text:
An instrumented navigation system for aiding a towboat and barge configuration in the entry and traversal of a lock located on a waterway or for navigation around other structures, such as bridge piers or docks. The system consists of wirelessly linked computers on the towboat and the lock which display navigational charts showing the position of the tows as they approach and enter the locks. The computers are also linked to sensors which send information, such as the speed and position of the tows, to the computers for display.
1. A navigational aid for a watercraft navigating a waterway comprising:
one or more sensors in said watercraft for determining the position of said watercraft with respect to a nearby structure;
a feedback device in said watercraft for updating a pilot of said watercraft as to said position;
said feedback device is selected from a group consisting of a visual display and an audio device;
said visual display displays a navigational chart showing a portion of said waterway being navigated by said watercraft;
a computer located in said watercraft, said computer generating said visual display and/or providing said audio feedback;
said one or more sensors are coupled to said computer in said watercraft;
at least one of said one or more sensors is a GPS receiver in said watercraft;
said visual display includes said waterway and said structure and further wherein a representation of said watercraft is overlaid on said display with a graphical indication of the distance of one or more points on said watercraft from one or more portions of said structure; and
said overlaid representation of said watercraft represents the actual position and orientation of said watercraft with respect to said structure.
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a land-based computer having a visual display;
a wireless network; and
one or more antennae.
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This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. � 1.19(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/480,218, filed Jun. 20, 2003.
This invention relates to a navigation aid and system and, in particular, to a system that provides tow pilots navigating inland waterways with real-time information essential to efficient and safely transiting locks in various weather conditions.
Every year, thousands of tons of commodities are transported along the nation's inland waterways via a combination of towboats and barges, referred to collectively as a "tow." There are four main types of barges, including: open, closed, sealed and liquid. Each type has three different sizes: a standard barge is 26′�175′; a jumbo barge is 35′�195′ and a "stumbo" barge is 26′�195′. Typically, a single tow can have up to 15 barges. The average barge can carry a approximately 1,500 tons of a given commodity, a payload equal to about 60 typical tractor/trailer style trucks commonly seen on America's highways. This large payload capacity makes transferring commodities by barge more efficient than any other means of commercial transportation.
The inland waterway system in the U.S. contains many locks and dams, typically built by the Army Corps of Engineers, to prevent flooding in low-lying riverside areas and to provide for stable navigation. To traverse the dams, it is necessary that the tows negotiate passage through many locks. As an example, to transport a commodity from Pittsburgh to St. Louis along the Ohio River, it is necessary for a tow to pass through over twenty locks. The dimensions of many old locks are such that every time a tow has to traverse a lock, it may have to perform double or even triple lockage, depending on river conditions and tow size. This can cause bottlenecks along the river. A single accident at a lock can cause exponential river jams. In addition to varying lock configuration, weather conditions, such as fog, darkness, harsh river conditions, and other variables provide a significant amount of unpredictability.
The locking process has a history of nearly a century without much innovation. Almost every lock approach is unique because of variables such as lock dimensions and configuration, current speed, visibility, water levels, tow configurations, etc. All of these variables play a part in determining a safe and speedy lockage. Traversing locks requires a high degree of precision and piloting skill; the usual allowable clearance between the lock wall and the tow may be as little as 2.5 feet on each side of the tow. This makes it very difficult for pilots who are unfamiliar with a lock to navigate it successfully in an efficient manner.
Traditionally, the locking process is a slow and manual operation with complete reliance on the judgment of the tow pilot and communication of the tow's position by deckhands via handheld radios. Locks present a serious threat to the safety and efficiency of the inland waterways because of expensive accidents, decreased throughput and delay costs that can lead to unreliable delivery schedules and, on occasion, cargo loss resulting from collisions with locks. Thus, there is a need for a system to address many of the issues that often delay freight while being transported on the river system.
By improving a captain's ability to navigate locks in fog, reducing lock transit times, and decreasing the number of debilitating accidents, the waterborne shipping industry could realize tremendous annual savings. Further, increased predictability and decreased transit times would allow more cargo to use the environmentally friendly in-land waterways, thereby reducing traffic on strained road and rail systems and increasing the economic importance of areas in which waterways reside.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an electronic system that will improve the safety and efficiency of the inland waterway system by reducing shipping bottlenecks and improving predictability. First, such a system would preferably reduce average delay and lockage times by providing a way of navigating locks in adverse weather, and in particular, in foggy conditions. Second, it is desired that the dependence of the tow pilot on deckhands for information regarding tow position with respect to the locks be reduced.
In response to the deficiencies noted above, the present invention provides an instrumented lock entry and traversing system. The instrumented lock entry and traversing system is a sensor-based interface system which feeds valuable information through a local area network (LAN) to a computer on a towboat in real time to assist the pilot in navigating a lock. Additionally, the system may also be used to assist the entry and passage of watercraft in closed or narrow quarters, such as harbors, docks and bridge piers. In addition, the system can also provide data collection capabilities for both the tow operator and the lock operator.
As a navigation aid, the present invention is capable of determining the tow distance from key lock structures at the three major stages of a lock approach: 1) when the tow is approximately one half of a mile away from the lock structure; 2) when the tow is at the lock; and, 3) when the tow is inside the lock chamber.
The pilot begins his approach when the tow is approximately one half of a mile away from the lock structure. At this point the system provides him with the distance of the tow from the furthest point on the bank and the distance of the tow head from the tip of the lock guide wall. At this stage of the approach the distances can be updated every five seconds and need to be accurate within at least 10-15 feet.
The tow is considered to be at the lock when the tow head reaches the lock guide wall. At this point the system informs the pilot of the distance of the tow from the bullnose, (the tip of the middle wall of the lock) and the distance of the tow head and the tow stern from the lock guide wall, if the tow is locking into the landward chamber of the lock, or the lock guard wall, if the tow is locking into the riverward chamber of the lock. For this stage of the approach, the distances are preferably updated in real time and need to be accurate within one foot.
Once the tow passes the bullnose, the tow is considered to be inside the lock chamber. At this stage of the approach the system continues to provide the pilot with the distance of the tow head and tow stern from the relevant wall. In addition, the system now informs the pilot of the distance of the tow from the end gates of the lock.
The system comprises four basic components: a pilot interface for providing the pilot with information important for a safe lock transit; a lockmaster interface, for monitoring tows approaching the lock and for inputting local waterway and lock conditions; a wireless network for relaying information between the pilot interface and the lockmaster interface; and, one or more input modules, located anywhere throughout the world, including at the lock and on the tow, that transmit information to the pilot and/or the lockmaster.
The pilot interface consists of visual and/or audio means for delivering the desired information to the pilot, preferably a computer having a visual display and/or audio output devices. Among other information, the following specific information can be supplied to the pilot: tow location with respect to the recommended approach path for the lock; distances between various points on the tow and the lock, weather and river conditions at the lock and the speed of the tow. In addition, the pilot interface can sound warning alarms for such things as approach error and over speed conditions. Preferably, the pilot interface will provide an electronic rendering of a navigation chart for a lock to be navigated, with a representation of the tow and imposed on the chart.
