Abstract: A metal alloy feedstock and method for metal injection molding is disclosed. The alloy includes at least two components, such as a first component and a second component. The first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point higher than the first melting point. The first melting point and the second melting point match to the temperature gradient of the heated barrel of an injection molding machine whereby when fed into the injection molding machine the first component melts prior to the second component melts and enables the second component to solute into the first component. Additional components may also be used.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for insulating piping installed in an exterior wall in a manner that protects the piping from freezing. Generally, the system includes an insulation block that has an interior side, an exterior side and a slot formed therein for receiving a pipe to be insulated adjacent the interior side, wherein the block is dimensioned particularly for installation into a building wall cavity. When installed, the block insures that the piping is positioned immediately adjacent the back surface of the interior sheathing material. The insulation block reliably provides a thickness of insulation material behind the piping such that the insulation material is positioned between the piping and the exterior wall surface while also maintaining the piping in contact with the rear surface of the interior wall sheathing to facilitate heat transfer from the interior of the building and into the piping.

Abstract: A method and system that accurately predicts fuel consumption rates in a residential structure is provided. The present invention more accurately determines the amount of fuel required to maintain a residential structure at a consistent temperature, thereby allowing identification of various system anomalies that may occur over time. Further, the method and system accounts for a number of fuel usage variables such as pilot light and domestic hot water usage in a manner that allows improved accuracy in determining the amount of fuel required to maintain a residential structure at a consistent temperature, thereby allowing identification of various system anomalies that may occur over time.

Abstract: A transceiver assembly is provided for use in an optical telecommunications network. The circuitry arrangement in the transceiver of the present invention generates a ranging signal that is transmitted along the fibers attached thereto and then filters the return signal in an manner that eliminates virtually all of the noise effects found on the fiber to provide a highly reliable timing signal for an accurate delay calculation. A band pass filter is supplied in line before the input signal is allowed to pass to the ranging signal detector and comparator thereby allowing only a signal at the fundamental frequency of the input signal to pass, thereby eliminating false signal detect triggers.

Abstract: A modular vehicle ramp system is provided for elevating all four wheels of a vehicle off of the ground to allow a user easy access beneath the elevated vehicle. The components are modular allowing the ramp system to be employed in several different reconfigurable arrangements. A first embodiment provides one wheel support and one ramp that releasably engages with the wheel support. In another embodiment, at least two wheel supports are employed with two corresponding ramps releasably engaged therewith. Finally in another embodiment, two bridge sections extend between two wheel supports positioned at the front and two wheel supports positioned at the rear. Two ramps are releasably engaged with either the two forward or rear wheel supports such that a car can be driven up the ramps and over the bridge sections such that the four vehicle wheels are supported on the four wheel supports.

Abstract: An improved mounting assembly is provided that is configured to be releasably attached to a standard dovetail rail profile, wherein the initial clamping tension of a clamping assembly is adjustable. The mounting assembly includes a main body having a lower portion that is configured to engage a standard dovetail and an upper portion accessory receiving formation. The lower portion of the mounting assembly has a first engagement member extending downwardly along one side thereof for engaging one side of the dovetail rail and a clamping assembly to engage the opposing side of the dovetail rail. At least one spring and a retention nut are provided as part of the clamping assembly such that retention nut controls the preset spring tension thereby controlling the clamping force applied by the clamping assembly. A lock lever connected to the actuator arm selectively locks the position of the retention nut on the threaded shaft.

Abstract: A hemostatic powder comprises a chitosan salt together with at least one inert material. The disclosure also relates to hemostatic powders into which fluid penetrability is 0.5 cm or more within 1 minute. At least one medical surfactant may optionally be included. The hemostatic powders may be incorporated into wound dressings.

Abstract: The proposed invention is a new bolt and gas release valve mechanism for a projectile launching device, such as a paintball marker, that uses significantly less gas per shot than prior art devices. The open gas chamber between the projectile, such as a paintball, and the gas release mechanism is eliminated thereby requiring much less gas to be used for each launch of a given projectile. Thus, only the launching gas to propel the projectile is needed and not the additional gas required to fill the chamber in the bolt directly behind the projectile. This enables desirably smaller gas supply tanks to be used during use to launch the same number of projectiles. Also, with the present invention, more projectiles can be launched using the same gas supply tank.

Abstract: A clothes airer with a number of pairs of pivotally connected pairs of frames 1. The pairs of frames are pivotally connected to each other at their free ends and to legs 5. One frame of each pair is pivotally connected to one or more legs 5 and the other is pivotally connected to one or more fittings 7 slidably mounted on respective legs 5.

Abstract: A connecting member for connecting a plurality of frame elements. The connecting member has a core section having a width and two supporting members for supporting frame elements extending in different directions from the connecting member. The connecting member has at least one additional member for supporting a further frame element. The or each additional supporting member is pivotally connected to the core section and moveable between a first position in which the additional supporting member lies within the width of the core section and a second position in which a frame element supported by the additional support will extend in a direction generally perpendicular to a frame element supported by a supporting element of the core section.