The first turbine flow meter was invented by Reinhard Woltman way back in 1790. He came up with the idea in response to a need of studying loss of water flow velocity in open canals. Since then, the turbine flow meter has seen many innovations in terms of technology. However, the original design persists more or less and is still the preferred flow meter when it comes to measuring the flow of water in large quantities. It is known as the Woltman flow meter.

Later developments in the technology have resulted in the creation of eight different types of turbine flow meters. While some of the flowmeters have been named after the type of water wheels on which they are based, some others are named after the technology. Broadly speaking, following are the different types of turbine flow meters currently in use:

• Pelton Wheel

Based on the original Pelton wheel that was used to turn turbines using flowing water, the Pelton wheel has buckets attached to the outside of wheel. When water or liquid hits these buckets, the wheel starts rotating. The Pelton wheel turbine flowmeter has a similar setup in a more compact frame and is used to measure the flow of low viscosity liquids that are flowing at slow rates.

• Paddle Wheel

Paddle Wheel flow meters are again based on the design of a water wheel. These types of flowmeters have shafts that are placed at right angles to the flow stream. The shafts are attached to a lightweight paddle wheel that rotates as the flow moves the shafts. The speed of rotation of the paddle wheel is proportionate to the flow speed of the liquid. Paddle wheel flow meters are more effective for low-speed flows.

• Propeller

Propeller flowmeters are based on the principle of the propeller turbine, which is used in the generation of hydroelectric power. Invented by Forrest Nagler in 1916, a propeller turbine has between three and six blades and looks similar to the wooden propeller found in boats. The blades are fixed and rotate around a central axis. Propeller flowmeters have a major advantage in the form of their fewer blades, which makes them more immune to damage from debris. They are also extremely low cost and do not require any electric supply to measure the flow rate.

• Woltman

Woltman meters are the first turbine flow meters invented and continue to be used widely in municipal and industrial water applications for the measurement of flow rates of large volumes of water. These meters deliver highly accurate readings as their axis is aligned in line with the direction of flow.

• Single Jet

Single Jet flowmeters consist of a set of blades set directly in the path of a stream or jet of water within a pipe. The stream or jet is created using an orifice. Such types of meters are mainly used for billing purposes in residential and commercial water supply operations.

• Multi-jet

Based on the same principle as Single Jet flowmeters, multi-jet flowmeters direct water from multiple orifices onto blades to make them rotate around a central axis. Multi-jet water meters are also used for residential and commercial water supply billing purposes.

• Compound

A Compound flow meter is a cross between a regular turbine flowmeter and a positive displacement meter. It has both a turbine and a positive displacement component. When the flow rate is high, it is measured using the rotation speed of the turbine. Low flow rate on the other hand is measured using the displacement component. These types of hybrid meters are widely used for measuring water flow rates in apartment buildings that have varying flow rates during the day and night.

• Axial

Axial flowmeters have a turbine or rotor that rotates around the axis of flow, hence the name. These meters are mainly used for measuring the flow of petroleum products, industrial liquids, and gases. Depending on the substance for which they are used, axial flow meters have different designs for liquids and gases.

Learn about the different components of an outdoor umbrella and how it operates.

Outdoor Patio Umbrellas, also known as market umbrellas or garden umbrellas, have had a long history. In every civilization, there has been the need for outdoor shading; from early man on to the backyard patio of today’s people. The term Umbrella comes from the Latin word Umbra, which means shadow.

Today’s shade structures, with improved technology, are much more than early man’s use of banana leaves and a stick. Feature rich outdoor shades now can include a crank lift system, pulley or manual lift, a push button, collar or auto-tilt mechanism (as seen on an Auto-Tilt Patio Umbrella), built-in lights and even a convenient integrated stereo system.

Because so much is put into a this product these days, it is important to know what makes up today’s shading and how to use it.

In this article, we will be discussing the crank lift auto-tilt version of this type of shading.

The components that make up this Auto-Tilt Patio Umbrella are:

• The center pole, which is comprised of a top and bottom pole
• A crank housing
• The tilt mechanism
• The rib assembly, which is actually two connected ribs of a long rib and a short rib (support rib)
• The runner hub and top hub
• The finial – ornamental top of the umbrella that also holds the fabric in center of the frame
• The canopy, also know as the shade fabric.