The second component of the present invention is the wireless network which connects the pilot interface to the lockmaster interface, and, in addition, may also connect input modules or sensor modules to the pilot interface. Preferably, the wireless network will provide automatic connection capabilities when the tow is within receiving distance of a wireless signal from the lock, and will provide for the secure exchange of information regarding river and lock conditions from the lock to the tow. Additionally, the pilot interface on the tow may be able to automatically generate and transmit requests for lockage to the lockmaster, and receive clearance from the lockmaster to enter the lock.
The lockmaster interface displays tows within range of the lock wireless signal and displays the details of lockages. The system allows the lockmaster to see which tows are using the system, their progress in the approach to the lock, what lockages are requested (i.e., upstream, down-stream, landward, riverward, etc.), what lockages are being logged, and what critical events have been triggered. It also provides an interface for the lockmaster to update the current lock, river and weather conditions for transmission to the tow pilots. The information transmitted may include, for example, information regarding the direction and strength of waterway currents, current wind direction and speed and fog alerts. Additionally, information regarding the current status of the lock may be transmitted, as well as any special conditions existing in the vicinity of the lock, such as unusual eddies and currents.
The last component of the system consists of one or more input modules for inputting varied information to the pilot interface. Preferably, at least one input module will provide information regarding the position of various portions of the tow and will utilize global positioning system ("GPS") technology, possibly having multiple GPS receivers located at different positions on the tow. Additional modules may include a module to gather manually entered lock configuration data from lock operators, modules transmitting real-time weather information from a location at or near the lock or from the National Weather Center and modules for inputting data from other types of sensors, such as, for example, land-based or tow-based sonar or radar units to provide additional information regarding the range and speed of the tow.
An additional function of the present invention is to provide a point of data collection regarding tows and lockages. As an example, the following types of information could be collected, assembled and shared between the tow and the lock or between upstream and downstream locks: manifest information, tow configuration information, lockage times, including times for the various stages of the lockage, lockage information, such as chamber used, number of cuts, type of lockage (i.e., single, double), etc., trip information, such that an electronic log of the tows progress can be assembled and a history of lock condition information (i.e., typical lockage times given a particular set of conditions, etc.). Such information may also be useful for tow operators to track the positions of their tows along the waterways and to collect historical data relating to tow operations for the purposes of assessing and improving tow performance.
Other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood or apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and appended claims of the invention.
The software architecture of the present invention is shown in
Sensors 104 may be, for example, differential GPS sensors, radar sensors, sonar sensors or any one of a number of other well known technologies for ranging and speed detection. Sensors 104 can interface directly to input module 102, which in turn formats and relays information to pilot display module 100. Alternatively, sensors 105 may wirelessly connect to wireless network 6 to transmit their information either directly to pilot display module 100 or to an intervening input module 103 which in turn formats and sends the data to pilot display module 100. Sensors 105 may have their own IP address and be connected directly to the network or may be connected through another component via a different wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth™. Pilot display module 100 may also utilize an optional text-to-speech (TTS) module 106 to provide audio feedback to the pilot of tow 10. For example, ranging information could be read by TTS module 106 such as to allow the pilot to receive this information without having to constantly visually monitor pilot interface 2. The output device in this case would be speaker 107.
The pilot display module 100 may also receive information via wireless network 6 from lockmaster display module 110, which is preferably running on a computer on the land based side of lock 12. Pilot interface 2 and lockmaster interface 4 may be a commonly available personal computers. Lockmaster display module 110 can also collect information from various land based sensors 104 connected directly to input module 102, which can format and prepare the information for display on lockmaster interface 4. In addition, the lockmaster display module 110 can receive speed and ranging information over a wireless network 6 directly from tow 10 via pilot display module 100. Land based sensors 105 could also wirelessly transmit its information to pilot display module 100 or lockmaster display module 110. Input module 108 may receive information from outside sources such as the National Weather Center over Internet 99 and can format and pass that information to lock master display module 110, which, may relay the information via wireless network 6 to pilot display module 100. Lockmaster display module 110 may also be configured with TTS module 106 driving speaker 107 to alert the lockmaster as to the tows 10 which are approaching the lock or which have come into range of the lock's wireless network signal and have established a connection with lockmaster display module 110.
Preferably, pilot display module 100 and lockmaster display module 110 can be implemented as an applet in a browser or as a stand alone application.
The connection between tow 10 and lock 12 via wireless network 6 is preferably accomplished automatically as the tow 10 approaches lock 12 and comes in close enough proximity to lock 12 to acquire the network interface signal from directional antenna 14 or omni-directional relay antenna 16. However, the connection may also be established manually.
Preferably tow 10 is also equipped with an omni-directional antenna for communication both with lock 12 and with any on-board wireless sensors 105. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the wireless network is a typical wireless link conforming to the 802.11(b) standard using internet protocols, such as TCP/IP and standard HTML messages. However, the wireless network link 6 may also be other types of connections, such as 802.11(a), 802.11(g) or any other type of well-known or proprietary network link, and may use other types of messages, such as MIML (Maritime Information Markup Language).
To properly use the system, it is necessary for tow 10 to tell the system about its configuration and, specifically, about dimensions of the tow boat and the barges in the tow.
As stated previously, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the network link between tow 10 and lock 12 will be made automatically as the tow 10 approaches lock 12 and acquires a signal over wireless network 6. At this point, pilot interface 2 as shown in
Preferably, the display utilizes electronic navigation charts conforming to the IHO S-57 standard, which is a standard for data exchange for electronic navigation charts published by the International Hydrology Organization. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as the network link is made between tow 10 and lock 12, lock 12 will identify itself to tow 10 via some form of secured communication, preferably using secure socket layer (SSL) messaging to insure integrity of the data. The electronic navigation chart can then be looked up in a database on the computer in tow 10 or can be uploaded automatically from lock 12 to tow 10 via wireless network 6.
To request lockage through the lock, the tow pilot would click on button 62 as shown in
In the example provided, window 32 shows that the dam has a 20 foot opening, the river has a weak outward current and winds are medium from the north. Pop-up messages 33, showing distance of tow 10 from the banks and lock 12, are also updated. At this distance from lock 12, distance information need only be updated every 5 seconds and need only be accurate to within 10 to 15 feet of the actual distance. In addition, line 37 is shown indicating the path of tow 10 as it approaches lock 37. Also shown in
As tow 10 approaches closer to lock 12, the screen is preferably zoomed automatically to show more detail with respect to lock 12 and to change the rate as which data flowing to the tow pilot is updated, as shown in
Shown on the screen are tows 10 which are currently in communication with lockmaster display module 110 running on the land-based computer. Lockmaster screen 38 allows the lockmaster to view the lockages by tows 10, to update river conditions by pressing buttons 70, which will bring up screen 26 shown in
Additionally, lockmaster screen 38 allows the lockmaster to authorize passage through a lock by various tows 10.
Button 68 on lockmaster screen 38 allows the lockmaster to configure the lock. The lockmaster must update the locks status and lock code and input any unique characteristics of the lock of which pilot should be aware of, such as eddies and out-drafts. In addition, the navigation chart represented in S-57 format containing the lock and each section of river can be uploaded into the system for transmission to tow 10 and processing of distances. This provides the necessary information for the number of lock chambers, the chamber sizes, the bullnose, the guide wall, the middle wall and the guard wall sizes, as well as the location and the size of the opening of lock 12.
