After wakeup, FE-1 Shkaplerov performed the routine inspection of the SM PSS Caution & Warning panel as part of regular Daily Morning Inspection.
CDR Burbank conducted Part 1 of the periodic personal acoustic measurement protocol, distributing crew-worn acoustic dosimeters from the SMK to the Increment 30 crew, i.e., Anatoly, Anton & himself, for a 24-hr data take.
Working on the SODI-COLLOID (Selectable Optical Diagnostics Instrument - Colloid) hardware in the MSG WV (Work Volume) in COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory), Dan supported subsequent ground-commanded operations by exchanging the DSC (Diffusion Soret Coefficient) Flash Disk from the Colloid Flash Disk Container.
Anton Shkaplerov conducted the regular (weekly) inspection of the replaceable half-coupling of the 4GB4 hydraulic unit of the KOB-2 (Loop 2) of the Russian SOTR Thermal Control System, checking for coolant fluid hermeticity (leak-tightness).
Afterwards, FE-1 took a documentary photograph of the air duct fastening on SM panel 101, and also of fastening locations of the VN1 & VN2 fans on SM panels 219 and 305. Images were then transferred to OCA for downlink.
Ivanishin undertook his first session with the Russian behavioral assessment TIPOLOGIA (MBI-20), setting up the workstation, connecting equipment, suiting up and launching the program on the RSK1 laptop. [Shkaplerov stood by to assist Anatoly in donning the electrode cap, preparing the head for the electrodes and applying electrode gel from the Neurolab-RM2 kit. Data were recorded on a PCMCIA memory card and downlinked via OCA comm. MBI-20 studies typological features of operator activity of the ISS crews in long-term space flight phases, with the subject using a cap with EEG (electroencephalogram) electrodes. The experiment, which records EEGs, consists of the Luescher test, "adaptive biological control" training, and the games Minesweeper and Tetris. The Luescher color diagnostic is a psychological test which measures a person's psychophysical state, his/her ability to withstand stress, to perform and to communicate. It is believed to help uncover the cause of psychological stress, which can lead to physical symptoms. An EEG measures and records the electrical activity of the brain.]
With the Lab camcorder configured to provide live views, Dan Burbank worked several hours on the PACE (Preliminary Advanced Colloids Experiment) science payload in the FIR FCF (Fluids Integrated Rack Fluids & Combustion Facility), configuring the hardware, cleaning out oil from the AFC (Auxiliary Fluids Container), removing the old sample and starting the processing of tissue sample #2002. [PACE is an interesting Technology experiment, designed to investigate the capability of conducting high magnification colloid experiments with the LMM (Light Microscopy Module) for determining the minimum size particles which can be resolved with it.
Today's activity steps included opening the FIR doors, then cleaning up oil from inside the AFC and removing PACE sample #2004 from the PACE Test Target. Next, Dan retrieved tissue sample #2002, mounted the PACE test target and installed the sample and the PACE oil dispenser into the LMM AFC. The AFC front door was closed and the oil started to be dispensed onto the sample. The LMM Spindle Bracket Assembly was then rotated to the Operate position and the rack doors were closed. The new experiment run, which uses the newly installed PACE LED (Light-Emitting Diode) Base to allow illumination from below the samples (or trans-illumination), will enable the ground to use the LMM microscope to examine tissue and particle samples and also characterize the microscope for ACE (Advanced Colloids Experiment) scheduled to begin in 2012.
ACE Objective: To remove gravitational jamming and sedimentation so that it is possible to observe how order arises out of disorder and to learn to control this process. Small colloidal particles can be used to model atomic systems and to engineer new systems. Colloids are big enough (in comparison to atoms) to be seen and big enough that their evolution can be recorded with a camera. With a confocal microscope, templates, and grids, we can observe this process in 3-D and learn to control it.]
2011年12月8日星期四
2011年10月20日星期四
The US$20,000 Shannon Solo - remote-control, construction industry workhorse carries 500 kg
The Shannon Solo Dumper is an easy-to-operate, remote-control, 4WD, high-tipper-dumper with a carrying capacity of 500 kg and remote-control-range of 100 metres. It has been so successful, that so well received that Fire Hose, Sprayer and Mower versions have been added.
