Author: claimsbot

1. An isolation monitor, comprising:
a controller monitoring an isolation voltage between a power circuit in a high voltage circuit portion and a chassis;
a switchable bias voltage module applying a switchable bias voltage between the power circuit and a chassis ground during one or more isolation monitoring periods; and
the isolation monitor configured to monitor one or more isolation voltages when a bias voltage is applied by the switchable bias voltage module and determine from the one or more isolation voltages if an electrical fault between the power circuit and the chassis is modifying the one or more isolation voltages.
2. The isolation monitor of claim 1, wherein the switchable bias voltage module includes at least one switch having a series resistor to form a switchable circuit path to a voltage sense line of the power circuit.
3. The isolation monitor of claim 1, wherein the switchable bias voltage module includes a first switchable path having a first switch with a first series resistor to couple the chassis ground to a first sense voltage line of the power circuit and a second switchable path having a second switch with a second series resistor to couple the chassis ground to a second sense voltage line of the power circuit.
4. The isolation monitor of claim 1, wherein the controller triggers an alarm when the isolation resistance is below a threshold level.
5. The isolation monitor of claim 1, wherein the controller monitors changes in isolation resistance to predict a failure time.
6. The isolation monitor of claim 1, wherein the controller determines a fault location based on monitoring isolation voltage for two different bias voltages.
7. An isolation monitor to monitor isolation resistance between a power circuit and a chassis in a battery powered electric vehicle, comprising:
a controller monitoring an isolation voltage through a voltage divider circuit coupled between a sense line of the power circuit voltage and a chassis ground;
a first switch in series with a first resistor configured such that when the first switch is turned on it couples a first bias voltage the chassis ground;
a second switch in series with a second resistor configured such that when the second switch is turned on it couples a second bias voltage the chassis ground;
the first switch and the second switch being operated in a monitoring mode such that in a first portion of a monitoring period the first switch is on and the second switch is off and in a second portion of a monitoring period the first switch is off and the second switch is on in order to toggle the bias voltage between the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage;
wherein if an electrical fault exists between the high voltage portion and the chassis ground the electrical fault acts as a voltage source having an associated resistance coupled to the chassis ground;
the isolation monitor configured to monitor isolation voltage during the first and second portions of each monitoring period to monitor the isolation between the power circuit and the chassis; and
wherein when an electrical fault exists between the high voltage portion and the chassis ground the electrical fault acts as a voltage source having an associated resistance coupled to the chassis ground that modifies the measured isolation voltages.
8. The isolation monitor of claim 7, wherein the at least two different bias voltages correspond to a positive battery voltage and a negative battery voltage, wherein the isolation monitor monitors a first isolation voltage when the chassis is coupled to a positive battery voltage and a second isolation voltage when the chassis is coupled to a negative battery voltage.
9. The isolation monitor of claim 7, wherein the controller triggers an alarm when the isolation resistance is below a threshold level.
10. The isolation monitor of claim 7, wherein the controller monitors changes in isolation resistance to predict a failure time.
11. The isolation monitor of claim 7, wherein the controller determines a fault location based on monitoring isolation voltage for two different bias voltages.
12. The isolation monitor of claim 7, wherein the isolation monitor is integrated in a motor controller.
13. A method of performing isolation monitoring, comprising:
applying a switchable bias voltage to a chassis ground;
measuring an isolation voltage between a power circuit and a chassis during time periods when the switchable bias voltage is applied; and
detecting changes in isolation voltages associated with electrical faults between the power circuit and the chassis ground.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising triggering an alarm when the isolation resistance is below a threshold level.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising monitoring changes in isolation resistance to predict a failure time.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a fault location based on monitoring isolation voltage for two different bias voltages.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein in a first measuring portion the bias voltage is applied from an upper set of high impedance resistors via an upper sense line and in a second measuring portion the bias voltage is applied from a lower set of high impedance resistors via a lower sense line.
18. An isolation monitoring system, comprising:
sense lines coupled to a positive battery line and a negative battery line of a high voltage circuit;
a controller to monitor isolation voltage between the high voltage circuit and a chassis, the controller configured to:
apply a switchable bias voltage to a chassis ground via a circuit having at least one switch to couple the chassis ground to at least one potential of the high voltage circuit;
measure an isolation voltage between a power circuit and a chassis during time periods when the switchable bias voltage is applied; and

