Abstract: An agricultural implement is provided that includes a number of row units. The row units include one or more seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed to the ground such that preferred spacing of subsequent seed is attained. Seed delivery systems are included to aid in transporting the seed from the seed meter to the ground in a controlled manner to mitigate skips and to aid in controlling the spacing of the seeds, which can be based upon the ground speed of the implement as it moves through the field. The seed delivery systems can control the transport of the seed to a furrow in the field such that the seed can experience zero or near zero relative velocity so that the seed will have little to no movement once positioned in the furrow.

Abstract: An agricultural planter includes a plurality of row units attached to a toolbar. The row units include seed meters for receiving, singulating, and dispensing seed or other particulate. The seed meters include a circular seed disc with a seed path for receiving the seed in the seed meter housing. Integrated with the seed disc is a motor that is housed within the seed meter housing and that includes a rotatable portion being attached to the circular disc such that the two rotate in tandem. The integrated motor can be positioned within an interior portion of the circular seed disc such that the width of the disc and motor combination is kept to a minimum.

Abstract: The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

Abstract: The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

Abstract: The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

Abstract: The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

Abstract: A hammer union seal assembly, hammer union seal and method of construction thereof is provided. The method of constructing the hammer union seal includes forming an annular rubber ring having a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface, with the cylindrical outer surface extending between opposite corner edges. The method further includes forming an annular steel ring. Then, recessing and bonding the annular steel ring in one of the corner edges with an outer surface of the steel ring remaining exposed.

Abstract: A hammer union seal assembly, hammer union seal and method of construction thereof is provided. The method of constructing the hammer union seal includes forming an annular rubber ring having a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface, with the cylindrical outer surface extending between opposite corner edges. The method further includes forming an annular steel ring. Then, recessing and bonding the annular steel ring in one of the corner edges with an outer surface of the steel ring remaining exposed.

Abstract: A modular fracture plug and method of construction thereof for temporarily sealing off a well is provided. The fracture plug includes an inner substrate material and an outer shell. The outer shell is provided having a plurality of individual sections bonded to one another. One of the sections provides a closed base, while another of the sections provides a closed cover, and one or more of the sections provide an intermediate section between the base and the cover. The intermediate section has a through opening forming at least a portion of the cavity.

Abstract: Heat generated by operating electronic components within an environmentally-sealed enclosure is removed, without direct transmission of a viscous medium through the enclosure. An internal heat sink and external heat sink each span a given wall. The internal heat sink section is baffled and channeled with one place for air to enter, and one to exit. A fan forces air over heat sink extremities of the internal heat sink section. A circulating air column entrapped within the enclosure is drawn into the entrance of the internal heat sink, and forced through the entire length of the internal heat sink, providing for a thermal conduit for a heated entrapped air column to transfer its heat into the internal heat sink. The external heat sink is exposed to the ambient environment, with airflow managed over the external heat sink preferably with a structural surround that provides for channeling of airflow.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for a non-invasive method for determining the presence or absence of cancerous cells in the skin and deeper tissue levels. The system includes a portable handheld laser coupled with a spectroscopy system to produce real-time material analysis of the presence of cancerous cells without sample preparation. The system focuses a high peak power laser pulse onto a targeted material to produce a laser spark or micro-plasma. Elemental line spectra emission is created, collected and analyzed by a spectrophotometer. The line spectra emission data is quickly displayed on a laptop computer. “Eye-safe” Class I lasers provide for practical in-situ laser plasma spectroscopy applications such as detection of cancerous skin tissues. The emission data can be used to detect changes in the levels of a series of elements that are associated with cancerous cells versus normal skin cells.

Abstract: A connecting tie for use with a metal concrete pouring form. The tie includes an elongated flat bar adapted for attachment at each end to a metal pouring form to hold two forms in a spaced apart and parallel relationship thereby forming a concrete receiving cavity therebetween. A resilient seal is disposed transversely across each side of the bar adjacent each end of the bar in order to seal the tie to the metal forms.

