Abstract: A portable leaf blower that includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and an impeller adapted to generate an airflow from the inlet to the outlet. An electric motor rotatably drives the impeller. The leaf blower includes a power control circuit for substantially continuously varying the speed of the electric motor. A thumb wheel mounted in the handle of the leaf blower is used to control the amount of power delivered to the electric motor.

Abstract: Apparatus of facilitating circuit card replacement without down time, comprising a redundancy connector assembly having a first connector and a second connector, a redundant bus, and a first circuit card coupled to the first connector of the redundancy connector assembly. The first circuit card has a logic circuit and a switch operable to selectively couple and decouple the logic circuit to one of the first connector and the redundant bus. A second circuit card also has a logic circuit and a switch operable to selectively couple and decouple the logic circuit to the redundant bus. A bypass cable is used to couple the second connector of the redundancy connector assembly to the second circuit card during replacement of the first circuit card and routing signals destined for the first circuit card to the second circuit card.

Abstract: To provide fast access times with very large key fields, an associative memory utilizes a location addressable memory and lookup table to generate from a key the address in memory storing an associated record. The lookup tables, stored in memory, are constructed with the aid of arithmetic data compression methods to create a near perfect hashing of the keys. For encoding into the lookup table, keys are divided into a string of symbols. Each valid and invalid symbol is assigned an index value, such that the sum of valid index values for symbols of a particular key is a unique value that is used as an address to the memory storing the record associated with that key, and the sum of keys containing invalid index values point to a location in memory containing similar data. Utilizing the lookup tables set and relational operations maybe carried out that provide a user with a maximum number of key records resulting from a sequence of intersection, union and mask operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing infant formula from powdered formula dispenses water at a temperature substantially in a range around body temperature into a baby bottle containing powdered infant formula for mixing and immediate feeding to a baby, thereby avoiding unnecessary inconvenience to the baby's caregiver associated with typical methods of preparing infant formula for feeding. The water is filtered, disinfected and heated to the appropriate temperature for dispensing on demand.

Abstract: A loudspeaker having a flux gap defined by central pole and a magnet surrounding the central pole, includes a plurality of low-friction ridges extending from an outer surface of a the central pole. A voice coil, connected to the loudspeaker's diaphragm, is free to reciprocate within the flux gap. The ridges are linear and run generally in an axial direction, along a length of the pole where the voice coil reciprocates. Instead of rubbing directly against a metal pole, which has relatively high friction, the voice coil will rub against the ridges, thus reducing some of the noise that would otherwise occur due to rubbing. The voice coil includes a relatively stiff structure, created in part with a ceramic or epoxy material, that is coupled to a diaphragm, and a relatively flexible multiple layer structure at the terminating free end having dampening properties.

Abstract: A transverse handle for an elongated tool is preferably shipped attached to an elongated tool, but in a comparatively low profile, stowed position from which it can be placed relatively quickly and easily in an operating position by a consumer, preferably without the need for a tool. The handle is connected to the elongated tool with a mounting device that permits the handle to be pivoted between at least two positions: a stowed position, in which the handle is clamped and oriented approximately in the same direction as the elongated tool; and an operating position, in which it is clamped in a transverse orientation to the elongated tool.

Abstract: A spool for carrying continuous pipe or coiled tubing for a coiled tubing injector is dropped into a stand at a site and coupled to a rotary power source. The stand includes two axles, on either side of the spool, and a drive plate. The spool includes on each side a supporting hub with slot that allows the axle to slide into the hub and the slot to be closed. At the same time, a coupling member on the drive plate slides into a mating contact with a complementary coupling member on the spool. Thus, the spool is mounted and coupled to a rotary power source with comparative ease and quickness, facilitating use of multiple spools for both transportation and operation at the well site.

Abstract: A portable tool, such as a trimmer, with an output shaft locking pin disclosed. A gearbox of the portable tool includes a rotating shaft. A rotary member rotatable with the shaft is coupled to the shaft. A locking pin located along the exterior of the gearbox housing is constrained to move between at least two positions: a locking position and an unlocked position. In the locking position the locking pin extends below the gearbox housing to engage the rotary member mounted on the shaft, thereby locking the shaft. In the unlocked position the locking pin is retracted to avoid interference with the rotary member. The locking pin is biased to the unlocked position so that the top of the locking pin must be manually depressed to move and maintain the locking pin in the locking position.

Abstract: A spool for carrying continuous pipe or coiled tubing for a coiled tubing injector is dropped into a stand at a site and coupled to a rotary power source. The stand includes two axles, on either side of the spool, and a drive coupling. A pipe slideably extends through one of the axles. It is retracted when the spool is lowered onto the stand and then extended for communicating fluid between the coiled tubing and a fluid source. A swivel joint is connected to one end of the pipe. The pipe is permitted to turn with the spool or is held stationary with respect to the stand depending on whether the swivel joint is mounted outside the stand or inside the spool.

