Abstract: A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may include a controller that analyzes data from HVAC systems, determines a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by an HVAC system, and provides an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system. The controller may output a result of the energy audit to a user.

Abstract: A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may include a controller that analyzes data from HVAC systems, determines a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by an HVAC system, and provides an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system. The controller may output a result of the energy audit to a user.

Abstract: A system that allows a contractor to remotely monitor and/or interact with its customers' building control systems, such as heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and analyze information obtained from the building control systems over time. Such a system may help the contractor monitor and diagnosis customer building control systems, setup service calls, achieve better customer relations, create more effective marketing opportunities, as well as other functions. In some cases, the disclosed system may include a controller that analyzes data from HVAC systems, determines a thermal model of a space environmentally controlled by an HVAC system, and provides an energy audit of the space that is environmentally controlled by the HVAC system. The controller may output a result of the energy audit to a user.

Abstract: A mobile turf sprayer operates to spray a product onto a turf site. In some embodiments the mobile turf sprayer identifies a plurality of regions of the turf site to be sprayed and automatically sprays product onto those regions as the mobile turf sprayer moves about the turf site.

Abstract: A mobile turf sprayer operates to spray a product onto a turf site. In some embodiments the mobile turf sprayer identifies a plurality of regions of the turf site to be sprayed and automatically sprays product onto those regions as the mobile turf sprayer moves about the turf site.

Abstract: A mobile turf sprayer operates to spray a product onto a turf site. In some embodiments the mobile turf sprayer identifies a plurality of regions of the turf site to be sprayed and automatically sprays product onto those regions as the mobile turf sprayer moves about the turf site.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a satellite communications system between satellites and terminal units that are sufficiently small to be handheld units and that operate within the earth power flux density limit. This is accomplished by using spreading spectrum waveform protocols that make efficient use of the allocated bandwidth. In one embodiment, a satellite communications system comprises at least one satellite, and at least one ground station each corresponding to one of the at least one satellite. Each ground station includes a spread spectrum transmitter and a spread spectrum receiver. Each of a plurality of mobile terminals includes a spread spectrum transmitter and a spread spectrum receiver.

Abstract: A venting plug for a wet, lead-acid storage battery, a battery containing the same, a method of molding the venting plug body, and a mold for molding the venting plug body are disclosed. The sealing surfaces of the venting plug do not include a mold parting line along which acid from inside of the battery could seep between the seal and sealing surfaces. The venting plug body, however, includes a coupling structure that includes a mold parting line. The sealing surfaces of the venting plug body are molded by a single plate such that no mold parting line results along the sealing surfaces, while the coupling structure is molded by plurality of mold components such that a mold parting line results in the vicinity of the coupling structure.

Abstract: A battery including a rope handle which engages a handle bracket on a conventional battery container. The rope handle includes a grip and a rope, the proximal end of the rope being molded into, or otherwise secured to, the grip and a cylindrical plug molded on the distal end of the rope. The grip includes a retaining recess comprising a counterbore presenting a bearing surface, and lateral slot between the upper and lower surfaces of the grip and extending radially from the counterbore to present a substantially keyhole-shaped opening. In assembly, the distal end of the rope is advanced laterally through the slot portion of the keyhole-shaped opening until the counterbore is positioned subjacent the plug. The plug is then moved downward into the counterbore. To hide the rope ends in the preferred embodiment, a cover can be snapped in place over the top of the grip.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery, which achieves a low profile while allowing grids of relative maximum height to be used, comprises a container having the terminal cells located adjacent the front of the battery so as to allow ready access to the battery when located in racks or the like in service, and a cover, preferably a two-piece cover, containing the terminals, interior surfaces of the cover and top surfaces of the container being sloped upwardly in a rearward direction from the front of the battery, thereby allowing the use of relatively tall grids.

Abstract: A lead-acid battery, which achieves a low profile while allowing grids of relative maximum height to be used, comprises a container having the terminal cells located adjacent the front of the battery so as to allow ready access to the battery when located in racks or the like in service, and a cover, preferably a two-piece cover, containing the terminals, interior surfaces of the cover and top surfaces of the container being sloped upwardly in a rearward direction from the front of the battery, thereby allowing the use of relatively tall grids.