Unless of the offset variety, almost all of these products will have a center pole. Some will have a one-piece center pole, which is perfect for commercial grade applications. But most have a bottom and top pole, that connect together via a slip, and held in position with a push button. The auto-tilt product mentioned above, uses a threaded connection, which keeps the patio umbrella in a more sturdy position with less connection sway. The top pole contains the crank housing, that, when the crank is turned, it will either close or open, depending on the clockwise or counter clockwise rotation of the crank. The crank is connected to a nylon cable or, (as with Galtech) a steel cable. Once the crank is rotated, the cable wraps around the crank shaft and begins to lift the runner hub upwards, via a pulley inside the upper portion of the top pole. The long rib, which is connected to the stationary top hub and the short rib, which is connected to the runner hub, begin to push the patio umbrella upward and out away from the center pole. (Note: Before cranking open, make sure to slightly pull the ribs away from the center pole, out of “dead-lock” position.)

At this point the fabric begins to become taut within the pockets sewn into the exterior of the cover. Continuing to rotate the crank, will put the shade in the complete open position. Once completely open, the market umbrella is now ready to be tilted. On our Auto-Tilt example above, continuing to crank the umbrella (in the same opening rotation) will begin to tilt the umbrella. The tilt mechanism is variable, so you may crank to a desired tilt position. Please note when tilting, that it does not obstruct the traffic of people walking under the structure. This is usually not a concern when the patio umbrella is placed through a table. Rotating the crank counter to opening and tilting the patio umbrella will return the it to normal non-tilt position and further cranking will close it. Once the outdoor umbrella is completely closed, via the crank, it is a good idea to push in the ribs to “dead-lock” position. This will prevent it from accidentally opening in any gusty conditions.

In our next article, we will discussing the proper usage of an Umbrella Base (Umbrella Stand) and the protective qualities of a Patio Umbrella Cover.

Spring is here, and with it the long awaited thaw and return of football. But before you stumble blindly into another mediocre flag football experience, check out ten ways to dominate the league this year:

1. The Pitch

If your league calls the ball dead when it hits the ground (and most do), you absolutely must take advantage of the lateral – it can turn a loss of yards into a touchdown. Every play, your players should be thinking pitch.

2. A Powerful Rush

Don’t make the mistake of using “leftover” players as rushers. Instead, use your best athletes to rush – it will pay off. A nasty rush can completely neutralize a QB and demoralizes the opposing offense.

3. Adjustments

A flexible team is a winning team. Spend time planning so you’re not trying to invent your strategy on the field. Here are some things to develop:

– A plan for an overwhelming rush (releasing blockers, quick passes, pitches)

– A plan for a team that doesn’t rush (QB sneaks, two-move routes)

– A dominant defense (zone or man, blitzes, audibles)

– A plan to handle a fast, shifty QB (extra rushers,

4. A Good Playbook

Nine times out of ten a good scheme will beat raw athleticism. You need organization and plays. If you’re not inclined (or simply don’t have time) to create an entire playbook, try a site like Flag Football Ninja.

5. Simple Rotations

If you have a big team, game-time rotation can become utter chaos. Figure out an efficient, organized way to substitute players through. Avoid team politics by spreading the talent around the rotation instead of having your “starters” out first. A backup squad with no playmakers is useless to put out on the field at almost any point in the game.

6. Defense

Defense wins championships. Generally, teams of 5 or fewer should be playing a man-to-man defense unless the field is small. A zone can work with a bigger team. Every defense will have its weak spots, but giving the QB too much time is unacceptable. So send your rushers as often as you can, and use the blitz aggressively to keep the QB on the run. Also, a zone with completely fall apart if your defenders don’t stick to their spots.

7. Timing

This, unfortunately, requires practice. But if your QB can master a handful of routes (or even a couple), throwing just as the receiver cuts, you can build a championship offense. A QB who can pair accuracy and timing can’t be stopped.

8. Rhythm

Everyone wants to huck it deep. While there is much to be said for having some long plays in your arsenal, by and large, you will fare much better with shorter, consistent plays. A relentless short game will wear down the defense much more effectively than a few long plays, and successive completions batter the opponents psyche as well.

9. Experiment early

Regardless of how good your scheme is entering the season, you will be better if you adjust after each game. Each team has its own chemistry. Building on the concept of flexibility, try as many plays and schemes as you can early in the season, but by playoff time you should have distilled down what works best for your team. After a few weeks of regular season play, you should know what works and what looked better on paper than on the field.

10. Flag Pulling

Nothing is more important in flag football than being able to pull the flag. Again, nothing is more important in flag football than being able to pull the flag. This sounds dumb, but time and time again, short dump passes turn into touchdowns because of missed pulls.

Try the following:

· Don’t Wait Flat-Footed: If you wait for the ball carrier to pass at full speed while you flail and swipe at the flags, you are setting yourself up for disaster. Instead, meet the ball carrier as early as possible, and move with the ball carrier while you pull the flags.

· Get in the Way: Most flag leagues do not allow (much) contact. That is why it can be especially helpful to stand in the way of the ball carrier while trying to pull the flag. They can’t bull you over; they have to go around. This slows them down and gives you more time to pull the flag.