The system of the present invention can use both tow based sensors and land based sensors. The tow based sensors requires the outfitting of tow 10 with the sensors to detect its own location, for example, GPS receivers or radar devices. Sensors, such as radar and cameras, may be installed on the banks above and below the lock as well as on the lock itself. The most essential of the input modules 8 is the sensor module which allows the pilot interface module 100 on tow 10 to determine the position of the tow. This particular input module 8 may be run as an integral part of the pilot display application or as a separate module that transmits its information to the pilot in the same manner as any of the other input modules.
Additional input modules may include a module to gather manually entered lock configuration data from lock operators, modules transmitting real time weather information from a location at or near the lock or from the National Weather Center via the Internet. Other input modules may be connected to sensors located on the lock or elsewhere. All of the input sensors would preferably transmit their information via an SSL encrypted link and in XML format as defined by the system. Each input module 8 preferably has a digital certificate that is used in the SSL transaction which allows the pilot application to determine the source of the information and that the information has not been altered in transit between its source and its receipt by the pilot.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor module which allows the determination of the position and speed of tow 10 is a differential GPS receiver capable of transmitting data using the NMEA Standard, an industry wide standard for the transmission of GPS position information. In addition to outputting the position of the sensor, the sensor may report the heading of the tow using an integrated GPS compass. Using these two pieces of data, in addition to the configuration of the tow as input by the pilot, it is possible to determine the boundaries of the tow with only one GPS receiver. Alternatively, multiple GPS receivers could be positioned at different points along tow 10 to give a more exact reading of the positions of the extremities of the tow. Differential GPS can be used to very accurately identify the location of GPS receivers mounted on the tow boat and barges. Differential GPS can provide accuracy to within a few feet, which will require mounting multiple battery powered GPS receivers at several locations on the barge. As an example, placing four GPS receivers at the four corners of the tow will provide coordinates that can be used to defined the barge boundary. Each GPS unit will require a wireless transmitter or a wired connection to send the GPS information to pilot interface module 100. In addition, a fixed GPS receiver will also be required on the lock to provide the differential correction required to obtain the desired accuracy.
Essential lock and river condition information can be transmitted to tow 10 by a module on lock 12 that is preferably integrated into lockmaster display 4. Lockmaster display 4 allows the lockmaster to input information about main, upstream and downstream currents, wind and dam conditions and lock and dam status information. All data communicated between the lock and the tow is preferably transmitted over a standard 802.11(b) wireless link using standard internet protocols. Data from other input sensors is preferably received into a communications port, such as an RS232 serial port, on the computer running the pilot display component. Input modules 102, 103 and 108 process the positional data to prepare it for display to the pilot and communicate the information to pilot display module 100 preferably over a loopback device, which is a method of sending information to another application on the same computer using the network, as if the information came from another computer.
There are several different types of messages which can be exchanged between the lock and the tow. For example, from the lock to the tow the following messages may be passed: initial lock messages identifying the lock, its lock code and its IP address; a lock condition message containing the most updated conditions of the lock, such as the damn opening, the river conditions and the wind; messages containing the current and forecast weather conditions.
Possible messages from the tow to the lock would include: a tow manifest message identifying the tow, its barge configuration and its load; a tow position message identifying the tow position, its dimensions and its position; lockage time message identifying the tow, the locking vent and the time logged; automatically generated requests for upstream or downstream lockage.
Examples of messages that may be passed between the tow and sensors may include: a sensor message containing the sensor reference point and the detected position or the detected distance and reference point for comparison as well as a time stamp (for a position-reporting type sensor); detected speed information.
Preferably, XML can be used to format all IP messages. In addition, there must be a security protocol for passing messages between components of the system. Although having other tow boats or parties listen to the traffic does not harm the system or compromise its integrity, it is important that tows not become confused as to which messages are intended for a particular tow. In addition, it is important that no tampering be allowed of the data being transmitted to the pilot during the approach. As such, the system must be able to maintain data integrity and be protected from hackers.
In addition to the navigation aid functions, the system of the present invention can collect data for the pilot and the lock in an accurate and timely manner by automatically logging events during a lockage and by gathering input from the pilot regarding the tow. An examples of such information is manifest information. The system can easily collect information about the barges and its load as included in the manifest. Lockage time can be tracked to allow pilots to know the average time to complete the lockage. The system of the present invention should be completely aware of when and how long the different stages of the lockage are from the perspective of the tow boat. In addition to the lockage time, the system of the present invention can also collect other pertinent information about the lockage such as the chamber used, the number of cuts and the type of lockage (i.e., single, double, etc.). In addition, the system can effectively collect information about each and every lockage made by a tow during any particular trip, thereby serving as an electronic log for the tow's trip from which reports can be generated. In addition, locks should be able to communicate with other up-stream and downstream locks to let them know of approaching tows, configuration of the tows, etc. Lastly, lock personnel are expected to update the system with the various conditions of the lock such as the dam opening, current speed and direction. As a result, a history of the lock conditions can also be drawn from the system.
While specific embodiments of the present invention have been used in an exemplary manner, this is not meant to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow.
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Brrr! Baby, it's cold outside! With winter around the corner, are you looking for fun crafts for kids? Living in the south, my darlings never had the opportunity to play with snow, but we crafted plenty of the "white stuff" and adorned our walls with winter flair.With
, it's easier for them to visualize winter by looking at books and...
Get Crafty
4 Simple
Art Projects
Toddler |
Mandy Robinson
As a mama of two girls,
art projects can be so much fun — but messy too. Here's four of my favorite simple art projects to do with my darlings:Cotton ball art. This is one of my daughters' favorite crafts. Print out a picture of a sheep (or use any picture) and then glue cotton balls to cover the sheep. When using glue with kids, it works...
Good Eats
5 Easy Recipes for Kids
Toddler |
Rachael Moshman
As a mom and early childhood educator, I'm always on the watch for easy recipes for kids. Cooking is more than just a fun activity; it also benefits children in many ways. Cooking is a great learning experience. It promotes reading and following directions. It requires math skills, such as measuring and following a sequence. Fine motor skills ...
40 Percent of Parents Give Cold Medication to Young Kids Despite Warnings
Toddler |
Nancy Josephson Liff
Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold meds may be just the thing when a nasty bug strikes mom or dad. But these OTCs should not be given to very young children. However, a new study indicates that as many as 40 percent of parents in a national poll ignore doctors' advice and offer kids under the age of four OTC cold and cough products. ...
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Protect tigers: Keep them out of American backyards
There are about 5,000 captive tigers in the US and most are owned privately as pets—not by zoos.
There are about 5,000 captive tigers in the US and most are owned privately as pets—not by zoos.
Any attack on one human, is an attack on humanity.
Tell US Fish and Wildlife Service it is the right decision to save wild elephants.
Turn out your lights for one hour on Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 pm local time and take a stand against climate change.
My campaign is important because the cruelity which is going on the Palestiians is against the humanity. Wake up bros
Innocent people are being traumatized, injured, and killed every day. This must end!
