Abstract: In a reciprocating engine piston, added equipment to renew the piston pin's oil film once per crankshaft rotation. The equipment is located between the connecting rod's small end and the underside of the piston crown. There is a plunger carrier with a plunger, and a saddle with a plunger bore. The saddle closely straddles the plunger carrier, maintaining the alignment of the arcuate plunger with the arcuate plunger bore, for a plunger stroke without friction. The small end's natural oscillation during crankshaft rotation powers the plunger's working cycle. There is an oil-filling stroke and a delivery stroke. The delivery is to the saddle's top, which is just below the piston crown. The oil pressure pushes upward on the piston crown, lifting the piston slightly and the piston pin bosses off the piston pin. In the small gap thus created, new oil can enter, recreating the oil film.

Abstract: A shock compression tool has a first end assembly defining a main axis and a first engaging surface, a second end assembly the second end assembly defining second and third engaging surfaces. The second end assembly is supported for movement along the main axis relative to the first end assembly. A drive system displaces the second end assembly along the main axis relative to the first end assembly such that a distance between the first engaging surface and the second engaging surface may be altered, and a distance between the first engaging surface and the third engaging surface may be altered. The first engaging surface and the second engaging surface define a first reference line. The first engaging surface and the third engaging surface define a second reference line. At least a portion of the first reference line is spaced from at least a portion of the second reference line.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating seismic waves includes a housing, a strike surface within the housing, and a hammer movably disposed within the housing. An actuator induces a striking motion in the hammer such that the hammer impacts the strike surface as part of the striking motion. The actuator is selectively adjustable to change characteristics of the striking motion and characteristics of seismic waves generated by the impact. The hammer may be modified to change the physical characteristics of the hammer, thereby changing characteristics of seismic waves generated by the hammer. The hammer may be disposed within a removable shock cavity, and the apparatus may include two hammers and two shock cavities positioned symmetrically about a center of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a sensing device about a pan axis and a tilt axis may include an enclosure, first and second rotatable dials configured to allow a user to adjust an angular pan orientation and an angular tilt orientation, respectively, of the sensing device. The apparatus may include outer and inner concentric shafts attached to the first dial and the second dial, respectively. The apparatus may also include a frame assembly attached to the outer shaft such that the frame assembly rotates about the pan axis as the first dial is rotated. The frame assembly may include a base configured to rotate about the tilt axis and that supports the sensing device. The frame assembly may also include a pin and gear assembly operatively coupling the base to the inner shaft such that rotation of the second dial rotates the base about the tilt axis.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for determining the natural thermal lag (NTL) of a building, where the improvement includes using the 15 minute interval energy usage data for the building, and data the external temperature to determine the NTL. This improved method has the advantage of being independent of any need to acquire data regarding internal temperature of the building in question.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for improved building energy usage reduction by computer automation of optimized plant operation times and sub-hourly building energy forecasting to determine plant faults. The invention provides a computer system to derive the NTL, mechanical heat-up (MHL) and mechanical cool-down (MCL) lags and in conjunction with a readily available interval weather forecast, the system can output various signals to indicate optimized start and stop times for heating and cooling equipment. The algorithm to calculate the 15-minute energy forecast is used to indicate out-of-control conditions in the operation of the plant.

Abstract: In a reciprocating engine piston, added equipment to renew the piston pin's oil film once per crankshaft rotation. The equipment is located between the connecting rod's small end and the underside of the piston crown. There is a plunger carrier with a plunger, and a saddle with a plunger bore. The saddle closely straddles the plunger carrier, maintaining the alignment of the arcuate plunger with the arcuate plunger bore, for a plunger stroke without friction. The small end's natural oscillation during crankshaft rotation powers the plunger's working cycle. There is an oil-filling stroke and a delivery stroke. The delivery is to the saddle's top, which is just below the piston crown. The oil pressure pushes upward on the piston crown, lifting the piston slightly and the piston pin bosses off the piston pin. In the small gap thus created, new oil can enter, recreating the oil film.

Abstract: A system for performing a downhole operation including a tubular string having a locking profile non-movably located therewith. At least one member is movably mounted with the string and includes an engagement profile. A tool is runnable with the string and has at least one sub with a key. The key is selectively engagable and disengagable with the engagement profile for enabling the tool to control movement of the member with respect to the string when engaged therewith. The key is engagable with the locking profile for restricting relative movement between the string and the tool when engaged therewith. A method of performing a downhole operation is also included.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for determining the mechanical heat-up lag of a building. The time lag for the heating system to reach its set point, which is referred to as the Mechanical Heat-up Lag (MHL) is dependent on the natural thermal lag (NTL) of a building. The invention provides a determination of the MHL as it relates to the NTL. The invention is very useful in reducing energy usage in commercial buildings when used in combination with a short term weather forecast.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for optimizing energy usage in commercial buildings. Energy consumption data is used, along with occupant data, to determine appropriate adjustments in energy, and for ongoing monitoring and reporting of energy savings. According to the inventive method, the building of interest is characterized, including calculation of lag parameters—temperature lag, solar gain lag, solar strength lag, and, in some instances, humidity lag, which inform a thermal energy equation particular to the building of interest. Mechanical heating lag and mechanical cooling lag are used for on-going energy use optimization. An outside temperature index may also be used. The resulting accuracy of the thermal energy equation is over 90% for both heat and chilling input, once the building has been optimized according to the inventive method.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and process for expediting the retail pricing and re-pricing procedure within a retail inventory system database is described. The process associates the retail data with product location information as dictated by product location design sheets as well as pre-established pricing structures, and distributes the data and data entry work performed by an individual at one retail location to all other accompanying retail locations. In this manner, labor and money are saved as work conventionally performed by a series of individuals located at separate store locations is instead performed by a single individual at a central location and distributed to all other locations in the series.

