Abstract: The present disclosure provides a captive sprocket system for an engine, comprising: a sprocket including a first sprocket gear, a second sprocket gear and a retaining disc having a diameter and a thickness; a cylinder block having a bore with a central opening and a plurality of threaded bosses, the plurality of threaded bosses together forming an axial support surface and a radial location surface, the axial support surface and the radial location surface being sized to receive the retaining disc of the sprocket to support and locate the sprocket; and a plurality of captivation screws configured to be received by the plurality of threaded bosses, each captivation screw having a head with a lower surface which, when the captivation screw is received by a threaded boss, overlies the retaining disc and retains the sprocket in the bore.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a captive sprocket system for an engine, comprising: a sprocket including a first sprocket gear, a second sprocket gear and a retaining disc having a diameter and a thickness; a cylinder block having a bore with a central opening and a plurality of threaded bosses, the plurality of threaded bosses together forming an axial support surface and a radial location surface, the axial support surface and the radial location surface being sized to receive the retaining disc of the sprocket to support and locate the sprocket; and a plurality of captivation screws configured to be received by the plurality of threaded bosses, each captivation screw having a head with a lower surface which, when the captivation screw is received by a threaded boss, overlies the retaining disc and retains the sprocket in the bore.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a captive sprocket system for an engine, comprising: a sprocket including a first sprocket gear, a second sprocket gear and a retaining disc having a diameter and a thickness; a cylinder block having a bore with a central opening and a plurality of threaded bosses, the plurality of threaded bosses together forming an axial support surface and a radial location surface, the axial support surface and the radial location surface being sized to receive the retaining disc of the sprocket to support and locate the sprocket; and a plurality of captivation screws configured to be received by the plurality of threaded bosses, each captivation screw having a head with a lower surface which, when the captivation screw is received by a threaded boss, overlies the retaining disc and retains the sprocket in the bore.

Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that increases belt tension to reduce slippage between the belts and the driving rolls during the initial stage of a bale forming cycle when the bale chamber is empty and as the belts are beginning to be rolled. The system includes an accumulator that is pressurized by the tensioning system as a bale is being formed. The accumulator pressure may then be directed to a hydraulic cylinder included in a bale density system to increase tension in the belts after a completed bale is ejected and the bale chamber is being reset for the next bale.

Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that increases belt tension to reduce slippage between the belts and the driving rolls during the initial stage of a bale forming cycle when the bale chamber is empty and as the belts are beginning to be rolled. The system includes an accumulator that is pressurized by the tensioning system as a bale is being formed. The accumulator pressure may then be directed to a hydraulic cylinder included in a bale density system to increase tension in the belts after a completed bale is ejected and the bale chamber is being reset for the next bale.

Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that increases belt tension to reduce slippage between the belts and the driving rolls during the initial stage of a bale forming cycle when the bale chamber is empty and as the belts are beginning to be rolled. The system includes an accumulator that is pressurized by the tensioning system as a bale is being formed. The accumulator pressure may then be directed to a hydraulic cylinder included in a bale density system to increase tension in the belts after a completed bale is ejected and the bale chamber is being reset for the next bale.

Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that temporarily bypasses a bale density, belt tension increasing system while the baler tailgate is moved out of a closed position thereby allowing the tailgate to be opened without encountering resistance form the belts and the belt tensioning system. Bypass operation is coordinated with the tailgate position so that the bypass is not activated when such activation would frustrate operation of the belt tensioning system. In balers equipped with a belt tensioning pre-tensioning system, the bypass operation is further coordinated with the pre-tensioning system to maintain proper pre-tension function.

Abstract: The dynamic range of an optical link in a network is determined by simultaneously transmitting signals from two network elements at first and second frequencies, which create a combined signal at a third frequency. The transmission power levels of selected network elements is successively increased until the measured power from the third frequency no longer changes in a predictable manner, at which point the upper limit of the dynamic range of the optical link is determined.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating equalization coefficients of an adaptive pre-equalizer of a network element are provided. The method includes monitoring a communications channel to measure distortion of a communications signal received from the network element and detecting whether a transient impairment is present in the communication signal. When a transient impairment is not detected to be present, a pre-equalization coefficient update is transmitted to the network element. However, when a transient impairment is detected to be present, at least selected ones of the pre-equalization coefficients are scaled before the update is transmitted to the network element or the update is withheld from being transmitted to the network element. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Logical channels in a network are automatically be configured by using measured network parameters. The measured network parameters are determined in cooperation with the network elements without interruption of active communication services. The network parameters include upstream or downstream modulation error ratio (MER), upstream or downstream signal to noise ratio (SNR), upstream or downstream microreflections, upstream transmit level, downstream receive power level, cable modem type (DOCSIS 1.0,1.1,2.0), functional capabilities (e.g., VoIP, 256QAM, etc), network element location with in a cable plant (e.g., node location or amplifier cascade depth), network element manufacturer, or type of services provided by the network element (including telephony versus data). An interactive display is provided to an operator which enables analysis of communication parameters, including modulation profiles and channel performance.

Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that allows temporarily bypasses a bale density, belt tension increasing system while the baler tailgate is moved out of a closed position thereby allowing the tailgate to be opened without encountering resistance from the belts and the belt tensioning system. Bypass operation is coordinated with the tailgate position so that the bypass is not activated when such activation would frustrate operation of the belt tensioning system. In balers equipped with a belt tensioning pre-tensioning system, the bypass operation is further coordinated with the pre-tensioning system to maintain proper pre-tension function.

Abstract: An improved belt tensioning system for an agricultural round baler that increases belt tension to reduce slippage between the belts and the driving rolls during the initial stage of a bale forming cycle when the bale chamber is empty and as the belts are beginning to be rolled. The system includes an accumulator that is pressurized by the tensioning system as a bale is being formed. The accumulator pressure may then be directed to a hydraulic cylinder included in a bale density system to increase tension in the belts after a completed bale is ejected and the bale chamber is being reset for the next bale.

Abstract: A method and computing device receives data packets on an upstream bonding group in full service mode, where the upstream bonding group includes a set of channels and each channel has a transmission quality. The method detects that a select channel in the set of channels is impaired when the transmission quality of the select channel is below a threshold value, and transitions the receiving of the data packets from full service mode to partial service mode by disabling data grant scheduling on the select channel. The method monitors the select channel using a spectrum management method while the receiving of the data packets is in partial service mode. The method transitions the receiving of the data packets from partial service mode to full service mode when a result from the spectrum management method indicates that the select channel can transmit data packets error free.

Abstract: The presence of micro-reflections is determined in a network by determining micro-reflections from amplifier and diplex filter impedance mismatches and micro-reflections from drop cable impedance mismatches. The micro-reflections from impedance mismatches are determined by instructing network element to transmit a test signal at a first symbol rate and a first resolution for amplifier and diplex filter impedance mismatches and a second frequency with a second symbol rate and second resolution for micro-reflections from drop cable impedance mismatches. The tests are performed with several frequencies and the channels with the least micro-reflections are identified.

Abstract: A system estimates impairment contributions for upstream communications in a cable television system. The system receives equalization coefficients used by end devices in the cable television system. The equalization coefficients are used by equalizers to mitigate distortion in upstream channels for the end devices. The system analyzes the coefficients based on impairment thresholds to determine whether impairment problems exist and to identify the types of impairment problems that exist.

Abstract: A method and computing device receives data packets on an upstream bonding group in full service mode, where the upstream bonding group includes a set of channels and each channel has a transmission quality. The method detects that a select channel in the set of channels is impaired when the transmission quality of the select channel is below a threshold value, and transitions the receiving of the data packets from full service mode to partial service mode by disabling data grant scheduling on the select channel. The method monitors the select channel using a spectrum management method while the receiving of the data packets is in partial service mode. The method transitions the receiving of the data packets from partial service mode to full service mode when a result from the spectrum management method indicates that the select channel can transmit data packets error free.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for updating equalization coefficients of an adaptive pre-equalizer of a network element are provided. The method includes monitoring a communications channel to measure distortion of a communications signal received from the network element and detecting whether a transient impairment is present in the communication signal. When a transient impairment is not detected to be present, a pre-equalization coefficient update is transmitted to the network element. However, when a transient impairment is detected to be present, at least selected ones of the pre-equalization coefficients are scaled before the update is transmitted to the network element or the update is withheld from being transmitted to the network element. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network element is registered on a physical channel and a first logical channel. The network controller receives ranging messages from which network element parameters associated with the network element are determined, and the network determines if the network element is better suited for a different logical channel on the network. The network controller provides an upstream channel change override signal to the network element, instructing the network element to re-register to another logical channel.

Abstract: Instability resulting from non-linear impairments is detected and an equalizer of an end device is reset. An equalization instability threshold is retrieved from a data storage device. An equalization parameter for the end device is monitored and, if the equalization parameter exceeds the equalization instability threshold, the equalizer is reset.

Abstract: A network element is identified from among a plurality of network elements to be used to test parameters of a network. The use of one network element to test the network provides more reliable results than using random communications from a plurality of network elements. The test network element is identified using testing pool definitions which may be provided by a network operator. The testing procedure using the single network element may use multiple pings to reduce the affect of transient responses on the network.