Abstract: A battery including a rope handle which engages a handle bracket on a conventional battery container. The rope handle includes a grip and a rope, the proximal end of the rope being molded into, or otherwise secured to, the grip and a cylindrical plug molded on the distal end of the rope. The grip includes a retaining recess comprising a counterbore presenting a bearing surface, and lateral slot between the upper and lower surfaces of the grip and extending radially from the counterbore to present a substantially keyhole-shaped opening. In assembly, the distal end of the rope is advanced laterally through the slot portion of the keyhole-shaped opening until the counterbore is positioned subjacent the plug. The plug is then moved downward into the counterbore. To hide the rope ends in the preferred embodiment, a cover can be snapped in place over the top of the grip.

Abstract: A method of making lead-acid batteries uses a container standardized for a twelve-volt battery and dual flag straps in the inner cells so that batteries with voltages of two, four, six, or twelve can be preselected as desired, the more preferred embodiments having one terminal cell with either two terminal bases or dual flags so as to minimize the assembly equipment required.

Abstract: An electric storage battery, preferably a lead-acid battery, such as used for starting, lighting and ignition of an automobile or the like, includes a handle attached to the cover of the battery through a pin-and-button structure which is attached to the battery by insertion into an insertion aperture and is then moved into an assembly position where the handle can be rotated from a rest position adjacent the side of the cover to an upright, service position for carrying the battery.

Abstract: A latching device capable of being remotely released and a method of remotely releasing a locking tab from a locking body. The latching device includes a locking tab comprising a shaft with an engaging recess and a head with a buckle; a locking body comprising a slide with a channel for the shaft of the locking body, a ramp and shoulder for securing the locking tab, a leg with a trigger surface, an ejector pin and ejection spring for ejecting the locking tab from the locking body and a slide biasing spring; a trigger comprising a knob, shank and foot; and an extension for attaching the latching device to a brace holding fire fighting equipment.

Abstract: A method and tracking system for optimizing the tracking of a metal strip traveling over a plurality of crowned rolls in a continuous heating system designed to track a design strip having a design strip temperature profile. The invention attains an actual strip temperature profile in the metal strip that approximately coincides with the design strip temperature profile. This is accomplished by inputting metal strip variables and heating system variables into a control system and directing the control system to access a thermal model and a design strip temperature profile model. The control system then directs the operation of the heating system based on the metal strip variables, the heating system variables, the thermal model and the design strip temperature profile model such that the metal strip is heated to have an actual strip temperature profile that approximately coincides with the design strip temperature profile.

Abstract: A heating system and method for heating a metal strip to within a predetermined temperature tolerance range while the metal strip serially travels through a heating system. The heating system has at least one preceding heating section, at least one induction heating section, and at least one following heating sections, with the heating sections being serially arranged. The metal strip is heated to below the Curie point of the metal strip in the preceding heating section. Next, the metal strip is heated to, at a maximum, approximately the Curie point in the induction heating section. Then, the metal strip is heated to above the Curie point and to within the predetermined temperature tolerance range in the following heating section.

Abstract: A sailboard footstrap track which provides an adjustable position, securely held footstrap in a sailboard. The footstrap in the track is movable only on the application of downward pressure on the slide member of the device. Normally, the slide member is raised in a locked position to prevent undesired movement of the footstrap.

Abstract: A probe developing an admittance with a material whose condition is to be continuously measured is capacitively coupled with a variable frequency oscillator, preferably one having a digital output stage, for generating a variable frequency signal having a period varying with the admittance developed at the probe. Both the oscillator input and output are capacitively coupled to the probe. In a preferred embodiment, a set point circuit including a plurality of resistors coupled in parallel with the oscillator output and a plurality of switches coupled in parallel with the probe conductor and each with a different one of the resistor, provides easy circuit adjustment for use of the system with a variety of materials. A preferred digital circuit employing a pair of flip flops, fixed timer and one shot generate a fixed period variable duration duty cycle digital voltage level signal for transmission, if desired, or for conversion into a variable current signal.