· Pursuit: If everyone on your team pursues the play, you will win more games. You’ll have fewer breakaways because if one guy misses the flag, another is right there.

Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to your own championships.

When a machine moves, stress on the moving components will deteriorate or wear out the machinery. If the alignment of the specific segments or moving parts is not ideal then the machine will eventually break down. In contrast to machinery, stress on the moving segments of the human body is necessary and graded stress can actually improve the strength of the involved tissues-two of the advantageous characteristics of the human body. There are upper and lower limits that determine whether or not it will be beneficial to the health of the tissues. Any loss in the precise movement can begin a process that can induce changes that can cause micro trauma to macro trauma in the involved tissues. I will try to give you examples of common movement impairment syndromes that will create faulty mechanical wear and tear which eventually leads to pain or dysfunction.

 

Over-Stretch Weakness

 

Muscles can become weak when they’re maintained in a lengthened position, particularly when the stretch occurs over periods of prolonged rest. For example, the development of elongated dorsiflexor and shortened plantar flexor muscles in the patient confined to supine bed rest with the sheets exerting a downward pull on the feet, causing an additional force into plantar flexion, therefore lengthening the dorsiflexor muscles. Another example is the prolonged stretch of the posterior gluteus medius that occurs while sleeping on your side. A woman with a wide pelvis with her uppermost leg positioned in adduction, flexion and medial rotation will test weak in hip abduction, extension and lateral rotation. The resultant lengthening of the muscle can produce postural hip adduction or an apparent leg length discrepancy in a standing position.

Sleeping in a side-lying position with the lower shoulder pushed forward pushes the scapula into abduction and tilted forward. This position can stretch the lower trapezius and possibly the rhomboids. The top shoulder can also be susceptible to pull the scapula into the abducted, forward position as well, especially if the thorax is large. This sleeping position can cause the humeral head in the glenoid to migrate towards a forward position.

Characteristics of muscles with over-stretched weakness include:

 

1. Postural alignment controlled by the muscle indicates the muscle is longer than ideal.

 

2. Muscle tests weak throughout its range of motion and not only in its shortened position.

 

An over – stretch weakness can also be caused by a strain from trying to lift a heavy object. Remember, strain is a minor form of tear in which the filaments of the muscle have been stretched or stressed beyond their physiological limit resulting in disruption of the Z-lines to which the actin filaments attach. These disruptions alter the alignment of the myofilaments which interferes with the tension-generating ability of the contractile elements. Muscle weakness occurs and in many instances, pain when the muscle is palpated or when resistance is applied during muscle contractions. For example, if the upper trapezius is strained, weight of the shoulder girdle itself might be excessive for the muscle. The shoulder’s pull on the muscle causes it to elongate and the muscle is unable to heal. A strained muscle might actually be under constant tension even when it appears to be at its normal resting length. Typically, a strained muscle is unable to support itself against gravity when positioned at the end of its range. Furthermore, the muscle is unable to maintain its tension at any point of the range when resistance is applied.

When a muscle becomes elongated and weak, then it’s contribution or tension-generating capabilities will change and another muscle will have to take over, creating a compensatory movement pattern. This will eventually become the normal pattern which then causes health problems down the line. Therefore, stretching might not always be optimal to alleviate muscle spasm or pain. Stretching and placing excessive force demands on the muscle is contra-indicated if it is strained. It is the length of the muscle and the presence of pain that act as guides to whether the muscle is merely weak from atrophy or weak form strain.

Traditionally, the emphasis is placed on stretching the muscles that have shortened, but equal emphasis has not been placed on correcting muscles that have lengthened. Lengthened muscles will not automatically shorten when stretching the antagonist. A client who demonstrates Lower-Cross Syndrome might have an exercise program that stretches the hamstrings, however, this does not concurrently shorten the lengthened muscles such as the lumbar back extensors. It would be prudent to shorten the elongated muscle while simultaneously stretching the shortened muscle. This is especially important when the lengthened muscle controls the joint that becomes the site of the compensatory motion as a result of the limited motion caused by the shortened muscles. For example, during forward bending, excessive lumbar flexion can occur as a compensatory motion because of shortened hamstrings. The best intervention would be to stretch the tight hamstring muscles but also shorten the back extensor muscles as well.

 

Altered Recruitment Patterns

A person with shoulder pain has excessive shoulder elevation during shoulder flexion to 90 degrees as compared to a person without shoulder pain. The elevation is present even after the patient no longer experiences the pain. Runners who tend to keep their weight posterior-closer to the rear than to the front of the foot show they use the hip flexor strategy, which also involves an excessive use of the tibialis anterior muscle, leading to shin splints. In contrast, runners who keep their weight line forward can be observed to use more push off with their ankle plantar flexor muscles.