detect changes in isolation voltages associated with electrical faults between the power circuit and the chassis ground.
19. The isolation monitor of claim 18 wherein in a first measuring portion the bias voltage is applied from an upper set of high impedance resistors via an upper sense line and in a second measuring portion the bias voltage is applied from a lower set of high impedance resistors via a lower sense line.
20. The isolation monitor of claim 18, wherein the controller triggers an alarm when the isolation resistance is below a threshold level.
21. The isolation monitor of claim 18, wherein the controller monitors changes in isolation resistance to predict a failure time.
22. The isolation monitor of claim 18, wherein the controller determines a fault location based on monitoring isolation voltage for two different bias voltages.

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 round module builder for forming a round module comprising an outer circumference, a first end, a first edge adjacent the outer circumference and the first end, a second end, and a second edge adjacent the outer circumference and the second end, the round module builder comprising:
a first module-forming portion configured to receive a crop;
a second module-forming portion pivotally coupleable to the first module-forming portion, the first module-forming portion and the second module-forming portion configured to rotate the crop into the round module;
a wrapping device coupleable to at least one of the first module-forming portion and the second module-forming portion, the wrapping device configured to position a wrap onto the outer circumference, the first edge, and the second edge of the round module; and
a wrap indication device coupleable to at least one of the first module-forming portion and the second module-forming portion, the wrap indication device configured to measure an indication of the wrap on at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the round module.
2. The round module builder of claim 1, further comprising a harvester comprising a harvesting structure configured to remove crop from a field, an accumulator in communication with the harvesting structure for receiving crop therefrom, a feeder in communication with the accumulator for receiving crop therefrom, the feeder configured to compress the crop, and the round module builder in communication with the feeder for receiving crop therefrom.
3. The round module builder of claim 1, wherein the wrap indication device is at least one of a sonic sensor and a visual device.
4. The round module builder of claim 1, wherein the wrap comprises at least one identification tag and the wrap indication device measures an indication of the identification tag.
5. The round module builder of claim 4, wherein the identification tag is an electronic tag.
6. The round module builder of claim 5, wherein the electronic tag is an RFID tag.
7. The round module builder of claim 1, further comprising an alarm configured to indicate whether the wrap is on at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the round module.
8. The round module builder of claim 1, wherein the wrap indication device comprises a logic circuitry configured to compare a first pressure reading of a pressure required to rotate the round module, taken before the wrap is positioned, to a second pressure reading, taken after the wrapping device is initiated, to determine if there has been a change in pressure, which indicates the wrap has been positioned onto the round module.
9. A round module builder for forming a round module comprising an outer circumference, a first end, and a second end, the round module builder comprising:
a first module-forming portion configured to receive a crop;
a second module-forming portion pivotally coupleable to the first module-forming portion, the first module-forming portion and the second module-forming portion configured to rotate the crop into the round module;
a wrapping device coupleable to at least one of the first module-forming portion and the second module-forming portion, the wrapping device configured to position a wrap onto the outer circumference of the round module; and
a wrap indication device coupleable to at least one of the first module-forming portion and the second module-forming portion, the wrap indication device comprising a logic circuitry configured to compare a first pressure reading of a pressure required to rotate the round module, taken before the wrap is positioned, to a second pressure reading, taken after the wrapping device is initiated, to determine if there has been a change in pressure, which indicates the wrap has been positioned onto the round module.
10. The round module builder of claim 9, further comprising a harvester comprising a harvesting structure configured to remove the crop from a field, an accumulator in communication with the harvesting structure for receiving the crop therefrom, a feeder in communication with the accumulator for receiving the crop therefrom, the feeder configured to compress the crop, and the round module builder in communication with the feeder for receiving crop therefrom.
11. The round module builder of claim 10, wherein the harvester is a cotton harvester.
12. The round module builder of claim 9, further comprising an alarm configured to indicate whether the wrap is on the round module.
13. A method for forming a round module comprising an outer circumference, a first end, a first edge adjacent the outer circumference and the first end, a second end, and a second edge adjacent the outer circumference and the second end, the method comprising:
providing a first module-forming portion to receive a crop;
providing a second module-forming portion to rotate the crop into the round module;
initiating a wrapping device to position a wrap onto the outer circumference, the first edge, and the second edge of the round module; and
providing a wrap indication device to measure an indication of the wrap on at least one of the first edge and the second edge of the round module.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a harvester to harvest the crop, the harvester comprising a harvesting structure for removing the crop from a field, an accumulator for receiving the crop from the harvesting structure, a feeder for receiving the crop from the accumulator, compressing the crop, and communicating the crop to the first module-forming portion.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the crop is hay.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the crop is cotton.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the crop is corn stalks.
18. The method of claim 13, further comprising communicating whether the wrap is on the round module.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the wrap indication device is at least one of a sonic sensor and a visual device.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising placing at least one identification tag on the wrap and the wrap indication device measuring an indication of the identification tag.