We need your urgent support to help save the Great Barrier Reef!
Please support our campaign
Every day across Africa, wild elephants are being slaughtered to meet the insatiable demand for ivory. Entire herds are
We call upon the UN,Israeli and Hamas governments to end this violence once and for all. Palestine have all rights to
We need your signature! This petition will be sent to the Israeli, Palestinian, USA and European leaders, calling them
In order to re-enforce the fact that Palestine, even though under Israeli occupation, is still a country, with a flag,


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Pronunciation: plaan
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Does Madonna Have A Rat Problem In Her House!
Check out this interview Madonna did, and pay attention to the 9:55 mark. The back left of the video you will see something run across the floor, and it sure looks like a rat or […]
Kory Chats with Mintaka Senanayake from Disney Guest Services!
Mintaka Senanayake has been with Walt Disney World for 20 years. She is responsible for the seamless arrival experience for our guests. This includes front office, concierge and bell services. She has been a part […]
Kory Chats with Michelle Agnew from Southwest Airlines!
She stopped by to chat with Kory on tonight's show live from Walt Disney World!
Kory Chats with Disney Ambassador Caitlin Busscher
She stopped by to chat with Kory on tonight's show live from Walt Disney World!
VIDEO: Kory Chats With All Time Low
They are at SouthSide ballroom tonight, but they stopped by to hang out for a bit this afternoon!
How 'Uptown Funk' Was Written: Watch
What is it about this song that makes it so universally adored? Songwriter and producer Mark Ronson tells Radio.com that he has no idea. But he does know the story of how "Uptown Funk" came to be.
VIDEO: Kory Chats with Andrew McMahon
We chatted about his current album, his battle with leukemia, and how being married with a kid has changed life on the road.
Here Are The Secrets Revealed From Tonight's Bruce Jenner Interview
The Bruce Jenner interview is set to air tonight, and we have found some of the secrets that are going to be revealed tonight. Our friends over at Radaronline have reported what his boys are […]
We Talked To Nick Jonas Today! Love This Guy!
Nick Jonas was just in town for the ACM Awards, and he was nice enough to swing by and talk with us. We covered everything from the ACM's to his favorite place to eat in […]
Robert Downey Jr. Walks Out In The Middle Of An Interview
This interview just started off bad. The poor guy sounded like he was terrified to begin with. Working in the entertainment industry you know going into the interviews what you can and cant ask. Obviously […]


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Bob Backlund Visits WWE HQ, Eve Torres Selling Apparel Items, Goldberg Note
by Amish Patel - March 13, 2013
– Triple H shared a photo of Bob Backlund's visit to WWE Headquarters on Twitter, with the caption, "Never know when a legend will walk into your office……today, Bob Backlund. #HOF2013″
– Bill Goldberg shot down a Twitter rumor that he has signed a four-year deal with WWE that begins after WrestleMania 29.
– Former WWE Diva Eve Torres is selling several apparel items that she's worn on WWE television, which you can view at this link.
|Former WWE Superstar Issues Statement On Several Wrestler Suing WWE For Allegedly Suffering Injuries
The Hottest WWE news, photos and videos delivered to your inbox in one convenient newsletter. Sign up now and give it a try!
|Doink The Clown's Mother Suing WWE For Wrongful Death, Fraud, And Negligence
|Ex-TNA World Heavyweight Champion Tells Fans Who Didn't Like Slammiversary To Go F**k Themselves
|WWE Censors Cesaro After He Flipped Off John Cena During Their Match On RAW
|WWE RAW Results For June 29th: No DQ Tag Team Match
|What Main Events Is WWE Planning To Do At WrestleMania 32?


text:
Starving pet savages master's body
AN inconvenient truth about Geelong's lonely heart has been exposed after the death of a Norlane man went unnoticed. WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAIL
Libs to decide on same-sex marriage
A SAME-SEX marriage bill with cross-party support will go to federal Parliament on August 11.
Elderly man trapped after carer dies
POLICE have uncovered a tragic scene in Hamlyn Heights after a son died leaving the elderly father he was caring for trapped in a chair.
Claims driver ran down pair
A 29-YEAR-OLD Leopold woman has appeared in Geelong court on serious charges after allegedly driving her car at two people, seriously injuring both.
Smashed driver crashed
A DRUNK driver, who slammed into a house narrowly missing the sleeping occupant before driving off, will undergo treatment for alcohol abuse.
Sorry I messed up the anthem
GEELONG singer Jackson Thomas is sorry for messing up the national anthem on live TV.
Sherrin gives Lara firm the boot
FOOTBALL maker Sherrin has given its Lara leather supplier the boot, a move likely to force the company to close its doors.
Car sped down wrong side of road
A DRIVER reached 140km/h on the wrong side of Bellarine Highway as he fled from police.
Have you seen these faces?
THESE are among Geelong's most wanted, and authorities are urging the public to dob them in.
Fopiani is GFL's best of all time
Which legend of the 1990s was ranked No.1?
Friends indeed
KYLIE OLIVER: A girls' weekend away energises the soul in a way only true friendship can inspire.
Lonely deaths all too common
Shane Fowles, comment PEOPLE dying alone at home, undiscovered for weeks, is sadly all too common.
Let's grow up and allow gay marriage
rebecca maddern DEAR Tony, forgive me for not using your official title, but the whole point of this note is to highlight equality.
From around the site
Greek crisis Unthinkable disaster is looming
THE deadline has passed, and Europe is officially facing an unprecedented catastrophe. So, what happens next?
Prison riot How did they get it so wrong?
UPDATE: AUTHORITIES admit a riot at Melbourne's largest remand centre over a statewide cigarette ban "caught them unawares", as the prison is declared safe following another fire.
The never-ending Corey
CATS star Corey Enright is set to reach 300 games. Look back at his career in pics here.48
Celts beat festive fun drum
ALL things Celtic were celebrated at Portarlington this weekend, with plenty of highlights at the 12th annual festival.24
Country connection felt
INDIGENOUS culture was celebrated at the Connecting to Country ceremony day on Saturday.21
Alan Bond: The one and only
Look back on the spectacularly colourful life of one of Australia's most infamous businessmen, Alan Bond.31
PM shows who's boss on gay marriage
TWO of his own MPs are trying to force him to deal with the issue by introducing their own legislation on same-sex marriage. He's just slapped them down.
RUSH HOUR: The stories you need to know today
A DOLPHIN has caused bloody chaos after jumping in a family's boat, breaking a woman's ankle and 'punching' a young girl. And the family is probably going to need a new boat.
Inside abandoned theme park
IT WAS supposed to be WA's answer to the Gold Coast. A theme park built off the back of a huge economic boom. But it now lies ruined and empty.
Why this man is giving away $41 billion
MOVE over Bill Gates. A Saudi prince has pledged his give away his entire $41 billion fortune. And his reason is impressive.
Inside the world's most 'sextreme' organisation
CONTROVERSIAL "sextremists" are spreading their message across the world, with branches in 18 different countries. But do their methods work?
Google Photo app's 'racist' algorithm
GOOGLE has been forced to apologise after its new Photos app automatically tagged photos of black people as 'gorillas'.
