Author: claimsbot

1. A method of removing a cover from a flange secured about an opening in a tank for safely controlling a flow of material stored within the tank through the opening, wherein the cover is secured to the flange by a plurality of pegs extending into the flange through apertures in the cover, the method comprising:
vacating at least a portion of the plurality of pegs;
rigidly attaching a frame to the flange proximate the opening using at least a portion of the apertures previously vacated by a portion of the plurality of pegs;
attaching an actuator to the frame;
extending an arm between the frame and the cover;
connecting a proximal end of the arm to the actuator and connecting a distal end to the cover;
operating the actuator for forcing the arm against the cover with sufficient force for preventing the cover from being dislodged from about the opening;
unsecuring the cover from about the opening; and
controlling the actuator for moving the cover from a closed position to an open position through a spacing therewith, wherein a distance for the spacing controls the flow of material from the tank.
2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a guide element, wherein the method comprises positioning the guide element for operably guiding the cover longitudinally outward from the opening along the arm.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a the flange fully extends about a periphery of the opening, and wherein the method comprises removably attaching the cover to the flange.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the frame positioning comprises attaching the frame to the tank.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the actuator controlling comprises remotely controlling the actuator.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the distal end connecting comprises welding the arm to the cover.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the distal end connecting comprises attaching a plate to the arm distal end and attaching the plate to a surface of the cover.
8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising extending a shield substantially about the opening for confining the material exiting the opening.
9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising positioning a container proximate the opening and collecting the material in the container.
10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising removing the material from the container.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the material removing comprises pumping.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the pumping comprises an auger.
13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising processing the material for improving a fluid flow thereof.
14. A method of removing a cover secured to a flange about an opening in a tank by a plurality of fasteners extending through apertures in the cover and into the flange, the method comprising:
vacating at least a portion of the plurality of fasteners;
securing a frame proximate the opening using at least a portion of the apertures previously vacated by the portion of the plurality of fasteners;
attaching an actuator to the frame;
connecting an arm between the actuator and the cover;
operating the actuator for biasing the cover against the tank with sufficient force for preventing the cover from being dislodged therefrom;
removing the fasteners from engagement with the cover;
securing a guide pin for guiding a removing of the cover; and
remotely controlling the actuator for moving the cover from the opening through a controlled spacing therefrom, thus controlling the flow of material from the tank.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the flange is carried by the tank about fully a periphery of the opening, and wherein the method comprises removably attaching the cover to the flange by the fasteners, wherein the fasteners comprise at least one of threaded studs, nuts, and bolts.
16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising elongate rods, wherein the guide pin securing comprises removing at least two fasteners from opposing sides of the cover and attaching the elongate rods in place of removed fasteners resulting from the fastener removing from engagement with the cover.
17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the frame positioning comprises rigidly attaching the frame to the flange.
18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the arm connecting comprises attaching a plate to the arm and attaching the plate to a surface of the cover.
19. A method according to claim 14, further comprising extending a shield about the opening for confining at least a portion of the material passing from the tank through the opening.
20. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:
positioning a container for collecting material flowing from the tank through the opening;
collecting the material in the container;
processing the material for improving a fluid flow thereof; and
pumping the processed material from the container.
21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the processing comprises chopping the material.
22. A method of removing a manway cover from a flange extending about an opening in a storage tank, wherein the manway cover is secured to the flange by a plurality of pegs extending through apertures in the cover for securing the cover to the flange, the method comprising:
removing a first portion of the plurality of pegs for exposing first apertures therein while maintaining the cover secured to the flange;
rigidly attaching a frame to the flange using the first apertures for a fastening therewith;
attaching an actuator to the frame;
operably connecting an arm for engagement between the cover and the actuator;
operating the actuator for providing sufficient force against the manway cover for preventing the manway cover from being dislodged from the flange;
removing a second portion of the plurality of pegs for exposing second apertures;
securing at least two guide pins to the flange for movement through the second apertures for guiding a removing of the manway cover therealong;
removing a balance of the plurality of pegs; and
controlling the actuator for moving the cover from a closed position to an open position through a spacing therewith longitudinally outward along the guide pins, wherein spacing the cover from the flange and thus the opening controls the flow of material through the opening.
23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising extending a containment shield about the flange for confining the material passing through the opening.
