Abstract: An equalizer for a suspension system for a trailer is configured to absorb or dampen the harsh shocks or vibrations coming off of the leaf springs proximate to a center frame hangar, thus allowing for a “softer” ride. The equalizer utilizes one or two independent equalizer arm assemblies or castings which are each rotatably secured within the equalizer. Each equalizer arm assembly or casting is operatively associated with one of the leaf springs such that upon upward movement of the leaf spring, the associated equalizer arm assembly or casting is forced to rotate within the equalizer and to deform a shock absorber provided within the equalizer. The shock absorber, upon the deformation thereof, absorbs the harsh shocks or vibrations which would otherwise normally be transferred from the leaf springs, to the equalizer, and thus to the frame of the trailer.

Abstract: A machine-actuating mechanism cleaning card includes a substrate having a central plane between opposed surfaces, a machine direction dimension between opposed end edges and a transverse direction dimension between opposed side edges. The opposed surfaces each have a plurality of discrete raised areas arranged in transversely extending rows. At least some of the discrete raised areas in at least some of the transversely extending rows extend outwardly on each side of the central plane. The discrete raised areas each include a peak and a peripheral wall joined at one edge to the peak and having an opposed edge that is closer to the central plane than the peak. The cleaning substrate has an effective thickness that is greater than the nominal thickness. Methods of making cleaning cards also are part of the invention.

Abstract: In a clustered computer system with multiple power domains, a bus number manager within each power domain manages multiple nodes independently of other power domains. A node within a specified power domain includes a non-volatile memory that includes bus numbering information for its own buses as well as bus numbering information for two of its logically-interconnected neighbors. This creates a distributed database of the interconnection topology for each power domain. Because a node contains bus numbering information about its logical neighbor node(s), the bus numbers for the buses in the nodes are made persistent across numerous different system reconfigurations. The clustered computer system also includes a bus number manager that reads the non-volatile memories in the nodes during initial program load (i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method propagate errors detected in an IO fabric element from an IO fabric that is used to couple a plurality of endpoint IO resources to processing elements in a computer. In particular, such errors are propagated to the endpoint IO resources affected by the IO fabric element in connection with recovering from the errors in the IO fabric element. By doing so, a device driver or other program code used to access each affected IO resources may be permitted to asynchronously recover from the propagated error in its associated IO resource, and often without requiring the recovery from the error in the IO fabric element to wait for recovery to be completed for each of the affected IO resources. In addition, an IO fabric may be dynamically configured to support both recoverable and non-recoverable endpoint IO resources.

Abstract: A cleaning card for use in cleaning internal surfaces of machine components includes a substrate having a central plane between opposed surfaces thereof, a machine direction dimension defined between opposed leading and trailing end edges and a transverse direction dimension defined between opposed side edges. The opposed surfaces each have a plurality of discrete raised areas, each including a peak and an inclined peripheral leading wall including an edge remote from the peak. The peak of each raised area is further from the central plane than the edge of the inclined peripheral leading wall remote from the peak and leading walls of a plurality of discrete raised areas have edges defining openings therein for assisting in removing debris from the machine components.

Abstract: A store ejection system for an aircraft includes a store ejector, and a power source for the store ejector. The power source has a fuel supply of a flowable combustible fuel, an oxidizer supply of a flowable oxidizer, a combustion chamber that controllably receives the combustible fuel from the fuel supply and the oxidizer from the oxidizer supply and forms a combustible mixture thereof, an igniter that controllably ignites the combustible mixture in the combustion chamber, and a combustion-gas line extending from the power source to the store ejector.

Abstract: A partition manager includes an I/O reconfiguration mechanism and a logical partition suspend/resume mechanism that work together to perform autonomic I/O reconfiguration in a logically partitioned computer system. When I/O reconfiguration is required, the affected logical partitions are suspended, the I/O is reconfigured, and the affected logical partitions are resumed. Because the logical partitions are suspended during I/O reconfiguration, any ghost packet that may occur when the I/O is reconfigured is ignored.

Abstract: A burn-in system includes a testing stage configured to stress test one an integrated circuit and a power stage having a voltage control mode and a current control mode. The power stage is configured to supply power to the testing stage. One embodiment of the power stage includes a pulse width modulator, a current control circuit and a voltage control circuit. The pulse width modulator is configured to generate a modulated power output that is coupled to the testing stage. The current control circuit is configured to produce a current error output signal that is based on a difference between a measured load current, which is indicative of the current that is supplied to the testing stage by the modulated power output, and target load current.

Abstract: A burn-in system includes single and dual power modes, a testing stage, first and second power stages, a single mode power control circuit and a dual mode power control circuit. When the burn-in system is in the single power mode, the first power stage produces a first power output to the testing stage based on a single mode error signal generated by the single mode power control circuit. When the burn-in system is in the dual power mode the first power stage produces the first power output and the second power stage produces a second power output in response to a dual mode error signal produced by the dual mode power control circuit. The first and second power outputs are coupled together when the burn-in system is in the dual power mode.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and computer program product for reading an encoded cable speed/length value contained within an interconnection cable to set the interconnection speed of two or more components connected by the interconnection cable within a computing environment. This method detects changes to the cable connections within the I/O fabric of the computing environment, and autonomically reconfigures the connected components to enable the interconnected devices to communicate at the maximum effective bandwidth, based on the length of the interconnection cables utilized.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method propagate errors detected in an IO fabric element from an IO fabric that is used to couple a plurality of endpoint IO resources to processing elements in a computer. In particular, such errors are propagated to the endpoint IO resources affected by the IO fabric element in connection with recovering from the errors in the IO fabric element. By doing so, a device driver or other program code used to access each affected IO resources may be permitted to asynchronously recover from the propagated error in its associated IO resource, and often without requiring the recovery from the error in the IO fabric element to wait for recovery to be completed for each of the affected IO resources. In addition, an IO fabric may be dynamically configured to support both recoverable and non-recoverable endpoint IO resources.

