Author: claimsbot

1. A suspension insulator provided between a coil spring of a suspension device and a spring seat of the suspension device, the spring seat having:
a cylindrical peripheral wall part having an outer peripheral wall surface; and
an annular flange part extending radially outwardly from an axial end of the peripheral wall part and having a wall surface at the side of the peripheral wall part,
the insulator being formed of a resilient body and comprising;
a cylindrical part having an inner peripheral wall surface; and
an annular body part extending radially outwardly from an end of the cylindrical part and having an inner peripheral wall surface,
the body part having:
a first wall surface opposite to the cylindrical part; and
a second wall surface at the side of the cylindrical part,
the inner peripheral wall surface of the cylindrical part and the inner peripheral wall surface of the body part defining a space into which the peripheral wall part is inserted when the insulator is secured to the spring seat,
the first wall surface being in contact with the wall surface of the flange part at the side of the peripheral wall part under the state that the insulator is secured to the spring seat, and
the second wall surface being in contact with a coil end of the coil spring when the coil spring is seated on the insulator,
wherein a first portion of the inner peripheral wall surface of the cylindrical part between a first boundary plane and a second boundary plane has a first diameter smaller than a diameter of the outer peripheral wall surface of the peripheral wall part under the state that the insulator is not secured to the spring seat, the first boundary plane being located apart from a body part reference plane corresponding to a boundary plane between the cylindrical and body parts by a first distance, the second boundary plane being located apart from the first boundary plane in a direction apart from the body part by a second distance,
the first portion is configured to be a tight-contact wall surface which is in tight contact with the outer peripheral wall surface of the peripheral wall part under the state that the insulator is secured to the spring seat,
the entire inner peripheral wall surface of the body part and at least a part of a second portion of the inner peripheral wall surface of the cylindrical part between the body part reference plane and the first boundary plane each has a second diameter larger than the first diameter under the state that the insulator is not secured to the spring seat, and
the entire inner peripheral wall surface of the body part and the at least a part of the second portion are configured to be non-tight-contact wall surfaces, respectively, which are not in tight contact with the outer peripheral wall surface of the peripheral wall part under the state that the insulator is secured to the spring seat.
2. The suspension insulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the non-tight-contact wall surface between the first boundary plane and a third boundary plane is configured to be a tapered wall surface having a diameter which increases from the first diameter as the tapered wall surface approaches the first wall surface of the body part under the state that the insulator is not secured to the spring seat, the third boundary plane being located apart from the first boundary plane by a third distance in a direction toward the first wall surface of the body part.
3. The suspension insulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second boundary plane is located at a position corresponding to an end of the cylindrical part opposite to the body part.
4. The suspension insulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of the cylindrical part defining the tight-contact wall surface has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the portion of the cylindrical part defining the non-tight-contact wall surface.
5. The suspension insulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein a maximum value of the thickness of the cylindrical part is smaller than a thickness of the body part.

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 comprising:
receiving a signal;
separating the signal into at least a first sub band and a second sub band;
detecting a first energy level in the first sub band;
detecting a second energy level in the second sub band; and
activating a control signal if the first energy level is different than the second energy level by more than a predetermined amount the control signal to activate an interference mitigation feature.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising deactivating the control signal if the first energy level is not different that the second energy level by a predetermined amount.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing data recovery if the interference mitigation feature is activated.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein activating an interference mitigation feature comprises one of presetting a gain of an amplifier, activating a time sampling feature, activating a time domain interference estimator, activating a filter or activating an interference cancellation feature.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal identifies one or more sub bands that have energy levels that are different than other sub bands by the predetermined amount.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing a narrowband interference through a filter to reject a desired signal and to isolate the narrowband interference.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least an indication of the lowest energy level detected to modules in a receive path.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein separating comprises digital filtering.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing, estimating the frequency spectrum of the received signal and performing data recovery on the signal.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal indicates a detection of narrowband interference.
11. A system for detecting interference comprising:
a band splitter to divide incoming electromagnetic energy into a plurality of sub bands;
at least one energy level detector to detect an amount of energy in at least two of the sub bands; and
a compare module to compare the detected energy level in the at least two sub bands and to activate a control signal if there is a difference in energy levels between the at least two sub bands that is greater than a predetermined level.
12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a reference level module to provide a reference signal to set the predetermined level.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the band splitter comprises a plurality of band pass filters.
14. The system of claim 11, further comprising an interference mitigation module to mitigate interference in response to the signal.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the interference mitigation module is one of a gain controller, a time sampler, a timer, a filter, or an interference canceller.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined level is user selectable.
