Abstract: A system and method for cleaning of heat exchanger tubes including an assembly, an indexer, and a communication device provided with specialized software and programming. The indexer includes orthogonally arranged first and second arms. A trolley and sensors are provided on the indexer arms. One or more lances are provided on the trolley to deliver water jets into the openings. Sensors measure displacement as the trolley is moved relative to the heat exchanger's face plate. An operator controls the system from a distance away using the communication device. During setup, the pattern of the face plate is learned and mapped utilizing information from the sensors as one of the inputs. This information is utilized to help navigate the face plate during a subsequent cleaning operation. A kit for retrofitting existing X-Y indexers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sequential torque application retention system includes a driver mechanism having a shaft; a center drive coupled to a tip end; an outboard drive coupled to the tip end; a screw including a screw head with a central receiver, the central receiver corresponding to the center drive, the central receiver configured to receive the center drive; a pair of outboard receivers formed in the screw head corresponding to the outboard drive, the pair of outboard receivers configured to receive the outboard drive; wherein the center drive is engaged with the screw head at the central receiver responsive to an initial torque and the outboard drive is engaged with the screw head at the pair of outboard receivers responsive to a subsequent torque; and wherein the outboard receivers are positioned so that they do not engage with the outboard drive responsive to the initial torque.

Abstract: Methods and systems describe providing for media annotations for collaborative documents. The system receives a collaborative document based on a collaborative document platform; receives, from the client device, a user interaction of an annotation area within the collaborative document; provides one or more interactive recording components for the annotation area; receives a signal to initiate recording using at least one of the interactive recording components; generates, in response to receiving the signal to initiate recording, a media recording comprising one or more sample portions; generates a transcript based on the one or more sample portions of the generated media recording; and provides, for display on the client device, the generated media recording and the generated transcript.

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously stored by a user in a memory location of a service provider and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images includes establishing a service account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services, receiving and storing a plurality of images along with a designated date in the memory location, and displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user. The method also includes the user selecting at least one image to be utilized after viewing the displayed images, and selecting a service, receiving payment for the selected service for the selected image based upon a payment schedule that depends upon the designated date associated with the selected image, and providing the selected service using the selected image.

Abstract: A method of cropping a digital image and preserving a reserve for subsequent use includes cropping the digital image to produce a first cropped digital image, the first cropped digital image having a first size and a first aspect ratio; determining, based on the location of the cropping, at least one reserve portion of the image adjacent to at least one edge of the first cropped digital image; and storing, in an image file, the first cropped digital image and the reserve(s).

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously stored by a user in a memory location of a service provider and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images includes establishing a service account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services, receiving and storing a plurality of images along with a designated date in the memory location, and displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user. The method also includes the user selecting at least one image to be utilized after viewing the displayed images, and selecting a service, receiving payment for the selected service for the selected image based upon a payment schedule that depends upon the designated date associated with the selected image, and providing the selected service using the selected image.

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously transferred from a user and stored by a service provider, and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images, including establishing an account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services; receiving a plurality of images from the user and storing the plurality of images in an electronic database provided by the service provider; displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user; the user selecting a service to be provided using at least one selected image from the plurality of images stored in the electronic database, providing a price and a lower discounted price for the selected service; and using the discounted price if the user deletes at least one of the plurality of images from the electronic database.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously recording motion and still images, includes the steps of: capturing a motion image sequence and accompanying audio of a scene with a digital video camera adapted to record both motion and higher resolution still images; simultaneously capturing a still image sequence having a higher resolution and lower frame rate than the motion capture sequence; compressing the motion image sequence using interframe compression and the accompanying audio and storing the compressed motion image and audio data; and compressing the still images using intraframe coding and storing the compressed still image data.

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously transferred from a user and stored by a service provider, and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images, including establishing an account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services; receiving a plurality of images from the user and storing the plurality of images in an electronic database provided by the service provider; displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user; the user selecting a service to be provided using at least one selected image from the plurality of images stored in the electronic database, providing a price and a lower discounted price for the selected service; and using the discounted price if the user deletes at least one of the plurality of images from the electronic database.