The Shannon Solo is one of those ideas which stands out as a winner from the moment you realise what it is, how much safer it can make things, and how much work it can do. Manual labour is hard work. It also costs a lot, partly because it's labour-intensive and partly because human beings cost a lot of money to keep safe and insure.
British entrepreneurs Stuart Selway and Ryan Symes recognized the health and safety trends affecting the construction (and related) industries several years ago because they were running a construction hire company and were constantly being asked for machinery which would make workers safer. They tried to find a suitable remote control base vehicle to facilitate what they had in mind, and couldn't find one.
So they drew up what they wanted and built it.
The result is the Shannon Solo, which has a hydraulic, four-wheel-drive base vehicle capable of traveling at 8 mph and of climbing inclines up to 25 degrees. Initially conceived as a dumper, the base 16 hp motive unit has now been adapted to a range of applications, with more to come.
The most obvious advantage of the Solo in each of its guises is that it removes the operator from harm's way. The remote controlled Solo machines can operate in hazardous areas without risk to the operator. The potential for the application of the Solo Dumper in common situations where people are normally at risk stretches the imagination - quarries, near deep water, road and freeway repairs, airports, power stations, railway sites, construction sites, contaminated land, demolition sites or areas where there is a risk of falling debris.
Similarly, the Shannon Solo Dumper will find application almost anywhere where a normal dumper is used where there is unstable ground or steep gradients where there is a risk that a normal mini dumper could topple and injure the operator.
The Dumper can also reduce risk if the operational site is adjacent to deep water such as alongside rivers or canals. Quite clearly, there is no shortage of work for the Shannon Dumper because it can considerably reduce the number of times a person is exposed to danger.
The Shannon Solo Firehose is the perfect tool for tackling dangerous industrial building fires where there is a high risk of exploding gas bottles or chemical exposure. It connects quickly to a standard fire hose and can approach dangers for the spraying of water or foam without high risk to the operator who will be 100 metres further away from the danger. The fire hose can also be angled into different positions to direct water jets accurately.
Shannon also sees application of the Solo Fire Hose in dust suppression in quarries, crowd control, demolition sites and for aerating ponds, lakes or rivers, delivering up to 900 litres per minute at 10 bar pressure. Using the optional auxiliary oil supply the SOLO is capable of running hydraulic tools up to 20 litres per minute via quick release couplings.
The list price of the Solo Firehose is GBP19,500 though this can be reduced by GBP2,500 if the company concerned already has its own fire monitor.
The Shannon Solo is one of those ideas which stands out as a winner from the moment you realise what it is, how much safer it can make things, and how much work it can do. Manual labour is hard work. It also costs a lot, partly because it's labour-intensive and partly because human beings cost a lot of money to keep safe and insure.
British entrepreneurs Stuart Selway and Ryan Symes recognized the health and safety trends affecting the construction (and related) industries several years ago because they were running a construction hire company and were constantly being asked for machinery which would make workers safer. They tried to find a suitable remote control base vehicle to facilitate what they had in mind, and couldn't find one.
So they drew up what they wanted and built it.
The result is the Shannon Solo, which has a hydraulic, four-wheel-drive base vehicle capable of traveling at 8 mph and of climbing inclines up to 25 degrees. Initially conceived as a dumper, the base 16 hp motive unit has now been adapted to a range of applications, with more to come.
The most obvious advantage of the Solo in each of its guises is that it removes the operator from harm's way. The remote controlled Solo machines can operate in hazardous areas without risk to the operator. The potential for the application of the Solo Dumper in common situations where people are normally at risk stretches the imagination - quarries, near deep water, road and freeway repairs, airports, power stations, railway sites, construction sites, contaminated land, demolition sites or areas where there is a risk of falling debris.
Similarly, the Shannon Solo Dumper will find application almost anywhere where a normal dumper is used where there is unstable ground or steep gradients where there is a risk that a normal mini dumper could topple and injure the operator.
The Dumper can also reduce risk if the operational site is adjacent to deep water such as alongside rivers or canals. Quite clearly, there is no shortage of work for the Shannon Dumper because it can considerably reduce the number of times a person is exposed to danger.