Abstract: A system for preventing noise transmission at the end of a telephone call includes a telephone having a handset and a base unit. The telephone has a proximity sensor configured to detect when the handset is in close proximity to the base unit prior to the handset contacting the base unit. A control element communicates with the proximity sensor and prevents transmission of sound received from the handset when the proximity sensor indicates that the handset is in close proximity to the base unit thereby preventing transmission of noise caused by the handset contacting the base unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating seismic waves includes a housing, a strike surface within the housing, and a hammer movably disposed within the housing. An actuator induces a striking motion in the hammer such that the hammer impacts the strike surface as part of the striking motion. The actuator is selectively adjustable to change characteristics of the striking motion and characteristics of seismic waves generated by the impact. The hammer may be modified to change the physical characteristics of the hammer, thereby changing characteristics of seismic waves generated by the hammer. The hammer may be disposed within a removable shock cavity, and the apparatus may include two hammers and two shock cavities positioned symmetrically about a center of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating seismic waves includes a housing, a strike surface within the housing, and a hammer movably disposed within the housing. An actuator induces a striking motion in the hammer such that the hammer impacts the strike surface as part of the striking motion. The actuator is selectively adjustable to change characteristics of the striking motion and characteristics of seismic waves generated by the impact. The hammer may be modified to change the physical characteristics of the hammer, thereby changing characteristics of seismic waves generated by the hammer. The hammer may be disposed within a removable shock cavity, and the apparatus may include two hammers and two shock cavities positioned symmetrically about a center of the apparatus.

Abstract: A pier for a modular, portable, interlocking decking system, the pier having a generally planar plate with a bottom surface and a top surface and a plurality of receiver blocks extending from the top surface of the plate. Each receiver block has a generally dome-shaped load-bearing surface. A plurality of piers is used in a decking system along with at least one surface pad, the surface pad having a generally planar, horizontal upper surface, and a lower portion including a plurality of block receptacles. The bottom surface of the plate of each structural pier rests upon a supporting surface, and the block receptacles of the surface pad each engage the generally dome-shaped load-bearing surface of a corresponding structural pier.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a sensing device about a pan axis and a tilt axis may include an enclosure, first and second rotatable dials configured to allow a user to adjust an angular pan orientation and an angular tilt orientation, respectively, of the sensing device. The apparatus may include outer and inner concentric shafts attached to the first dial and the second dial, respectively. The apparatus may also include a frame assembly attached to the outer shaft such that the frame assembly rotates about the pan axis as the first dial is rotated. The frame assembly may include a base configured to rotate about the tilt axis and that supports the sensing device. The frame assembly may also include a pin and gear assembly operatively coupling the base to the inner shaft such that rotation of the second dial rotates the base about the tilt axis.

Abstract: A gravel packing system includes at least two packers with at least one of the two packers being sealable to an open hole, a barrier sealably engaged with the at least two packers defining an annular space between the open hole and the barrier, a cross-over tool operably connectable to at least one of the at least two packers and the barrier, and at least one regulator in operable communication with the barrier configured to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the annular space while gravel is packed at a location downstream of at least one of the at least two packers, downstream being defined by a direction of travel of gravel being packed.

Abstract: A supersonic aircraft design using compression lift for enhanced cruise performance. Each engine nacelle at mid-span has a vertical wedge at the nose which creates shock waves under the wings. The increased pressure behind the shock waves pushes up on the wings, creating compression lift. The second part of the process is trapping the shocks by some vertical surfaces. The inboard shocks are intercepted by a keel under the fuselage. This causes the reflected shock effect, which increases compression lift. The keel is just wide enough to store the main landing gear's wheel bogies one behind the other. One strut carrying a wheel bogie retracts upward and forward. The other strut retracts upward and backward. This allows tandem bogie storage in the narrow keel, which reduces drag. Outboard shocks are trapped by wingtip fins with pointed noses to reduce shock interference at the point of shock trapping.

Abstract: A supersonic aircraft design using compression lift for enhanced cruise performance. Each engine nacelle at mid-span has a vertical wedge at the nose which creates shock waves under the wings. The increased pressure behind the shock waves pushes up on the wings, creating compression lift. The second part of the process is trapping the shocks by some vertical surfaces. The inboard shocks are intercepted by a keel under the fuselage. This causes the reflected shock effect, which increases compression lift. The keel is just wide enough to store the main landing gear's wheel bogies one behind the other. One strut carrying a wheel bogie retracts upward and forward. The other strut retracts upward and backward. This allows tandem bogie storage in the narrow keel, which reduces drag. Outboard shocks are trapped by wingtip fins with pointed noses to reduce shock interference at the point of shock trapping.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for optimizing energy usage in commercial buildings. Energy consumption data is used, along with occupant data, to determine appropriate adjustments in energy, and for ongoing monitoring and reporting of energy savings. According to the inventive method, the building of interest is characterized, including calculation of lag parameters—temperature lag, solar gain lag, solar strength lag, and, in some instances, humidity lag, which inform a thermal energy equation particular to the building of interest. Mechanical heating lag and mechanical cooling lag are used for on-going energy use optimization. An outside temperature index may also be used. The resulting accuracy of the thermal energy equation is over 90% for both heat and chilling input, once the building has been optimized according to the inventive method.