Abstract: A compressor is disclosed generally comprising a housing, a shaft disposed therein, and a swash plate part that is mounted at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In some embodiments, the swash plate part is coupled to a second, inner swash plate part via a bearing. In other embodiments, the swash plate part is coupled directly to the shaft via the bearing. The bearing is adapted to accommodate both the radial and axial loads of the compressor in order to eliminate the need for a separate thrust bearing.

Abstract: A starter module configured to limit an engine speed of an engine for a walk behind trowel at time of startup. The walk behind trowel includes a rotor driven by the engine, a throttle to command an operating state of the walk behind trowel, and a clutch operable to selectively couple an output of the engine to the rotor. The starter module includes a sensor operable to provide a signal representative of an operating state of the trowel upon engine start-up. The starter module further includes a controller configured to receive the signal representative of the operating state of the walk behind trowel, and to prevent the clutch from engaging the engine output to drive the rotor if the detected operating state is outside of a designated range for idling operation of the engine.

Abstract: A brake of a concrete finishing trowel responds automatically to the cessation of drive torque delivery to the rotor to actively brake the trowel's drive train, hence inhibiting or preventing frame rotation. The brake preferably takes advantages of inherent characteristics of an inclined gear, such as a worm of a gearbox, to permit an internal component of the gearbox to shift automatically upon the cessation of drive torque therethrough from a brake released position to a brake engaged position. In the case of a worm gear-based gearbox, the worm is configured such that reaction forces that are normally generated by the delivery of drive torque therethrough shift the worm to release the brake during normal trowel operation. These forces are eliminated in the absence of drive torque transfer, permitting the worm to shift to a brake engaged position.

Abstract: A brake of a concrete finishing trowel responds automatically to the cessation of drive torque delivery to the rotor to actively brake the trowel's drive train, hence inhibiting or preventing frame rotation. The brake preferably takes advantages of inherent characteristics of an inclined gear, such as a worm of a gearbox, to permit an internal component of the gearbox to shift automatically upon the cessation of drive torque therethrough from a brake released position to a brake engaged position. In the case of a worm gear-based gearbox, the worm is configured such that reaction forces that are normally generated by the delivery of drive torque therethrough shift the worm to release the brake during normal trowel operation. These forces are eliminated in the absence of drive torque transfer, permitting the worm to shift to a brake engaged position.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed generally comprising first and second valve plates mounted between the housing for a pump mechanism and a cover, the first plate having flexing flaps corresponding to apertures in the second plate, and the second plate having flexing flaps corresponding to apertures in the first plate. The flexing flaps and apertures create inlet and outlet valves for fluid being received into and discharged from the pump mechanism. In some embodiments, the valves facilitate the flow of air received and discharged through inlet and outlet ports in a compressor head. In some embodiments, the valves facilitate the flow of air received from an inlet port in a compressor housing.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for electronically managing a cleaning organization and services rendered to clients. According to the present invention, an electronic comment relating to a cleaning area serviced by a cleaning person within the cleaning organization is captured from a client. The electronic comment is stored in a cleaning management database as part of a historical cleaning record. The comment is also sent to a manager of the cleaning organization, and the comment is classified as part of a data group file with similar comments. The comment is communicated to a supervisor responsible for the cleaning area, and then the supervisor provides a notification obtained from the cleaning management database to the cleaning person.

Abstract: A control module for a walk behind trowel configured to detect and to prevent an uncontrolled or undesirable motion of the trowel. The trowel includes an engine configured to drive rotation of a rotor. The control module includes a gyroscope and a controller. The gyroscope is configured to provide an electrical signal representative of an angular rate of motion of a reference structure on the walk behind trowel. The controller is configured to receive the electrical signal from the gyroscope and to determine when a change in the angular rate of motion of the trowel exceeds a threshold value, and in response, to prevent the engine from driving the rotor to rotate.