The Shannon Solo Firehose is the perfect tool for tackling dangerous industrial building fires where there is a high risk of exploding gas bottles or chemical exposure. It connects quickly to a standard fire hose and can approach dangers for the spraying of water or foam without high risk to the operator who will be 100 metres further away from the danger. The fire hose can also be angled into different positions to direct water jets accurately.
Shannon also sees application of the Solo Fire Hose in dust suppression in quarries, crowd control, demolition sites and for aerating ponds, lakes or rivers, delivering up to 900 litres per minute at 10 bar pressure. Using the optional auxiliary oil supply the SOLO is capable of running hydraulic tools up to 20 litres per minute via quick release couplings.
The list price of the Solo Firehose is GBP19,500 though this can be reduced by GBP2,500 if the company concerned already has its own fire monitor.
2011年10月17日星期一
'Water witcher' is in high demand
Spencer Powell and his drilling crew assembled behind the Living Word Harvester Church at a spot where, according to Powell's ancient craft, they would find water.
Powell, 59, learned to dowse for water more than 40 years ago from an old "water witcher" known simply as Mr. Ray. Now Powell runs a dowsing and drilling business, Diversified Water Well Drilling, and he carries a notebook filled with the lengthening list of those seeking his services. Demand has skyrocketed in recent months here, about 180 miles west of Dallas, and statewide, fueled by the ongoing drought, heat wave and a boom in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a type of oil drilling that requires lots of water.
To find the best place to drill behind the church, Powell stopped by a few weeks earlier and grabbed two L-shaped divining rods he keeps stowed in the back of his 1950s drill rig. Slowly, he walked through the grass near a few mesquite trees until he felt the rods move. Then they crossed, signaling a potential water source.
Then he recited a short prayer.
Powell has encountered plenty of skeptics. Abilene, a city of about 120,000, is known for its conservative churches and Bible Belt politics. Powell assures doubters that water witching has nothing to do with witchcraft; it's a skill that can be learned, though some people are born with the gift.
These days, people are less likely to ask questions, including the folks at Living Word, desperate as they are for water. Powell receives several calls a day, mostly from residents whose wells have run dry.
The drought has taken a toll on Abilene, withering everything from the lawn at the town's chief tourist attraction, Frontier Texas!, to nearby Dyess Air Force base. On the day Powell prepared to drill by the church, city officials were scheduled to meet to discuss whether to restrict outdoor watering to once a week because the level at Lake Fort Phantom Hill had dropped 10 feet below the spillway. Residents had already been restricted to watering no more than twice a week.
Powell drills at least one well a day, mostly in rural yards, on farms and ranches. He charges $25 a foot for drilling a completed well, $10 a foot if the well turns out to be dry. He says he finds water about half of the time.
About 40 feet into the sticky red clay behind Living Word, he found it - although he was still not sure if it was of sufficient quality and quantity to make a decent well.
He sent his brother, Kyle Caswell, 52, to find a hose while he and another worker began digging two pits near the drill. They would shoot water into the drill hole, softening the dirt as they drilled deeper. The overflow would gush into the pits.
A man from the church pulled up. He climbed down from his truck in black cowboy boots, surveyed the drill and asked about their progress.
Powell explained that they were about to reach the red bedrock, or "red bed." Caswell arrived with a hose from the church building and started to sprinkle the dirt under the drill.
"It takes water to get water, don't it?" the man said before he drove off.
Powell was nervous. It's one thing to hit water, another to make a working well. He had sunk a well recently on nearby Anson Road, but the flow wasn't very strong. On this morning, the temperature was climbing into the 80s. He had sweated through the rim of his cap and the back of his shirt.
He hit the red bedrock about 11 a.m., shading the pools of water a darker brown. The drill continued to churn, humming as dragonflies hovered over the pits of muddy overflow. About an hour later, they removed the drill and inserted a PVC pipe into the hole. Muddy water gushed through.
Powell, 59, learned to dowse for water more than 40 years ago from an old "water witcher" known simply as Mr. Ray. Now Powell runs a dowsing and drilling business, Diversified Water Well Drilling, and he carries a notebook filled with the lengthening list of those seeking his services. Demand has skyrocketed in recent months here, about 180 miles west of Dallas, and statewide, fueled by the ongoing drought, heat wave and a boom in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a type of oil drilling that requires lots of water.
