Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a user configuration of a computer system are provided. The method generally includes receiving, through a user interface of a configuration system, a user configuration selection, wherein the user configuration selection modifies the configuration of the computer system. Based on the user configuration selection, one or more contexts in a collection of contexts may be modified. The collection of contexts may be applied to part information for a part of the computer system to determine applicable part information for the modified configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for validating a user configuration of a computer system are provided. The method generally includes receiving, through a user interface of a configuration system, a user configuration selection, wherein the user configuration selection modifies the configuration of the computer system. Based on the user configuration selection, one or more contexts in a collection of contexts may be modified. The collection of contexts may be applied to part information for a part of the computer system to determine applicable part information for the modified configuration.

Abstract: A load-handling device comprising a pair of pulley assemblies each having a body, at least one pulley supported by the body, and having a peripheral outer surface, a rope secured at one end to a support structure and entrained about each of the outer surfaces to interconnect the pulleys in a load-handling arrangement. Each of the pulley assemblies include a one way clutch acting between the body and the pulley to inhibit rotation relative to the body in one direction. The surfaces of the pulleys thereby providing frictional engagement for the rope in the one direction to facilitate handling of the load.

Abstract: A rail bridge rescue frame comprises three elongated legs having upper and lower ends. The upper ends are secured to a head assembly so as to universally pivot with respect thereto. Two of the legs are forward legs of shorter and similar length and the third is a rear leg of longer length. Means are secured to the lower end of each of the forward legs to bear against a side portion of a rail. Means are attached to the lower end of the rear leg to secure to a portion of a rail. The frame is constructed so that when the rear leg is secured to one rail of a railway and the lower ends of the forward legs are bearing against outer portions of an adjacent rail thereof, the head assembly will be positioned clear of the railway to one side to provide support for a line to lift a person or the like below the railway up to the level of the railway.

Abstract: An energy absorber for a horizontal lifeline protection system is provided. The energy absorber comprises a pair of independent shock absorbing units of similar construction. Each unit comprises a strip of woven webbing material and a strip of tear-ply webbing material. Each pair of corresponding ends of these strips are secured to each other and to a ring for securing to a portion of the horizontal lifeline fall protection system. The corresponding pairs of rings at each end are secured to each other. The woven webbing and tear-ply webbing of the units are folded and encased within a tearable envelope. The absorber is constructed so as to be secured to a horizontal lifeline within a fall protection system so that when a predetermined force is applied to the rings, the envelope tears and the tear-ply webbing separates, resulting in an overall elongation of the absorber. In the event the tear-ply webbing separates completely, the remaining force is applied to the woven webbing.

Abstract: A fall arrest line anchor for releasably securing to a rail of a railway. The anchor comprises a pair of plates, each comprising an upper, flat portion and a lower portion curved so that, when the plates are in anchoring position with their flat portions secured together in abutting relationship, the curved portions circumscribe a sufficient portion of the crown of the rail so as to prevent unpurposeful disengagement, a plurality of apertures in the flat portions alignable, when the plates are in anchoring position, to releasably receive means to attach and secure the plates together and a hook of a workmen's fall arrest line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a single solid state thermal diffusion sensor capable of measuring both the composition and flow of gaseous vapors traveling through a duct. The sensor comprises two orthogonal sensing patterns, each having a heating element positioned equidistant between two thermistor elements. The heaters and thermistors are made from thin film platinum deposited on a thermally insulating polyimide layer having low thermal diffusivity. A sinusoidal voltage is applied to each heating element for generating oscillating thermal waves which propagate through the gaseous vapor to their respective thermistors. The thermistors of a first, transversely positioned sensing pattern are responsive to both the composition and flow of the gaseous vapor, while the thermistors of a second, longitudinally positioned sensing pattern are responsive only to the composition of the gaseous vapor.

