The Research Foundation of Suny

Ergonomic Technologies Corporation

Keyspan Energy

Thomas J Cassar

Robert P Wong

Imin Kao

Kevin J Costello

Cynthia L Roth

Jari P Jarvinen

Scott A Valorose

A method and system for facilitating resolution of engineering and business issues is provided which comprises an issue component for identifying the issues to be resolved, an inquiry component for facilitating collection of client information relevant to the issue component to facilitate definition of the issue component, a knowledge base comprising data and information for facilitating assessment of the client information; and a solution base for compiling assessments and recommendations from the knowledge base and for reporting the assessments and recommendations to a client. In addition, the system can include a network for communicating the client information to the knowledge base and for communicating the assessments and recommendations to the client. The knowledge base comprises an artificial intelligence engine for assessing the client information, wherein the artificial intelligence engine is configured for comparing the new issue with an existing issue within a database to determine if similar, and thus provide a recommendation associated with the existing issue, and for breaking down the new issue into smaller components for further comparison if the existing issue is not similar to the new issue to thus provide a suggestion associated with said smaller components. As a result, an optimal set of suggestions and recommendations can be provided for a given engineering or business issue or problem. In addition, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above method can be further broken down into smaller elements and sub-elements to provide a more detailed analysis. In addition, the method and system can be suitably utilized to resolve various ergonomic engineering issues.

Method and system for ergonomic assessment and reduction of workplace injuries

An improved microvalve device is configured to provide a more robust and durable operation to withstand the demands of various operating environments. The microvalve may comprise a valve seat and a diaphragm, with the diaphragm operated by an external actuator device, such as a bladder, through various mechanisms of actuation, such as direct and indirect mechanisms, that are separate from the microvalve. Through use of the various mechanisms of actuation, the actuator device is configured to apply forces on the diaphragm to suitably move the diaphragm to open and close the microvalve. The valve seat and diaphragm can be configured to provide the microvalve with a plurality of openings configured to permit flow thereinbetween. In addition, the microvalve may be configured to facilitate uni-directional or bi-directional flow. Further, a plurality of microvalves can be cascaded together in a parallel and/or series configuration, with each valve having similar or different flow characteristics, and being selectively operated. The microvalve can also include a combination gate valve configuration and a bladder configuration to provide high frequency response characteristics in addition to stability and reduction in leak flow.

Microvalve

An ergonomic demolition tool includes a jackhammer and a lift assist mechanism having a wheeled caster assembly. The lift assist mechanism has a frame which is movable between upper and lower positions to provide a lifting force to assist the jackhammer operator in raising the jackhammer.

Ergonomic tool with lift assist mechanism

Growing community of inventors

St. James, NY, United States of America

Thomas J Cassar