Abstract: A pre-fabricated electrical apparatus has: a main housing configured to enclose electrical equipment in use; a splice compartment mounted, or integrally formed, external to and adjacent the main housing; a conductor passage defined between the main housing and the splice compartment; and in which the main housing and splice compartment are configured to, in use, permit a conductor to extend from a first conductor termination point, defined within the main housing, to a second conductor termination point, defined within the splice compartment, with the second termination point having a temperature rating that is higher than a temperature rating of the electrical equipment. A method includes: prefabricating, at a prefabrication facility, an electrical apparatus by mounting or integrally forming a splice compartment adjacent an external part of a main housing; and installing the electrical apparatus at an end user facility, which is remote from the prefabrication facility.

Abstract: An electrical distribution apparatus is disclosed, having a supply terminal structured to receive distribution electricity from a primary circuit; a power corrector configured to correct the distribution electricity to reduce a voltage drop in the distribution electricity from a line voltage; and a distribution terminal structured to supply all or part of the distribution electricity to a load, feeder or branch circuit. Related methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: A method and system for marking a workpiece at a marking location by infusing colorant into targeted surface material within a region of the workpiece via laser-induced chemical etching are disclosed. The system includes a laser subsystem for generating a pulsed laser output and a transport subsystem including a medium containing the colorant mounted immediately adjacent the marking location to transfer the colorant to the targeted surface material upon impact by the pulsed laser output. The system also includes a delivery subsystem for irradiating the medium and the targeted surface material with the pulsed laser output to melt the targeted surface material to obtain molten material and to transfer the colorant from the medium to the molten material. The molten material allows the transferred colorant to thermally diffuse into and chemically bond to the molten material. Each laser pulse creates a microtextured colorized spot of material on the workpiece.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated electrical apparatus has: a main housing configured to enclose electrical equipment in use; a splice compartment mounted, or integrally formed, external to and adjacent the main housing; a conductor passage defined between the main housing and the splice compartment; and in which the main housing and splice compartment are configured to, in use, permit a conductor to extend from a first conductor termination point, defined within the main housing, to a second conductor termination point, defined within the splice compartment, with the second termination point having a temperature rating that is higher than a temperature rating of the electrical equipment. A method includes: prefabricating, at a prefabrication facility, an electrical apparatus by mounting or integrally forming a splice compartment adjacent an external part of a main housing; and installing the electrical apparatus at an end user facility, which is remote from the prefabrication facility.

Abstract: A method and system for marking a workpiece at a marking location by infusing colorant into targeted surface material within a region of the workpiece via laser-induced chemical etching are disclosed. The system includes a laser subsystem for generating a pulsed laser output and a transport subsystem including a medium containing the colorant mounted immediately adjacent the marking location to transfer the colorant to the targeted surface material upon impact by the pulsed laser output. The system also includes a delivery subsystem for irradiating the medium and the targeted surface material with the pulsed laser output to melt the targeted surface material to obtain molten material and to transfer the colorant from the medium to the molten material. The molten material allows the transferred colorant to thermally diffuse into and chemically bond to the molten material. Each laser pulse creates a microtextured colorized spot of material on the workpiece.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated electrical apparatus has: a main housing configured to enclose electrical equipment in use; a splice compartment mounted, or integrally formed, external to and adjacent the main housing; a conductor passage defined between the main housing and the splice compartment; and in which the main housing and splice compartment are configured to, in use, permit a conductor to extend from a first conductor termination point, defined within the main housing, to a second conductor termination point, defined within the splice compartment, with the second termination point having a temperature rating that is higher than a temperature rating of the electrical equipment. A method includes: prefabricating, at a prefabrication facility, an electrical apparatus by mounting or integrally forming a splice compartment adjacent an external part of a main housing; and installing the electrical apparatus at an end user facility, which is remote from the prefabrication facility.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated electrical apparatus has: a main housing configured to enclose electrical equipment in use; a splice compartment mounted, or integrally formed, external to and adjacent the main housing; a conductor passage defined between the main housing and the splice compartment; and in which the main housing and splice compartment are configured to, in use, permit a conductor to extend from a first conductor termination point, defined within the main housing, to a second conductor termination point, defined within the splice compartment, with the second termination point having a temperature rating that is higher than a temperature rating of the electrical equipment. A method includes: prefabricating, at a prefabrication facility, an electrical apparatus by mounting or integrally forming a splice compartment adjacent an external part of a main housing; and installing the electrical apparatus at an end user facility, which is remote from the prefabrication facility.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated electrical apparatus has: a main housing configured to enclose electrical equipment in use; a splice compartment mounted, or integrally formed, external to and adjacent the main housing; a conductor passage defined between the main housing and the splice compartment; and in which the main housing and splice compartment are configured to, in use, permit a conductor to extend from a first conductor termination point, defined within the main housing, to a second conductor termination point, defined within the splice compartment, with the second termination point having a temperature rating that is higher than a temperature rating of the electrical equipment. A method includes: prefabricating, at a prefabrication facility, an electrical apparatus by mounting or integrally forming a splice compartment adjacent an external part of a main housing; and installing the electrical apparatus at an end user facility, which is remote from the prefabrication facility.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for evaluating wireless signal quality between environmental sensing and control devices. A signal quality device includes a sensor module, one or more user control devices, one or more display devices, and a processing unit. The signal quality device is configured to generate a first signal following activation of at least one of the one or more user control devices, wirelessly transmit the first signal, receive a second signal in response to the first signal, and activate the one or more display devices to provide an indication of the signal quality of the first signal. A wireless environmental controller includes a processing unit and is configured to receive the first signal, determine the signal quality of the first signal, generate the second signal related to the signal quality of the first signal, and wirelessly transmit the second signal.