To find the best place to drill behind the church, Powell stopped by a few weeks earlier and grabbed two L-shaped divining rods he keeps stowed in the back of his 1950s drill rig. Slowly, he walked through the grass near a few mesquite trees until he felt the rods move. Then they crossed, signaling a potential water source.
Then he recited a short prayer.
Powell has encountered plenty of skeptics. Abilene, a city of about 120,000, is known for its conservative churches and Bible Belt politics. Powell assures doubters that water witching has nothing to do with witchcraft; it's a skill that can be learned, though some people are born with the gift.
These days, people are less likely to ask questions, including the folks at Living Word, desperate as they are for water. Powell receives several calls a day, mostly from residents whose wells have run dry.
The drought has taken a toll on Abilene, withering everything from the lawn at the town's chief tourist attraction, Frontier Texas!, to nearby Dyess Air Force base. On the day Powell prepared to drill by the church, city officials were scheduled to meet to discuss whether to restrict outdoor watering to once a week because the level at Lake Fort Phantom Hill had dropped 10 feet below the spillway. Residents had already been restricted to watering no more than twice a week.
Powell drills at least one well a day, mostly in rural yards, on farms and ranches. He charges $25 a foot for drilling a completed well, $10 a foot if the well turns out to be dry. He says he finds water about half of the time.
About 40 feet into the sticky red clay behind Living Word, he found it - although he was still not sure if it was of sufficient quality and quantity to make a decent well.
He sent his brother, Kyle Caswell, 52, to find a hose while he and another worker began digging two pits near the drill. They would shoot water into the drill hole, softening the dirt as they drilled deeper. The overflow would gush into the pits.
A man from the church pulled up. He climbed down from his truck in black cowboy boots, surveyed the drill and asked about their progress.
Powell explained that they were about to reach the red bedrock, or "red bed." Caswell arrived with a hose from the church building and started to sprinkle the dirt under the drill.
"It takes water to get water, don't it?" the man said before he drove off.
Powell was nervous. It's one thing to hit water, another to make a working well. He had sunk a well recently on nearby Anson Road, but the flow wasn't very strong. On this morning, the temperature was climbing into the 80s. He had sweated through the rim of his cap and the back of his shirt.
He hit the red bedrock about 11 a.m., shading the pools of water a darker brown. The drill continued to churn, humming as dragonflies hovered over the pits of muddy overflow. About an hour later, they removed the drill and inserted a PVC pipe into the hole. Muddy water gushed through.
2011年6月29日星期三
RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post
RockShox Reverb Stealth
RockShox’s Reverb adjustable seatpost marked a breakthrough moment for dropper posts; simply because it’s one of the most impressive we’ve had the chance to use.
Never a company to rest on its laurels, RockShox has just released the Stealth, a variation of the Reverb that allows for the hydraulic hose to be routed inside the frame, creating a much cleaner look than a hose dangling along the top tube of the frame.
To do this RockShox modified the internals and the hydraulic hose now exits from the bottom of the post allow it to be passed down through the seat tube. This requires modification to the frame, and so far only Trek and Scott have modified frames to be compatible with the Stealth.
Reverb Stealth will be available exclusively on select Scott and Trek bikes for Model Year 2012. Scott will spec the Stealth on the Genius LT 10 and 20, while Trek will provide specific model details in July.
RockShox’s Reverb adjustable seatpost marked a breakthrough moment for dropper posts; simply because it’s one of the most impressive we’ve had the chance to use.
Never a company to rest on its laurels, RockShox has just released the Stealth, a variation of the Reverb that allows for the hydraulic hose to be routed inside the frame, creating a much cleaner look than a hose dangling along the top tube of the frame.
To do this RockShox modified the internals and the hydraulic hose now exits from the bottom of the post allow it to be passed down through the seat tube. This requires modification to the frame, and so far only Trek and Scott have modified frames to be compatible with the Stealth.
Reverb Stealth will be available exclusively on select Scott and Trek bikes for Model Year 2012. Scott will spec the Stealth on the Genius LT 10 and 20, while Trek will provide specific model details in July.
2011年5月29日星期日
Riding in a Fire Truck Brings Out the Child in Me
Although I am decades past the wonders of childhood, my long-awaited ride in a fire truck was exhilarating.
