Abstract: A casket loading and/or unloading apparatus comprises a frame having an end adapted to be pivoted adjacent a rear edge of a bed of a transport vehicle for pivoting about a pivot axis generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the transport vehicle, and a motion generating device operable between the frame and the transport vehicle for pivoting the frame from a first generally vertical position to a second at least generally horizontal position. A vertically oriented casket in the transport vehicle can be secured to the frame, and the frame with the casket secured thereto can be pivoted from the first generally vertical position to the second at least generally horizontal position to facilitate unloading the casket from the transport vehicle.

Abstract: In one aspect, an electric machine is provided. The electric machine includes a housing including at least one air intake, an air outlet, and an air passage extending between the at least one air intake and the air outlet. The electric machine also includes a first heat sink positioned at least partially within the air passage, and a second heat sink positioned at least partially within the air passage downstream of the first heat sink. A cooling airflow through the at least one air intake flows through the air passage to cool the first heat sink and the second heat sink before the cooling airflow is exhausted through the air outlet.

Abstract: A device for positioning a planar array of magnets within a permanent magnet electrical machine of the type having a rotor and stator with an air gap there between. The device includes a body made of non-ferrous material and having a first side which is attachable to the rotor and a second side which, in an assembled machine, faces the air gap. The first side of the body has a plurality of recesses therein for receiving a corresponding plurality of magnets. The recesses are shaped and arranged to separate the magnets from each other and maintain a consistent spacing between them. When the device is attached to the rotor the magnets are held in a fixed position against the rotor. The electrical machine may be a motor or a generator.

Abstract: An electric machine is described. The electric machine includes a rotor comprising a rotor disk and a plurality of permanent magnets magnetically coupled to the rotor disk. The plurality of permanent magnets include a substantially flat profile and are aligned in a substantially planar array. The electric machine also includes a stator comprising a solid stator core and a plurality of coils each wound around a coil insulating member. The stator core includes a plurality of stator teeth extending substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for managing electronic messages of an electronic trading system in which orders are extracted from the electronic messages involve executing actions associated with respect to the orders and matching orders to counter orders. Matching orders may be based on a priority determined using a market quality index of the order and an associated market participant.

Abstract: A method for predicting the reactive power needs (or other power characteristic needs) for a plurality of customer circuits on an intermediate circuit operably connected to the grid by averaging measurements of utility power characteristics (such as power factor, frequency, and voltage) from a plurality of energy management controllers (or other measuring devices) connected to said customer circuits so that the utility or other grid participant can tailor its power output to meet active and reactive power needs (or other power characteristic needs) to improve transmission efficiency, increase capacity and avoid voltage fluctuations.

Abstract: Utility (or other grid participant's) customers' intermittent power generation systems and loads (including optional energy storage) are made autonomously real time adaptive at the customer circuit level, so each of the customers' circuits (after powering that customer's varying load) contributes, at that customer's common connection to the utility meter, to the utility's (or other grid participant's) desired outcome for that customer's circuit, or contributes, at the intermediate circuit level, to the utility's desired aggregate outcomes for customers on that intermediate circuit. Energy management controllers are connected, behind the customer's utility meter on the customer's circuit, to controlled load portions of that customer's varying load, to autonomously add or shed, in real time, those controlled load portions, or (if there is stored energy) to autonomously discharge, in real time, stored power from storage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a medium for storing, preserving, culturing, and/or differentiating stem cells. The medium employs a synthetic thermo-responsive copolymer, dispersed in an aqueous vehicle, which allows the medium to be readily “switched” between a non-gelatinous (fluid) form and a gelatinous form by simply adjusting temperature across the gelling temperature of the medium. As such, stem cells can be easily captured within a 3D gel matrix by simply mixing the stem cells with the non-gelatinous/fluid form of the medium and then gelling the medium by adjusting the temperature across the gelling temperature of the medium. The stem cells encapsulated within the gelatinous form of the medium may then be preserved for a significant time period before either using the stem cells directly within the medium (e.g. in therapy, or in culturing, differentiation, and such like), or after their extraction from the medium.

Abstract: A combiner box capable of monitoring energy output from a photovoltaic system (or other alternative energy system) having improved troubleshooting functionality, the ability to independently verify utility charges, and a mechanism for reducing incorrect readings of energy output and consumption due to noise and interference.

