Abstract: A transportable modular building includes a shipping container having shipping container frame members defining an outer periphery of the shipping container; shipping container periphery walls extending between the shipping container frame members, and an entry wall unit. The entry wall unit is recessed from the shipping container frame members that form a first side. The entry wall unit includes a door; a solar panel power interface to interface with a solar panel. The shipping container is suitable for national and international conveyance using conventional transportation networks.

Abstract: A transportable modular building includes a shipping container having shipping container frame members defining an outer periphery of the shipping container; shipping container periphery walls extending between the shipping container frame members, and an entry wall unit. The entry wall unit is recessed from the shipping container frame members that form a first side. The entry wall unit includes a door; a solar panel power interface to interface with a solar panel. The shipping container is suitable for national and international conveyance using conventional transportation networks.

Abstract: A storage rack connectable to a mounting structure of a vehicle for supporting a load, comprising a load supporting structure, a swing arm assembly, and a lift assembly. The load supporting structure is adapted to support the load when the load is associated with the load supporting structure. The swing arm assembly is connected to the load supporting structure, the swing arm assembly being attachable to the mounting structure of the vehicle. The lift assembly is associated with the load supporting structure for facilitating lifting of the load to the load supporting structure whereby the load can be supported by the load supporting structure and thus the vehicle.

Abstract: A storage rack connectable to a mounting structure of a vehicle for supporting a load, comprising a load supporting structure, a bracket assembly, and a lift assembly. The load supporting structure is adapted to support the load when the load is associated with the load supporting structure. The bracket assembly is connected to the load supporting structure, the bracket assembly being attachable to the mounting structure. The lift assembly is associated with the load supporting structure for facilitating lifting of the load to the load supporting structure whereby the load can be supported by the load supporting structure and thus the vehicle when the bracket assembly connects the load supporting structure to the mounting structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: A winch-based system is used to raise and lower a hydrological probe into a water column to automatically dynamically obtain measurement data of a water column at incremental depths over selected time intervals. The winch-based system can be powered by a relatively low-power power source to cause the electric motor to controllably operate to wind and unwind the cable at a desired rate in a manner which can pause the upward and downward movement of the probe at incremental measurement depths. The disclosure also describes related systems. Additionally, a method for enhancing the life of a hydroglogical probe by storing the probe at an immersed subsurface depth is also described.

Abstract: A winch-based system is used to raise and lower a hydrological probe into a water column to automatically dynamically obtain measurement data of a water column at incremental depths over selected time intervals. The winch-based system can be powered by a relatively low-power power source to cause the electric motor to controllably operate to wind and unwind the cable at a desired rate in a manner which can pause the upward and downward movement of the probe at incremental measurement depths. The disclosure also describes related systems. Additionally, a method for enhancing the life of a hydroglogical probe by storing the probe at an immersed subsurface depth is also described.

Abstract: A snow blower converter kit is provided for use with a snow blower. Such kit includes a mulcher blade and a squirrel cage adapted for being removably mounted on a drive shaft of the snow blower in concentric relationship between the conduit and the tines of the snow blower. Also included is a cover adapted for being removably mounted on the shield with a slot formed in a lower portion thereof for accepting leaves and the like therethrough.

Abstract: A spooler system including a special spool having slotted openings in its side flange walls to allow a set of paddles to be inserted through them when the spool is mounted on the spooler, which paddles are located above the spool core and provide a temporary, larger diameter, initial winding surface for the material to be spooled. After the material has been spooled onto the spool directly on the paddles, the paddles, which can be pivoted downwardly, are removed. This leaves the spooled material loosely fitting on the core of the spool, allowing room for the spooled material to shrink along its length without producing profile distortion in the material. A distal end hub element is provided to hold the spool unto the arbor of the spooler, which hub element has a set of radially extending arms which support the undersides of the paddles during the spooling operation. Roller wheels on the terminal ends of the arms allow the arms to be easily rolled in under the paddles.

Abstract: A capacitor arrangement which is especially suited for use in an electronically tunable narrow band tuned cavity filter includes two capacitor plate portions which are juxtaposed one another to form a capacitor. One of the capacitor plate portions may be provided with a recess and with an internally threaded bore which opens into the recess, and an externally threaded trimmer slug may be received in the bore and extend to a greater or lesser degree into the recess and thus to contribute to a greater or lesser degree to the total capacitance of the capacitor. A dielectric spacer may be interposed between the capacitor plate portions to determine the size of the gap therebetween and to maintain the gap size constant.

Abstract: An electronically tunable narrow band tuned cavity filter includes a housing which bounds a tuned cavity, a plurality of resonator bars secured to the housing, extending across the tuned cavity and having respective extensions that pass through respective openings of the housing to the exterior of the tuned cavity, and a set of tuning capacitor plates for each of the resonator bars. The tuning capacitor plates associated with the respective resonator bar are arranged outside the tuned cavity around the extension in a compartment surrounding the opening, together with respective switching networks driven by an electronic drive and operative for including the capacitor plates in or excluding the same from electric circuit with the respective resonator bar. The capacitor plates may be directly juxtaposed with associated facets of the extension to form respective tuning capacitors therewith.

Abstract: An improved tool exchange arm for use in the automatic tool changer of a machining center adapted for boring, drilling, milling, tapping and tool changing operations under numerical control. The tool exchange arm may be incorporated in machining centers of either vertical or horizontal spindle configuration. It operates with current commercial tapered shank toolholders, is capable of precisely and securely positioning itself for engagement with the toolholders to be exchanged, and rotates quickly for tool exchange without sharp impacts at the extremities of its rotational stroke.

Abstract: A transcalent semiconductor device comprises a body of semiconductor material having first and second major opposed surfaces. The first surface includes at least one region of first type conductivity and a region of opposite type conductivity. A first heat pipe having a conductive contact disc is in electrical and thermal contact with substantially all of the first surface. The conductive contact disc has an aperture therein. A control electrode for initiating conduction through the semiconductor material extends through the aperture in the disc and contacts the region of opposite type conductivity. A second heat pipe is disposed in electrical and thermal conductive relationship with the second surface. In an alternative embodiment, a fiber optic light pipe controls the initiation of conduction through the semiconductor material by transmitting photons to the region of opposite type conductivity.

Abstract: A luminous aid for indicating a pre-selected emergency number disposed in proximity to means for indicating the appropriate digits to be used on a telephone dial serves to permit the telephone to be operated without requiring additional illumination. A marking assembly for so preparing the telephone includes a pliant sheet of coated material carrying both a label indicating the emergency number as well as continuously luminous markers for use in marking two digits on the telephone dial.

Abstract: An improved machining center including an automatic tool changer adapted for boring, drilling, milling, tapping and tool changing operations under numerical control. The machine, which may be built in both horizontal spindle and vertical spindle configurations, includes a tool storage matrix and tool transport shuttle compactly arranged on the upstanding column and a two-handed transfer arm on the headstock. The toolholders are carried in tool cups having mechanical latches. The matrix and the shuttle are also provided with mechanical latches for the tool cups actuated as an incident to transfer of tools between the matrix, shuttle, and arm or vice versa. The machine is adapted to operate with toolholders interchangable with those for a current commercial vertical spindle machining center.

Abstract: A method for the production of embossed laminar thermoplastic film structures comprising supplying a first length of a thermoplastic film onto the surface of a patterned roller, portions of which pattern are capable of absorbing infrared radiation, subsequently heating the patterned surface to raise the temperature of the film in those areas which are in contact with the infrared absorbent pattern, and finally superimposing a preheated film onto the film on the surface of the patterned roller to produce a laminar structure bonded together along a plurality of intersecting heat seal lines.