Abstract: A method and system for providing radiant heat to prevent freezing, which may include an emission-free, compressed-gas motor for driving a pump for pressurizing a liquid in a closed fluid pathway. The motor may include an inlet port and an exhaust port. The inlet port may be connected to a pressurized natural gas line. The exhaust port of the motor may also be connected to the natural gas line so that natural gas is lost during operation of the motor. A burner may heat the liquid in the closed fluid pathway using natural gas from the natural gas line. The heated liquid in the closed fluid pathway may provide radiant heat at desired locations, including other pipes and storage tanks. The motor may also be used for dehydrating natural gas.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for evaluating wireless signal quality between environmental sensing and control devices. A signal quality device includes a sensor module, one or more user control devices, one or more display devices, and a processing unit. The signal quality device is configured to generate a first signal following activation of at least one of the one or more user control devices, wirelessly transmit the first signal, receive a second signal in response to the first signal, and activate the one or more display devices to provide an indication of the signal quality of the first signal. A wireless environmental controller includes a processing unit and is configured to receive the first signal, determine the signal quality of the first signal, generate the second signal related to the signal quality of the first signal, and wirelessly transmit the second signal.

Abstract: Two (or more) different, but complementary, families of integrated circuits having the same layout are developed simultaneously where the different families are achieved by changing one or more design parameters of transistors used to implement the integrated circuits. For example, a low-power (but low-speed) family of one or more ICs (e.g., for handheld applications) can be achieved by designing at least some transistors with relatively high threshold-voltage (Vt) levels, while a different, but complementary, high-speed (but high-power) family of one or more ICs (e.g., for server applications) can be achieved by designing corresponding transistors with relatively low Vt levels. In this way, the two families can share in common all but a very few masks used to fabricate the ICs of the different families.

Abstract: A container guide for preventing bottles or other containers from overturning as the bottles are loaded into cartons includes guide bars mounted above a container conveyor and in parallel alignment with lane dividers for directing bottles from the container conveyor and into the cartons, which are conveyed on a carton conveyor. The guide bars support the upper portions of the bottles as the bottles cross a potentially uneven transition region extending between the two conveyors and beyond the extent of the lane dividers. Each guide bar has a guiding edge for supporting the upper portion of the bottles, which may be tapered or shouldered thereby requiring the guiding edge to be offset somewhat from the lane dividers. Each guide bar also has an outfeed end that is relatively thinner than its infeed end to facilitate the outfeed end clearing the upper edges of the end flaps of the cartons.

Abstract: A power sliding door for a motor vehicle comprises a door structure, a power drive assembly, a latch assembly, and a single motor for operating both the latch assembly and the power drive assembly. The door structure is mounted on a track associated with the motor vehicle, the door structure being movable along the track between opened and closed positions. The power drive assembly is connected with the door and capable of being driven to move the door along the track between the opened and closed positions. The latch assembly is mounted on the door and movable between latched and unlatched positions. The single motor is mounted on the door structure operatively connected with both the power drive assembly and the latch assembly. The motor drives the power drive assembly and thus enables the power drive assembly to move the door along the track between the opened and closed positions.

Abstract: A power sliding door for a motor vehicle comprises a door structure, a power drive assembly, a latch assembly, and a single motor for operating both the latch assembly and the power drive assembly. The door structure is mounted on a track associated with the motor vehicle, the door structure being movable along the track between opened and closed positions. The power drive assembly is connected with the door and capable of being driven to move the door along the track between the opened and closed positions. The latch assembly is mounted on the door and movable between latched and unlatched positions. The single motor is mounted on the door structure operatively connected with both the power drive assembly and the latch assembly. The motor drives the power drive assembly and thus enables the power drive assembly to move the door along the track between the opened and closed positions.