Abstract: Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air (LTA) free floating platforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flight termination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing, and recovery of these devices are provided. The new systems and methods relate to rise rate control, geo-location from a LTA platform including landed payload and ground-based vehicle locations, and steerable recovery systems.

Abstract: Device and method are described for operational control of a knob on a stove or range. In some examples, a safety device, a sensor relay device, and method are described for automatically positioning an operational shaft of a burner to an Off position such that the power supplied to the burner is terminated upon the occurrence of a safety event.

Abstract: Innovative new methods in connection with lighter-than-air (LTA) free floating platforms, of facilitating legal transmitter operation, platform flight termination when appropriate, environmentally acceptable landing, and recovery of these devices are provided. The new systems and methods relate to rise rate control, geo-location from a LTA platform including landed payload and ground-based vehicle locations, and steerable recovery systems.

Abstract: Described herein is a shaft assembly for a rotary switch that includes a shaft made from an electrically non-conductive material. The shaft includes at least one circumferential groove that has a generally T-shaped cross-section. The shaft assembly also includes at least one conductive ring segment made from an electrically conductive material positioned within the circumferential groove. The conductive ring segment has a generally T-shaped cross-section. Additionally, the shaft assembly includes a bonding adhesive that is positioned between the circumferential groove and the conductive ring segment.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotationally adjusting a cam, that includes an adjustment pinion having a number of missing teeth that couple to an integral gear formed on a rotatable cam. The adjustment pinion is used to manually adjust the angular position of the rotatable cam relative to the rotatable cam's axis of rotation. When the missing teeth of the adjustment pinion disengage from the gear integral to the cam, rotation of the adjustment pinion ceases. The adjustment apparatus may be readily incorporated into a programmer/timer.