17. A machine-accessible medium containing instructions to operate a processing system which, when the instructions are executed by a machine, cause said machine to perform operations, comprising:
receiving a wideband signal, the wideband signal having a plurality of frequencies;
separating the signal into at least a first sub band of frequencies and a second sub band of frequencies;
detecting a first energy level in the first sub band of frequencies;
detecting a second energy level in the second sub band of frequencies; and
activating a control signal if the first energy level is different than the second energy level by more than a predetermined amount.
18. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17, which when executed causes the computer to deactivate the control signal if the first energy level is not different that the second energy level by a predetermined amount.
19. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17, which when executed causes the computer to activate an interference mitigation feature in response to activating the control signal.
20. The machine-accessible medium of claim 17, which when executed causes the computer to activating one of a preset a gain of an amplifier, a time sampling feature, a time domain interference estimator, a time domain interference detector, a filter or an interference cancellation feature.

1. A system for automating the hornlight signaling of marine vessels in accordance with Coast Guard Navigation Rules, comprising:
a user-interface for manual selection from among a plurality of regulation cadences each reflecting a vessel condition for which a particular horn signal must be sounded in accordance with said Coast Guard Navigation Rules, said user interface including a plurality of switches for allowing said manual selection;
a processor with memory in communication with said user-interface switches for determining said manual selection and controlling a selected cadence;
a horn driver in communication with said processor for driving a marine vessel horn in accordance with said selected cadence;
a light driver in communication with said processor for driving a marine vessel light in accordance with said selected cadence;
a power controller for regulating power to said horn driver and said light driver.
2. The system for automating the hornlight signaling of marine vessels according to claim 1, wherein said user interface comprises a backlit molded silicon rubber keypad including said switches, said switches being pressure switches each having a proximate indicator light.
3. The system for automating the hornlight signaling of marine vessels according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of pressure switches include,
an ONOFF switch for applying system power;
a MANUAL switch the default for interrupting the selected cadence and immediately activating the hornlight;
a MODE switch for selecting from among said plurality of cadences;
an OUTPUT switch for selecting between horn signaling via said horn driver, light signaling via said light driver, both, neither, and for allowing an operator to preview a selected cadence at said user interface before implementing said selected cadence;
a SINGLE switch for allowing selection of a single cadence sequence; and
a REPEAT switch for allowing selection of repetitive cadence sequences.
4. The system for automating the hornlight signaling of marine vessels according to claim 2, wherein said MODE switch allows selection of any cadence from among a group comprising:
Power: Making Way;
Power: Not Making Way;
NUC,RAM,Sail,Fish,Towing;
Towed & Manned;
Anchored;
Danger Doubt; and
S.O.S.; and
Horn or Light on continuously.
5. The system for automating the hornlight signaling of marine vessels according to claim 1, further comprising a remote 360 degree LED vessel light connected to said light driver.
6. An apparatus for controlling a vessel’s horn and light comprising:
horn driver means for driving a marine vessel horn;
light driver means for driving a marine vessel light;
an integrated keypad and display means for allowing operator selection and control of a programmed cadence of Coast Guard Rule signals;
processor means with included memory for allowing operator control and implementing said cadence of Coast Guard Rule signals; and
power controller means for powering said horn and light drivers in accordance with a selected cadence of Coast Guard Rule signals.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the keypad and display means includes a plurality of keys comprising the keypad and a plurality of LED’s comprising the display.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said plurality of LED’s are red 660 nanometer-wavelength LED’s.
9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said keypad and display includes an ambient light detector for backlighting said keypad automatically at low light levels.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a weather-proof enclosure.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a 12 Volt receptacle mounted on said enclosure for operating an existing signal light as an automated signaling device.
12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor controls and coordinates the operation of the apparatus using interrupt driven firmware stored in said memory.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said processor automatically and manually controls the generation of signal sequences of presence and absence of sound and light for warning and navigation.
14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said processor means senses the actuation of any key on said keypad to determine an operating mode of the apparatus.
15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said power controller means accepts power from the vessel batteries, filters it against electromagnetic interference and permits the application and removal of filtered power to the processor means.
16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said power controller means can accept a variety of input and output voltages corresponding to the different voltages used in larger vessels.
17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said keypad and display means comprises a backlit layer of translucent silicon rubber for illuminating laser etched text and graphics.
18. A system for providing high intensity light viewable for 360 degrees comprising:
an aluminum heat sink base;
an aluminum reflector top having at least a 120 degree reflective surface;
an acrylic tube housing;
a current regulating printed circuit board; and
a high intensity Light Emitting Diode.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 using an aluminum heat sink base with fins to increase the surface area and to allow for airflow to dissipate the heat generated by the high intensity LED.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 uses a raised pedestal for the LED to be thermally attached directly to the heat sink base for heat dissipation.

