Abstract: A patient support including a traction device for powered movement of the patient support. The traction device includes a storage position and a use position.

Abstract: A method of controlling a distillation column having control valves to control both reflux and the vapor rate within the column. In accordance with the present invention, a temperature sensed in a top section of the column is magnified and utilized within the model predictive controller so that control is more aggressive as temperatures increase beyond a threshold temperature. Additionally, in the distillation column, or in fact in any other system in which two or more manipulated variables control two or more common controlled variables, special modeling techniques are utilized to make controller tuning easier to accomplish. In such modeling techniques, each manipulated variable is assumed to be able to have an effect on a controlled variable by a single step response model and other step response models are utilized so that the other manipulated variable(s) that also would have an effect on the same controlled variable are taken into account by the controller as feed forward variables.

Abstract: An awning assembly is provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining the awning assembly in a desired position relative to a wall, or other suitable structure. The awning assembly includes support arms, a fabric roller tube that holds the awning fabric and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism can include a pivot bracket located between the roller tube and the support arm, a disk gear provided on the end of the roller tube axle, a weather shield provided around at least a portion of the roller tube, a pivot rod selectably engageable with both the pivot bracket and the weather shield, a disk gear catch mounted on the weather shield and adapted to be selectably engaged with the disk gear, and a torsion spring mounted on the weather shield and adapted to bias the disk gear catch into engagement with the disk gear.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a propulsion system is provided to assist a caregiver in moving a patient support about a care facility. The propulsion system is detachably coupled to patient support to permit storage of the propulsion system or use of propulsion system on multiple patient supports.

Abstract: A media lift that is configured for mounting in a storage chamber is provided. The media lift is comprised of a flat panel screen holder; the media lift being configured to move the flat panel screen holder between a stored position in the storage chamber and a viewing position outside the storage chamber. The media lift utilizes gas cylinders to elevate and lower the flat panel screen holder. The media lift can be formed in structures such as a footboard of a bed or a quilt rack. In addition, a bed having a footboard frame comprising the media lift is described. Speakers are mounted within the bed's structure to provide a surround sound system. The headboard of the bed has storage compartments for multimedia equipment. Furthermore, a desk unit comprising the media lift is described.

Abstract: A patient support including a propulsion device for moving the patient support. The patient support includes a propulsion system having a propulsion device operably coupled to an input system.

Abstract: An awning assembly is provided with a lock mechanism for maintaining the awning assembly in a desired position relative to a wall, or other suitable structure. The awning assembly includes support arms, a fabric roller tube that holds the awning fabric and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism can include a pivot bracket located between the roller tube and the support arm, a disk gear provided on the end of the roller tube axle, a weather shield provided around at least a portion of the roller tube, a pivot rod selectably engageable with both the pivot bracket and the weather shield, a disk gear catch mounted on the weather shield and adapted to be selectably engaged with the disk gear, and a torsion spring mounted on the weather shield and adapted to bias the disk gear catch into engagement with the disk gear.

Abstract: A deck support member for locking engagement with an umbrella pole utilized in combination with a table so as to firmly secure the lower end of the umbrella pole, the support member having a cylindrical cross section slightly less than the inner diameter of the umbrella pole, the support member being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end with an annular deck engaging flange, the upper end having an aperture therethrough for receipt of a deck engaging securing means, there being disposed within the cylindrical support member, a biasing means having an aperture coincidental with the aperture in the closed end of the cylindrical support member, there being disposed on the biasing means, a locking finger cooperable with an aperture formed in the side wall of the cylindrical support means, the locking finger movable to a recessed position within the cylindrical support member by foot pressure or by pressure from the slidable receipt of the umbrella pole over the cylindrical support member, the locking

Abstract: A patient support including a propulsion device for moving the patient support. The patient support includes a propulsion system having a propulsion device operably coupled to an input system.

Abstract: A bed including a mechanism for raising and lowering the height of a mattress. The mechanism raises and lowers the mattress with respect to a support tube.