The upper trapezius muscle, which is the upper component of the force-couple that controls upward rotation of the scapula can be more dominant than the lower trapezius. Muscle testing might show a weakness of the lower trapezius or the serratus anterior. One might notice excessive shoulder elevation when abducting the arm. Muscle strengthening might not necessarily change the pattern of recruitment. Instructing the client in correct performance of shoulder motion using a mirror is as important as the strengthening exercises you might prescribe.

An individual with an exaggerated swayback posture who stands in hip joint extension has diminished contour of the gluteal muscles, suggesting a weakness in these muscles. The hamstrings will usually take up the slack in hip extension. The hamstrings are extremely susceptible to an overuse syndrome when they are dominant because of the inadequate participation of the abdominal, gluteus maximus or even rectus femoris, as well as the lateral rotators of the hip. 

The TFL (tensor fascia latae) and rectus femoris muscles are more dominant than the iliopsoas muscle hip flexion. In this situation the client will show excessive hip medial rotation. The person usually has a swayback posture.

The TFL, anterior gluteus medius and gluteus minimus muscles are more dominant than the posterior gluteus muscle in the action of hip abduction. When abducting, the client will substitute with medial rotation and flexion of the hip.

The extensor digitorum longus muscle is more dominant than the anterior tibialis muscle for the action of ankle dorsiflexion. The client will extend the toes as the initial movement of dorsiflexion instead of ankle motion.

 

The hamstring muscles are more dominant for the action of knee extension. In walking or running, once the foot is fixed on the ground the hip extension action from the hamstrings contributes to extension of the knee. Hip extension to assist in knee extension is commonly used by the person who has weakness of the quadriceps muscles. To reenforce the knee extension action, the person flexes the trunk slightly to use gravity to further contribute to the knee extension movement. A similar pattern is seen in the runner who uses the hamstrings for knee extension control. He or she will bring the knee backward toward the body rather than bring the body up to the knee as when climbing stairs.

When asked to perform finger extension, many individuals will demonstrate a small degree of wrist flexion. This type of compensatory movement pattern occurs most frequently with individuals who perform a lot of repetitive wrist flexion such as typing. As a result of this position of wrist flexion movement, the position of flexed joint and the anterior position of the flexor tendons reduce the carpal tunnel space, which can result in carpal tunnel syndrome.    

 

In summary, the mechanical stress on tissues arising from movement impairment syndromes can cause a wide variety of injuries. The various injuries implicated can be degenerative changes in cartilage and joints, ligament strains, joint inflammation, myofascial strains, myofascial tears, tendinitis, bursitis, neuropathic pain from entrapment and compression and adhesions are a few examples. The better you get at muscle testing and identifying these compensatory movement patterns, the better you’ll be able to keep your clients from injury.

There is no doubt that we as humans, are eating down the resources of our Mother Earth. If this continues for more than a century, then is not too far, when the whole world will collapse down, and with nothing will remain. Therefore, it has become important to find out an alternative for non-renewable energy resources. We have to look out for an option which can help us to generate electrical energy without producing any waste products and pollution.

Looking at the various options available, one can surely say that zero point magnetic energy generators can prove to be the best alternative green energy generator. The zero point magnetic energy generators can generate electricity without the use of any external resources, like coal, water, oil, etc. it works on the simple theory of magnetic force. The magnetic force creates a perpetual motion, which in turn generates electricity, without creating any by products as pollutant. This is the reason they are known as the alternative green energy generator.

In a zero point magnetic energy generator, the magnets create a perpetual motion, which is used for the rotation of a circular plate, which includes an iron ball bearing. The rotation energy of circular plate is converted to electrical energy using a turbine.

There are various benefits associated with the application of zero point magnetic energy generators. As we know that it is completely green and does not creates any waste products. Secondly, you can use them in any weather conditions. Other renewable energy resources like, sunlight and wind, you will have to depend on the weather conditions. But, this is not the case with the magnetic generators. They are also quite easy to design and create. You can easily create your own magnetic generators for your personal uses. For these reasons, we can surely choose magnetic generators as the alternative green energy generators.