Abstract: A drum breader and coating recirculation system that includes a spreader positioned at an end of the drum, the spreader having a plurality of angled surfaces to distribute coatings evenly; a screening platform positioned downstream of the spreader having a drive device for imparting straight-line angular displacement to the screening platform; and a drum feed conveyor positioned downstream of the screening platform, the drum feed conveyor having a belt extending at least partially along an upward angle.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method propagate errors detected in an IO fabric element from an IO fabric that is used to couple a plurality of endpoint IO resources to processing elements in a computer. In particular, such errors are propagated to the endpoint IO resources affected by the IO fabric element in connection with recovering from the errors in the IO fabric element. By doing so, a device driver or other program code used to access each affected IO resources may be permitted to asynchronously recover from the propagated error in its associated IO resource, and often without requiring the recovery from the error in the IO fabric element to wait for recovery to be completed for each of the affected IO resources. In addition, an IO fabric may be dynamically configured to support both recoverable and non-recoverable endpoint IO resources.

Abstract: A drum breader and coating recirculation system that includes a spreader positioned at an end of the drum, the spreader having a plurality of angled surfaces to distribute coatings evenly; a screening platform positioned downstream of the spreader having a drive device for imparting straight-line angular displacement to the screening platform; and a drum feed conveyor positioned downstream of the screening platform, the drum feed conveyor having a belt extending at least partially along an upward angle.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with systems for transferring value between electronic purses, usually in the form of IC or “Smart” cards, via the intermediary of an interface device. In order to control the flow of value between purses a hierarchical class structure is proposed. This is achieved by assigning to each purse a class which controls the conditions under which value may be transferred to and from (mainly from) a purse. Thus each purse stores in memory a representation of its own class, together with a list of those classes to which the purse can transfer value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for verifying the correct performance of software on an electrical system by use of a cycle-based simulator. More specifically, it relates to an apparatus and method for simulating an electrical interconnection between two electronic subsystems, or modules, within a cycle based simulator. Two separate devices, a hardware output's driver and a hardware input's receiver, are characterized as one type of simulated object, a node, and the interconnection between the two devices as a second type of simulated object, a wire. The activity of output nodes is limited to placing signal values on the wire. Input nodes have a characteristic behavior in response to the information from output nodes. The wire is enhanced by storage and comparison functions that allow the comparison between new and current values of output signals as well as identification of the cycle associated with a particular change.

Abstract: The invention is a utility tray assembly that is capable of being mounted on a support member of a ladder, such as a shelf or a step. The assembly includes a tray having parallel side walls, parallel end walls disposed normal to the side walls, and a bottom defining a plane and disposed normal to the side walls and the end walls. The end walls have slots therein extending in a direction parallel to the plane of the bottom. The assembly further includes a strap having a body portion and opposing end portions. Each of the end portions includes a slot extending in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the strap. A fastener is associated with each end wall and is insertable through the slots in the end wall and the strap for securing the end portions of the strap to the tray end walls in such a manner that the support member of the ladder is captured between the body portion of the strap and the undersurface of the tray bottom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously training multiple trainees in the use of simulated weapons, which method defines a set of image shapes and assigns each image shape to a different simulated weapon capable of generating a light beam, at a selected wavelength, having the assigned image shape. By collecting data under control conditions and evaluating a set of parameters that uniquely identifies each image shape and by comparing the resulting "control parameters" to the same set of parameters evaluated under training conditions (thereby, producing "on-line parameters") each image shape produced during a training session is identified and associated with a simulated weapon. The method enables an expanded number of trainees to be simultaneously trained, by employing the same set of image shapes produced and detected at different wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention concerns a filter system having a plurality of individual removable filter units disposed between inlet and outlet ducts for a gas flow path to filter the gas flow. The system comprises one or more filter ports between the inlet duct (3,5) and the outlet duct (4,6) to receive removable filter units (1), a transfer port (25) co-operable with and sealable by a flask (20) for the filter units, a seal plate (14) removably located in the transfer port, means (15) for removing the seal plate, a carriage (18) movable between the transfer port and the filter port or ports, means (15) for placing filter units on or removing filter units from the carriage adjacent to the transfer port and means (8) for placing filter units on or removing filter units from the carriage adjacent to the filter port or ports. The system may be used to filter from a gas flow harmful or potentially harmful substances, e.g. particles which are radioactive, toxic or biologically active.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting objects in succession through a measuring head. A common drive shaft provides synchronised movement of transfer apparatus, gripper apparatus and indexing apparatus. The transfer apparatus receives objects from a supply and carries the objects to the measuring head. The gripper apparatus receives the objects from the transfer apparatus and carries the objects through the measuring head. The indexing apparatus receives objects from the gripper means and conveys the objects to an outlet.