Abstract: A switch having a waterproof sealed housing and a physical user interface mounted onto a shaft having a set of interchangeable inserts. The switch communicates via wireless communication. The waterproof sealed housing houses linear and angular position sensors and a wireless microcontroller. The waterproof sealed housing houses at least one switching power transistor, a signal sensor, a current sensor, and an illuminant indicator. The waterproof sealed housing having a sealed housing cover. The switch connects wirelessly forming a wireless mesh network with other switches. The switch is a power-controlling device programmed to control a plurality of assets. A plurality of the switches is implemented together as part of a complete control panel.

Abstract: A battery selector system, which has at least one battery selector having a knob, a core assembly, and a housing. The core assembly has a chassis core cover, a chassis core, a chassis core contact plate, a main printed circuit board, and a secondary printed circuit board. The core assembly further has a wireless microcontroller, which connects to a wireless network. The housing has electrical terminal studs. The knob, the core assembly, and the housing are assembled creating a sealed unit. Each of the electrical terminal studs is connected to a battery, loads, or ground. The at least one battery selector connects through a wireless network, whereby the battery selector coordinates management functions via the wireless network. The at least one battery selector is a physical power controller for distributing loads to a cluster of batteries.

Abstract: A system for controlling assets via smart power switching devices having at least one beacon, at least one switch, and at least one battery selector. The at least one switch is a power controlling device programmed to control a plurality of assets. The at least one beacon, the at least one switch, and the at least one battery selector connect through a wireless mesh network. The at least one beacon, the at least one switch, and the at least one battery selector each communicate via wireless communication.

Abstract: An in-line fluid distributor having either or both manual and remote control capability is disclosed. The fluid distributor integrates several typically separated components into a single sealed unit that incorporates a plurality of uni- and bi-directional input and output ports. By integrating the fluid distribution and control components into an integral single device, problems relating to size, system and connection leakage, maintenance, and accessibility are largely reduced or eliminated. The fluid distributor has limited number of components thereby simplifying manufacture and potential repair. By design the fluid distributor may be used for the controlled distribution of any fluid, whether liquid or gas.

Abstract: An in-line fluid distributor having either or both manual and remote control capability is disclosed. The fluid distributor integrates several typically separated components into a single sealed unit that incorporates a plurality of uni- and bi-directional input and output ports. By integrating the fluid distribution and control components into an integral single device, problems relating to size, system and connection leakage, maintenance, and accessibility are largely reduced or eliminated. The fluid distributor has limited number of components thereby simplifying manufacture and potential repair. By design the fluid distributor may be used for the controlled distribution of any fluid, whether liquid or gas.

Abstract: A fastener having a threaded or screw-type shad with a tool receptacle accepting end section, and a removable head end similarly having a tool receptacle accepting section, with the threaded shaft designed to accept a retaining element or nut, is disclosed. In operation, upon assembly, the fastener may be released from one side without access to the retaining element. In one embodiment, the fastener has a threaded shaft with a tool receptacle feature for engaging or gripping, with one end of the threaded shaft having a reducing end feature for indexing into an annular, nut-like, low profile threaded head with a tool receptacle feature that further allows access to the indexed screw shaft. Upon assembly, the invention resembles a normal screw or boll with a widened head to rest on a surface around a hole and an elongated threaded shaft that can accept a nut.

Abstract: A motion controlled tracking mount is provided that includes a lateral rail perpendicular to a longitudinal rail, a first translation element slides on the lateral rail and a second translation element slides on the longitudinal rail and slides onto the lateral rail, a first rotatable connector attached to the first translation element and a second rotatable connector attached to the second translation element that rotate about axes perpendicular to the lateral and longitudinal rails, an apparatus mount with a distal region pivotably connected to the second rotatable connector, where the pivotable connection axis is parallel to a lateral dimension of the mount, and a linkage with a proximal end pivotable connected to the first rotatable connector and a distal end is pivotably connected to a proximal region of the mount, where an axis of the pivotable connection at the distal end is parallel to the lateral dimension of the mount.

Abstract: A solar absorber for a concentrated solar power (CSP) system includes a cylindrically shaped blackbody cavity receiver fused to a cylindrically shaped heat exchanger shell covering the receiver to form a monolithic cavity receiver and heat exchanger. An exterior surface of the cavity receiver has grooves embedded to create a duct spiraling about the exterior of the cavity receiver so that the duct forms tubes of a tube-style heat exchanger when covered by the heat exchanger shell. An interior diameter of the cavity receiver is greater than or equal to a diameter of an aperture of the cavity receiver, and a longitudinal interior depth of the cavity is greater than or equal to twice the interior diameter of the cavity receiver. The monolithic solar absorber is preferably composed of a ceramic material such as silicon carbide having emissivity greater than 0.9.

Abstract: A motion controlled tracking mount is provided that includes a lateral rail perpendicular to a longitudinal rail, a first translation element slides on the lateral rail and a second translation element slides on the longitudinal rail and slides onto the lateral rail, a first rotatable connector attached to the first translation element and a second rotatable connector attached to the second translation element that rotate about axes perpendicular to the lateral and longitudinal rails, an apparatus mount with a distal region pivotably connected to the second rotatable connector, where the pivotable connection axis is parallel to a lateral dimension of the mount, and a linkage with a proximal end pivotable connected to the first rotatable connector and a distal end is pivotably connected to a proximal region of the mount, where an axis of the pivotable connection at the distal end is parallel to the lateral dimension of the mount.

Abstract: A solar absorber for a concentrated solar power (CSP) dish system includes a cylindrically shaped blackbody cavity receiver fused to a cylindrically shaped heat exchanger shell covering the receiver to form a monolithic cavity receiver and heat exchanger. An exterior surface of the cavity receiver has grooves embedded to create a duct spiraling about the exterior of the cavity receiver so that the duct forms tubes of a tube-style heat exchanger when covered by the heat exchanger shell. An interior diameter of the cavity receiver is greater than or equal to a diameter of an aperture of the cavity receiver, and a longitudinal interior depth of the cavity is greater than or equal to twice the interior diameter of the cavity receiver. The monolithic solar absorber is preferably composed of a ceramic material such as silicon carbide having emissivity greater than 0.9.