Abstract: A method of cooling a rack of heat dissipating components comprises cooling air, and porting the cooled air into a volume in front of the rack from above the volume. The method further comprises moving the cooled air from the volume in front of the rack to a plenum at a rear portion of the rack to pressurize the plenum. The cooled air is moved with an air mover disposed at a bottom portion of the rack, The method also comprises flowing air from the pressurized plenum past or through heat dissipating components in the rack to the volume in front of the rack, by force of pressure in the plenum through air-directing ports in the plenum. The air may be flowed through the heat dissipating components, around the heat dissipating components, or both. The method further comprises drawing warm air from an upper portion of the volume in front of the racks to cool it again.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for optimizing product merchandising area allocation. One example includes receiving inputs defining financial metrics for product categories. A linear regression model forecasts responses of the financial metrics for the product categories to endogenous variables, which include sales per merchandising area per product category per store and total sales volume per store. Each of the product categories includes a user option to select constraints for either a minimum and maximum of an area in which the product category is displayed, or a minimum and maximum change from a current area in which the product category is displayed. The system generates a merchandising plan that optimizes for the combined total of the financial metrics of the product categories in accordance with the linear regression model, including changes in merchandising area for each of a plurality of the product categories, within the selected constraints.

Abstract: The invention provides exemplary systems and methods for processing solid supports. According to one system, a probe is provided having a distal end and a lumen terminating at the distal end. The transport mechanism is adapted to place the distal end of the probe into a well having a plurality of solid supports that are held within a fluid. A detection mechanism is provided to detect the presence or absence of one of the solid supports at the distal end while the distal end is within the fluid. A measuring system is provided to measure the general size of the attached solid support.

Abstract: A solid state DC power control circuit to efficiently use DC battery power without the normally associated energy waste which includes an input control signal, amplifying and conditioning circuit (133), a triangular waveform generator circuit (131), a comparator circuit (135), an inverting MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) circuit (137), and a plurality of power MOSFET devices (42), which together combine to translate a typical variable resistance control input into a voltage level and condition it suitably to be compared with a known triangular waveform thereby creating a pulse width modulated signal whose pulse widths correspond in duration to the relative percent "on" or "off" of the control input signal and which regulates a plurality of parallel MOSFET devices (42) which together share the load of an external DC power drain circuit (143).

Abstract: A solid state DC power control circuit to efficiently use DC battery power without the normally associated energy waste which includes an input control signal filtering, amplifying, and conditioning circuit (133), a triangular waveform generator circuit (131), a comparator circuit (135), an inverting MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) circuit (137), and a plurality of power MOSFET devices (42), which together combine to translate a typical variable resistance control input into a voltage level and condition it suitably to be compared with a known triangular waveform thereby creating a pulse width modulated signal whose pulse widths correspond in duration to the relative percent "on" or "off" of the control input signal and which regulates a plurality of parallel MOSFET devices (42) which together share the load of an external DC power drain circuit (143).

Abstract: The present invention provides solid state power controller governance circuitry which includes a power level select circuit, an power level transition circuit, a controlled power limiting circuit, and a power level transition reset circuit. The circuits together provides an analog voltage or resistance signal for input to a standard power controller device that allows not only for the efficient control of the power level in the powered device, but additionally provides for controlled power limiting to the powered device when changes in the function of the powered device are initiated, or when other conditions warrant rapid power limiting to the device. The circuits also provide means whereby the powered device may be appropriately re-powered from a zero power state after controlled power limiting has occurred. Together the circuits of the present invention provide a means whereby powered devices may be efficiently, smoothly, and safely operated by standard power motor controller circuits.

Abstract: A solid state DC power control circuit to efficiently use DC battery power without the normally associated energy waste which includes an input control signal filtering, amplifying, and conditioning circuit, a triangular waveform generator circuit, a comparator circuit, an inverting MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) circuit, and a plurality of power MOSFET devices, which together combine to translate a typical variable resistance control input into a voltage level and condition it suitably to be compared with a known triangular waveform thereby creating a pulse width modulated signal whose pulse widths correspond in duration to the relative percent "on" or "off" of the control input signal and which regulates a plurality of parallel MdOSFET device which together share the load of an external DC motor circuit.

Abstract: A drive shaft (26) of a gear type fuel pump (2) forms a driving interconnection between an engine gearbox (4) and a shaft (14) which carries the driving gear (10) of the fuel pump. The drive shaft has a slightly diverging lubricant supply passage (65) which receives lubricant from an oil jet (70) in the engine gearbox and directs the lubricant to the engaged splines (44, 46) at the inboard end of the drive shaft. Lubricant from the area of spline engagement is returned to the gearbox via radial passage (78), annular lubricant return passage (68) and radial passage (80). O-ring seals (82, 84) on the drive shaft, which straddle a drain passage (86) prevent the mixing of the lubricant and the fuel which may envelop an intermediate portion of the drive shaft. Wear of the engaged, oil lubricated splines (40, 42) at the outboard end of the drive shaft should provide a general indication of spline wear at the inboard end of the drive shaft because both ends are exposed to similar lubrication.

Abstract: The combustion section of the gas turbine is comprised of an engine casing receiving compressor discharge air and housing a plurality of combustion chamber assemblies having removable inner center liners. The combustion chamber assemblies are comprised of an outer liner having an end wall in which fuel injectors are mounted and the removable inner center liner extending within the outer liner from the end wall to define an annular combustion chamber space adjacent the end wall.