Abstract: A chilled water plant includes a communications bus, chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus, and a chiller device connected to the communications bus. The chiller device is configured to detect the chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus during a commissioning process, determine device status modules based at least in part on a type of each of the chilled water plant devices, control an operation of the chilled water plant, and display a user interface containing the device status modules.

Abstract: A chilled water plant includes a communications bus, chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus, and a chiller device connected to the communications bus. The chiller device is configured to detect the chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus during a commissioning process, determine device status modules based at least in part on a type of each of the chilled water plant devices, control an operation of the chilled water plant, and display a user interface containing the device status modules.

Abstract: A method for making an article of syntactic foam includes spreading a layer of a mixture including particulate resin and microballoons across a surface. At least a portion of the mixture is selectively heated so as to cause the portion to assume a desired shape for at least part of the article. The heating is performed Until the resin flows and wets the microballoons to form a solid mass. The method allows a finished part to be fabricated in a single sintering operation with little or no subsequent machining.

Abstract: A bulk absorber has a continuous concentration gradient of particles with dielectric or magnetic altered properties. The bulk absorber may be made from foam or, ceramic. The particles may be carbon fibers, carbon black, carbon whiskers, coated hollow microspheres, or a combination thereof. A manufacturing system for fabricating a bulk absorber has two delivery devices, a controller, an intermingling device, a positioning device, and a forming device. The delivery devices produce flows of absorber precursors, with at least one of the flows having a concentration of particles having dielectric or magnetic altering properties. The ratio of the flows is controlled by the controller. The intermingling device receives and mixes the flows to produce a combined flow. The particle concentration in the combined flow is controlled by the controller. The positioning device directs the depositing of the combined flow into a cavity to build a non-solidified item.

Abstract: An implant device material is provided for replacement or augmentation of living bone tissue involving a thermoplastic syntactic foam material formed from microballoons, a polymer such as polyetherimide which wets and binds the microballons into an array, and interstitial space is present between the microballoons bound into the array to create porosity. A fiber material can be embedded within the array. The thermoplastic syntactic foam material is highly biocompatible and stable with no apparent adverse effects on a recipient. The implant device material also effectively conducts bone into the porous implant via its controlled interstitial porosity. The implant material also can be readily molded or machined into complex structural shapes, density and porosity, such that it can be closely tailored to mimic the natural bone tissue to be replaced.

Abstract: A directional control mechanism for an electric trolling motor utilizes a plurality of foot pedal actuated switches to control a reversible directional control motor. A gear reduction unit connected to the directional control motor has an output shaft which rotates a drive pulley. A second pulley, connected to a rotatable trolling motor mounting shaft, is driven by a belt in engagement with the drive pulley. An electrical slip ring contact on the second pulley transmits current to the electric trolling motor. The trolling motor is also controlled by a switch activated by the foot pedal.