Abstract: A surgical system uses a single entry port in a wide variety of surgeries. To insert multiple surgical instruments into a patient through a single entry port requires that the shaft of at least one of the surgical instruments be bent between the base of the surgical instrument and the point where the shaft contacts a channel in an entry guide. Each surgical instrument is positioned by an instrument manipulator positioning system so that when the shaft is inserted in a channel of the entry guide, any bending of the shaft does not damage the surgical instrument and does not inhibit proper operation of the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An application is installed on a computing device from an application package. An origin of the application (e.g., a managed installer for an enterprise, a reputation checking service) is propagated to files written to a storage device of the computing device as part of the installation, such as by writing origin information to the storage device as metadata associated with the file. The origin information for a file, in conjunction with a policy on the computing device specifying one or more trusted origins for applications on the computing device, is used to identify whether a particular action can be taken with and/or by the file. These actions can include, for example, execution of an application from an executable file. If the origin information for a file indicates an origin that is a trusted origin specified by the policy, then the action can be performed.

Abstract: A waste treatment process utilizes a two-stage digestion process with a thermophilic digester, a heat exchanger, and a mesophilic digester. The pH of the thermophilic digestate is increased by removal of carbon dioxide with an air stripper, or by adding a pH increasing reagent upstream of the heat exchanger. The pH adjustment of the digestate protects the heat exchanger and downstream equipment and processes from struvite formation. A struvite reactor may be located in various locations downstream of the heat exchanger to produce a treated digestate or effluent that contains struvite, which can optionally be recovered for beneficial use.

Abstract: A waste treatment process utilizes a two-stage digestion process with a thermophilic digester, a heat exchanger, and a mesophilic digester. The pH of the thermophilic digestate is increased by removal of carbon dioxide with an air stripper, or by adding a pH increasing reagent upstream of the heat exchanger. The pH adjustment of the digestate protects the heat exchanger and downstream equipment and processes from struvite formation. A struvite reactor may be located in various locations downstream of the heat exchanger to produce a treated digestate or effluent that contains struvite, which can optionally be recovered for beneficial use.

Abstract: A waste treatment process utilizes a two-stage digestion process with a thermophilic digester, a heat exchanger, and a mesophilic digester. The pH of the thermophilic digestate is increased by removal of carbon dioxide with an air stripper, or by adding a pH increasing reagent upstream of the heat exchanger. The pH adjustment of the digestate protects the heat exchanger and downstream equipment and processes from struvite formation. A struvite reactor may be located in various locations downstream of the heat exchanger to produce a treated digestate or effluent that contains struvite, which can optionally be recovered for beneficial use.

Abstract: A method of processing biological solids includes blending a sludge with calcium oxide and delivering the blended sludge and calcium oxide to a pressurized container; injecting, into the blended sludge and calcium oxide in the pressurized container, an additive capable of exothermic reactions with the calcium oxide; regulating pH in the pressurized container to produce class A biological solids from the sludge; and pumping the blended sludge, calcium oxide, and additive from the pressurized container to a reactor. A system used for this process include sources of calcium oxide and biological solids, an additive injector, and a pressurized reactor.

Abstract: A method of processing biological solids includes blending a sludge with calcium oxide and delivering the blended sludge and calcium oxide to a pressurized container; injecting, into the blended sludge and calcium oxide in the pressurized container, an additive capable of exothermic reactions with the calcium oxide; regulating pH in the pressurized container to produce class A biological solids from the sludge; and pumping the blended sludge, calcium oxide, and additive from the pressurized container to a reactor. A system used for this process include sources of calcium oxide and biological solids, an additive injector, and a pressurized reactor.

Abstract: A method of processing biological solids includes blending a sludge with calcium oxide and delivering the blended sludge and calcium oxide to a pressurized container; injecting, into the blended sludge and calcium oxide in the pressurized container, an additive capable of exothermic reactions with the calcium oxide; regulating pH in the pressurized container to produce class A biological solids from the sludge; and pumping the blended sludge, calcium oxide, and additive from the pressurized container to a reactor. A system used for this process include sources of calcium oxide and biological solids, an additive injector, and a pressurized reactor.

Abstract: A planing machine (or simply “planer”) which may have two planer heads, each head containing the conventional knives and supporting apparatus to perform the actual cutting of material. To improve yield, the board is centered vertically as it progresses longitudinally through the planer. This is accomplished using either or (preferably) both of two systems: (1) a segmented self-centering drive roll system to feed the boards into the machine; and (2) a shoe mechanism which is controlled by a linkage such that the retracting segmented shoe assembly moves away from the planer head as it moves vertically to compensate for varying material thicknesses. The result is a more efficient use of the workpiece because less waste is created.

Abstract: A platform on a platform system has a first platform that provides deployment and configuration settings for applications developed on the platform; and a second platform developed using the deployment and configuration settings provided by the first platform. The second platform provides second deployment and second configuration settings, and the second platform also provides services that allow second applications to interact with the first platform through the second platform services.

