Abstract: A system includes: an acoustic exciter, a compliant material applied to the acoustic exciter to configure the acoustic exciter for triggering acoustic excitation of at least part of a substrate; a sensor configured to receive an acoustic response of the acoustic excitation; and circuitry configured to determine at least one characteristic of the substrate using the acoustic response.

Abstract: An autonomous mobile device may use a pair of main wheels and a caster assembly to provide mobility. The main wheels are driven by motors, providing steering and movement. Each main wheel may include a cover that conceals and protects a hub of the main wheel from the external environment. The covers may be held in place by elastomeric posts, allowing easy changeout. The caster assembly has a minimal overall height and a field replaceable caster wheel. The caster wheel may include a target that is detectable by a non-contact sensor to detect caster wheel rotation. The caster wheel may comprise an axle, caster wheel hub, and a pair of caster wheel endcaps on each end of the axle. A set of features on the caster wheel hub and each of the caster wheel endcaps provide a labyrinthian path that prevents debris from fouling around the axle.

Abstract: An adjustable mobile electrostatic discharge cart that includes at least one extendable support connected to at least one level. One each level, a conductive plate is located on each level and covered by a conductive mat. The plate of each level is connected to a electrostatic ground connected in parallel, so that the connection to the electrostatic ground is continuous as the cart moves and the support extends. At least one caster for mobility is in contact with the floor and conductively connected to the electrostatic ground.

Abstract: A device for grounding electrical components arranged in a chain has a grounding point at ground potential and an actuation device connected to the grounding point for connecting the electrical components to the grounding point. In order to provide such a device, with which a simple, safe, and durable grounding is obtained, the actuation device is constructed as a moving part extending in a longitudinal direction and movable in a longitudinal direction. The moving part has an electrically conducting grounding section connected to the grounding point and an electrically nonconducting insulating section arranged on the end of the moving part facing away from the grounding point.

Abstract: A grounding assembly for electronic equipment provides a discharge path for the energy arising from lightning strikes. A conductive strap connects the ground lug of the equipment to a ground plate buried in the earth. The conductive strap has a length, width and thickness, with the width being greater than the thickness. This reduces the inductance of the conductor from the controller to the ground plate, thereby enhancing the ability of the grounding assembly to dissipate energy from lightning strikes.

Abstract: A device and method is provided for use in connection with electrically grounding an automated guided vehicle. A grounding strap is suspended from the automated vehicle for contacting an electrical conductive ground device mounted to a floor along a travel path of the automated guided vehicle. In operation, the grounding strap contacts the electrically conductive ground device to electrically ground electronics used in connection with the guided vehicle.

Abstract: An assembly, such as a sensor assembly, includes an optional housing having an inner surface and an outer surface where the housing includes housing connecting features. The assembly further includes a module assembly with at least one resilient member, and an elongate member coupled with the at least one resilient member. The module assembly and the elongate member are disposed within the housing where the elongate member is coupled with the housing with the housing connecting features.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for mobile lightning protection. In one embodiment of the present invention, a lightning interception rod is positioned above a vehicle. In one embodiment, the rod connects to four down-conductors to conduct the current supplied by the lightning towards the ground. In one embodiment, the four down-conductors are positioned in a rectangular configuration. In one embodiment, down-conductors are covered by a insulating material. In one embodiment, the insulating material is a 3 mm thick layer of polymer. In one embodiment, one or more chains are attached to the vehicle and allowed to contact the ground. In one embodiment, two chains are attached to the vehicle. One chain is positioned at the front of the vehicle and another chain is positioned at the back of the vehicle.

Abstract: A wheeled conveyance, such as a shopping cart, a luggage cart, a utility cart, a wheel chair, a gurney, or a tricycle has a metal chassis and wheels, which support the metal chassis above a supporting surface, such as a floor surface, and which may isolate the metal chassis electrically from the supporting surface. The metal chassis is grounded to the supporting surface by an elongate, flexible member, which is made from a non-metallic, static-dissipative material, such as a polyvinyl chloride, and which is arranged to drag along the supporting surface when the wheeled conveyance is moved along the supporting surface. Each wheel has an axle, on which such wheel is rotatable, and the elongate member can be mechanically and electrically connected to the axle of one of the wheels.