Chris Scott concerned for Joel Selwood
Geelong coach Chris Scott has concerns over Joel Selwood's long term future and it's not hard to see why; the Cats skipper has left the ground under the blood rule more than any other player this year1:03
EJ Whitten Legends Game a ripper
AFL: Some recently retired AFL greats (in the likes of Johnathan Brown and Lenny Hayes) and some not so recent (Billy Brownless and Brendan Fevola) didn't fail to provide entertainment in the 20th EJ Whitten Legends Game.1:29
R11 - Geelong West (18 11 119) Vs. Winchelsea (11 8 74)
GDFL R11 - Geelong West (18 11 119) Vs. Winchelsea (11 8 74)5:02
R11 - Bell Post Hill (15 15 105) Vs. Belmont Lions (10 13 73)
GDFL R11 - Bell Post Hill (15 15 105) Vs. Belmont Lions (10 13 73)5:24
Suns should hold fire on Gaz
The Suns are learning some valuable lessons in Gary Ablett's absence. So with their season already shot, is it worth risking bringing back their skipper?
Scott fears the toll on Joel
CHRIS Scott says the AFL must address work/life balance, fearing burnout and the shortening of players' careers. WATCH VIDEO
Wojo happy with mojo
NEWTOWN & Chilwell coach David Wojcinski says it is premature to be talking premierships after his side thumped last year's grand finalist Leopold.
Cyclists shine in 100 Mile Classic
GEELONG cyclist Nick Squillari rode the fastest time and took third place overall in the handicap 100 Mile Classic at Mt Gambier.
Kyrgios joins Tomic, Stosur in 3rd round
IT's been a big night for Australia at Wimbledon with Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and Sam Stosur all reaching the third round. Relive it in our live blog.
Pies have room for Dangerfield
COLLINGWOOD could launch a bid for Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield with recruiting manager Derek Hine confirming there's room in the salary cap.
EJ Whitten streaker's antics revealed
VIDEO of a streaker at last night's EJ Whitten Legends game has emerged showing a man getting his clothes off in the toilets before running on to the ground.
Claims driver ran down pair
A 29-YEAR-OLD Leopold woman has appeared in Geelong court on serious charges after allegedly driving her car at two people, seriously injuring both.
Lonely deaths all too common
Shane Fowles, comment PEOPLE dying alone at home, undiscovered for weeks, is sadly all too common.
Our most expensive demolition job?
THIS modest brick-veneer house has a price tag north of $8 million, but probably won't last much longer than settlement.
Lyons unlocks Diana picture archive
THE archives of Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons have been unlocked with 70 photographs of Princess Diana set to go on display.
Photo galleries
Out and about
WERE you snapped by our roving photographer at Geelong's pubs and clubs?61
Let the good times roll
Geelong nightlife picture gallery. Pictures: Jackie Paige Sanders, June 7, 201425
Celtic coast
Opening night at the 2014 National Celtic Festival in Portarlington.11
The cat's meow
COIFFURED cats had their claws out for a win at yesterday's Geelong All Breeds Cat Show.11
Stacks of fun at show
Country-style fun took centre stage at the 24th annual Bellarine Show.15
Geelong nightlife
RAVE gallery from around Geelong's pubs and clubs.14
The reason Affleck, Garner split
INSIDERS have told why Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's marriage crumbled and it seems there is a clue in the Batman star's former celeb relationships.
Arya Stark talks first sex scene
GAME Of Thrones' Maisie Williams, aka Arya Stark, has told of how she handled her first sex scene on screen and what she thinks of nudity in film.
Genisys is worst Terminator movie ever
REVIEW: It's clunky, lame and far too long. Not even Emilia Clarke — not to mention Arnie — can save Terminator Genisys.
Friends indeed
KYLIE OLIVER: A girls' weekend away energises the soul in a way only true friendship can inspire.
Daring to change the world
Conservationist Kelly O'Shanassy talks growing up in Corio and campaigning in Canberra.
Precious arrival for River's Gift couple
Highton couple Alex Hamilton and Karl Waddell share their baby joy and dedication to SIDS awareness
Meet new gt columnist Julia Green
Interior stylist Julia Green has fallen in love with Barwon Heads and its coastal community
Pastors 'walk out with bags of cash'
IT'S the glitzy gospel church with Justin Bieber as its new pin-up boy. But, according to a report, Hillsong is making millions while parishioners are being exploited.
News Macca's fans have been waiting for
THIS is not a drill. We repeat, this is not a drill. It's already happening overseas but now McDonald's is about to make its Aussie fans really happy.
11-year-old's perfect breakup texts
IN A playground romance gone-bad, this 11-year-old has called out her dodgy boyfriend in a series of hilarious breakup texts.
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Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar seem to work. That's really not a surprise. You put me with Kopitar and I will score a few goals too. Give me the opportunity to dish the puck to Jeff Carter and he will… Read More ›
L.A. Kings News
LA Kings Continue to Find New Ways to Lose. Drop One to Wings 3-1.
All of the hustle and hard work, all of the forecheck and backcheck, all of the shots on goal and doing the little things right do not mean a whole hell of a lot if you cannot bury the puck… Read More ›
Kings vs. Wings. Black is the New Red
Let Our ice hold the blood of those who once commanded respect and fear. Let their pain echo off Our walls. Their time is only relevant to history now. Today, the winged wheel is but a broken relic, tossed aside… Read More ›
Jonathan Quick Makes My Groin Large. Kings Beat Canucks 3-1
As goaltenders go, they don't make them any more sexy that Jonathan Quick. He misses nearly 2 months of action and, in his first game back, makes Vancouver Canucks forwards and defensemen suck it. These diving prima donnas have not… Read More ›
Kings Beat Canucks. Yeah I Wrote it, Asshole
I am angry. I've been angry for a few days. No, anger is not the same as the whining I am hearing from those who think the Kings need to trade the bottom six for a bunch of ninnies or… Read More ›
Tonight's Game Never Happened. Nor Did The 3 Preceding
Enjoy your New Year. Fuck! I am drinking. Drink. It heals the 0-4 wounds. FUCK!
Stupid Nasville, Stupid Refs, Stupid Defense
I hated this game. From puck drop, it felt disjointed. The defense didn't look like ours. The forecheck looked slow. Playing the Predators is like masturbating with a condom on. Stupid call on Toffoli. Very basketball. Stupid game winning goal… Read More ›
Ugly Green Sweaters @ LA Kings: Pregame and Open Forum
Our LA Kings take on the neon laced Dallas Stars tonight at home. Everything I ever cared to know about the Dallas Stars I have forgotten and I don't care to learn much more about them. In other words, you're… Read More ›
LA Kings beat Colorado Avalanche in a 3 – 2 league
I enter every shootout in a bad mood. I do enjoy leaving them in a better mood. As much as I hate this ridiculous exhibition to decide a regular-season hockey game, watching Martin Jones put on a clinic on goaltending… Read More ›
Oilers Yesterday, Sharks Tomorrow. Win, Win.