When explaining the biomechanics of movement it’s important to understand how the body functions as a unit with multiple systems within the body working together to execute movement. This is called the kinetic chain and it has three primary systems:

1. Nervous System
2. Muscular System
3. Skeletal System

By inhibiting the nervous system, the kinetic chain is broken and requires more effort to execute a movement. One way of inhibiting the nervous system is by closing your eyes. Sounds simple but makes the movement extremely challenging. I’ll give you a quick example, lift up your foot and execute a 3 count front kick. No close your eyes and try it again. What happened? You noticed that kick became much more difficult, didn’t it? You can use this same application and completely change your training methods. In addition, the kata’s were designed in perfect pattern to where you should end the form exactly where you started. Close your eyes throughout the entire kata and see if you can finish in the same spot. There are three planes of motion that the body can move in:

1. Frontal Plane
2. Sagittal Plane
3. Transverse Plane

Let’s look at the three basic technical kicks and how they fit into these planes of motion to increase the difficulty level. The front kick is executed in the sagittal plane – The most basic kick and easiest to execute. Most movements occur in the sagittal plane, which makes the front kick the easiest to learn. The second kick is the round kick which is executed in the frontal plan. Since this technical kick occurs on the left or right side of the body, it would occur in the frontal plane. Finally, the most difficult of the basic kicks is the sidekick. There is rotation that has to occur within the hip joint to chamber the sidekick, which occurs in the transverse plane.

So how does one train in all planes of motion? In Jhoon Rhee Tae Kwon Do a student must be able to properly execute what we call a 9 count kick. The nine count kick includes the front kick, round kick, sidekick, and hook kick. All the basic kicks must be executed without putting the foot down. Front/Round/Side/Hook Kick.

When training the body there are multiple training variables that can be manipulated to progress or regress a movement. Once a student reaches black belt, it’s important to understand that, yes, there is a more challenging curriculum from 1st to 2nd degree, but it’s also about perfecting the basics. How does one challenge the body? Here a few different training variables that can be used:

1. Range of Motion
2. Speed
3. Frequency
4. Duration
5. Stability
6. Planes of Motion

This article is going to focus on increasing difficulty by understanding the stability principal. The easiest way to explain the stability principal is by using what we call a base of support. When you stand up, both feet are touching the ground which gives you a wide base of support. As soon as a student lifts a leg off the ground they’ve shortened their base which makes it harder to balance. Thus, by decreasing your stability you can make a basic movement more challenging. So how can someone decrease stability while standing on one leg? This is where training tools would come into the picture. Let’s use a dyna-disk for example. Below is a picture of a dyna disk. The dyna-disc allows for movement in all planes of motion in addition to being on an unstable surface. Try doing a front kick on the dyna-disc. What happens? The front kick now becomes extremely difficult.

Learning what all those signs and symbols mean is crucial to you being in control of your visual health.

So let’s get started with a very brief explanation of what the abbreviations on your prescription really mean:

OD is oculus dextrous which means your right eye

OS is oculus sinister which means your left eye

SPH is sphere – the main part of your prescription. It states the strength of your prescription in diopter.

CYL is cylinder – indicating the strength of your astigmatism (if you have one).

AXIS is the rotation of the cylindrical lens (CYL) that runs on a plane of 1-180 degrees.

PL is plano – which means there is no vision correction needed (basically you want frames fitted with clear glass lenses for fashion purposes).

D.V. means distance vision

N.V. means near vision – sometimes it says NVO

ADD is short for additional value

PD is the distance between your pupils or pupil distance

OU just means both eyes

PAL means progressive additive lens and it is the additional value for your progressive lenses.

Balance means that one eye has a prescription and the other eye has no useful vision.

X is short for Axis.

Prism happens when both eyes are not properly aligned and they need a prism to re-align them.

Base is the rotation of the prism. The prescription will read:

BO – base out

BI – base in

BU – base up

BD – base down

Every doctor writes their prescription differently so one really needs to take note of the abbreviations and work out the meaning accordingly.

Note: the numerical values will always be written with either plus (+) or a minus (-) sign in the SPH as well as the CYL and ADD. These signs are probably the most crucial of the whole prescription as mixing them up will determine how and whether at all you can see.

As noted above, SPHERE (SPH) is the strength of your prescription in 0.25 increments. Nearsighted (problems seeing in the distance) people will usually have a minus (-) sign in their sphere while farsighted (problems seeing up close) people will have a plus (+) in their prescriptions.

Your optometrist or eye doctor may have also written your SPH or CYL as +150, which is equal to +1.50.

For those with an ASTIGMATISM,you will have a note on your prescription for your CYLINDER (CYL). Basically, this is when your eye is curved and that curvature makes your vision blurry unless corrected. Some people may only have astigmatism in one eye and many people don’t have one at all, in which case, that field will be left blank. Alternatively, they will write SPH, 00, Plano, or DS – all meaning that you do not have astigmatism.

If you do have a CYL, then you will also have an AXIS, which tells you at what degree that CYL lens must be manufactured. Axis should be from 1-180 degrees and will always be a whole number. If your Axis is written as “6”, it can be entered as 06 or 006.

