Abstract: A tractal erectile device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes a hollow vessel having a first opening for receiving an organ, and a second opening for releasing fluid from within the vessel. The hollow vessel may include: an integral smooth lip portion surrounding the first opening for receiving an organ; an elongated cylindrical portion connected to the lip portion, an hour-glass portion connected to the elongated portion, and an ellipsoid shaped end portion including the second opening for releasing fluid from within the vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blending fluids and applying the blended fluid to a surface of an aircraft during deicing and anti-icing operations having a first tank, second tank, blend tank, pumps, conduits, heaters, controllers, and a delivery device. In operation, a controller compares the composition of the blended fluid in the blend tank to the composition of a target fluid that is determined by current ambient temperature of the environment, and advances first and second fluids from the first and second tanks, respectively, into the blend tank to achieve and maintain the target fluid composition in the blend tank.

Abstract: An acoustic sensor acquires acoustic data corresponding to a rotating component of a machine during operation of the machine. The acoustic sensor can be configured to enhance acoustic signals in a range of frequencies corresponding to at least one evaluated condition of the rotating component and/or enhance the acoustic signals received from a directional area narrowly focused on the rotating component. The rotating component is evaluated using the acoustic data acquired by the acoustic sensor. In an embodiment, the machine can be a vehicle traveling past a parabolic microphone. In a more specific embodiment, the vehicle is a rail vehicle and the rotating component is a railroad wheel bearing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for blending fluids and applying the blended fluid to a surface of an aircraft during deicing and anti-icing operations having a first tank, second tank, blend tank, pumps, conduits, heaters, controllers, and a delivery device. In operation, a controller compares the composition of the blended fluid in the blend tank to the composition of a target fluid that is determined by current ambient temperature of the environment, and advances first and second fluids from the first and second tanks, respectively, into the blend tank to achieve and maintain the target fluid composition in the blend tank.

Abstract: A mass pod turbine device includes a rotating element configured to rotate about a shaft axis. A plurality of mass pods restrained about the periphery of the rotating element. The mass pods are restrained to the rotating element, but may be displaced relative to the center of rotation. During a rotational cycle of the rotating element, the mass center of each mass pod may be dynamically displaced relative to the center of rotation. The mass pods then generating a mass imbalance about the rotational axis and causing the device to rotate about the shaft axis. The system also provides a useful variable inertia member for the storing of the kinetic energy of a rotating assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for enabling a base station to transmit radio frequency signals with a transmit diversity technique comprises a first antenna implemented in the base station; and a second antenna implemented in the base station, and placed apart from the first antenna by a predetermined distance. The first antenna utilizes a first frequency band of a predetermined frequency spectrum for transmitting signals, and the second antenna utilizes a second frequency band of the predetermined frequency spectrum for transmitting signals. The first and second frequency bands do not overlap.

Abstract: A pressure equalization system staffs a compressor while maintaining the condenser at a high pressure, including a valve and a bleed port. The compressor inlet receives a fluid at a first pressure. The compressor outlet discharges the fluid at a second pressure, and is operable to compress the fluid from the first pressure to the second pressure. The valve, proximate to and in fluid communication with the compressor outlet, is movable to an open position during compressor operation to permit the fluid at the second pressure to flow through the valve and is movable to a closed position when the compressor stops operating to prevent backflow of the fluid at the second pressure through the valve toward the compressor inlet. The bleed port, upstream of the valve and in fluid communication with the compressor inlet, equalizes the pressure of the fluid contained in the compressor when compressor operation stops.

Abstract: A system and method improves linearly-polarized microstrip patch antenna performance and fabrication through the incorporation of a pin fin ground plane and an integral antenna feed assembly. In one embodiment, a patch antenna system includes an antenna area with a patch antenna that provides radio communications. A heat dissipation member is coupled to the antenna area and includes a plurality of pins that provide for both the dissipation of heat from the antenna area and a ground plane for the antenna area. An antenna feed line is further coupled with the antenna patch for providing an electrical connection from the antenna patch to other electronic circuitries, such as a wireless device that may be mechanically coupled to the heat dissipation member. Heat generated during the operation of the wireless device is directed to ambient air by way of the heat dissipation member.

Abstract: The device of the present invention is a locking quick release device for allowing quick and easy release and adjustment to a bicycle seat and/or bicycle wheels, while still allowing the seat and/or wheels to lock to the bike frame when the quick release lever is in the closed position. The device includes a standard plug lock combined with the lever of the quick release device. In the closed position, the lock can be engaged with a key, securely locking the lever closed and the seat and/or the wheels to the bicycle frame.