The Oilers are the young, dumb team. If they were a chick, we would want a few more rounds with her but could never take her seriously. The Sharks are the Sharks. The same fuckers we have known for years…. Read More ›
Blowing Things Back Into Proportion
Yes, we just finished a 4 game road trip 3-1 with 6 out of 8 points. Yes, we had two back to back games. No, we cannot win every game. No, our defense and goaltending does not suck because we… Read More ›
And Then There Was The Blackhawks
So, the Kings are kinda kicking some major ass lately. Carter is on a tear. Kopi is picking his game up. The defense is rocking and scoring. Martin Jones is an animal. We burned a hot trail through the frozen… Read More ›
Kings versus Senators. Open Forum
Oh look, another Canadian team that scores a lot of goals but doesn't know how to play defense. No team in the NHL is bad enough to take lightly or too good to be beat. I consider the Ottawa Senators… Read More ›
Rumbles from the Jungle
So there have been twelve games since I last reported from the Jungle, and in those games, they have a record of 7-4-0-1. It should be noted that the last two losses were in shootouts; something they have actually been… Read More ›
L.A. Kings Beat Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1. Thank You London, Ontario Moms
I hate the Montreal Canadians. I don't hate the Toronto Maple Leafs. Can't hate any team that has our old boy, Jonathan Bernier or a great Wisconsin talent like Phil Kessel. This isn't about them. This is about the great mothers… Read More ›


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Moviehouse One, our grand downstairs theatre, seats 440 people. The theatre features state-of-the-art film projection as well as a large stage ideal for panel discussions, Q&A's, and live performances.
Moviehouse Two used to be the balcony when the Coolidge was a one-theatre house. It is now a medium-size, 217-seat theatre featuring state-of-the-art film projection and audio, as well as a small stage ideal for director q&a's, small performances and group discussions.
The GoldScreen seats 14 in our plush deluxe seats and features high-definition digital projection
The Video Screening Room seats 45 and features high-definition digital projection.
Sunday, April 13
1hr 57mins // directed by:Christian Alvart
Gisela Werler is 30, single, works in a wallpaper factory, and lives with her parents in modest circumstances. A middle-class life, no different than that of countless other young women in West Germany in the 1960s. But she has a dream: Capri. And it finally seems within reach when she meets the charming Hermann, cab driver and bank robber. She falls for him, quick and hard.
Hermann begs him to take her with him on his bank heists – and proves to be a gifted, if not quite cold-blooded, robber of her own. It's the beginning of a notorious new duo, the Bonnie and Clyde of suburban Hamburg. Based on the true story of Germany's first woman bank robber, Banklady relates the sudden transformation of a shy wallflower into a notorious bank robber in the 1960s. Per


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Treatise on Tssawuf by 17th century Wali Sultaan BaHu (RA)
Weak hadeeth in whic describes a conversation between Rasoolullah (SAW) and s...
40 Hadith Qudsi
A description of what sins are considered to be major according Islam
A explaination of religion, politics, and tassawuf by Murabitun leader Abdul ...
An English rendering of an Urdu speech on Bay'ah and Tasawwuf in Islam, in th...
Definition on how to properly seek assistance from Rasoolullah (SAW)
Biography of Ghawth ul Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani.
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Straight Guys Caught On Tape 19 - Scene 5
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A bubble making device which is powered solely by the wind or forced air, the device having a fan which is rotated by the wind which in turns operates a pumping assembly to deliver bubble forming fluid to a plural number of rotating wands, the wands also being rotated by the rotation of the fan. The bubble forming fluid is applied directly to the wands by a brush or wiper applicator, and any excess fluid is recaptured and returned into the main receptacle. The device is light-weight and virtually spill-proof.
1. A wind-powered bubble making device comprising:
(A) a rotating wand assembly and a wind-powered fan assembly connected to means to transfer rotation from said fan assembly to said rotating wand assembly, such that rotation of said fan assembly causes the wand assembly to rotate, said wand assembly having a plurality of wands for forming bubbles;
(B) a generally closed fluid reservoir assembly containing bubble-making fluid;
(C) applicator means to apply said bubble-making fluid to said wands;
(D) pumping means to deliver said bubble-making fluid from said reservoir assembly to said applicator means, where said pumping means is powered by said fan assembly.
2. The device of claim 1, where said fan assembly comprises a fan axle and where said rotating wand assembly is mounted onto a secondary axle.
3. The device of claim 2, where said means to transfer rotation from said fan assembly to said rotating wand assembly comprises a pulley reduction assembly connecting said fan axle to said secondary axle.
4. The device of claim 2, where a cam is mounted onto said fan axle and where said pumping means comprises a spring-biased piston within a casing, and where said cam reciprocatingly moves said piston to deliver bubble-making fluid to said applicator means.
5. The device of claim 4, where said means to transfer rotation from said fan assembly to said rotating wand assembly comprises a pulley reduction assembly connecting said fan axle to said secondary axle.
6. The device of claim 1, where said wands each comprise an apertured end and said applicator means applies said bubble-making fluid directly to said apertured ends.
7. The device of claim 6, where said applicator means comprises a wiper.
8. The device of claim 6, where said applicator means comprises a brush.
9. The device of claim 1, further comprising fluid recycling means for returning any of said bubble-making fluid which falls from said wands to said fluid reservoir assembly.
10. The device of claim 9, where said fluid recycling means comprises a catch basin positioned beneath said wands, a drain in the bottom of said catch basin and a drain conduit connecting said drain to said fluid reservoir assembly.
11. The device of claim 10, where said fluid recycling means further comprises a check valve mounted within said drain conduit which prevents said bubble-making fluid from flowing from said fluid reservoir assembly to said catch basin.
12. The device of claim 1, where said fluid reservoir assembly comprises a removable receptacle body.
13. The device of claim 1, further comprising mounting means to connect said device to other objects.
14. The device of claim 13, where said mounting means comprises a line attachment member and a kite attachment member for connecting said device to a kite.
The invention relates generally to the field of bubble making devices, and more particularly to the field of wind-powered bubble making devices.
Various devices which create bubbles are well known, some as simple as a hand-held looped wand which is dipped into a bubble-making solution to achieve a thin film stretched across the loop, through which air is then blown from the mouth of the user. Because of the popularity of such entertainment devices, the state of the art of bubble makers has advanced. First, bubble makers having multiple loops were developed to increase the number of bubbles produced from a single blow or by pulling the larger wand rapidly through the air. The next progressive step in the art was the development of automatic or powered bubble makers, such as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,498,191 to DeMars, 5,613,890 to DeMars, 5,462,469 to Lei, 5,078,636 to Clarke et al., 5,269,715 to Silveria et al., which do not require the user to blow through the wands to create the bubbles. One particular style of these more advanced bubble making devices operate similarly to a propeller or windmill, wherein a plural number of looped wands extend from a hub connected in some manner to a wind-powered, rotating fan or propeller, the wands being sequentially passed through a reservoir containing the bubble-making solution by rotation of the propeller or fan, which in turn exposes the loops to a current of air. Examples of such devices are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,862,320 to Mayo, 3,008,263 to Ellman, and 5,542,869 to Petty. These devices can be placed in a wind stream to automatically and continually produce a multitude of bubbles as long as the wind moves the fan and the bubble-making solution remains in sufficient amount in the reservoir to properly coat the wand loops. A problem with these devices is that the reservoirs are open topped containers which are filled with bubble-making solution from a second container, and once filled the reservoirs are susceptible to spillage if the device is moved or bumped.