The ADDITIONAL VALUE (ADD) is most commonly used for multifocal glasses as well as for single vision reading glasses. You need to look carefully for these numbers as your doctor may write them in the near vision (N.V.) or ADD sections, or merely indicating on the side that this is the ADD. There are times when your doctor will only write the ADD once, meaning it is for both eyes, while other times (and more correctly), each eye will be given its own value. Single vision distance glasses do not require an ADD reading and this can just be left off your order form, although this is recommended for better vision. Those needed special glasses like reading, progressive or bifocal glasses, MUST include this information to avoid manufacturing blunders.

Your pupil distance (PD) is not often written on your prescription and so, you should always check before leaving your doctor’s office. The average PD is 62mm and most people fall within the 54mm to 74mm range. Measuring your own PD is tricky, and should be done by a professional. It is never wise to guess this otherwise the optical center of the glasses will not align with your pupils, will give you headaches and will not feel comfortable.

Your PD can be written a few different ways, ie: 63; 32/32; 33/31; 30.5/33.5; 63/60.

If your PD is written as 63 – simply insert it as 63. If your PD is written as 32/32, you can add the two together and insert 64 or you can write each number separately. If your PD is written as 33/31 or 30.5/33.5 – the measurements from the center of your nose to the pupil on either eye is not equal and you should insert your PD as written on your prescription. Do not add the numbers together.

Remember, with all this said and done, the most reputable online eyeglasses companies will also allow you to email or fax your prescription to them so that they can double check that all is correct OR so that they can simply fill it in for you.

To understand torque and its effect on helicopters we need to reference Newton’s Third Law of Motion which states for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Torque is a measure of how much force acting on an object will cause that object to rotate. In relation to helicopters, the engine turns the drive shaft, which turns the rotor. This rotation causes a torque (a rotational force). If the helicopter is on the ground the friction between the helicopter’s landing gear and the surface will prevent the torque force from spinning the fuselage. When the helicopter becomes airborne the force of friction is removed and if nothing is present to counteract the torque force the fuselage will rotate in a direction opposite the rotors. According to Newton’s Third Law, the action of the rotors creates an equal and opposite reaction (the fuselage spinning opposite the direction of the main rotors). For single rotor helicopters, counteracting the effects of torque can be accomplished in one of three ways.

The first way to counteract torque is with a tail rotor. A tail rotor is situated on the tail of a conventional helicopter. The purpose of the tail rotor is to reduce the effect of torque and the yaw motions inherit in helicopter flight. The tail rotor is comprised of two or four small airfoils that the pilot is able to control in the cockpit by manipulating the rudder (anti torque) pedals.

Helicopters that use dual-rotor systems do not require the use of a tail rotor as the two rotors are designed to spin in different directions canceling out the yaw created by one another without the need for a tail rotor.

The second way to counteract torque is with a NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) system. NOTAR is a fairly new form of anti-torque system developed by McDonnell Douglas. This system removes the tail rotor, which makes it much safer and also means less noise is generated.

In 1975 this concept was initially created by Hughes Helicopters; however it wasn’t until 1981 that a prototype helicopter made its first flight using the NOTAR system. Hughes Helicopters has since been acquired by McDonnell Douglas.

The NOTAR system uses a variable pitch fan driven by the transmission of the main rotor. This fan forces air at high speeds through the back of the craft, which creates lift and so adds to control.

As with any system, NOTAR has advantages and disadvantages. Its advantages include: Reduced noise levels – around 60% of the noise from conventional helicopters normally comes from the tail rotor. Safety – the tail rotor striking something causes many accidents. By removing the tail rotor you remove this possibility and there is a significant reduction in the helicopter’s vibration.

NOTAR’s disadvantages are it isn’t as efficient as a tail rotor and helicopters that use a NOTAR system will have a loss of maneuverability.

The last way to counteract torque is known as a fenestron. This is actually a form of tail rotor commonly known as a Fantail. A fenestron is a tail rotor which is fitted within a housing. In application, a fenestron performs the same as a conventional tail rotor but there are design differences.

A Fenestron has between 8 and 18 blades, compared to a standard tail rotor having merely 2-4 blades and offers many advantages and a few disadvantages over a normal tail rotor. The advantages include: Safety – these are much safer for ground operations because the tail rotor is enclosed in a housing. More protected – less likely for foreign objects to get into the tail rotor and cause damage and reduced noise.

The disadvantages include: Higher weight and higher air resistance which leads to increased fuel consumption. Fenestrons are also more expensive to produce and less efficient

Anti torque systems are vital to the safe operation of a helicopter,regardless of the type of system used.

Whether you are blowing grass off your driveway, leaves into a pile in your backyard, or dust and dirt out of your garage, the Makita BHX2500 commercial grade gas blower can do the job – quickly and easily. Here are a few tips and reminders which will make your using the BHX2500 easier and safer:

1. Always use some sort of ear protection (e.g., over-the-head earmuffs, ear plugs) and eye protection (e.g., safety glasses, safety goggles) when using any type of lawn blower.