Abstract: A method of transferring energy in an optical fiber (12) from the fiber's cladding element (16) of the fiber's core element (14) is disclosed. The core element (14) includes an active gain component and an energy migration component, and the cladding element (16), which surrounds the core element (14), includes the energy migration component. The method includes the steps of providing a pump (22) for producting energy and optically coupling the pump with the cladding element (16), such that the energy is absorbed and stored in the cladding element (16) by its energy migration component. A further step includes the active gain component in the core element (14) lasing or providing gain, when the transferring of energy from the cladding element's energy migration component to the core element's energy migration component takes place.

Abstract: A method of transferring energy in an optical fiber structure is disclosed. This method transfers energy from a cladding element of the fiber structure to a core element of the fiber structure. The core element includes an active gain component and an energy migration component. The cladding element, which surrounds the core element, includes the energy migration component. The structure and method can be utilized to provide either an optical fiber laser or an optical fiber amplifier. The method includes the steps of providing a pump for producing the energy and optically coupling the pump with the cladding element. The cladding element, including the energy migration component, is then pumped with the energy produced by the pump such that the energy is absorbed and stored in the cladding element by the energy migration component.

Abstract: A high-gain phosphate glass composition, which can be used to produce ultra-short gain length lasers and optical amplifiers is described wherein the composition of the glass in addition to exhibiting high gain for lasers and amplifiers, also exhibits high thermal shock resistance, high cross section, insignificant concentration quenching, and high solubility for rare earth ions and other properties which enable the material to be fabricated into a new class of ultra-short length micro-laser, fiber laser and amplifier configurations and designs.

Abstract: A method of transferring energy in an optical fiber structure is disclosed. This method transfers energy from a cladding element of the fiber structure to a core element of the fiber structure. The core element includes an active gain component and an energy migration component. The cladding element, which surrounds the core element, includes the energy migration component. The structure and method can be utilized to provide either an optical fiber laser or an optical fiber amplifier. The method includes the steps of providing a pump for producing the energy and optically coupling the pump with the cladding element. The cladding element, including the energy migration component, is then pumped with the energy produced by the pump such that the energy is absorbed and stored in the cladding element by the energy migration component.

Abstract: A method of transferring energy in an optical fiber (12) from the fiber's cladding element (16) of the fiber's core element (14) is disclosed. The core element (14) includes an active gain component and an energy migration component, and the cladding element (16), which surrounds the core element (14), includes the energy migration component. The method includes the steps of providing a pump (22) for producting energy and optically coupling the pump with the cladding element (16), such that the energy is absorbed and stored in the cladding element (16) by its energy migration component. A further step includes the active gain component in the core element (14) lasing or providing gain, when the transferring of energy from the cladding element's energy migration component to the core element's energy migration component takes place.

Abstract: An optical fiber laser structure and system are disclosed. The fiber laser structure includes a core, an inner cladding, and an outer cladding. The core has a first and second end and includes a combination of ytterbium and erbium as a first active gain component. The inner cladding, having a length defined between the first and second ends, surrounds the core. The inner cladding includes neodymium as a second active gain component that is different from the first active gain component. The system includes a pumping source coupled to the inner cladding to provide energy to the neodymium in the inner cladding. Upon being pumped, the neodymium achieves amplified spontaneous emission in the inner cladding along the length between the first and second ends. As a result, energy is efficiently transferred from the neodymium to the combination of the ytterbium and erbium in the core thereby providing laser activity at an eye-safe laser wavelength of 1535 nanometers.

Abstract: A high-gain phosphate glass composition, which can be used to produce ultra-short gain length lasers and optical amplifiers is described wherein the composition of the glass in addition to exhibiting high gain for lasers and amplifiers, also exhibits high thermal shock resistance, high cross section, insignificant concentration quenching, and high solubility for rare earth ions and other properties which enable the material to be fabricated into a new class of ultra-short length micro-laser, fiber laser and amplifier configurations and designs.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fluid seal for sealing a relatively rotatable member, wherein the fluid seal has an elastomeric sealing member bonded to a PTFE insert. A wafer of PTFE material has a body portion and an end portion of a greater thickness than the body portion. The wafer is placed in a mold cavity with one side of the wafer opposed to a surface portion of the mold cavity. Elastomeric material is forced into the mold cavity to form a molded preform of the elastomeric sealing member and bond the preform to an opposite side of the wafer. The molded preform and bonded wafer are removed from the mold cavity. The end portion of the wafer and an end portion of the preform are trimmed to form the fluid seal.