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously stored by a user in a memory location of a service provider and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images includes establishing a service account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services, receiving and storing a plurality of images along with a designated date in the memory location, and displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user. The method also includes the user selecting at least one image to be utilized after viewing the displayed images, and selecting a service, receiving payment for the selected service for the selected image based upon a payment schedule that depends upon the designated date associated with the selected image, and providing the selected service using the selected image.

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously stored by a user in a memory location of a service provider and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images includes establishing a service account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services, receiving and storing a plurality of images along with a designated date in the memory location, and displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user. The method also includes the user selecting at least one image to be utilized after viewing the displayed images, and selecting a service, receiving payment for the selected service for the selected image based upon a payment schedule that depends upon the designated date associated with the selected image, and providing the selected service using the selected image.

Abstract: A method for ordering a photo product to be printed at a selected location and delivered to a designee, including a user communicating with a service provider that offers a plurality of photo products and selecting a particular photo product to incorporate a digital image provided by the user; the user providing identification of the designee's location where the selected photo product is to be delivered; the service provider automatically selecting, from a plurality of printing locations, a particular printing location based on the identification of the designee's location; using a communications network to transfer the digital image from the user to the particular printing location; and printing the selected photo product at the particular printing location and delivering the photo product to the designee.

Abstract: A method of selecting images from a plurality of images previously stored by a user in a memory location of a service provider and ordering services to be provided utilizing the images includes establishing a service account for the user with the service provider to permit the user to have access to ordered services, receiving and storing a plurality of images along with a designated date in the memory location, and displaying image designators for at least a subset of the images for viewing by the user. The method also includes the user selecting at least one image to be utilized after viewing the displayed images, and selecting a service, receiving payment for the selected service for the selected image based upon a payment schedule that depends upon the designated date associated with the selected image, and providing the selected service using the selected image.

Abstract: A fluid bed combustor comprising a plurality of fluidized bed stages interconnected by downcomers providing controlled solids transfer from stage to stage. Each stage is formed from a number of heat transfer tubes carried by a multiapertured web which passes fluidizing air to upper stages. The combustor cross section is tapered inwardly from the middle towards the top and bottom ends. Sorbent materials, as well as non-volatile solid fuels, are added to the top stages of the combustor, and volatile solid fuels are added at an intermediate stage.

Abstract: A two-stage axial flow steering and propulsion device has impellers operable by a right-angle reversible drive mounted on a watercraft, and a housing surrounds the blades of the impellers. The housing is mounted for rotation in opposite directions about an axis intersecting with and perpendicular to the blades' rotational axis. The device is therefore capable of a wide range of watercraft steering and propulsion maneuvers. A shroud structure in the form of a venturi-type ring surrounds each of the impellers thereby defining three separate pressure regions of positive pressure ahead of one of the impellers which pulls the fluid when rotating in one direction, a negative pressure between the impellers and a negative pressure behind the other impeller which pushes the fluid when rotating in such one direction.

Abstract: A pipe joining device for interconnecting a main pipe to a branch pipe in fluid flow communication comprises a lug pipe, sealing collar and lock nut. The lug pipe is a short, externally threaded pipe having a pair of lugs extending radially from one end thereof. Arches cut in the central portion of the lug pipe extend the undercut stem portion in line with the lugs. A tilting and rocking motion inserts first one lug and then the other into a hole cut in the main pipe, clearance for the tilting movement being provided by the undercut stem and arches. The contoured sealing collar and lock nut are attached to the lug pipe to fasten the device to the main pipe. The branch pipe is externally threaded so it can be threaded into the internal threads of the lug pipe to complete the connection. A caulking, bonding or adhesive agent may be employed to provide a more fluid tight seal of the component parts.

Abstract: In a bow steering unit for vessels including an axial flow pump having its suction and discharge nozzles intersecting with the hull of the vessel for selectively moving water in opposite directions to maneuver and steer the vessel in corresponding opposite directions, a device is provided for priming the blades of the pump with water during a light draft condition to the vessel and/or during travel of the vessel at a predetermined speed resulting in an under-priming of the blades.