2. This gas blower does not require you to use a oil and gas fuel mix. It operates on either regular or premium unleaded gasoline.

3. When starting your blower, make sure that the blower nozzle in not pointing at anyone. Similarly, when you are operating the leaf blower make sure that there are no kids, neighbors, pets, etc within 15 meters of you.

4. When cleaning your driveway of grass and leaves with your blower, an easy way to do it is to walk down the middle of the driveway with your blower pointed to one side or the other (e.g., to the right) blowing the grass/leaves/dirt off the driveway. Once you get to the end of the driveway, take one step toward the side you were blowing (e.g., to the right) and then turn around. Then, walk back up the driveway, with your blower pointed toward the other side (e.g., to the right).

5. You can adjust the idling speed on this blower using a Phillips head screw driver. The idle adjusting screw is located near the blower’s carburetor. Turning the adjusting screw clockwise will increase the engine rotation; turning the screw counter-clockwise will decrease the rotation.

6. Remember to make use of the blower’s cruise control lever. It will help prevent hand fatigue. Once you have squeezed the trigger level to the engine speed you want, then set the cruise control lever to “ON”.

7. If you need a shop vacuum, you can buy a Makita attachment for this blower which is easy to connect and which will convert this blower into a vacuum.

8. In addition, to holding the blower by its top handle with your left hand, you can also grip the lower portion of the fuel tank with your right hand. This will allow you to hold and maneuver the blower with both of your hands. When doing this, be sure and hold the top handle with your left hand.

9. Before attempting any sort of cleaning or maintenance of the blower, make sure that the blower’s engine has been turned off and it has been allowed to cool.

10. When you first obtain this blower, plan to change the oil after the first 20 hours of operation. After that initial oil replacement, you only need to change the oil every 50 hours of operation. Use SAE10W-30 motor oil.

I hope these tips/reminders help!

With a capability to generate 160 unique slices per rotation, Aquilion Prime SP CT system is designed to increase throughput and reduce exam time. The highly efficient and AI-based CT scan system can save about 30-40% of diagnostic time of physicians and create a safe hospital environment leveraging rapid decontamination system.

The sudden outbreak of coronavirus led to an increased demand for imaging solutions to detect abnormalities in the chest among patients with a high clinical suspicion of infection. Computed Tomography (CT) scan is being adapted as the first-line tool for diagnosing COVID-19 infection as it produces highly accurate and reliable results. But the rapidly growing demand for CT-scan procedure owing to the rising incidences of coronavirus cases is putting a diagnostic burden on radiologists. During a time of crisis, imaging solutions leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) can effectively help to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the physicians as well as reduce their workload. The AI system can automatically examine CT images and rapidly detect COVID-19 infection by analyzing abnormalities in the lungs caused by COVID-19 pneumonia. Thus, the highly efficient AI-based CT scan devices can save about 30-40% of the detection time of the physicians and detect each stage of disease detection and evolution.

Recently, Canon debuted Aquilion Prime SP CT system created for safely imaging patients suspected of being infected with viral infectious diseases. During the epidemic crisis when diagnostic testing has become instrumental for the early treatment of COVID-19 infected patients, the introduction of the Canon CT solution can prove to be a gamechanger for overly burdened radiology departments in the healthcare environment. With the capability to generate 160 unique slices per rotation with 0.35-second scanning, the Aquilion CT solution is designed to increase throughput and reduce examination time for compromised patients. The device weighs around 660 pounds and consists of a 78 cm gantry that makes the device suitable for clinical and emergency settings. Since the CT system is available in modular or mobile setup, it can be isolated to reduce the risks for facility staff and patients, and thus creates a safe hospital environment.

Rapid Decontamination System

The advanced imaging modality is a deployable CT with a rapid decontamination solution, which makes it ideal for utilization by hospitals and institutions in the pandemic. The decontamination system incorporates multiple automated UV-C emitters that destroy pathogens and works effectively against different infectious diseases. Thus, the device allows radiologists to perform safe and quick imaging of the suspected patients while reducing the high degree of risk of contamination. The decontamination system takes a few minutes to completely disinfect the room and enhance the workflow of clinicians.

All-in-one Diagnostic Imaging Solution

The high-end CT system features Toshiba’s proprietary imaging technology that provides physicians the flexibility to find the right balance to produce excellent image quality while administering low dose for reducing radiation exposure. Built with premium technology, Aquilion Prime SP enables the clinical facility to screen all patients from pediatric to bariatric even in the most challenging cases, which makes it a fast and efficient solution to streamline workflow in healthcare settings. The advanced Canon solution expands clinical capabilities by automating complex examination and delivering high-quality data, which facilitates radiologists to keep pace with their worklist. Within one breath-hold and contrast injection, multiple anatomical areas can be diagnosed, which enables a confident diagnosis.

Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE)

Introducing Advanced intelligent Clear-IQ Engine (AiCE) across imaging modalities, Canon Medical Systems is expanding the power of AI to routine imaging. AiCE is an innovative deep learning reconstruction (DLR) technology that has been trained using vast amounts of high-quality image data to produce sharp, clear, and contrast images at low doses. Securing the high computational power of Deep Convolutional Neural Network (DCNN), AiCE technology exhibits high spatial resolution and differentiates signal from noise. Thus, the world’s first deep learning reconstruction for CT is considered a ground-breaking advancement in the field of imaging solutions and is set to bring forth a new era of AI-assisted medicine. Some of the features of AiCE deep learning reconstruction include improved low-contrast detectability, dose-neutral industry-leading ultra-high-resolution images, fast reconstruction, better differentiation between signal and noise in low-quality images, and easy workflow.

Patient-Centric Design

The Aquilion Prime SP enhances the patient care experience with its patient-centric design. The CT scan system has a flexible table height and 600 pounds capacity couch to accommodate patients of all age groups and the physically challenged. The 70 cm extended field of view allows one to see more of the anatomy. The RT flat tabletop scan in the same position for comfort and ease of the patients and the respiratory gating delivers robust flexibility in the management of the motion. The tech-assist lateral table movement improves flexibility and ease of use, allowing the clinicians to move the table 8.4 cm from side to side. The Canon’s propriety SUREPosition* technology puts patients at ease and accurately centers them by scan plan GUI. The technology also allows clinicians to perform iso-center scanning for the best IQ and thus eliminates the need for re-scanning patients in time-critical situations.

Scalable Technology

The compact design and small footprint of Aquilion Prime SP allow easy installation in tight rooms as it requires an installation space of just 14.8 m2. Thus, the device can help hospitals to maximize layouts and workspace and reduce the cost of ownership and patient care. Canon’s Medical Aquilion Prime SP is the perfect system that matches the needs of today offering a range of 80 to 160 slices. With a fast reconstruction speed of up to 70 images/second, the CT scan solution boosts workflow and improves the productivity of clinicians.

Recent Advancements in Computed Tomography Technology

qER CT scan

qER CT scan solution developed by Qure.ai, an imaging artificial intelligence provider is an FDA-approved imaging solution to detect cranial fractures, midline shift, intracranial bleeds, and other critical abnormalities found on routine head CT scans. The comprehensive and high-quality imaging AI tool assists clinicians to produce effective outcomes by providing accurate image interpretation. Leveraging AI for accurately critical conditions, the medical device helps to reduce examination time and improve care for patients.

IntelliSpace Portal Advanced Visualization

Philips’s IntelliSpace Portal Advanced Visualization aims to improve workflow leveraging artificial intelligence. The suite enables professional radiologists and administrators to provide better outcomes with less burden. With the growing demand for imaging and shortage of specialists, the new Philips offering increases efficiency and cut turnaround time by eliminating the need for manually entering patient content to prepare final reports. AI tools work effectively to detect coronavirus lesions, which could be beneficial to mitigate staff shortage and prevent the need for rescanning.

Fujifilm FCT Embrace CT system

Powered by Analogic technology, Fujifilm FCT is the world’s first 85-cm wide-bore computed tomography unit with 64-and 128-slice configuration optimized for both oncology and radiology applications. The CT system provides exceptional imaging capabilities and improves accuracy. The 85-cm bore matches the rotational arc of the linear accelerator and meets the oncology radiation demands without hindering the image quality.

Conclusion

With Canon Aquilion Prime SP, the physicians can detect, stage, and track tumours for every routine multi-phased oncology imaging, which could assist in early detection, intervention, and treatment. The device is a comprehensive solution to fulfill all clinical demands and ensure comfortable patient experience. Providing robust imaging applications and exceptional diagnostic precision, Canon Aquilion Prime SP enhances diagnostic performance, lowers costs, and increases productivity. Looking forward to the future of CT, AI-assisted systems would become an ideal alternative as they can overcome limitations associated with conventional CT scan system such as high exposure to radiation.

According to TechSci research report on “Global CT Scanners Market By Slice (8-slice, 16-slice, 32-slice, 64-slice, 128-slice & above), By Modality (Fixed v/s Mobile), By Device Architecture (O-arm v/s C-arm), By Application (Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Others), By End Users (Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Others), By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2026″, global CT scanners market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.67% during the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to the rising incidences of cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, cancer, etc. as well as high demand for the post-interventional medical procedures.