Abstract: An optical fiber cable comprises a central tube containing at least one optical fiber, a plurality of outer tubes, each containing at least one optical fiber, and at least two strength members, wherein the outer tubes and strength members are disposed around and in contact with the central tube, the strength members being between intermediate pairs of outer tubes. Preferably, a cord is wound around the outer tubes and strength members to hold them against the outer tube. Preferably, the optical fiber in the central tube is part of an optical fiber ribbon. Preferably, a plurality of individual optical fibers are provided in the outer tubes. The optical fibers are loosely contained within the central and outer tubes. One or several additional tubes containing insulated copper pairs or a coaxial cable may also be provided. Preferably, the cable tubes and the strength members are disposed in a reverse oscillating lay or S-Z fashion around the central tube.

Abstract: A plate joiner including a fence support, a drive, and a fence system. The fence support includes a cutter which is arranged and configured to protrude through a cutter slot in a contact surface to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece. The drive is arranged and configured to rotatably drive the cutter through a motor. A preferred fence system includes includes a trunnion which pivotally couples the front fence to the fence system and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, maintains a constant distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter as the front fence angle is adjusted. A preferred fence system also includes an angle segment member, which has two slots used to position the fence in two ranges of fence angles.

Abstract: A lock for a sliding door has at least one locking bolt adapted in use to be moved between an open position and a locking position by activation of an operating member which rotates a pinion which engages a pair of drive racks to cause movement of the locking bolt generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and in a direction parallel to a leading edge of a door in which the lock is mounted. The locking bolt is adapted when moved to its locking position to move into locking engagement with a staple-like keep mounted on a frame for the door when the door is in a closed position. A key operated deadlock facility prevents activation of the operating member. Preferably, the lock is also fitted with a safety mechanism so that it cannot be damaged if the door to which it is fitted is closed when the lock is in a locking position, and it is also possible to provide both an automatic latching and a panic feature on the lock.

Abstract: A device for securing and tensioning a band saw blade, including a rectangular base member having a longitudinal axis, and a disk member fixedly attached at one end of the base member, the disk member holding a first end of the band saw blade in place. A first pair of parallel blade guides is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base member for supporting a section of the band saw blade therebetween. A retractable tensioning mechanism is disposed at the other end of the base member, which produces an outwardly directed force on a second end of the band saw blade.

Abstract: An in-line sander comprising a sander body which houses a motor coupled to an in-line oscillating mechanism. The in-line oscillating mechanism is adapted and configured to move a sanding pad in a linear oscillating motion.A preferred pad is a profiled sanding pad coupled to the in-line oscillating mechanism. The profiled sanding pad has, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the linear oscillating motion of the sander, a particular cross sectional profile corresponding to a profile to be formed onto or to be sanded on a workpiece. The cross sectional configuration extends substantially consistently along the length of the pad, and the pad defines a sanding surface having a profile corresponding to the particular cross sectional profile. With such profiled sanding pads, sandpaper secured to the sanding surface of the pads will power sand the profile to be formed onto or to be sanded on a workpiece.

Abstract: A motorized sander having a drive motor mounted on a distal end of a tubular wand is provided. A flexible drive shaft is operatively coupled to the drive motor and extends along the length of the tubular wand. A sanding head is mounted by a pivotal joint to a proximal end of the tubular wand. The sanding head includes a sanding pad operatively coupled to the flexible drive shaft. The pivotal joint has a first and a second flexible joint. The first joint is configured to pivot about a first axis which is different from a second axis about which the second joint pivots.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable which is flame resistant and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, which includes a central strength member, a fluid impervious tube wound around the strength member, a plurality of optical fibers loosely received in the tube, a sheath of plastic material encircling the tube and the central member, a thermal barrier layer intermediate the tube and the sheath and encircling the tube and the central member to protect the elements inwardly of the heat barrier from heat and flame external to the barrier layer and a water blocking material in any otherwise empty spaces within the tube and between the barrier layer and the tube.