Abstract: A method for treating nitrate-contaminated water comprising treating said water with hydrogen-oxidizing denitrifying bacteria in the presence of hydrogen. The apparatus for use in this method preferably comprises: (a) a pure culture of autotrophic, hydrogen-oxidizing denitrifying bacteria; (b) a hydrogen generator; (c) a flow-through bioreactor; and (d) a filtration unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically operating a swing-arm-style mail insertion machine to insert products, such as CDs, computer diskettes, credit cards, matchbooks, pens and pencils, keys, etc., into envelopes at high speeds is provided by fixedly attaching, to a swing arm shaft of the swing-arm insertion machine for angular movement therewith, an actuator arm apparatus having an element configured for gripping a product from the front of a raceway of the swing-arm machine when the swing arm shaft is in a front angular position, and for placing the product into the raceway as the swing arm shaft pivots from the front angular position to a rear angular position, and feeding a product from the front of the raceway into the raceway with the actuator arm means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically operating a swing-arm-style mail insertion machine to insert products, such as CDs, computer diskettes, credit cards, matchbooks, pens and pencils, keys, etc., into envelopes at high speeds is provided by fixedly attaching, to a swing arm shaft of the swing-arm insertion machine for angular movement therewith, an actuator arm apparatus having an element configured for gripping a product from the front of a raceway of the swing-arm machine when the swing arm shaft is in a front angular position, and for placing the product into the raceway as the swing arm shaft pivots from the front angular position to a rear angular position, and feeding a product from the front of the raceway into the raceway with the actuator arm means.

Abstract: Air voids within a die casting may be minimized by controlling, during the shot process, the venting of gas from the shot tube through a shot tube opening with the proper size at a proper location, and the movement of metal within the shot tube to avoid entrapped gas and prematurely solidified aluminum particles in the molten metal being injected into the die cavity during the shot process.

Abstract: The present invention tablet filler device system includes a plurality of individually secured cells with a tablet hopper and drum functionally adapted to regulate and orient gravity outflow of tablets, a gravity feed chute connected to and downstream from the hopper to singularly align and feed tablets, and a rotatable starwheel having slots to receive tablets from the feed chute to move tablets to a container filling substation. There is also a tablet inspection mechanism located on the feed chute to discern quality characteristics of tablets moving down the feed chute in accordance with a predetermined standard, and a tablet ejector to eject unacceptable tablets. A stepper drive motor with a counter capability for driving the starwheel in a step fashion for controlled release of tablets is included, and an optional counting verification sensor. The cells are interconnected for computer controlled automatic order filling for a variety of tablet types and container sizes.

Abstract: The present invention tablet filler device with enhanced quality control features includes a tablet hopper and an agitating drum functionally connected to the hopper and adapted to regulate and orient gravity outflow of tablets. There is a gravity feed chute connected to and downstream from the hopper to singularly align and feed tablets, and a rotatable starwheel having slots to receive tablets individually from the feed chute so as to move tablets to a filling outlet for gravity feed to a container filling station.

Abstract: A system for initializing parameters of a transmitter connected to a Coriolis flowmeter. This invention applies initial drive signals to a drive circuit which causes a flow tube to vibrate. The type of the flow tube is then determined from signals received from pick-off sensors associated with the flow tube. Parameters for generation of said drive signals are then set based upon the type of said flow tube.

Abstract: A 45 degree polarization diversity antenna having improved beamwidth characteristics. The antenna includes a plurality of dipole sub-arrays each sub-array comprising four dipole elements arranged in a diamond shape. Two dipole elements in each sub-array are arranged at an angle of approximately plus 45 degrees from the earth's surface to form a plus 45 degree polarized dipole element array and the other two dipole elements are arranged at an angle of minus 45 degrees from the earth's surface to form a minus 45 degree polarized dipole element array. The dipole elements are arranged such that the phase centers of one plus 45 degree dipole element and one minus 45 degree element line up along a first substantially vertical line and the phase centers of the remaining plus 45 degree and minus 45 degree dipole element line up along a second substantially vertical line.

Abstract: A wind chime having a rotating striker. A rotating member is suspended from the striker. The rotating member is actuated by air currents or wind, which in turn, effect rotation of the striker. The striker strikes a multiplicity of chimes, producing musical tones.

Abstract: A method of tying over an individual customer service connection from a live outer gas main to an inner gas main inserted within the liver outer gas main comprises defining a generally annular region within the space between the inner and outer mains. The region is upstream from the customer service connection between the customer service connection and the source of gas for the outer main. The sidewall of the outer main is opened intermediate the ends of the region, and an amount of a high-density liquid foaming composition sufficient to fill the region is introduced into the opening. The foaming composition is permitted to foam and harden to a plug in the region. Before the foaming composition is permitted to foam and harden, a first end of a first conduit is inserted into the opening, and pushed into the space so that the first end lies upstream from the region.