Dressed in full firefighter gear and strapped tightly into a rear cab seat, I felt happy and starry-eyed as we bumped along to our last class at the Avon Volunteer Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy. I also was wistful, knowing that this was the end of a wonderful, eight-week adventure.
It was a great vantage point, looking down at the roads of Avon as we made our way to the Avon Public Works parking lot to simulate response to a serious car accident. I had no idea what to expect and the anticipation made my heart race.
I wondered about my level of participation, as I was still recovering from a left wrist sprain when I sadly fell off my bike in a parking lot on Mother’s Day before even hitting the trail.
When we arrived, we were greeted by several firefighters who were there to assist and ensure our safety. Even Fire Marshal James DiPace dropped by to check out our progress and chat.
The fire department laid out numerous extrication tools for our use – many quite daunting to see up-close – next to a battered Pontiac Grand Prix that was provided by Farmington Motor Sports Inc. The auto repair shop had taken out the gas and battery fluids and cut power lines from the car.
Our first task was to place yellow blocks behind the tires and under the car body to stabilize the car to “make the scene safe,” according to Avon Fire Chief Michael Trick, who directed the class.
We then learned varying techniques for breaking car windows and dealing with tempered glass. I got to handle a slim, jagged knife-like tool which firefighters use to extract the windshield.
Initially, I was timid with my slicing motions until Trick joked that this was the perfect time to get out personal frustrations. Funny thing, I suddenly got a burst of energy and began cutting with great intensity. My fellow students laughed.
Less than 10 minutes into the drill, we had to take a break on the hazy, low-70s morning because I felt light-headed in my heavy gear. We were instructed to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and open our thick, multi-layered coats to cool down. It really made me wonder how difficult conditions must be for firefighters walking into a burning building in mid-summer, 90-degree weather.
With methodical efficiency, Trick and his team had each of us take turns using an over-sized vice and other unusual tools to detach the doors. I enjoyed snipping the last cord before we pulled away the driver's door.
With the assistance of Neil Pendergast from the UConn Fire Department, we learned how to extricate a person from a vehicle. With some firefighters leading the way, we helped move Jen Reeser, a brave Avon volunteer firefighter, from the car and onto a stretcher, making sure to keep her neck and spine stabilized.
The final challenge was cutting off the roof. The mammoth, hydraulic clippers were a bit much for me to handle, and my classmates lifted the roof and placed it on the ground next to what was now a shell of a car.
Some of my classmates and I took home a piece of the roof frame as a token of our work.
It was a job well done, except for the fact that it took us nearly three hours – with several breaks and instruction in between– and made us all realize the unique challenges that firefighters and emergency personnel face at the scene of a serious accident.
The morning was capped by a turn at spraying water out of a fire department hose. This is a two-person job -- in my case, three, as I was one-handed -- but I felt empowered as I learned the proper circling motion for attacking a fire with a hose shooting 100 gallons of water per minute.
When we returned to the station, I was exhausted. After turning in my gear, saying “goodbyes” and driving home, I promptly took a two-hour nap in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.
Four nights later, we were treated to a graduation ceremony and delicious dinner at Company One on Darling Drive. I shared the evening with my two daughters: Amanda, just home from her first year at college, and Grace, a seventh-grader who has heard way more than she cared to know about my firefighting adventures from week to week.
I must admit it made me feel proud to have them see the slideshow of our session and hear my name called as a graduate of the academy to received a certificate, mug and pen.
The Avon Citizens’ Fire Academy has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have met many kind, brave, selfless Avon residents who dedicate thousands of hours as volunteers for the fire department – from the young Explorers who meet weekly for training to the retired firefighters who still help out where and when they can.
The hands-on experiences were fascinating and the information invaluable to someone who lives in a community that has a volunteer fire department, and is a homeowner who cares about fire safety.
While I don’t think I am suited to be a full-fledged firefighter, I could see myself at some point helping out in a supportive role.
For now, I consider myself lucky to have gone behind the curtain. I will forever be impressed with what I saw.
If you have been reading my accounts with interest, I would encourage you to keep an eye out for the next session, which will be scheduled in April of 2012. Even better, you might consider becoming part of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department.