1. An separating system for separating articles, comprising:
a chute comprising first and second longitudinally spaced ends;
at least one roller comprising first and second longitudinally spaced ends, wherein said at least one roller is positioned adjacent to said at least one second end of said chute, said roller being rotatable about an axis; and
at least one receptacle having at least a portion thereof disposed on at least one side of said roller.
2. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises a conveyor.
3. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said at least one roller comprises a plurality of rollers spaced apart in a lateral direction.
4. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said chute comprises at least one divider having first and second longitudinally spaced ends.
5. The separating system of claim 4, wherein said at least one divider comprises a plurality of dividers defining at least one passage therebetween.
6. The separating system of claim 4, wherein said at least one divider has a greater width at said second end than said first end.
7. The separating system of claim 4, wherein said at least one divider is substantially aligned with said at least one roller along said axis.
8. The separating system of claim 4, wherein said at least one divider has an apex formed along a top thereof.
9. The separating system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said at least one divider has a conical shape.
10. The separating system of claim 4, wherein the diameter of said at least one roller is substantially equal to a width of said second end of said at least one divider.
11. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said at least one roller is freely rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
12. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said at least one roller has at least one opening extending therethrough between said first and second ends.
13. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said at least one roller is removably secured to a support structure.
14. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said receptacle comprises at least one separator having first and second longitudinally spaced ends.
15. The separating system of claim 14, wherein said at least one separator comprises a plurality of separators defining at least one channel therebetween.
16. The separating system of claim 14, wherein said at least one separator is substantially aligned with said at least one roller along said axis.
17. The separating system of claim 14, wherein said second end of said at least one roller is adjacent to first end of said at least one separator.
18. The separating system of claim 14, wherein said at least one separator has an apex formed along a top thereof.
19. The separating system of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said at least one separator has a conical shape.
20. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said chute is angularly adjustable relative to a horizontal plane.
21. The separating system of claim 1, wherein said at least one roller comprises a stainless steel material.
22. A method for separating articles, comprising the steps of:
moving said articles along a chute having first and second ends;
impacting a roller positioned adjacent to said second end of chute with at least one of said articles; and
rotating said roller and thereby displacing said at least one of said articles to one side of said roller.
23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising altering a slope of said chute.
24. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said displacing said at least one article comprises transferring said at least one article to a receptacle.
25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said receptacle is a conveyor.
26. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising transporting said at least one article with said conveyor to an accumulator.
27. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said articles are food products.
28. A separating system for separating articles comprising:
a chute comprising first and second longitudinally spaced ends;
a plurality of laterally spaced rollers positioned adjacent to said second end of said chute, said plurality of rollers each being rotatable about an axis;
at least one receptacle having at least a portion thereof disposed on at least one side of at least one of said plurality of rollers;
a plurality of separators defining at least one channel therebetween and each having first and second longitudinally spaced ends.
29. The separating system of claim 28, wherein said chute comprises a plurality of dividers defining at least one passage therebetween.
30. The separating system of claim 28, wherein said plurality of rollers are freely rotatable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
31. The separating system of claim 28, wherein said receptacle has a plurality of longitudinally extending separators substantially aligned with said plurality of rollers.
32. The separating system of claim 29, wherein said plurality of dividers is substantially aligned with said plurality of rollers.

