Other

Humphrey Engineering, Inc.

United Technologies Corporation

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary of Agriculture

John M Humphrey

George H F Schnakenberg, Iii

Elie Rothschild

Dean Wieser

Gary Shigeru Natsume

Caleb Fung

A solar panel mounting system has a plurality of mounting bases which have upper and lower mounting surfaces. In the minimum configuration, four mounting bases are used. A solar panel module is connected to the top portion of two bases and to the bottom portion so that the solar panel module is mounted at a selected angle. Each of the bases has attachment points which hold insert nuts and allows mounting brackets to be secured along the mounting surfaces. The mounting brackets allow the solar panel modules to be clamped utilizing their frames without additional hardware and to be attached from the top without access to the bottom of the panels. The brackets can be industry standard or specific to the system. The bases stack and nest for easy transport. The mounting bases may be secured to a selected surface using ballasts, mechanical attachments or a combination thereof.

Solar panel mounting system

A modular solar racking system comprises a plurality of modular solar rack supports that interconnect to provide a portable, non-invasive solar electrical generation system. One embodiment comprises a plastic modular solar rack support having a base portion, a ballast holding portion, a strut and a wedge portion. Supports are interconnected by fitting within grooves in the strut. Uni-strut frames are attached to the supports and solar panels are mounted thereon. In another embodiment, the supports comprise a base portion, a ballast holding portion, a forward lifting portion, a rearward lifting portion and a strut. Again, supports are interconnected by fitting within grooves disposed in the strut. The supports are stackable and are installed on-site using a torque wrench. Ballast may be used to hold the supports down. In one embodiment, a membrane is applied to the bottom surface which is used to adhere the support to a surface.

Modular solar racking system

Snake trap primarily designed to capture relatively long and heavy snakes such as the Burmese Python. The trap is specifically configured to avoid inadvertently capturing non-targeted animals by using at least two weight/pressure-sensing plates. Each pressure plate has an independent release mechanism so that both pressure plates must be in a depressed position to spring the trap.

Trapping method and apparatus

A method for ballistic target defense including identifying a launched ballistic target having a target launch point, a target launch direction, a target speed, and a target trajectory; launching a target interceptor in a launch direction that is generally the same as the target launch direction and with a speed that is less than the target speed; providing the interceptor with an approximate target intercept trajectory; and accelerating the interceptor at an approximate point of intercept to substantially match the target trajectory. During a relatively long target engagement time, the interceptor has approximately a zero net relative velocity with respect to the target. The interceptor will have a speed change capability sufficient to maneuver the interceptor around and/or in a target object cloud, providing the interceptor with the ability to inspect an object of the object cloud, capture an object of the object cloud, nondestructively engage in object of the object cloud, and/or destructively engage in object of the object cloud. Embodiments are also directed to a ballistic target defense system and a ballistic target interceptor.

Ballistic target defense system and methods

The present invention comprises a graphical user interface tool particularly adapted for use with a program that shows multiple files simultaneously, each in a different panel of the display. The tool presents the user with a series of optional actions that can be taken in connection with the file that is displayed within one panel of the display. In accordance with the invention, a user manipulates a cursor to a position in one of the multiple panels on a display screen and issues an instruction to invoke the tool, such as by clicking on the right mouse button. The tool is then made to appear and displays a series of optional operations from which the user may select. The operations are specific to the file in the panel within which the tool was invoked.

Graphical user interface method and apparatus

Presented are electronically controlled optical shutter spectacles for achieving biofeedback between the operation of the optical shutter spectacles when worn and the physiological rate and timing of human visual processing of the wearer of the spectacles to provide further enhanced perception of fast-moving objects or surroundings and to train and condition the human physiology to retain enhanced motion perception capability for an indeterminate time following removal of the spectacles.

Method and apparatus for further enhanced high-speed perception (EHP) of a moving object using an optical shutter spectacle and the method of visual frame rate training

Presented is a method and apparatus for providing human visual physiology with a perceived continuous image of a fast-moving object formed by a series of visual pulses each followed by a period of visual blockage where the frequency of these repetitive pulses/blockages is selectively adjusted to be close to the actual flicker fusion frequency of the observer at the perceived brightness of the visual pulses. The objective of this method is to provide the observer with enhanced visual. perception of fast-moving objects. The method and apparatus presented is intended for use under natural lighting conditions and continuous artificial lighting conditions and is accomplished by spectacles with optical shutter lenses. The lenses are alternately opened to provide the wearer with an unhampered view of the surroundings and then closed to block out the view and as much light transmissibility as possible. The optical shutter lenses operate near the flicker fusion frequency of the wearer to ideally provide only one image in each visual frame of the viewer and in actual, practice to provide as few double image frames as possible.