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. An apparatus, comprising:
a chamber, having a cylindrical elongated shape and built around an axis, comprising:
an internal cavity, located inside of the chamber, having an outer wall through a length of the chamber, including at least one inlet for entering a liquid into the internal cavity, said liquid is maintained in the internal cavity in a liquid state using predefined combinations of pressures and temperatures, where a temperature of said liquid is alternated between preselected two values during operation of said apparatus; and
one or more outer chambers located around the internal cavity through the length of the internal cavity for circulating a fluid at least in one of the one or more outer chambers to maintain the liquid in the internal cavity in the liquid state and to accelerate cooling of the liquid during operation of said apparatus, wherein each outer chamber of the one or more outer chambers has at least one inlet and at least one outlet for circulating the fluid and is surrounded by inner and outer walls having elongated cylindrical shapes such that the inner wall of a first outer chamber of the one or more outer chambers is shared with the outer wall of the internal cavity.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid is water, and said liquid is CO2 and the two preselected values are approximately 80 F and 180 F.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber is a heat exchanger comprising two outer chambers of the one or more outer chambers, wherein the inner wall of a second chamber of said one or more chambers is shared with the outer wall of the first chamber, wherein the internal cavity comprises at least one outlet for said liquid to be provided outside of the heat exchanger.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said liquid is CO2 and the first outer chamber provides a circulating fluid at alternating temperatures of approximately 80 F and 180 F and the second outer chamber provides a further circulating fluid at a range of temperatures between 80 F and 100 F to maintain the liquid in the internal cavity in the liquid state and to accelerate cooling of the liquid to said temperature of 80 F during operation of said apparatus.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more chambers and corresponding inlets and outlets associated with one or more chambers are rated at 100 PSI, and the internal cavity and all inlets and outlets associated with the internal cavity are rated at 2000 PSI.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said liquid having a predefined high temperature expansion coefficient.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the internal cavity of the chamber comprises at least one outlet.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a thermal hydraulic generator comprising an assembly of three chambers including said chamber, having said cylindrical elongated shape and built around said axis, and two hydraulic fluid chambers, each having a further cylindrical elongated shape and built around a further axis, said three chambers are rigidly attached to each other at respective ends with said chamber being in between said two hydraulic fluid chambers, such that
said axis of the chamber and further axes of the two hydraulic fluid chambers forming a common axis with a continuous moving shaft inserted in said assembly, the shaft having three pistons shaped as three round plates and rigidly connected to the shaft in predefined positions with surfaces of the three round plates being perpendicular to the common axis, two of the three pistons being positioned at respective ends of the shaft, so that when the shaft being in a middle position in said assembly, each of the two pistons is located approximately in the middle of the corresponding first and second hydraulic fluid chambers and a third piston being located approximately in the middle of said chamber, where each piston of the three pistons separates a corresponding liquid or fluid in each of the three chambers of the assembly into two portions.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the two hydraulic fluid chambers having:
a further internal cavity, located inside of the hydraulic fluid chamber, having a further outer wall through a length of the hydraulic fluid chamber, including at least two inletsoutlets for moving a hydraulic fluid in and out of the further internal cavity, and
a further outer chamber located around the further internal cavity through the length of the further internal cavity for circulating a fluid for stabilizing a hydraulic fluid temperature inside of the further internal cavity.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each piston comprises an O-ring on an outside perimeter of the piston, the O-ring being in contact with a corresponding outer walls in the corresponding internal cavity in each of the three chambers providing, when the shaft moves, a smooth sliding of the corresponding pistons with O-rings along the outer walls of the corresponding internal cavities in said three chambers.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said internal cavity of the chamber comprises two inlets located at opposite ends of the internal cavity,
where, during a first half of a time cycle, one of the two inlets in the internal cavity of the chamber is used to enter the liquid at a low preselected temperature, and another inlet of the two inlets is used to enter the liquid at a high preselected temperature, such that the piston separating portions of the liquid having respective low and high preselected temperatures is moved in a direction of the internal cavity portion comprising the liquid at the low preselected temperature due to a higher expansion coefficient of the liquid having the high preselected temperature, thus simultaneously moving in the same direction the pistons and the hydraulic fluid located in the hydraulic fluid chamber,
where, during a second half of a cycle, temperatures of said liquid provided to the two inlets are reversed, so that the piston separating liquids having the low and high preselected temperatures is moved in an opposite direction, thus simultaneously moving in the opposite direction the pistons and the hydraulic fluid located in the hydraulic fluid chamber,
thus providing a power, generated by moving the hydraulic fluid, to a hydraulic motor during both the first and second cycles.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the internal cavity further comprise two outlets located at opposite ends of the internal cavity, so that the liquid provided to each of the two inlets is circulated through the corresponding outlet of the two outlets to speed up temperature stabilization of the liquid to a desired temperature on both ends of the internal cavity.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the liquid is provided to each of the two inlets by one of two heat exchangers, where each of the heat exchangers alternates a liquid temperature between the low and high preselected temperatures.