Abstract: A portable blower-vacuum includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet. A motor is disposed within the housing for rotatably driving an impeller to transfer an airflow from the inlet to the outlet. The blower-vacuum also includes an elongated air outlet structure over which an elongated blower tube may be slid for attachment in a blower mode and removed in a vacuum mode. The outlet structure possesses a configuration that improves the ease with which the blower tube may be fitted to the air outlet. The blower-vacuum also includes a cover disposed over the inlet in a blower mode and a skirt adapted to cooperate with the cover and the inlet to substantially reduce or eliminate lateral airflow from entering the inlet from between the cover and the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a minimum amount of ink in an ink fountain (10) of a printing press includes an ink fountain level sensor (28) and ink dispenser (26) mounted on a carriage (30) for lateral movement on a track (32) across the ink fountain. The carriage traverses the ink fountain. When the ink in the fountain develops a spot below a preset minimum level, a preset amount of ink is immediately dispensed upon detection of the low spot by the sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for maximum utilization of bandwidth of a resource incrementally adjusts in real time the allocated bandwidth per source queue per class of service based at least in part on the current status of a destination virtual output queue fill level. By varying the permissible bandwidth incrementally not only is the available bandwidth utilized optimally but also a desired class of service is maintained.

Abstract: A method of determining end points for an optical channel in an optical network to off-load traffic from a target optical link is provided. The method includes the steps of identifying ingress network nodes sourcing traffic through the target optical link, and determining an average ingress bandwidth sourced by the ingress network nodes. Thereafter, the method includes the steps of identifying egress network nodes sinking traffic from the target optical link, and determining an average egress bandwidth sunk by the egress network nodes. The optical channel start point candidates are identified to include ingress network nodes sourcing more traffic than the average ingress bandwidth, and the optical channel end point candidates are identified to include egress network nodes sinking more traffic than the average egress bandwidth.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing the time for charging a filter in a liquid dispensing system, such as one utilizing a positive displacement pump, is disclosed. The filter is located at the input side of the pump between the source of the liquid and the pump. In order to prevent air from the filter from entering the pump a reservoir is provided between the filter and the source of the fluid. Air from the filter is vented into the reservoir through a vent tube. A vacuum is used to draw air from the filter and, through the reservoir.

Abstract: A trencher with a rock saw wheel has a foldable section that may be pivoted to one side during transport of the trencher on a truck or trailer, in order to decrease the overall height of the trencher during transport, or can be removed to reduce transport weight.

Abstract: A spool for carrying continuous pipe or coiled tubing for a coiled tubing injector is dropped into a stand at a site and coupled to a rotary power source. The stand includes two axles, on either side of the spool, and a drive plate. The spool includes on each side a supporting hub with slot that allows the axle to slide into the hub and the slot to be closed. At the same time, a coupling member on the drive plate slides into a mating contact with a complementary coupling member on the spool. Thus, the spool is mounted and coupled to a rotary power source with comparative ease and quickness, facilitating use of multiple spools for both transportation and operation at the well site.

Abstract: This disclosure features a process of making a two part drill bit insert, namely, a body portion of hard particles such as tungsten carbide particles mixed in an alloy binding the particles. The alloy preferably comprises 6% cobalt with amounts up to about 10% permitted. The body is sintered into a solid member, and also joined to a PDC crown covering the end. The crown is essentially free of cobalt. The process sinters the crown and body while preserving the body and crown cobalt differences.

Abstract: An assembly for propping a golf club so that its grip remains elevated above the ground is installed in the end of a golf club. The assembly telescopes in and out of a retainer that fits within a vent hole in a golf club grip. The assembly is stowed during play and is extended and pivoted to elevate the grip-end of the club. The prop and retainer are keyed to prevent relative rotation.

Abstract: A method and system for dispensing a precise amount of a fluid utilizing a rolling membrane pumping system is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the method comprises calculating an amount by which to change a dispense based at least in part on a predicted membrane flex if a particular dispense is other than a first dispense, wherein said predicted membrane flex is based at least in part on a maximum pump chamber pressure during the first dispense; calculating an amount by which to change a dispense based at least in part on a shape of the membrane if a particular dispense is a first dispense; moving a piston in the pumping system based at least in part on the calculated amount; opening an output valve of the pumping system; monitoring the pump chamber pressure to detect a sudden decrease in said pump chamber pressure to signal a mechanical failure in the pumping system; and determining a maximum pressure in the pump chamber during the movement of the piston.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a minimum amount of ink in an ink fountain (10) of a printing press includes an ink fountain level sensor (28) and ink dispenser (26) mounted on a carriage (30) for lateral movement on a track (32) across the ink fountain. The carriage traverses the ink fountain. When the ink in the fountain develops a spot below a preset minimum level, a preset amount of ink is immediately dispensed upon detection of the low spot by the sensor.