Abstract: A stator 20 for an axial flux machine such as a motor or generator. The stator includes a stator core 32 having a back plane 24 which in use is disposed perpendicularly about a rotational axis of the machine. A plurality of teeth 26 extend axially from the back plane so as to form winding receiving slots 28 between adjacent teeth. The stator also includes an electrical winding 30 including a plurality of coils 32, each coil being located about a tooth of the stator core and being electrically isolated from the stator tooth by means of an insulating former 34 having a shape which closely conforms to the shape of the stator tooth. The coils 32 are interconnected to form the winding 30. A method of constructing a stator is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved ladderway system 30 for an underground raise. The system comprises an elongate tube 32 made of a suitably rigid plastics material and adapted to be received in the raise. The tube has a series of steps 34 moulded into an interior side wall thereof so as to form a ladder extending substantially the full length of the tube 32.

Abstract: An axial flux electrical machine including a housing, a stator located within the housing, a rotatable shaft carried by the housing by means of at least a main bearing, and a rotor fixed to the shaft within the housing. Magnetic attractive forces between the rotor and the stator produce an axial thrust on the main bearing and a biasing means (preferably in the form of a spring) is arranged to urge the shaft in a direction opposite to the axial thrust so as to reduce the net load on the main bearing. This reduction in net load on the main bearing increases bearing life and improves motor efficiency.

Abstract: A cutting device, for example for use in a method for laparoscopic hysterectomy wherein final resection of a uterus is executed using a vaginal approach, i.e. cutting from the vaginal side inwards, instead of cutting from the abdominal side outwards of the uterus. A hysterectomy assembly for such a method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combiner box capable of monitoring energy output from a photovoltaic system (or other alternative energy system) having improved troubleshooting functionality, the ability to independently verify utility charges, and a mechanism for reducing incorrect readings of energy output and consumption due to noise and interference.

Abstract: An electric motor that includes an electronic motor controller is described. The electronic motor controller includes a motor management circuit and a power supply circuit physically separate from the motor management circuit. The motor management circuit includes an insulated metal substrate, driver components operably attached to the insulated metal substrate and operable to provide output signals for application to windings of the electric motor, at least one current sensor operable for sensing an amount of current applied to the windings of and electric motor, and at least one control device operably attached to the insulated metal substrate for controlling operation of the driver components. The power supply circuit includes a composite circuit card and power processing components operably attached to the circuit card and operable to convert an input voltage into at least one output voltage to be supplied to the motor management circuit.

Abstract: A combiner box capable of monitoring energy output from a photovoltaic system and having improved troubleshooting functionality, the ability to independently verify utility charges, and a mechanism for reducing incorrect readings of energy output and consumption due to noise and interference.

Abstract: An electric machine comprising a permanent magnet rotor assembly is provided. The electric machine comprises a permanent magnet rotor assembly comprising a plurality of permanent magnets coupled to a rotor disk and a plurality of magnet shims coupled to the plurality of permanent magnets opposite the rotor disk. Each magnet shim of the plurality of magnet shims has a substantially complementary shape as a respective permanent magnet of the plurality of permanent magnets. The electric machine further comprises a stator core comprising a plurality of stator teeth that define a plurality of slots therebetween. At least one of the plurality of magnet shims is configured to direct magnetic flux from at least one of the plurality of permanent magnets to at least one stator tooth of the plurality of stator teeth.

Abstract: In one aspect, an electric machine is provided. The electric machine includes a housing including at least one air intake, an air outlet, and an air passage extending between the at least one air intake and the air outlet. The electric machine also includes a first heat sink positioned at least partially within the air passage, and a second heat sink positioned at least partially within the air passage downstream of the first heat sink.

Abstract: A minimal invasive neurosurgery assembly including a flush assembly having flush assembly main part with a central passage extending through the main part from the distal end to the proximal end along a longitudinal axis, and having at least one tool insertion assembly. The tool insertion assembly may include a tool handling part that is detachably connectable to the flush assembly main part and that has at least one tool insertion channel that extends from the distal end to the proximal end of the tool handling part. The tool insertion assembly may also include an inner sheath that is connected to the tool handling part and has an inner sheath wall and at least one lumen extending parallel to the longitudinal axis and in which an associated one of the at least one tool insertion channel emanates. The inner sheath may be insertable through the central passage of the flush assembly main part.