14. A thermal hydraulic generator comprising an assembly of three chambers each having a cylindrical elongated shape, the three chambers including:
a chamber built around an axis comprising an internal cavity, located inside of the chamber and having an outer wall through a length of the chamber, including at least two inlets for entering two portions of a liquid into the internal cavity, said liquid is maintained in the internal cavity in a liquid state using predefined combinations of pressures and temperatures, where a temperature in each portion of said liquid is alternated between two preselected temperatures during operation of said thermal hydraulic generator; and
two hydraulic fluid chambers, each built around a further axis, and having a further internal cavity, located inside of the hydraulic fluid chamber and having a further outer wall through a length of the hydraulic fluid chamber, including at least two inletsoutlets for moving a hydraulic fluid in and out of the further internal cavity,
said three chambers are rigidly attached to each other at respective ends with said chamber being in between said two hydraulic fluid chambers, such that said axis of the chamber and further axes of the two hydraulic fluid chambers forming a common axis with a continuous moving shaft inserted in said assembly, the shaft having three pistons shaped as three round plates and rigidly connected to the shaft in predefined positions with surfaces of the three round plates being perpendicular to the common axis, two of the three pistons being positioned at respective ends of the shaft, so that when the shaft being in a middle position in said assembly, each of the two pistons is located approximately in the middle of the corresponding first and second hydraulic fluid chambers and a third piston being located approximately in the middle of said chamber, where each piston of the three pistons separates into two portions a corresponding liquid or fluid in each of the three chambers of the assembly.
15. The thermal hydraulic generator of claim 14, wherein each piston comprises an O-ring on an outside perimeter of the piston, the O-ring being in contact with corresponding outer walls in the corresponding internal cavities of said three chambers providing, when the shaft moves, a smooth sliding of the corresponding pistons with O-rings along corresponding outer walls of the corresponding internal cavities in said three chambers.
16. The thermal hydraulic generator of claim 14, wherein said internal cavity of the chamber comprises two inlets located at opposite ends of the internal cavity,
where, during a first half of a time cycle, a first inlet of the two inlets is used to enter the liquid at a low preselected temperature and a second inlet of the two inlets is used to enter the liquid at a high preselected temperature, such that the piston separating liquids having said low and high preselected temperatures is moved in a direction of the internal cavity portion comprising the liquid at the low preselected temperature due to a higher expansion coefficient of the liquid having the high preselected temperature, thus simultaneously moving in the same direction the pistons and the hydraulic fluid located in the hydraulic fluid chamber,
where, during a second half of a time cycle, temperatures of said liquid provided to the two inlets are reversed, so that the piston separating liquids having the low and high preselected temperatures is moved in an opposite direction, thus simultaneously moving in the same opposite direction the pistons and the hydraulic fluid located in the hydraulic fluid chambers,
thus providing a power, generated by moving the hydraulic fluid, to a hydraulic motor during both the first and second cycles,
wherein the liquid is provided to each of the two inlets by one of two heat exchangers, where each of the heat exchangers alternates a liquid temperature between the low and high preselected temperatures.
17. The thermal hydraulic generator of claim 14, wherein a first end of the chamber is attached to one end of a first of the hydraulic fluid chambers and a second end of the chamber is attached to one end of a second of the hydraulic fluid chambers.
18. The thermal hydraulic generator of claim 14, wherein the internal cavity further comprises at least two outlets, so that the liquid entered through the first or second outlet of the at least two input inlets circulates through a corresponding first or second outlet of the at least two outlets, wherein one liquid circulating pair comprising the first inlet and the first outlet of the internal cavity located near one end of the internal cavity and another liquid circulating pair comprising the second inlet and the second outlet of the internal cavity located near an opposite end of the internal cavity.
19. The thermal hydraulic generator of claim 14, wherein moving hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic fluid chambers is used for generating electric power during both the first and second cycles using a DC generator with an inverter, an induction generator with a AC-DC-AC convertor or a synchronous generator with the AC-DC-AC convertor.
20. The thermal hydraulic generator of claim 14, wherein each of the three chambers has one outer chamber to circulate a fluid at a predefined temperature or a temperature range for stabilizing operation of the thermal hydraulic generator.