically couple to the power supply, and a vehicle to electrically couple to the conductive support to receive electrical energy from the power supply. The conductive support can be configured to support the vehicle for travel along the conductive support and to transmit the electrical energy from the power supply to the vehicle. The electrical circuit can be configured to transmit a communications signal at a low frequency of about five hundred kilohertz or less. The vehicle can include a translating contact for electrically coupling the vehicle to the conductive support, a switch for selectively transmitting the electrical energy from the power supply to an electrically powered element or subsystem, and a controller to receive the communications signal and operate the switch to selectively transmit the electrical energy to the electrically powered element or subsystem.

Abstract: A retractable cable or hose station can include a guide with a first pulley fixed with respect to a longitudinally extending track. The retractable cable or hose station can also include a trolley configured to travel along the track, where the trolley has at least a second pulley to be positioned in a line with the first pulley generally parallel to the longitudinally extending track. The retractable cable or hose station can also include a flexible cable or hose configured to be looped around the first pulley and the second pulley so that the trolley can be pulled toward the first pulley when a free end of the flexible cable or hose is pulled away from the first pulley. The retractable cable or hose station can include a biasing mechanism for biasing the trolley away from the first pulley to tighten and retract the flexible cable or hose.

Abstract: A retractable cable or hose station can include a guide with a first pulley fixed with respect to a longitudinally extending track. The retractable cable or hose station can also include a trolley configured to travel along the track, where the trolley has at least a second pulley to be positioned in a line with the first pulley generally parallel to the longitudinally extending track. The retractable cable or hose station can also include a flexible cable or hose configured to be looped around the first pulley and the second pulley so that the trolley can be pulled toward the first pulley when a free end of the flexible cable or hose is pulled away from the first pulley. The retractable cable or hose station can include a biasing mechanism for biasing the trolley away from the first pulley to tighten and retract the flexible cable or hose.

Abstract: A reel device may include a stator and a rotor rotationally coupled with the stator. The rotor may include a drum for spooling a cable. The reel device may also include a biasing mechanism configured to rotate the rotor to spool the cable onto the drum, and a magnet connected to one of the stator or the rotor. The other of the stator or the rotor may include a conductive material that interfaces with the magnet when the rotor is turned to slow spooling of the cable onto the drum.

Abstract: A coating composition for in-situ coating of a surface comprises calcium carbonate, an acrylic or vinylacetate-based binder, a thickening agent, and a rheology modifier, the weight ratio of the calcium carbonate to acrylic-based binder being from 5:1 to 15:1. The coating may be applied directly to a plasterboard wall or ceiling using a roller technique and provides a high quality surface finish to which a paint may be applied directly.