Abstract: The invention comprises a multi-functional worker's harness of the type comprising interacting shoulder and sub-pelvic harnesses. The shoulder strap comprises a pair of interacting strap sections, which are not attached to each other. Each strap section has a pair of ends secured to a releasable buckle and each section, when in position on a wearer, extends from one end at an opposite side near the wearer's waist at the front, over the opposite shoulder of the wearer, down the wearer's back and around the wearer's side to the other end of that section at a point on the same side as it is positioned on the front. The sections, where they cross over each other at each of the front and back, pass through and are held in overlapping fashion by a friction buckle. The sub-pelvic strap comprises a pair of strap sections, each having a pair of ends secured to releasable buckle to cooperate with a corresponding buckle of the shoulder strap sections.

Abstract: A gas vapor sensor indicates the relative concentrations and flow rate of a gas mixture. Acoustic noise is generated within a closed chamber by the gas mixture flowing therethrough or by ambient noise sources. The chamber has a fundamental resonant frequency which varies with the vapor concentration. Acoustic frequency components of the noise corresponding to the resonant frequency of the chamber are sharply reinforced and dominate the acoustic spectrum within the chamber. The spectrum is detected and frequency filtered by a pair of dissimilar parallel filters to produce two attenuated outputs. The difference between the attenuated outputs indicates the resonant frequency and is a measure of the vapor concentration. The strength of the acoustic spectrum together with the measured vapor concentration indicates the flow rate of the mixture.

Abstract: A central high mounted stoplight arrangement for a motor vehicle that utilizes an optical prism coupler mounted on the rear deck lid at the center thereof for receiving and projecting light rays to the rear of the vehicle.

Abstract: A self aligning microbend sensor comprises a tubular housing having internal threads, an expandable insert with external threads loosely threaded into the housing with sufficient tolerance to allow expansion of the insert in response to a parameter being measured while maintaining registration of the threads, and a fiber optic element between the housing and the insert and extending transverse to the threads, such that upon expansion of the insert the fiber optic element experiences microbending due to deformation by the threads.

Abstract: A microwave probe for measuring the amount of soot or water in engine crankcase oil and/or detecting the level of oil comprises a coaxial cable having a tip including five substantially parallel wires shorted together at one end and connected at the other end to the coaxial cable, one of the wires being connected to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the other four wires being connected to the sheath of the coaxial cable. The size and geometry of the wires is selected so that the impedance of the tip when immersed in oil substantially matches the impedance of the coaxial cable.

Abstract: A microwave probe for measuring the amount of soot or water in engine crankcase oil and/or detecting the level of oil comprises a coaxial cable having a tip including five substantially parallel wires shorted together at one end and connected at the other end to the coaxial cable, one of the wires being connected to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the other four wires being connected to the sheath of the coaxial cable. The size and geometry of the wires is selected so that the impedance of the tip when immersed in oil substantially matches the impedance of the coaxial cable.

Abstract: A microwave probe for measuring the amount of soot or water in engine crankcase oil and/or detecting the level of oil comprises a coaxial cable having a tip including five substantially parallel wires shorted together at one end and connected at the other end to the coaxial cable, one of the wires being connected to the center wire of the coaxial cable and the other four wires being connected to the sheath of the coaxial cable. The size and geometry of the wires is selected so that the impedance of the tip when immersed in oil substantially matches the impedance of the coaxial cable.

Abstract: Conductive particulates in the form of soot are collected from diesel engine exhaust gases on a porous wall monolithic ceramic filter in such a way that the soot is somewhat uniformly distributed throughout the filter. The filter is housed in a chamber having a property of a microwave resonant cavity and the cavity is excited with microwave energy. As the particulates are collected the cavity appears to the microwaves to have an increasing dielectric constant even though the matter being accumulated is conductive rather than dielectric so that as collected on the porous filter it has the property of an artificial dielectric. The response of the cavity to the microwave energy is monitored to sense the effect of the dielectric constant of the material within the cavity to provide a measure of the soot content in the filter.