24. A method according to claim 22, further comprising:
positioning a container for collecting the material flowing from the tank through the opening;
collecting the material in the container;
processing the material for improving a fluid flow thereof; and
pumping the processed material from the container.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the processing comprises chopping the material.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Apparatus for ventilating electrical equipment on board a rail vehicle, said rail vehicle being powered with DC either directly by an electricity pick-up system connected to a DC source, or indirectly by rectifying and filtering electricity picked up by an electricity pick-up system connected to a single-phase AC source, each piece of electrical equipment being ventilated by means of a respective cooling fan controlled by an electric motor, wherein the electric motors are asynchronous motors, each fan electric motor being powered with three-phase AC by an individual converter connected to the DC for powering the rail vehicle.
2. Ventilation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said individual converter is integrated on the stand of the motor of said fan.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each fan power converter is controlled as a function of the power consumed by said associated electrical equipment.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rail vehicle is a car including electrical power equipment such as transformers, traction motors, braking rheostats, and electronic power units.
5. A method of ventilating electrical equipment on board a DC-powered rail vehicle, each piece of said electrical equipment being ventilated by means of a respective cooling fan controlled by an electric motor, wherein the electric motors are asynchronous motors, each fan electric motor being independently powered with three-phase AC by means of an individual converter connected to the DC for powering the rail vehicle, said individual converter being controlled as a function of the power consumed by the associated electrical equipment.
6. A ventilation method according to claim 5, wherein each converter is controlled so that cooling of the associated electrical equipment is proportional to the power consumed by said electrical equipment.

1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
a focus control section that performs a focus control process that controls a plurality of in-focus object plane positions by controlling an optical system, the plurality of in-focus object plane positions being set discretely;
a switch control section that switches the focus control process performed by the focus control section between an autofocus control process and a manual focus control process, the in-focus object plane position being automatically controlled when the focus control section performs the autofocus control process, and manually controlled when the focus control section performs the manual focus control process; and
an operation section that is operated by a user,
when the operation section has been operated by the user during a period in which the focus control section performs the autofocus control process,
the switch control section switching the focus control process performed by the focus control section from the autofocus control process to the manual focus control process, and
the focus control section moving the in-focus object plane position to an in-focus object plane position among the plurality of in-focus object plane positions that differs from the in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated by the user.
2. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 1,
the switch control section switching the focus control process performed by the focus control section from the autofocus control process to the manual focus control process based on a single operation that has been performed by the user on the operation section during a period in which the focus control section performs the autofocus control process, and
the focus control section moving the in-focus object plane position based on the single operation to an in-focus object plane position among the plurality of in-focus object plane positions that is adjacent to the in-focus object plane position when the single operation has been performed.
3. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 2,
when the operation section has been operated by the user after the switch control section has switched the focus control process performed by the focus control section from the autofocus control process to the manual focus control process, the focus control section moving the in-focus object plane position to an in-focus object plane position among the plurality of in-focus object plane positions that differs from the in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated, and also differs from the in-focus object plane position that is adjacent to the in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated.
4. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a scene-change detection section that detects a scene change from image signals generated by the endoscope apparatus,
when the scene-change detection section has detected a scene change after the switch control section has switched the focus control process performed by the focus control section from the autofocus control process to the manual focus control process, the switch control section switching the focus control process performed by the focus control section from the manual focus control process to the autofocus control process.
5. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 1,
the operation section including a one-way switch, and
the focus control section moving the in-focus object plane position to an in-focus object plane position among the plurality of in-focus object plane positions that differs from the in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated, when the one-way switch has been operated once.
6. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 1,
the operation section including a two-way switch,
the two-way switch being a switch that is moved from a standard position to a first position, or moved from the standard position to a second position when operated once by the user, the first position being a position that differs from the standard position, and the second position being a position that differs from the standard position and the first position, and
the focus control section moving the in-focus object plane position to an in-focus object plane position among the plurality of in-focus object plane positions that differs from the in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated, when the two-way switch has been operated once.
7. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising:
an elapsed time measurement section that measures an elapsed time after the switch control section has switched the focus control process performed by the focus control section to the manual focus control process,
the switch control section switching the focus control process performed by the focus control section to the autofocus control process when the scene-change detection section has detected a scene change when the focus control section performs the manual focus control process, and the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measurement section is larger than a given threshold value.
8. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 1,
the switch control section setting the focus control process performed by the focus control section to the autofocus control process when the endoscope apparatus starts operation.
9. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 1,
first to Nth (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) in-focus object plane positions being set discretely as the plurality of in-focus object plane positions, and a distance from the optical system to an (i+1)-th (1\u2266i\u2266N\u22121) in-focus object plane position being longer than a distance from the optical system to an i-th in-focus object plane position,
the focus control section including a moving amount setting section that sets moving amount information that indicates an amount of change in the in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated by the user, and
the focus control section performing the autofocus control process by changing the in-focus object plane position from the i-th in-focus object plane position to an (i+k)-th (k is an integer other than 0) in-focus object plane position corresponding to an operation performed on the operation section when information that designates k has been set as the moving amount information.
10. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 9,
the moving amount setting section setting information that designates \u2212k as the moving amount information when i+k<1 or i+k>N is satisfied, and
the focus control section performing the autofocus control process by changing the in-focus object plane position from the i-th in-focus object plane position to an (i\u2212k)-th in-focus object plane position corresponding to the operation performed on the operation section.
11. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 10,
the moving amount setting section setting information that designates 1 or \u22121 as the moving amount information k.
12. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 10, the moving amount setting section setting the moving amount information k based on an external input.
13. The endoscope apparatus as defined in claim 9,
the focus control section changing the in-focus object plane position from the i-th in-focus object plane position to the (i+k)-th in-focus object plane position when the operation section has been operated by the user when the focus control section performs the autofocus control process, and the switch control section has switched the focus control process performed by the focus control section to the manual focus control process.
14. A method for controlling an endoscope apparatus that controls a plurality of in-focus object plane positions by controlling an optical system, the plurality of in-focus object plane positions being set discretely, the method comprising:
receiving an operation performed by a user;
switching a focus control process between an autofocus control process and a manual focus control process, and moving the in-focus object plane position based on the received operation performed by the user, the in-focus object plane position being automatically controlled when the autofocus control process is performed, and manually controlled when the manual focus control process is performed; and
when the operation performed by the user has been received during a period in which the autofocus control process is performed, switching the focus control process from the autofocus control process to the manual focus control process, and moving the in-focus object plane position to an in-focus object plane position among the plurality of in-focus object plane positions that differs from the in-focus object plane position when the operation performed by the user has been received.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of validating results of a host search engine, said method including the steps of:
scanning all data objects deliverable via a web interface; and
executing a matching engine to generate a report set containing content missed by said host search engine.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of scanning data objects includes creating an index of all the scanned data objects.
3. A method according to claim 1 or wherein the data objects may include any one or more of the following:
a. Words;
b. Pages;
c. Images;
d. Text;
e. Links;
f. Meta data;
g. Scripts;
h. Documents; or
i. Properties of documents
4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the contents of the index is ordered according to the uniqueness of the data object.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the uniqueness of the data object is determined by a density analysis of the data object.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the data object is words and the density analysis takes into account any one or more of the following:
a. Frequency of occurrence;
b. Relative importance of context; or
c. Proximity to other topics;
7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the matching engine submits data objects obtained from the scanning step to the host search engine.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the data objects submitted to the host search engine are restricted to unique data objects.
9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the report set includes information sufficient to identify the specific web site pages that contain missed data.
10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the matching engine is provided with keywords that are of particular importance to determine whether any content containing the important keyword is missed by the host search engine.
11. A system for validating results of a host search engine including:
a host search engine operable to execute searches of a web-site;
a scanning component that scans and locates all data objects available via a web interface to the web-site; and
a matching engine operable to receive the data objects located by the scanning component and submitting the data objects to the host search engine to determine those data objects obtained from the scanning component that cannot be located by the host search engine thereby representing data objects missed by the host search engine.
12. A system according to claim 11 wherein the scanning component includes an indexing component that indexes the located data objects.
13. A system according claim 11 or wherein the matching engine includes a reporting component that generates a report of the missed data objects.
14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the report includes a link to a web page identified in the report as containing missed data.
15. Computer instruction code embodied in a computer readable medium and operable to control the operation of a computer to validate the results of a host search engine, the computer instruction code effecting the steps of:
scanning all data objects deliverable via a web interface; and
executing a matching engine to generate a report set containing content missed by the host search engine.
16. Computer instruction code according to claim 15 operable to effect the additional step of indexing the data objects identified by the scanning step.
17. Computer instruction code according to claim 16 operable to effect the additional step of analysing the indexed data objects and passing only unique data objects to the matching engine for submission to the host search engine.
18. Computer instruction code according to claim 17 operable to effect the additional step of determining unique data objects by conducting an analysis of the data objects according to any one or more of the following:
a. Frequency of occurrence;
b. Relative importance of context; or
c. Proximity to other topics;
19-22. (canceled)