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:
conducting a plurality of tests on process variables of a thermal process, with a test of the plurality of tests being conducted on two or more process variables, the test comprising:
locally heating a region of a structure, wherein the local heating results in formation of a thermal field in the structure;
assessing one or more temperature integrals of the thermal field; and

based on results of the plurality of tests, generating a process map of the one or more temperature integrals of the thermal field, with the one or more temperature integrals based on a function of the two or more process variables.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the two or more process variables are each selected from a group comprising a power (P) variable associated with the thermal process, a translation speed (V) variable associated with the thermal process, a material feed rate (MFR) variable (or variable related to MFR) used in the thermal process, one or more structure geometry variables, and a structure temperature (T0) variable.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more temperature integrals of the thermal field comprise an average temperature across a volume of the thermal field, an average temperature across a surface area of the thermal field, an average temperature at a particular location of the structure over a period of time, or an evaporation rate.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the average temperature across the surface area of the thermal field is determined in accordance with
T
avg
surf

=
1

A
surf
\ue89e

\u222b
T
surf

\ue89e

\uf74c

A
surf
,
where Asurf is a defined surface area of the thermal field, and Tsurf is a temperature at a particular location on the surface area of the thermal field.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more temperature integrals are further based on a function of at least one of a location of a heat source and a change in geometry of the structure.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tests is conducted with process variables other than the two or more process variables held constant.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the process map comprises interpolating temperature integrals.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
using the process map to select values of the two or more process variables to yield a selected temperature integral of the thermal field, to identify combinations of process variables that yield a particular value of a temperature integral, or to identify regions of process variable space where the one or more temperature integrals are minimized or maximized.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the test of the plurality of tests is conducted on a first process variable, a second process variable, and a third process variable; and the one or more temperature integrals is based on a function of the first process variable, the second process variable, and the third process variable.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein:
the test of the plurality of tests is conducted on different combinations of more than three process variables; and
the one or more temperature integrals is based on a function of the more than three process variables.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the operations of conducting and generating are implemented by one or more processing devices.
12. A method comprising
conducting a plurality of tests on process variables of a thermal process, with a test of the plurality of tests being conducted on two or more process variables, the test comprising:
locally heating a region of a structure, wherein the local heating results in formation of a thermal field in the structure;
assessing one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field;

based on results of the plurality of tests, generating a process map of the one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field, with the one or more thermal characteristics based on a function of the two or more process variables; and
using the process map to determine a sensitivity of the one or more thermal characteristics to changes in values of the two or more process variables.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the two or more process variables are each selected from a group comprising a power (P) variable associated with the thermal process, a translation speed (V) variable associated with the thermal process, a material feed rate (MFR) variable (or variable related to MFR) used in the thermal process, one or more structure geometry variables, and a structure temperature (T0) variable.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field comprises a dimension of the thermal field, a temperature derivative, a thermal gradient, a cooling rate, a temperature integral, an average temperature, or an evaporation rate.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
using the process map to identify combinations of process variables that yield a maximum change in the one or more thermal characteristics.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the test is conducted at a different combination of a first process variable, a second process variable, and a third process variable;
the thermal characteristic is based on a function of the first process variable, the second process variable, and the third process variable; and
using the process map to determine the sensitivity of the one or more thermal characteristics comprises using the process map to determine the sensitivity of the one or more thermal characteristics to changes in values of the first, second, and third process variables.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein:
the test is conducted at a different combination of more than three process variables;
the thermal characteristic is based on a function of the more than three process variables; and
using the process map to determine the sensitivity of the one or more thermal characteristics comprises using the process map to determine the sensitivity of the one or more thermal characteristics to changes in values of the more than three process variables.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein using the process map to determine the sensitivity of the one or more thermal characteristics comprises identifying a direction within a process variable space that yields a maximum change in the one or more thermal characteristics, within the process variable space.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the direction comprises a direction that is normal to a curve or a surface or a hypersurface of the process map of the one or more thermal characteristics.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the operations of conducting, generating, and using are implemented by one or more processing devices.
21. A method comprising:
conducting a plurality of tests on process variables of a thermal process, with a test of the plurality of tests being conducted on two or more process variables, the test comprising:
locally heating a region of a structure, wherein the local heating results in formation of a thermal field in the structure;
assessing one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field;

based on results of the plurality of tests, generating a process map of the one or more thermal characteristics of the thermal field, with the one or more thermal characteristics based on a function of the two or more variables; and
using the process map to apply concepts of differential geometry to an analysis of the thermal process.