Abstract: An ignition interlock assembly (74), including an ignition interlock device (10) and a logic circuit controller (68), ensures that a vehicle equipped with assembly (74) and a start-stop functionality will maintain the normal operation of the vehicle even in the event that a failed rolling retest (50, 52b) occurs when the start-stop functionality is engaged. The controller (68) preferably includes a pair of normally-opened, interconnected relays which remain energized throughout the operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: An ignition interlock assembly (74), including an ignition interlock device (10) and a logic circuit controller (68), ensures that a vehicle equipped with assembly (74) and a start-stop functionality will maintain the normal operation of the vehicle even in the event that a failed rolling retest (50, 52b) occurs when the start-stop functionality is engaged. The controller (68) preferably includes a pair of normally-opened, interconnected relays which remain energized throughout the operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A waste treatment process utilizes a two-stage digestion process with a thermophilic digester, a heat exchanger, and a mesophilic digester. The pH of the thermophilic digestate is increased by removal of carbon dioxide with an air stripper, or by adding a pH increasing reagent upstream of the heat exchanger. The pH adjustment of the digestate protects the heat exchanger and downstream equipment and processes from struvite formation. A struvite reactor may be located in various locations downstream of the heat exchanger to produce a treated digestate or effluent that contains struvite, which can optionally be recovered for beneficial use.

Abstract: A sludge flow monitoring system and method measures volume of sludge pumped by a positive displacement pump through a pipeline by determining a fill percentage during each pumping cycle. The start and end of each piston stroke are identified by hydraulic system sensors. The fill percentage is determined based upon a first summation of periodic piston speed command values from the start of a pumping stroke to the end of a pumping stroke, and a second summation of periodic piston speed command values from a poppet valve opening indicating output flow from the pump to the end of the pumping stroke.

Abstract: A drying system includes a fluidized bed dryer and fluidizing gas loop. The system is a closed loop so that fluidizing gas used to dry particulate matter can be reconditioned and recycled to fluidize and dry additional particulate matter. The fluidizing gas is reconditioned by removing fine particulates and water vapor. The drying system includes oxygen control features to prevent oxygen from entering the system. A method for drying particulate matter includes fluidizing the particulate matter in a dryer with a fluidizing gas, heating the particulate matter to remove water, removing water vapor and fluidizing gas from the dryer, removing fines and water vapor from the fluidizing gas, recirculating the fluidizing gas to the dryer to fluidize additional particulate matter and removing dried particulate matter from the dryer. A modular drying system reduces the amount of construction necessary at the installation site.

Abstract: A sludge flow monitoring system and method measures volume of sludge pumped by a positive displacement pump through a pipeline by determining a fill percentage during each pumping cycle. The start and end of each piston stroke are identified by hydraulic system sensors. The fill percentage is determined based upon a first summation of periodic piston speed command values from the start of a pumping stroke to the end of a pumping stroke, and a second summation of periodic piston speed command values from a poppet valve opening indicating output flow from the pump to the end of the pumping stroke.

Abstract: A platform on a platform system has a first platform that provides deployment and configuration settings for applications developed on the platform; and a second platform developed using the deployment and configuration settings provided by the first platform. The second platform provides second deployment and second configuration settings, and the second platform also provides services that allow second applications to interact with the first platform through the second platform services.

Abstract: A pump system for pumping a viscous material that includes N positive displacement pumps, where N is an integer greater than two, and a hydraulic drive. Each pump has an inlet and an outlet therefrom, and a pair of cylinders each with a piston movable in a reciprocating stroke cycle therein. The hydraulic drive is connected to the N positive displacement pumps to reciprocate the pistons within the cylinders. The stroke cycle includes a discharging stroke and a filling stroke. The discharging stroke and the filling stroke of the N positive displacement pumps are staggered from one another by 1/N stroke positions such that no two pumps have pistons in the same stroke position at the same time.

Abstract: A method for clearing obstructions in a silo having a reciprocating frame uses an obstruction clearance mode. The method includes driving at least one frame in a reciprocal motion across a silo floor until sensing an indication that at least one frame has encountered an obstruction. Upon sensing the indication of obstruction, an obstruction clearance mode is initiated in an attempt to clear the obstruction.

Abstract: A drying system includes a fluidized bed dryer and fluidizing gas loop. The system is a closed loop so that fluidizing gas used to dry particulate matter can be reconditioned and recycled to fluidize and dry additional particulate matter. The fluidizing gas is reconditioned by removing fine particulates and water vapor. The drying system includes oxygen control features to prevent oxygen from entering the system. A method for drying particulate matter includes fluidizing the particulate matter in a dryer with a fluidizing gas, heating the particulate matter to remove water, removing water vapor and fluidizing gas from the dryer, removing fines and water vapor from the fluidizing gas, recirculating the fluidizing gas to the dryer to fluidize additional particulate matter and removing dried particulate matter from the dryer. A modular drying system reduces the amount of construction necessary at the installation site.