Method and apparatus for enhanced high-speed perception (EHP) of a

A rail flange securement clamp for adjustably mounting a switch point roller assist apparatus on a railroad rail includes a base plate and a top plate, the top plate generally upwardly spaced from the base plate and an adjustable connection device extending between and connecting the base plate and top plate for increasing and decreasing the distance between the base plate and top plate. A rail flange engagement plate having a base section and a rail flange engagement section is adjustably mounted on the securement clamp above the top plate such that the base section is mounted above the top plate and the rail flange engagement section extends outwardly from the top plate for engagement of a flange of a railroad rail thus securing a switch point roller assist apparatus on the railroad rail.

Rail flange securement clamp

A switch point roller assist apparatus includes an elongated main support structure on which is movably mounted a rail securement clamp for releasably adjustably connecting the main support structure to a railroad rail. An elongated tie bar is adjustably mounted on the main support structure generally perpendicular to the main support structure. A roller support cage is pivotally adjustably mounted on the main support structure, the roller support cage supporting at least one roller rotatably mounted thereon, each roller mounted generally perpendicular to the main support structure. The tie bar is adjustably mounted to the main support structure such that the position of the tie bar is vertically adjustable relative to the main support structure. Finally, the roller support cage is adjustably mounted on the main support structure such that the position of the rollers is vertically adjustable relative to the main support structure.

Switch point roller assist apparatus

A ski control system incorporating carve control amplification to activate by deployment of auxiliary ski control surfaces, such as a probe assembly resiliently mounted on the ski at or near the center of pressure of the ski, and which functions when deployed to impose control forces on the ski in proportion to the degree of carve of the ski.

Ski control system with carve control amplification

A method and apparatus is presented for successively interrupting the transmission of light through a transparent body at a frequency such that a scene viewed through the transparent body by a human eye is perceived as a continuous image that is less bright than actually, and is viewed with minimal color distortion. In one aspect of the invention, the lenses of spectacles are provided with a layer of liquid crystal material that is normally transparent, but which responds to the application of an electrical charge to render the liquid crystal layer non-transparent. By adjusting the frequency of application of successive electrical charges, the lenses admit light at full brightness for small increments of time, with minimal color distortion, and interrupt the transmission of light for small increments of time, so that the light admitted at full brightness is perceived as being less bright or dimmed. In another aspect, the transparent body is 'nodalized' so that small increments of the body are independently responsive to successive electrical charges, whereby the brightness of light passing through such 'nodes' is perceived as being less bright or dimmed.

Method and apparatus for controlling perceived brightness using a time

Presented is a universal integral ski control system including a base member on which is mounted a drag control probe assembly including probes that are selectively displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the control probes extend past the running surface of the ski so as to project into the snow on opposite sides of the ski when the skis are in use. The probe assembly is manipulable by the skier for selectively effecting displacement of the drag control probes into either a retracted position or extended position. The base is universally applicable in that it may be integrally incorporated into a ski boot and thus be available for use when the ski boots are donned and the skier steps into the ski bindings, or it may be incorporated integrally into the toe piece assembly of the bindings, or under the toe piece, or incorporated integrally into the ski itself.

Universal integral ski control system

Presented is a method and apparatus that permits a skier to control the speed at which he descends a ski slope. In terms of structure, the invention includes a pair of probes mounted on each ski that protrude below the running surface of the ski and thereby drag in the snow. The probes may be controlled as to the depth of penetration of the snow either before the skier starts his run, or during his descent. Having deployed the probes, added manueverability control is achieved merely by conventional body movements which affect the depth to which the probes penetrate the snow.

Method and apparatus for speed and maneuverability control for downhill

A rocket system wherein a frustoconical or cylindrical casing contains fi and second rocket stages in series, with each stage having a nozzle extending in an aft direction. Each stage contains a solid rocket fuel, with the forward end of the fuel in the first stage filling and surrounding the nozzle of the second stage so that when the casing is severed along a plane aft of the second stage portion of the case the pressurized combustion products in the first stage forces the stages to separate.

Integrated two stage rocket

Presented is a method and apparatus that permits a skier to control the speed at which he descends a ski slope. In terms of structure, the invention includes an integral probe assembly including a pair of probes mounted on each ski at about the center of gravity that protrude below the running surface of the ski when deployed and thereby drag in the snow. The probes may be controlled as to the depth of penetration of the snow either before the skier starts the downhill run, or during descent. The skier may also retract the probes so as eliminate the control and maneuverability that they provide. Having deployed the probes, added maneuverability control is achieved merely by conventional body movements which affect the depth to which the probes penetrate the snow. The probe assembly may be incorporated in the skis during manufacture of the skis, or may be added to the skis subsequent to manufacture.

Growing community of inventors

Monte Sereno, CA, United States of America

John M Humphrey