Abstract: An optical filter (100) comprises a multimode waveguide (126) and first (122) and second (124) coupling waveguides which communicate with lateral sides of the multimode waveguide. The filter operates by reproducing an optical field distribution input to the multimode waveguide via one of the coupling waveguides at the position in the multimode waveguide where the other coupling waveguide communicates with the multimode waveguide. This occurs for radiation of a wavelength to be filtered but not for radiation of other wavelengths.

Abstract: An optical multiplexer and demultiplexer (mux-demux) (100) comprises a multimode waveguide (126) which communicates with first 9122) and second (124) coupling waveguides. Multiplexed optical radiation comprising individual wavelength channels of appropriate wavelength introduced into the input waveguide is demultiplexed by means of modal dispersion and in-ter-modal interference with the multimode waveguide. The mux-demux consists of merely of waveguides and is therefore simple to fabricate and integrate with other components in integrated optical systems, and is capable of resolving channels having a small (˜1 nm) wavelength spacing. The mux-demux may be used without modification as a demultiplexer and remains of simple construction when scaled up to operate with many channels.

Abstract: An optical filter comprises a multimode waveguide, and first and second coupling waveguides which communicate with the multimode waveguide at respective ends thereof. Filtering is achieved by the effect of self-imaging in the multimode waveguide. The filter further comprises one or more series of aperture within the multimode waveguide, the or each series being located at a longitudinal position within the multimode waveguide at which 1-to-N way intensity division of an input optical field occurs, the optical field being the lowest order transverse mode of the coupling waveguides. The (one or more) series of apertures reduces the transmission of the filter at wavelength other than those corresponding to transmission peaks of filter's transmission function, thus providing improved filtering performance compared to prior art optical filters based on self-imaging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed that includes techniques for modifying visual information to improve the visual processing of a target object by a human subject in conjunction with the presentation of auditory information related to the target object. The techniques may include visual modification to the target object. In addition, the techniques also may include reducing the visual processing load produced by competing information or other objects unrelated to the visual processing of the target object. The techniques are well suited for application with the presentation of visual information directed to reading, speech reception and speech production instruction.

Abstract: An urgent purpose for solving the lost of life issue during airplane travel. This device comprises an integration of three pressurized parachutes, which are determined by the weight of each section of the airplane, also comprising an air compressor battery or generator that controls the constant air pressure and release valve of this system. However this system functions on its own by pushing the switch in the cockpit, then it releases the system. This system also runs off its own airflow system, not the airplanes pressurized functions. When releasing the system, pressurized air is released from holding the Air, Spring Rod Locking Shoes, this frees the arrow dynamic pressurized doors which are connected and manufactured with the fire proof parachute. This allows the parachute to spring out and do their job, also there can be another switch hooked to the system for a floatation on device that works the same way underneath the plane.

Abstract: A plate member, which may be a die plate or a shim, which is adapted to be used within a fluid material dispensing system, such as, for example, a system for dispensing or distributing adhesives upon substrates, is provided with a plurality of apertures equally spaced along the longitudinal extent thereof. The apertures comprise a plurality of through-bores for respectively receiving a plurality of fasteners, which are adapted to secure the plate member to a support structure, for example, an adhesive manifold or the like. In addition to the through-bores, milled slots are also provided within the plate member, the milled slots connecting the through-bores to a free edge portion of the plate member.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in-the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.

Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed that provide means to enable individuals with speech, language and reading based communication disabilities, due to a temporal processing problem, to improve their temporal processing abilities as well as their communication abilities. The method and system include provisions to elongate portions of phonemes that have brief and/or rapidly changing acoustic spectra, such as occur in the stop consonants b and d in the phonemes /ba/ and /da/, as well as reduce the duration of the steady state portion of the syllable. In addition, some emphasis is added to the rapidly changing segments of these phonemes. Additionally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to modify fluent speech to make the modified speech better recognizable by communicatively impaired individuals. Finally, the disclosure includes method for and computer software to train temporal processing abilities, specifically speed and precision of temporal integration, sequencing and serial memory.