Abstract: A method is used to configure an extended analog computer for use as an application controller. The method includes selecting input pins from among a plurality of pins in a continuous sheet processor, selecting an arrangement of intermediate and output pins from among the remaining pins in the plurality of pins in the continuous sheet processor, applying a pattern data set to the input pins, using an evolutionary algorithm, coupling current sources and sinks to the intermediate and output pins, measuring an error between an output and its expected value, and continuing to select intermediate and output pin arrangements, apply pattern data sets, and measure errors until a configuration threshold is met.

Abstract: A system is for an aircraft including a plurality of rows of seats. The system includes a plurality of monitors, a plurality of arc fault circuit interrupters each of which includes three poles having a line terminal and a load terminal. Each of a plurality of electronic enclosures is capable of being energized from a corresponding one of the load terminals of a corresponding one of the poles of a corresponding one of the AFCIs. A panel holds the AFCIs. A single-phase power source powers the line terminals of the poles of the AFCIs. Each of the poles corresponds to one row of the aircraft. Each of the electronic enclosures corresponds to one of a plurality of zones. Three of the rows are disposed in each of the zones. One of the AFCIs is associated with a corresponding one of the zones.

Abstract: An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing and a conductive member coupled thereto. The conductive member has a first conductive portion structured to be electrically and mechanically coupled to a conductive panel and a plurality of second conductive portions with a plurality of openings therethrough. An electronic circuit cooperates with an operating mechanism to trip open separable contacts. The circuit includes printed circuit boards having a plurality of conductive pads defining a ground. Each conductive pad has an opening therethrough. Each of a plurality of threaded conductive fasteners includes a conductive end portion, a conductive shaft disposed from the conductive end portion, and a plurality of conductive threads disposed on the conductive shaft. A number of the conductive threads electrically and mechanically engage a corresponding second conductive portion at a corresponding one of the openings. The conductive end portion electrically engages a corresponding one of the conductive pads.

Abstract: A nitrous oxide or fuel control valve (26) having flow control of nitrous oxide, fuel or other media from a fluid-delivery aperture (7) into a injection nozzle (22) of an intake manifold of an engine by actuation of an actuation piston (14) that is actuated with gas pressure. It can be structured for low-weight, short-term needs for racing and other sports uses or for heavier long-term needs of engines.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus, such as an aircraft circuit breaker or an aerospace circuit breaker, is for a corresponding aircraft or aerospace panel including a first aperture and a second aperture. The circuit breaker includes a status, such as a health status or trip status, a housing adapted to be coupled to the panel, separable contacts and an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes an operating handle adapted to pass through the first panel aperture and a light indicator adapted to be disposed through the second panel aperture to indicate the status of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: An arc fault circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts, and an arc fault trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The arc fault trip mechanism includes an arc fault test circuit adapted to simulate an arc fault trip condition to trip open the separable contacts. A proximity sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, is adapted to sense a magnetic target to actuate the arc fault test circuit.

Abstract: An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing having an opening, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to trip open the operating mechanism. The trip mechanism includes a first bimetal to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to a thermal fault, a second ambient compensation bimetal to compensate the first bimetal, and an arc fault trip circuit to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to an arc fault. An indicator includes an indicator portion and a leg disposed from the indicator portion. A spring biases the indicator portion. The second bimetal holds the leg of the indicator, thereby holding the indicator against the spring bias. The second bimetal releases the leg of the indicator responsive to the arc fault trip circuit and the arc fault, thereby releasing the indicator to the spring bias.

Abstract: An arc fault circuit breaker includes a panel having a first side and an opposite second side, a housing coupled to the opposite second side of the panel, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a test circuit structured to simulate a trip condition to trip open the separable contacts, and a proximity sensor disposed on or within the housing proximate the opposite second side of the panel. The proximity sensor is structured to sense a target to actuate the test circuit when the target is disposed proximate the first side of the panel and opposite the proximity sensor.

Abstract: An isotope production target rod for a power generating nuclear reactor is provided. The isotope production target rod can include at least one rod central body including an outer shell that defines an internal cavity and a plurality of irradiation targets within the internal cavity. The irradiation targets can be positioned in a spatial arrangement utilizing a low nuclear cross-section separating medium to maintain the spatial arrangement.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to the placement of one or more isotope production rods in a fuel bundle. The placement may be based on any one of, or a combination of, numerous factors such as relative location of core-monitoring equipment, the type of radioactive isotope being produced, the half-life or length of decay of the radioactive isotope, the neutron absorption rate of the target isotope to produce the radioactive isotope, the desired specific activity of the radioactive isotope being produced, the amount of neutron flux in different areas of the fuel bundle, the duration that the target isotope/radioactive isotope is expected to remain in the reactor until removed (i.e., harvested), etc.

