Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for feeding an electrode into a container using an electrode feeder system. A fixed gripper is coupled to a support frame at or near a fixed base plate. A moveable gripper is positioned at or near a lower limit switch located at or near a base plate. The moveable gripper is coupled to one or more sliders that are coupled to the support frame. An electrode is positioned through the fixed gripper and the moveable gripper, and the fixed gripper is closed around the electrode. The moveable gripper is closed around the electrode and the fixed gripper is opened. The moveable gripper is lowered along a length of the electrode feeder system causing the electrode to be lowered into the container. The steps are repeated until a process occurring in the container is complete or the electrode is consumed.

Abstract: A device for extending a shaft of an arrow including a hollow arrow sleeve having a forward end and a rearward end. The hollow arrow sleeve supporting at least one auxiliary, expandable, razor-sharp blade for pivoting movement between a stored position lying enclosed within the sleeve and a deployed position extending outwardly through a slot formed in the sleeve. The sleeve having at least one slot allowing passage of the at least one expandable razor-sharp blade from a stored position to a deployed position in response to movement of the at least one blade from the rearward position to the forward position relative to the sleeve. A member acting against the at least one auxiliary, expandable, razor-sharp blade for urging the blade toward the deployed position. A spring for biasing the member against the at least one auxiliary, expandable, razor-sharp blade.

Abstract: A device for extending a shaft of an arrow including a hollow arrow sleeve having a forward end and a rearward end. The hollow arrow sleeve supporting at least one auxiliary, expandable, razor-sharp blade for pivoting movement between a stored position lying enclosed within the sleeve and a deployed position extending outwardly through a slot formed in the sleeve. The sleeve having at least one slot allowing passage of the at least one expandable razor-sharp blade from a stored position to a deployed position in response to movement of the at least one blade from the rearward position to the forward position relative to the sleeve. A member acting against the at least one auxiliary, expandable, razor-sharp blade for urging the blade toward the deployed position. A spring for biasing the member against the at least one auxiliary, expandable, razor-sharp blade.

Abstract: An air outlet assembly is used to direct airflow of a climate control system of a motor vehicle. The air outlet assembly is used by the passengers sitting on a back seat in a passenger compartment. The air outlet assembly includes first and second doors which are used to open and close an outlet thereof. The doors also direct the air flowing therethrough. An actuator moves the doors between their respective open and closed positions. The actuator moves the second door from its open position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its closed position as it moves the first door from an intermediate position, 90.degree. with respect to the air outlet opening, toward its open position. This allows the doors to act in unison, after the first door passes the intermediate position, by moving in parallel form, to affect the direction of airflow. The actuator includes a single gear and rack for the first door and a pair of gears and a single rack for the second door.

Abstract: The scan cycle in a programmable logic controller is constructed so as to allow the PLC users program to execute an instruction to assign a user program section to which the PLC system is to transfer control upon the occurance of an instruction-specified event. Also allowed is the de-assignment of a user program section from an instruction-specified event. Moreover, the interrupt may happen at any portion of the PLC scan cycle and not merely at compilation time. This thereby allows for dynamically presetting values of characters and the like as well as pipelining of interrupts in the PLC.

Abstract: A passenger boarding bridge for providing a passageway from an aircraft to a passenger terminal includes a cab section with a floor. The floor of the bridge is provided with a cutout portion that can accommodate the stair components of commuter aircraft that are being served by the passenger boarding bridge.

Abstract: The PLC has a user configurable protocol port attached thereto. Briefly stated, at the PLC communication port or as a result of a user program or I/O event, a special flag bit may be set which thereby allows the communication port to be activated. This is done by the flag bit causing an interrupt to occur in the PLC user program which allows a user to communicate with a user specified protocol scheme rather than the normal communication/programming protocol when this special bit is not set.

Abstract: A fire control foam distribution system wherein foam is distributed to the area below a passenger boarding bridge includes a telescoping pipe system to get the foam to delivery manifolds at intermediate and at an outboard location of the passenger boarding bridge. Multiple foam delivery discharge nozzles are attached to the delivery manifolds to assist in directing the foam to the area below the passenger boarding bridge.

Abstract: An anchoring apparatus for mobile homes comprising a pair of fluke members rotatably and slidably mounted on a pin. Each of the fluke members is constructed of a top plate and a pair of support arms secured to the top plate. Each support arm defines a slot into which the pin is positioned so that upon rotation of the fluke members the support arms of each fluke member abut against the top plate of the other fluke member to prevent further movement of the fluke members.

Abstract: A cover for acoustically enclosing a conveyor is described. The cover includes a curved, dome-shaped or gabled top portion and two side walls which project downwardly from the top portion to a support structure for the conveyor. Also, the cover includes acoustically absorbent or dissipative material for attenuating noise internally generated within the cover. At least one of the side walls includes a pivotally mounted door which provides access to the conveyor. Since the cover is curved, dome-shaped or gabled and does not include any horizontal surfaces, an accumulation of moisture within the conveyor cover is prevented.