Abstract: An offshore well platform is towed in an upright condition to a well site by the use of a temporary flotation device. The flotation device mounts to a portion of the platform and is partially submerged, increasing the ability and buoyancy of the platform. At the site, the engagement of the flotation device shifts to a deploying position. In the deploying position, the ballast of the platform is increased to cause it to more deeply submerge. The flotation device remains at least partially surrounding the platform and floating while the platform moves downwardly relative to it. This provides lateral support if needed to prevent heeling while being submerged. The flotation device is disengageable from the platform when the platform is fully submerged.

Abstract: A slider 3a is disposed to face a disk-like recording medium and enabled to support a read/write head. The slider 3a has an air bearing surface formed between a leading edge 10 and a trailing edge 11; side rails 20 and 21 formed on the air bearing surface almost like a U-letter so as to dispose its tip at the trailing edge side 11; a cross rail 22; and a pair of landing pads 30a and 31a formed between the tip of each of the side rails and the cross rail 20 to 22 and the trailing edge 11. One of the pair of landing pads 30a and 31a is formed as a convex surface at its side facing the rail of the landing pad 31a disposed at the outer periphery side of the disk-like recording medium while the slider is disposed so as to face the disk-like recording medium.

Abstract: A disk clamp has a data position in a recording track that is resistant to positional deviations even after temperature cycling is conducted. The distribution of data positions can be centered in the vicinity of the center position. A disk top clamp and hub are made from materials that are stable in terms of chemical properties over a temperature range in which the disk recording apparatus is used and have such a coefficient of elasticity that a clamping force required to clamp the recording disks while the disk recording apparatus is in use can be obtained from the tightening force to tighten the screws. The material of the top clamp and the hub has a thermal expansion coefficient that is close to that of the recording disk.

Abstract: A motor assembly has electrical connectors between them that are shielded from any metallic debris generated in the motors. The motor assembly includes upper and lower motors, each having an adapter coupled together. Each adapter has a wire passage for each phase of the motor. Wires from the motors join electrical connectors, the electrical connectors being mounted to insulators in the adapter passages. A debris seal locates above the upper electrical connector in each upper adapter passage. Another debris seal locates between the overlapping portions of the two insulators of each adapter passage.

Abstract: A preform is joined to converging surfaces of a structure, such as an airfoil, to form a structural edge. The preform has a body having an acute-angle edge at one end and connecting areas extending from the opposing end for connecting the preform to converging planar elements of a wing or other similar structure. In several embodiments, the acute angle of the preform generally matches the angle relative to converging ends of the planar elements, the preform forming the outer end of smooth, continuous outer surfaces after assembly. The connecting areas may be connected to interior or exterior surfaces of the elements, depending on the orientation of the preform and elements. In another embodiment, the entire preform is placed between the outer ends of the elements for aligning and supporting the elements at the desired location and angle relative to each other.

Abstract: A method of asset control and workstation computer deployment that utilizes a dual port electronic memory identification RFID tag to hold serial number and hardware and software configuration profiles as well as user information. The RFID tag is mapped into the workstation computer memory space and can also be read and written by wireless radio frequency signalling. Serial numbers and MAC address is stored on the tag by the manufacturer. User information, workstation profile and software image information is stored onto the tag while the computer is being received for forwarding to the final workstation destination without the need to unpack and power up the computer. The information stored on the tag is used to allow automated system configuration and software downloading to the computer.

Abstract: A process for producing solid, porous graphites which provides a more uniform density gradient throughout the ultimate product. The process utilizes a pressure drop during processing in order to induce boiling and varies the processing pressure between an initial pressure which exceeds 1000 psig and a final processing pressure which generally exceeds the initial pressure. The particular processing techniques employed allow additional viscosity manipulation as well as improved density gradient characteristics in the ultimate product. The final products have bulk thermal conductivities in the range from 90-300 W/mK with apparent densities ranging from about 0.678 g/cc-1.

Abstract: There is a disclosed a conduit supporting structure that imposes, maintains and/or reinforces a flow guiding formation of a conduit, whereby to effect a desired flow configuration in the conduit.

Abstract: A method of determining a biased leading-zero count for a floating-point operation is disclosed. First, a binary vector is divided into subvectors. Then, multiple subvector leading-zero counts are generated. The subvector leading-zero counts are biased by a constant amount. Next, one or more prefix bits are calculated. Finally, at least a portion of a selected subvector leading-zero count is concatenated to the prefix bits to yield a total leading-zero count for the binary vector.

Abstract: Available bandwidth utilization during transfer of large files over a TCP/IP network, is improved by segmenting the file and concurrently transmitting portions in an optimal number of logical distinct data streams which may all utilize a single physical medium and communications path. An initial number of data streams, is used to begin transmission of segments, each on a different data stream. During the first seconds of the transfer, individual and aggregate transmission bandwidths are determined, together with a backbone limit computed from the sliding window and round trip times. If the individual transmission bandwidths are approximately equal to the backbone limit, additional data stream(s) and segment(s) are started. Individual and aggregate transmission bandwidths are again determined, and the process is repeated until no substantial increase in aggregate bandwidth is achieved by adding an additional data stream.

Abstract: A hardfacing material is applied to cutting elements formed on the surface of cutters of an earth-boring bit. The hardfacing material forms the outer surface of the teeth, and also substantially forms scrapers on the shell of each of the cutters. The adding of the hardfacing material to the outer surface of the teeth and the forming of the scrapers is accomplished through welding. The hardfacing material is machined from its “as-welded” state to have a smoother surface finish.