It is an object of this invention to provide an automatic, wind-powered, bubble making device which does not utilize an open-topped, solution-filled reservoir to coat the rotating wands, such that very little or no spillage occurs if the device is bumped or tipped. These and other objects which will be clear from the description below are accomplished by providing a pumping mechanism operated by the fan which draws bubble-making solution from a closed reservoir and supplies it directly to the loops of the rotating wands, with any excess solution falling into a catch basin where it is recycled into the closed reservoir.
The invention is an automatic, wind-powered, bubble making device comprising in general a fluid reservoir assembly for retaining bubble-making solution in a generally closed manner, a fan assembly which is rotated by the wind or other moving air stream, such as may be produced by pushing the device through the air, and means to transfer the rotational movement of the fan assembly to a secondary axle to power pumping means and to rotate a wand assembly, the pumping means delivering the bubble-making solution from the reservoir assembly to applicator means which apply the solution to the apertured ends of the rotating wand assembly, with the wand assembly rotating to expose the film applied on the wands to the air stream to produce bubbles and to return the empty wands to the applicator means. The device further comprises a fluid recycling assembly which captures any excess bubble-making fluid falling from the wands and returns the fluid to the main reservoir. Check valves are preferably provided such that the solution will be retained within the fluid reservoir in the event the device is tipped of bumped. Mounting means may be provided for attaching the device to fixed objects, kites, bicycles, boats, cars or other vehicles.
FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention, shown partially exposed.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a partially exposed, cross-sectional view of the pumping means for transfer of the bubble making fluid from the reservoir to the applicator means.
FIG. 5 is a partially exposed, cross-sectional view of the fluid recycling assembly.
FIG. 6 shows the invention as attached to a kite.
In general, the invention is a wind-powered, bubble making device, where the bubblemaking fluid is transferred from a generally enclosed storage reservoir to an applicator means by the rotation of a fan and where also the bubble-making wands are sequentially rotated past the applicator means by the rotation of the fan. With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the invention broadly comprises a fluid reservoir assembly 10, a fan assembly 20, means 30 to transfer rotation from the fan to a bubble-forming wand assembly 60, wind-powered pumping means 40 to transfer bubble-making fluid 98 from the reservoir 10 for application onto the wands 62 of a bubble-forming wand assembly 60, and a fluid recycling assembly 80 for capturing excess fluid 98 and returning it to the fluid reservoir assembly 10.
The fluid reservoir assembly 10 comprises a generally closed container or receptacle body 11 having sides and a bottom for retaining the liquid bubble-making solution or fluid 98 therein. The receptacle body 11 is constructed to correspondingly mate with a cap or base member 12, which as shown encompasses the means to secure the receptacle body 11 to the operational components of the device, the cap member 12 acting as a base to which various other components are attached. In the preferred embodiment, the cap 12 and receptacle 11 are threaded so that they can be repeatedly joined and detached, thereby allowing the receptacle 11 to be refilled with fluid 98 when the supply has been depleted. The cap member 12 may be sized so as to fit onto the standard bottles in which bubble-forming fluid 98 is sold, thus allowing the user to use the new bottle as the receptacle 11 as opposed to having to pour the fluid 98 into the original receptacle 11. The particular dimensions of the receptacle may vary, provided the rotation of the fin blades 21 is not obstructed and provided that the suction tube 43 which is the conduit to remove the fluid 98 from the receptacle 11 is properly sized to reach to the bottom of the receptacle 11. An adaptor sleeve, properly sized and threaded to mate with the threats of the cap 12 and the threads of a large, broad-shouldered, bubble-making solution bottle, may be provided to raise the blades 21 above the shoulder of the large bottle. Alternatively, the receptacle 11 may be permanently joined to the cap or base member 12 and a removable plug or seal provided to refill the receptacle 11.
The fan assembly 20 comprises a plural number of blades 21 mounted onto a hub 22, which is joined to a rotating fan axle 23. The fan axle 23 is connected to the other operating components of the device by a fixed fan mounting means 24, which as shown is mounted onto the cap member 12. The fan assembly 10 is preferably formed of light-weight materials, such as plastic, such that the blades 21 are easily rotated whenever the wind is blowing or whenever the device is physicaly moved in the forward axial direction. The blades 21 may be shaped in any manner suitable for this purpose. Rotation of the blades 21 by wind power results in rotation of the fan axle 23, and this rotational force is used to power both the fluid pumping means 40 and the rotating wand assembly 60 to produce bubbles. Because the revolutions per minute (rpm) of the fan blades 21 will be much higher than is required or desired for pumping the fluid 98 and rotating the bubble wands 62, means 30 to transfer rotation from the fan axle 23 of the fan assembly 20 to a secondary axle 35 to power the pumping means 40 and to rotate the wand assembly 30 must also reduce the rpm of the blades 21. This reduction in rpm also increases torque, which is necessary for driving the pumping means 40.
As shown in the figures, the reduction means 30 to transfer rotation from the fan axle 23 to the secondary axle 35 is accomplished by a pulley reduction assembly 31. The pulley assembly comprises a small pulley 32 mounted onto the fan axle 23 and a large pulley 34 mounted onto the secondary axle 35, with a belt 33, smooth or toothed, extending snugly between the two pulleys 32 and 34, although the belt 33 could directly encircle the fan axle 23 without the small pulley 32. Because of the disparity in circumference between the small pulley 32 and large pulley 34, it takes multiple rotations of the fan axle 23 to result in a single rotation of the secondary axle 35. Although the actual ratio will be dependent on the force necessary to drive the particular pumping means 40 and on the size and number of wands 62, as well as other factors, a reduction ratio of 16:1 has been found to be suitable for this purpose in the embodiment as shown. Alternatively, the transfer reduction means 30 could comprise a gear box assembly with enmeshed reduction gears, or any other rotational reduction assembly known in the art.
The secondary axle 35 is mounted onto and through the pump housing 42. The wand assembly 60 is mounted onto the end of the secondary axle 35, and comprises a plural number of wands 62 joined to a hub 61 connected directly to the secondary axle 35. The wands 62 extend radially from the hub 61 and axle 35, and each wand 62 comprises an apertured end or loop 63, preferably circular with a surface optimally formed as known in the bubble making art, across which a film of bubble-forming fluid 98 is deposited such that air passing through the apertured end 63 will cause a bubble to form and detach from the wand 62. The apertured end 63 of each wand 62 is preferably positioned such that the plane containing the loops 63 is perpendicular to the axis of the secondary axle 35. The wand assembly 60 is preferably formed of light-weight materials, such as plastic, such that a relatively small amount of force is required to rotate the wands 62.