Abstract: A deck support member for locking engagement with an umbrella pole utilized in combination with a table so as to firmly secure the lower end of the umbrella pole, the support member having a cylindrical cross section slightly less than the inner diameter of the umbrella pole, the support member being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end with an annular deck engaging flange, the upper end having an aperture therethrough for receipt of a deck engaging securing means, there being disposed within the cylindrical support member, a biasing means having an aperture coincidental with the aperture in the closed end of the cylindrical support member, there being disposed on the biasing means, a locking finger cooperable with an aperture formed in the side wall of the cylindrical support means, the locking finger movable to a recessed position within the cylindrical support member by foot pressure or by pressure from the slidable receipt of the umbrella pole over the cylindrical support member, the locking

Abstract: A system management tool (10) includes an input system (12). An electronic library (14) is connected to the input system (12) and includes a process diagram (16) for modeling a system. An evaluation system (18) is connected to the electronic library (14). A corrective action system (20) is connected to the evaluation system (18). An assessment and analysis system (22) is connected to the corrective action system (20). The assessment and analysis system (22) measures and documents a corrective action.

Abstract: A traveler comprises a track with two lateral side grooves and a top surface, and a car slideably held on the track. The car has first and second lateral side portions, with bearing means in each portion for engaging respective of the track side grooves. The car further has thrust bearings removably held in a race in a car center portion for engaging the track top surface when the car may be tilted towards one or the other lateral sides, as may occur when the car is under a load from that lateral side.

Abstract: Methods for determining optical properties of an optical waveguide fiber using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) are provided. The methods involve the removal of noise from an OTDR trace (signal) by fitting the noise component of the signal and then subtracting the fitted noise from the original signal to produce a noise-reduced signal. Optical properties are more readily determined from the noise-reduced signal than from the original signal. In particular, the noise-reduced signal can be used to determine axial optical properties of long fibers, e.g., fibers having a length of 50 kilometers or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring spectral attenuation of an optical waveguide fiber using an OTDR. The spectral attenuation curve is generated by analyzing OTDR data taken at three or four wavelengths. There is particular interest in the wavelength range of 1200 nm to 1600 nm, which includes the operating windows about the wavelengths 1310 nm and 1550 nm. A particularly accurate spectral attenuation curve is obtained using OTDR measurements at 1310 nm, 1410 nm, and 1550 nm.

Abstract: Methods for determining optical properties of an optical waveguide fiber using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) are provided. The methods involve the removal of noise from an OTDR trace (signal) by fitting the noise component of the signal and then subtracting the fitted noise from the original signal to produce a noise-reduced signal. Optical properties are more readily determined from the noise-reduced signal than from the original signal. In particular, the noise-reduced signal can be used to determine axial optical properties of long fibers, e.g., fibers having a length of 50 kilometers or more.

Abstract: A method of testing a length section of optical fiber in order to determine whether the angle between an end face of the length section and a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the length section of optical fiber is within a predetermined range, comprises positioning the length section of optical fiber so that its longitudinal axis substantially coincides with the optical axis of a camera, selecting at least two test regions on the end face of the fiber, adjusting the position of at least one of a camera, a lens and the length section of optical fiber to focus each of the test regions on the sensing surface of the camera, and comparing the adjustments performed in the preceding step for the two test regions respectively.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a new cold working metal process is disclosed for the formation of metal pipe union components, which includes blanks for so called gas meter swivels, which are actually pipe unions components with a slight adaptation. Both male and female components are made by the process. The process cold works a metal elongated hollow open ended blank to deform an unsupported circumferential portion of the blank wall into a predetermined shape. The steps of the process comprise supporting portions of the blank wall exterior and interior in a manner to define a shaping section of the predetermined shape in the area of the unsupported wall portion; applying a compressive load on the blank ends of sufficient force to exceed the compressive yield strength of the metal blank thereby deforming the unsupported wall portions to cause the deforming metal to flow into the shaping section to provide the predetermined shape.