Abstract: A millimeter wave beacon includes a millimeter wave transmitter that produces at least one signal and plurality of antennas, coupled to the millimeter wave transmitter, that each emit millimeter wave radiation in response to the at least one signal. In one embodiment, the antennas are constructed and oriented to produce an overlapping signal field in which millimeter wave radiation emitted from multiple of the antennas can be detected. The millimeter wave radiation can be pulsed to encode various information of interest. Determination of the direction of approach to the beacon is facilitated by multiple antennas transmitting signals having different pulse encodings and/or different frequencies.

Abstract: A subsea production system and method includes a wellhead field having multiple wellheads and utilizes a stackable guide funnel system for sequential tying back of those wellheads. A storage frame retains several guide funnels that are nestably stacked one upon the other. The frame is made up of a plurality of guide members that are secured to the exposed tubular conductor of a wellhead. A pair of annular rings surrounds portions of each of the guide members. A riser having a riser connector is lowered to the central location. The riser connector latches onto the uppermost guide funnel within the frame. The riser, together with the affixed funnel, is then lifted upwardly, removing the affixed funnel from the frame. The riser is then moved laterally through the sea until the funnel and riser are proximate a second wellhead within the wellhead field.

Abstract: The wellhead assembly has a production tree with multiple safety barriers. A tubing hanger lands and seals in the bore of the tree. The tubing hanger has a lateral production flow passage that registers with a lateral passage in the tree. A tubing annulus passage extends upward from the tubing annulus to an exterior port. A second portion of the tubing annulus passage extends upward from the exterior port into the bore above the tubing hanger seal. The external port may be used for gas injection. If so, two closure members are located in the upper portion of the tubing annulus above the seal. The upper closure member may be either a check valve or a removable plug.

Abstract: A torch cutter exhaust system has a torch and an exhaust shroud at least partially encircling a discharge tip of the torch and mounted to the torch for movement therewith. The shroud is a crescent-shaped enclosure having an intake port and an output port. A table is located beneath the torch to support a material while the material is being cut by the torch. A gantry, movably mounted to the table, supports the torch and exhaust shroud. A duct, mounted to the gantry, connects the exhaust shroud with a flexible exhaust hose located alongside the table. The output end of the hose connects to a vacuum source to create low pressure near the discharge tip of the torch. The input end of the exhaust hose moves in unison with the gantry. The exhaust hose is supported by a wheel assembly that moves in response to the motion of the gantry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling uplink transmission power in a satellite communication system is disclosed. The satellite communication system includes a satellite and one or more earth stations, one of which serving as a control station. The satellite can receive uplink signals from any one of the earth stations and retransmits the uplink signals as downlink signals, along with a beacon signal. The control station measures the power of the downlink signals and the beacon signal received from the satellite, and also measures the noise power near the beacon signal. From these measurements, the control station determines an appropriate gain value of the power for uplink transmissions for each of the earth stations.

Abstract: A method of drilling and a drill motor are provided for use with a stationary template attached to a material to be drilled. The drill motor has a frame having a handgrip and surrounding a movable carriage or motor assembly. The motor assembly contains an air-powered motor for rotating a drill bit. At least two air cylinders are located in the motor assembly on opposite sides of the drilling axis and are used to move the motor assembly within the frame. The force that can be applied to move the motor assembly is adjusted by adjusting the airflow to the cylinders. Hydraulic restrictions control the maximum speed at which the motor assembly moves. An auto-return valve and adjustable pin provide means for automatically returning the motor assembly to its rearward position once a desired drilling depth has been reached. Controls are provided at the grip for operating the feed system and manually retracting the motor assembly.

Abstract: Packers are expandable sealing devices used to seal off zones in a well. Packers are expanded to seal the bore of the well by means of expansion fluid supplied via individual pipelines. However, packers near the top of the well have to accommodate all of the pipelines for packers below. The invention provides a packer system comprising a plurality of packers (22-28) and fluid delivery means arranged to supply fluid to the packers, to expand them in use. The fluid delivery means includes a common fluid pipeline (36) for the packers. Thus, only one expansion fluid pipeline has to pass through the upper packers (22, 23), irrespective of the overall number of packers in the system.

Abstract: A non-uniform memory access (NUMA) computer system and associated method of operation are disclosed. The NUMA computer system includes at least a remote node and a home node coupled to an interconnect. The remote node contains at least one processing unit coupled to a remote system memory, and the home node contains at least a home system memory. To reduce access latency for data from other nodes, a portion of the remote system memory is allocated as a remote memory cache containing data corresponding to data resident in the home system memory. In one embodiment, access bandwidth to the remote memory cache is increased by distributing the remote memory cache across multiple system memories in the remote node.

Abstract: A computer system includes a processing unit, a system memory, and a memory controller coupled to the processing unit and the system memory. According to the present invention, the memory controller accesses the system memory to obtain prefetch data and transmits the prefetch data to the processing unit in a prefetch write operation specifying the processing unit in a destination field. In one embodiment, the memory controller transmits the prefetch write operation in response to receipt of a prefetch hint from the processing unit, which may accompany a read-type request by the processing unit. This prefetch methodology may advantageously be implemented imprecisely, with the memory controller responding to the prefetch hint only if a prefetch queue is available and ignoring the prefetch hint otherwise. The processing unit may similarly ignore the prefetch write operation if no snoop queue is available.