The secondary axle 35 also operates the pumping means 40 to deliver fluid 98 from the reservoir assembly 10 to the wand assembly 60. The pumping means 40 may be any suitable type which can be powered by the rotational energy of the rotating fan blades 21 without need for additional or alternative power means. As shown in detail in FIG. 4, a preferred embodiment of pumping means 40 comprises a suction tube or conduit 43 having an open end 44 and which extends from a tubular pump casing 52 fully into the interior of the fluid receptacle 11. Positioned within the casing 52 is a hollow piston member 53 which is axially movable relative to the casing 52. A spring member 54 biases the piston 53 in the extended position unless sufficient force is applied to compress the spring 54. When the piston 53 advances outwardly after being depressed, a suction is created within casing 52 which draws fluid 98 from the reservoir receptacle 11 and into the lower interior of the casing 52. A first one-way check valve 55, shown as a ball-type check valve, is positioned at the juncture of the casing 52 and the suction tube 43, such that fluid can be drawn into the casing 52 from the suction tube 43, but will not flow from the casing 52 back into the suction tube 43 and reservoir 11.
The piston 53 is open on its interior end and constructed to define a second one-way check valve 56, shown as a ball-type check valve, whereby fluid 98 may flow into the piston 53 through the interior end when the piston 53 is pushed into the casing 52, but where fluid 98 cannot flow out of the piston 53 through the interior end when the piston is extended by the action of spring member 54. A fluid delivery conduit 45 is communicatingly connected to the exposed exterior end of the piston 53. When the piston 53 is depressed, fluid 98 present in the lower section of the casing 52 is forced into the interior of piston 53 and the fluid 98 present in the piston 53 is forced into the delivery conduit 45. When the depressive force is removed, the spring member 54 extends the piston 53 from the casing 52, which again draws fluid 98 into the lower portion of the casing 52. Such pumps are well known in the art. Alternatively, a vane-type pump or other construction may be substituted for the pump construction as described, provided that the pumping operation can be accomplished solely through the force generated by the rotating fan blades 21.
As shown in the FIG. 4, the piston 53 is moved by a cam member 51 mounted onto secondary axle 35. The off-center positioning of the cam 51 depresses the piston 53 during certain segments of rotation and allows the spring member 54 to extend the piston 53 during the other segments. Alternative operative elements, such as a camshaft or gearing could also be utilized to provide reciprocating movement to the piston 53. In this manner, rotation of the fan blades 21 by wind rotates fan axle 23, which in turn rotates secondary axle 35 to cycle piston 53 to deliver bubble-forming fluid 98 through fluid conduit 45.
The bubble-forming fluid 98 passes through the conduit 45 to the applicator means 46, which applies the fluid 98 to the apertured end 63 of each wand 62 in a manner which produces a thin film across the aperture itself, such that a bubble will be formed when air passes through the aperture. Applicator means 46 comprises a member which spreads the fluid 98 delivered from conduit 45 from a drop or stream configuration into a sheet configuration by direct contact with the apertured end 63 as it is rotated past the applicator means 46. In one embodiment, the applicator means 46 may comprises a wiper 47 formed by a sheet of slightly flexible plastic or similar material, as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the applicator means comprises a brush 48 as shown in FIG. 4. The fluid 98 is deposited at or near the top center of the brush 48, from where is spreads laterally. The fluid 98 is transferred from the wiper 47 or brush 48 to the apertured end 63 of the wand 62 as the wand 62 rotates past the wiper 47 or brush 48. The applicator means 46 is positioned such that the apertured end 63 of the wand 63 contacts it as it rotates by. As the apertured end 63 passes from the applicator means 46, a film of fluid 98 is left on the wand 62. The wand 62 then rotates approximately 270 degrees into the exposed vertical position where the bubbles are formed by the force of wind or air currents passing through the apertured end 63. The now empty wand 62 then continues in its rotation to pass by the applicator means 46 for a new film of fluid 98 to be applied. The brush 48 is the preferred embodiment of the applicator means 46 because it produces a more even distribution of fluid 98 on the wand 62 with less excess fluid 98 to drip from the wand 62 during its continued rotation.
Because there may be excess fluid 98 applied to the wand 62, the device further comprises a fluid recycling assembly 80, shown best in FIG. 5. The recycling assembly 80 mainly comprises a relatively large catch basin 81 having sloped walls which direct fluid 98 into a drain 82 at its lowermost point. A drain conduit 84 with an open lower end 85 connects the catch basin 81 to the receptacle body 11, such that any excess fluid 98 drains back into the receptacle 11 for re-application. Preferably, a drain one-way check valve 83 is positioned within conduit 84, such that fluid 98 can only flow into the receptacle 11 and not in the reverse direction. With this construction, the device is essentially spill-proof, since the majority of fluid is contained in the closed receptacle body 11 rather than in an open basin into which the wands 62 are dipped, and further in that the drain check valve 83 prevents reverse flow through the drain conduit 84 should the device be tipped over.
The device as described is self-supporting and can be utilized on any horizontal surface or hand-held. The device may also be provided with mounting means for connecting the device to non-horizontal supports or to secure the device to horizontal supports, thus allowing the device to be attached to moving articles such as bicycles, automobiles, boats, etc. Because of the lightweight construction of the device, with no need for heavy batteries or motors to power the pumping or rotating mechanisms, the device can even be provided with a kite mounting assembly 71, as shown in FIG. 6. The kite mounting assembly 71 comprises a generally triangular frame 72 attached to the receptacle body 11 and cap member 12, with an angled portion having one or more line attachment members 73, such as an eyelet or ring, and/or one or more kite attaching members 74, such as a hook or clip, for securing the upper portion of the frame 72 to a kite 99. When the kite 99 is flown, the device will produce a steady stream of bubbles.
It is understood that certain equivalents and substitutions for elements and components set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art, and thus the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.
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"The campus development, which will give a central point of arrival and enable students to work together across faculties, is part of the university's ambition to create the best riverside campus in Europe." The Sunday Times University Guide 2012.
22, May, 2015 MBA Leadership Week 2015
MBA Leadership Week brings together our entire MBA programme cohort for an intensive combination of academic and practical workshops at Aberdeen Business School.
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Why is Taken rated PG-13?
Official MPAA Rating: Taken is rated PG-13 for for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language.
This film about a father trying to rescue his daughter from the European sex trade features discussions about that topic, along with many scenes of aggressive violence. The protagonist is able to kill with his hands and confronts a variety of enemies that he strangles, stabs, bludgeons, shoots or tortures (one extended scene shows a man tied to a chair through which electricity is applied). Most of the violence is bloodless, however this is a film about vengeance and no regard is given to asking questions before enacting vigilante force. Women are seen, some of them partially clad and drugged, in a prostitution operation. A young woman states her desire of wanting a man to sleep with her. Language includes some mild and moderate profanities, along with scatological expletives and terms of deity. Social drinking is portrayed. Addictive drugs are used to subdue women.


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Bottled water, a global environmental disaster • 89 billion plastic water bottles are sold every year in the world. • Their production creates 3 million tons of CO2 every year • The USA burn 17 millions tons of crude oil every year to produce bottles for water. • China multiplicated its bottled water consumption by 4 in 4 years • 90% of the water bottles end up in garbage (30 million per day). Some of them can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade. • Bottles incineration creates chlorine gas and heavy metal ashes. • 1 liter of bottled water consumes 162 g of oil and seven liters of water • 1 liter of bottled water creates 100g of CO2.
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