Dressed in full firefighter gear and strapped tightly into a rear cab seat, I felt happy and starry-eyed as we bumped along to our last class at the Avon Volunteer Fire Department Citizens’ Fire Academy. I also was wistful, knowing that this was the end of a wonderful, eight-week adventure.
It was a great vantage point, looking down at the roads of Avon as we made our way to the Avon Public Works parking lot to simulate response to a serious car accident. I had no idea what to expect and the anticipation made my heart race.
I wondered about my level of participation, as I was still recovering from a left wrist sprain when I sadly fell off my bike in a parking lot on Mother’s Day before even hitting the trail.
When we arrived, we were greeted by several firefighters who were there to assist and ensure our safety. Even Fire Marshal James DiPace dropped by to check out our progress and chat.
The fire department laid out numerous extrication tools for our use – many quite daunting to see up-close – next to a battered Pontiac Grand Prix that was provided by Farmington Motor Sports Inc. The auto repair shop had taken out the gas and battery fluids and cut power lines from the car.
Our first task was to place yellow blocks behind the tires and under the car body to stabilize the car to “make the scene safe,” according to Avon Fire Chief Michael Trick, who directed the class.
We then learned varying techniques for breaking car windows and dealing with tempered glass. I got to handle a slim, jagged knife-like tool which firefighters use to extract the windshield.
Initially, I was timid with my slicing motions until Trick joked that this was the perfect time to get out personal frustrations. Funny thing, I suddenly got a burst of energy and began cutting with great intensity. My fellow students laughed.
Less than 10 minutes into the drill, we had to take a break on the hazy, low-70s morning because I felt light-headed in my heavy gear. We were instructed to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and open our thick, multi-layered coats to cool down. It really made me wonder how difficult conditions must be for firefighters walking into a burning building in mid-summer, 90-degree weather.
With methodical efficiency, Trick and his team had each of us take turns using an over-sized vice and other unusual tools to detach the doors. I enjoyed snipping the last cord before we pulled away the driver's door.
With the assistance of Neil Pendergast from the UConn Fire Department, we learned how to extricate a person from a vehicle. With some firefighters leading the way, we helped move Jen Reeser, a brave Avon volunteer firefighter, from the car and onto a stretcher, making sure to keep her neck and spine stabilized.
The final challenge was cutting off the roof. The mammoth, hydraulic clippers were a bit much for me to handle, and my classmates lifted the roof and placed it on the ground next to what was now a shell of a car.
Some of my classmates and I took home a piece of the roof frame as a token of our work.
It was a job well done, except for the fact that it took us nearly three hours – with several breaks and instruction in between– and made us all realize the unique challenges that firefighters and emergency personnel face at the scene of a serious accident.
The morning was capped by a turn at spraying water out of a fire department hose. This is a two-person job -- in my case, three, as I was one-handed -- but I felt empowered as I learned the proper circling motion for attacking a fire with a hose shooting 100 gallons of water per minute.
When we returned to the station, I was exhausted. After turning in my gear, saying “goodbyes” and driving home, I promptly took a two-hour nap in the middle of a Saturday afternoon.
Four nights later, we were treated to a graduation ceremony and delicious dinner at Company One on Darling Drive. I shared the evening with my two daughters: Amanda, just home from her first year at college, and Grace, a seventh-grader who has heard way more than she cared to know about my firefighting adventures from week to week.
I must admit it made me feel proud to have them see the slideshow of our session and hear my name called as a graduate of the academy to received a certificate, mug and pen.
The Avon Citizens’ Fire Academy has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have met many kind, brave, selfless Avon residents who dedicate thousands of hours as volunteers for the fire department – from the young Explorers who meet weekly for training to the retired firefighters who still help out where and when they can.
The hands-on experiences were fascinating and the information invaluable to someone who lives in a community that has a volunteer fire department, and is a homeowner who cares about fire safety.
While I don’t think I am suited to be a full-fledged firefighter, I could see myself at some point helping out in a supportive role.
For now, I consider myself lucky to have gone behind the curtain. I will forever be impressed with what I saw.
If you have been reading my accounts with interest, I would encourage you to keep an eye out for the next session, which will be scheduled in April of 2012. Even better, you might consider becoming part of the Avon Volunteer Fire Department.
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