Abstract: A transportation apparatus for transporting components (240) sensitive to electrostatic discharge includes an electically conductive cart (220), an electrically conductive pad (231) coupled to the electrically conductive floor to ground the cart, an electrically conductive cable (232) coupled to the cart, and a fastening device (233) coupling the pad to the cable. The cart transports the components across an electrically conductive floor (200) from one location to another while the cart remains grounded by the electrically conductive pad.

Abstract: An electric transformer comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil each constituted by at least a first coil formed by winding one or more metal-matrix superconductive conductors. The first coil of the primary coil or of the secondary coil is connected in series with at least one second coil formed by a solid superconductive tube machined to form a solenoid, the second coil being disposed coaxially with the first coil. This design contributes to protecting the transformer by means of its current-limiting effect.

Abstract: A device for connecting an external electrical power cord to an engine block heater in an automotive vehicle. The device is permanently mounted in the vehicle grille and includes a flanged electrical inlet whose terminals are hard-wired to the heater, and a housing which is pivotable upwardly to allow the female plug of the power cord to be connected to the inlet prongs. The original grille escutcheon is attached to the pivotable housing.

Abstract: A conductive caster for grounding a conductive wheeled chair having a seat and back with conductive elements which are electrically connected to a source of ground potential through the chair, the conductive caster including a caster body, caster wheels which movably support the caster body on a floor surface, an attaching stud for attaching the caster to the chair, and a flexible conductor attached to the caster body, the flexible conductor including a contact head which electrically contacts the flexible conductor to the floor surface, a spring which pushes the contact head into electrical contact with the floor surface, a ball chain attached to the caster body which prevents the contact head from extending away from the caster body more than a predetermined distance, and a connecting means for electrically connecting the flexible conductor to the chair.

Abstract: A roller intended in particular for office furniture comprises a supporting body (1) made from a plastic material, an axle (2) mounted in the supporting body, at least one wheel (2) seated on the axle, a metallic pin (5) seated rotatably in the metallic body and arranged in offset position relative to the axle (2), in a plane extending perpendicularly to the axle, and a wiper contact conductively connected with the pin (5) and provided with a resilient portion projecting beyond the plane (20) extending perpendicularly to the pin (5) and being tangent to the at least one wheel (3). The resilient portion of the wiper contact is formed by a helical spring (12) standing substantially perpendicular to the tangential plane (20) and carrying on its free end a contact body (15) projecting beyond the tangential plane (20).

Abstract: A caster with a constant electrically conductive path defined from the pintle to the surface on which the caster wheels are supported to prevent the build up of static charges which may generate sparks and uncontrolled voltage surges that may damage electronic components or cause combustion in volatile environments.

Abstract: A safety grounding device for vehicles having a conductive resilient strip adjustably suspended from the vehicle frame through a fixture attached to the base end portion thereof, to make a resilient contact with the ground at its lower end. A reflecting member is attached to a lower part of the conductive resilient strip to act as a traffic sign for the drivers of succeeding cars. The reflecting member is secured in such a manner as to be swung by the dynamic pressure of air during running of the vehicle but suspended vertically during deceleration or stopping due to reduced dynamic pressure of air, to inform the driver of the succeeding vehicle of the deceleration or stopping of the preceding vehicle. The reflecting member also functions as a weight for pulling the strip downwardly to eliminate the lateral swinging of the strip, thereby to enhance the chance of contact of the strip with the ground to release the electricity from the vehicle frame to the ground.

Abstract: A device for suspending a raft from a transport such as a helicopter so that the raft can be lowered and raised into and out of the water without subjecting persons attending or occupying the raft to an electric shock from a static charge that may be carried by the transport. The device comprises a metal plate attachable to the transport having straps provided with snap fasteners releasably attachable to the raft. A ground wire connected to the plate is sufficiently longer than the straps so as to contact the water and ground the transport before the straps contact the raft.