Abstract: A system for managing media files having different format characteristics includes a transcoder, a content store, and a plurality of clients. The content store is capable of storing a media file in a first format. The clients are each associated with one or more media file formats and capable of playing media files to users. The transcoder is capable of receiving a request identifying a media file from a first client and, in response to receiving the request, retrieving the media file from the content store in a first format. The transcoder is also operable of modifying the media file from the first format to a second format associated with the first client and, while modifying the media file from the first format to the second format, transmitting a modified portion of the media file to the first client.

Abstract: A mixing system comprising a bowl, mixing element and motor. A mixing element is located within the bowl and is driven by a motor to impart mechanical energy to the foodstuff being mixed upon contact. A method for predicting instantaneous loading on the mixing system motor. A method for increasing the power to the motor comprises introducing additional current in advance of instantaneous loading. A method for identifying the foodstuff being mixed to control operation of the mixer either by allowing user interaction or increasing the current to the motor in advance of instantaneous loading and demands on the motor.

Abstract: A mixing system comprising a bowl, mixing element and motor. A mixing element is located within the bowl and is driven by a motor to impart mechanical energy to the foodstuff being mixed upon contact. A method for increasing the power to the motor comprises introducing additional current in advance of instantaneous loading.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism including a latch. The operating mechanism opens the contacts responsive to actuation of the latch. A trip mechanism cooperates with the latch to trip open the contacts. The trip mechanism includes a thermal overload mechanism actuating the latch responsive to a thermal fault caused by current flowing through the contacts, a solenoid cooperating with the thermal overload mechanism to actuate the latch responsive to the electromagnetic device being energized, and a processor repetitively determining a value of the current flowing through the contacts, determining if the value exceeds a predetermined value for a number of occurrences, and responsively energizing the solenoid, in order to actuate the latch contemporaneous with actuation of the latch by the thermal overload mechanism, in order to decrease the time to trip open the contacts.

Abstract: An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing having an opening, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to trip open the operating mechanism. The trip mechanism includes a first bimetal to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to a thermal fault, a second ambient compensation bimetal to compensate the first bimetal, and an arc fault trip circuit to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to an arc fault. An indicator includes an indicator portion and a leg disposed from the indicator portion. A spring biases the indicator portion. The second bimetal holds the leg of the indicator, thereby holding the indicator against the spring bias. The second bimetal releases the leg of the indicator responsive to the arc fault trip circuit and the arc fault, thereby releasing the indicator to the spring bias.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism including a latch. The operating mechanism opens the contacts responsive to actuation of the latch. A trip mechanism cooperates with the latch to trip open the contacts. The trip mechanism includes a thermal overload mechanism actuating the latch responsive to a thermal fault caused by current flowing through the contacts, a solenoid cooperating with the thermal overload mechanism to actuate the latch responsive to the electromagnetic device being energized, and a processor repetitively determining a value of the current flowing through the contacts, determining if the value exceeds a predetermined value for a number of occurrences, and responsively energizing the solenoid, in order to actuate the latch contemporaneous with actuation of the latch by the thermal overload mechanism, in order to decrease the time to trip open the contacts.

Abstract: An apparatus for transitioning data contained on multiple memory storage devices, such as optical disks and memory cards, efficiently onto a data network by utilizing data bridges between the memory devices and the target network.

Abstract: A snow deflector apparatus that easily attaches to a snowplow, a kit that includes two snow deflector apparatus and a control system, and to a snowplow system that includes two snow deflector apparatus and a control system. The snow deflector apparatus includes a deflector plate, a deflector plate rotator mechanism and at least one spring. The deflector plate is dimensioned to obstruct at least a substantial portion of the end of the blade of the snowplow such that an amount of snow that is sloughed off of the blade is minimized when the deflector plate is in a deployed position.

Abstract: A system for communicating telecommunication information includes a memory, a telecommunication interface module, and packetization modules. The memory stores subscriber profiles associating each of several subscribers with a data communication protocol. The telecommunication interface module receives telecommunication information for a subscriber from a telecommunication network, and the packetization modules generate data packets communicating the telecommunication information according to a data communication protocol associated with the subscriber.

Abstract: A system is for an aircraft including a plurality of rows of seats. The system includes a plurality of monitors, a plurality of arc fault circuit interrupters each of which includes three poles having a line terminal and a load terminal. Each of a plurality of electronic enclosures is capable of being energized from a corresponding one of the load terminals of a corresponding one of the poles of a corresponding one of the AFCIs. A panel holds the AFCIs. A single-phase power source powers the line terminals of the poles of the AFCIs. Each of the poles corresponds to one row of the aircraft. Each of the electronic enclosures corresponds to one of a plurality of zones. Three of the rows are disposed in each of the zones. One of the AFCIs is associated with a corresponding one of the zones.