Abstract: A pad sander skirt which flares out over the periphery of the sanding pad and which is coupled to a lower housing so that it swivels about the body of the sander. The skirt and lower housing can be selectively swivelled in a rotational manner to a position desired by the user. A further sander improvement disclosed relates to the protection of a user's hand. Palm-grip random orbit sanders are sometimes configured so that the sanding pad may begin spinning at high speed when the sander is lifted off of the work. To this end, the present application discloses a protective skirt which flares out over the periphery of the pad in a palm-grip random orbit sander. Also disclosed is an improved dust collection system comprising a filter housing formed of a rigid porous material for entrapping dust, as well as a braking system for use with random-orbit sanders.

Abstract: Sockets of a fuel rail assembly having bottom-feed fuel injectors communicate with a main fuel tube that serves all fuel injectors by means of holes in the sockets' sidewalls proximate the top of the main fuel tube. Below these holes, each socket is imperforate so as to dam the main fuel tube whereby the lowest level of any hole defines a weir level for fuel in the main fuel tube. If the lower seal between any fuel injector and its socket is compromised while the fuel is unpressurized, the fuel below the weir level will not drain out of the main fuel tube.

Abstract: Scale inhibitor is added to a cross-linked fracturing fluid as an integral part of the fracturing fluid. Preferred fracturing fluids are borate cross-linked and the preferred scale inhibitor is polyacrylate. In another embodiment of this invention, the fracturing fluid is prepared by adding a scale inhibitor to a fracturing fluid at a pH of between 8.5 and 10.5. In a third embodiment, the fracturing fluid prepared above is used to fracture subterranean formations. In a fourth embodiment, the fracturing fluid is used to pressurize a subterranean formation to break scale near the hydrocarbon wellbore.

Abstract: The invention provides a wheel or roller assembly for a patio door or the like comprising a carriage having two parallel spaced side plates, and a wheel rotatably mounted within the carriage by means of a pair of spaced ball- or roller-bearing sets, one at or adjacent each side thereof.In a preferred embodiment, the inner and outer races of a pair of ball bearing sets are provided by inturned arcuate portions of the side plates and interior edge regions, for example lined arcuate grooves, of the wheel respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides nonaqueous thermaljet ink compositions having improved print uniformity, drying time, and waterfastness. The nonaqueous thermaljet ink compositions of the present invention are formulated by combining a solvent dye colorant and two or more miscible nonaqueous solvents, at least one being volatile and one being nonvolatile. More specifically, the solvents are combined in such relative concentrations that drying time is reduced when the composition is thermaljet printed onto a substrate and solubility of the dye is not seriously compromised when the volatile solvent evaporates.

Abstract: A method for obtaining in-situ stress measurements in a well is accomplished by installing a membrane packer on a drill string. The packer membrane is attached near the drilling tool and is capable of being radially expanded by fluid pressure to abut against the borehole. When a measurement of the in-situ stress is desired, a 3 way valve is actuated to divert drill string fluid into the packer until the membrane contacts the borehole. Further increments of fluid addition at this point are accomplished only by large increases in inflation fluid pressure. Pressure is increased (with little increase in volume) at a ramp rate until it reaches a value equal to the least principal stress, at which point the formation microfractures. The microfracture(s) result in a decreased pressure and/or volume ramp rate, which indicate their presence. Further pressurization would generate similar indications of fractures resulting from intermediate and maximum principle stresses.

Abstract: The present invention achieves a more reliable multiple fracturing of a subterranean formation by inserting high pressure tubing and isolating a portion of the wellbore (including the formation of interest and an end portion of the tubing) with packers. Near the end of the tubing is a closable end and a rupturable plenum holding a sufficient volume of pressurized gas to produce a pressure ramp sufficient to cause multiple fractures in the isolated portion when the plenum is ruptured. The closable end is closed after filling the isolated portion with a fracture fluid and proppant. The rupturable means is provided by at least one rupture disc. Multiple discs can provide a step wise pressure rise ramp to tailor the multiple fracture producing pulse. By providing a known volume of pressurized gas and rupture discs, a controlled pulse loading can be achieved.

Abstract: Modified beta interferons containing amino acid substitutions in the beta interferon amino acids 1 to 56 are described. These modified beta interferons exhibit changes in the antiviral, cell growth regulatory or immunomodulatory activities when compared with unmodified beta interferon.