Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump includes a pump housing having a cylindrical interior chamber, a cylindrical rotor member mounted for rotational movement within the interior chamber of the pump housing, a cam member mounted for pivotal movement within the interior chamber of the pump housing about a fulcrum aligned with the vertical centerline of the interior chamber, the cam member defining a cam body having a circular bore extending therethrough for receiving the rotor member, the cam body having lateral sealing lands formed thereon, the sealing lands having arcuate sealing surfaces defining segments of a cam arc through which the cam member pivots, and static cam seals supported within the interior chamber of the pump housing and oriented on each end of a chord of the cam arc, each cam seal biased into a continuous contact position with an adjacent sealing surface of the cam member.

Abstract: A multi-stage blowdown valve is provided that uses a single control signal to simultaneously decompress the interstage and the second stage in a compressor system. The valve uses a series of sliding spools located linearly within a single bore to either prevent or allow fluid communication between two isolated passageways each having an inlet port and a discharge port. The valve, when used as a two stage blowdown valve in a multi-stage compressor system, can prevent compressor failure from occurring by ensuring that both the interstage and the second stages are decompressed. not only the interstage.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning and servicing vehicle brakes includes a caster mounted cabinet adapted to hold a small drum of cleaning solvent, the drum having an open top. A telescopic post or conduit extends upwardly from the cabinet to a hollow, hinged swing arm. A sink tray is mounted on the end of the swing arm and has a bottom drain opening that communicates with the hollow swing arm, which in turn communicates with the upright conduit to form drain piping for the sink tray. The outlet of the upright conduit empties into the solvent container in the cabinet. A pump mounted in the cabinet takes cleaning solvent from the drum and delivers it through a hose to a spray gun to be applied to the brakes to be cleaned. The telescoping post and adjustable swing arm allow the sink tray to be located directly under the brakes being cleaned to catch and return the used solvent. The cabinet also has a second basin or sink that drains into the container but can be used for cleaning parts.

Abstract: A vertical wire management guide channel assembly for use in cable management racks has an elongated channel member formed of wire stock with a central web portion and side portions with open spaces between spaced wire rod elements. Vertically spaced pairs of arms project outwardly of the side portions and have a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending rod elements and a vertically extending rod element between the outer ends thereof. Latch members extend transversely between the vertically extending rod portions of the arms, with one end of the latch member being pivotally engaged with the rod portion on one side of the channel member, and the other end of the latch member being releasably engaged with the rod portion on the other side of the channel member.

Abstract: An access screw cover for containers and enclosures is disclosed which includes a closure body having a first and a second abutment mechanism associated therewith and a circular peripheral surface which defines a central axis. The circular peripheral surface is intended to fit the peripheral surface of the closure opening. The first abutment means presenting a shoulder which, when force is applied thereto, tends to turn the body forcibly in one direction. The second abutment means presenting a shoulder which, when force is applied thereto, tends to turn the body in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for a gas turbine engine, including a housing having a fluid inlet port for receiving fluid at an initial pressure and an interior chamber defining a central axis. An impeller disk disposed within the interior chamber of the housing and mounted for rotation about the central axis. The impeller disk defines first and second inlet areas and has a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart channels formed therein which extend from the inlet areas for conducting fluid from the inlet areas in a radially outward direction upon rotation of the impeller disk so as to increase the pressure of the fluid. A first collector is formed by the housing for receiving the fluid from the first inlet area via the channels at a first elevated pressure relative to the initial pressure and a second collector is formed by the housing for receiving fluid from the second inlet area via the channels at a second elevated pressure relative to the first elevated pressure.

Abstract: A display system is disclosed which includes a base structure having a display surface, the display surface of the base structure having artwork provided thereon, at least one inanimate structural component having a display surface, the display surface of the at least one inanimate structural component having artwork provided thereon, the inanimate structural component mounted with respect to the display surface of the base structure in a predetermined orientation so as to achieve a desired artistic presentation, at least one animated structural component structural component having a display surface, the display surface of the at least one animated structural component having artwork provided thereon, the at least one animated structural component mounted for movement with respect to the base structure and the at least one inanimate structural component, a mechanical linkage assembly mounted to the base structure and connected the animated structural component to facilitate the relative motion thereof with r

Abstract: Methods of increasing mitosis in cells; of increasing cell attachment in culture; of enhancing wound healing; and of inhibiting proliferation of malignant cells, are described, comprising administering an E domain peptide from insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) of a trout, or administering an E domain peptide homolog, an E domain peptide fusion protein, or a nucleic acid encoding an E domain peptide, an E domain peptide homolog or an E domain peptide fusion protein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and an apparatus for providing a unique decorative phone accessory and, more particularly, to a system and an apparatus for securing one or more decorative and/or novelty accessories to a telephone handset in a manner that does not impede, and preferably improves, the ease and comfort associated with such handset usage. According to the present disclosure, a telephone accessory is provided that has three basic features or structural aspects. First, a securement member or mechanism is provided for detachably securing the remainder of the telephone accessory to a telephone handset. Second, an attachment member or mechanism is provided that facilitates detachably attaching a decorative item or member to the securement member or mechanism. And third, a decorative item or member is provided that may be detachably attached to the attachment member or mechanism, which is in turn attached to the securement member or mechanism.

Abstract: A method and system for facilitating information exchange between individuals and entities interacting on a shared project are provided, and more particularly to a method and system for horizontal, i.e., non-hierarchical, participation in and/or contribution to a spreadsheet-based project. The method and system is Web-based and utilizes conventional browser and spreadsheet technology to achieve collaborative exchanges of information on an enterprise-wide basis. The method and system also facilitate efficacious remote information access and exchange, e.g., over a computer network such as the Internet and/or the World Wide Web, through a caching function that combines individual queries initiated by a spreadsheet program before transmitting across a network to a server for consideration.

Abstract: A storage cabinet includes a housing having at least one exterior port, at least one interior port positioned above the exterior port, and a convection passageway connecting the exterior port and the interior port such that warm air will rise within the passageway by natural convection from the exterior port to the interior port. The cabinet also includes at least one drawer received within the housing and moveable between a closed position wherein a storage space within the drawer is inaccessible from outside the housing, and an open position wherein the drawer extends out of the housing such that the storage space is accessible. The drawer has at least one inlet for allowing airflow to pass from the interior port of the housing to the storage space of the drawer when the drawer is in the closed position. Another storage cabinet provided by the present disclosure includes a housing and at least one drawer received within the housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A fiber-reinforced composite structure has two molded outer polymeric layers spaced apart from each other and defining a cavity therebetween. Each molded outer polymeric layer defines a sealing surface extending about a periphery of the respective layer, and the opposing sealing surfaces cooperate to define a hermetic seal extending about a periphery of the cavity. One or more multi-directional fiber reinforcement layers are adhesively attached in a discontinuous manner to each outer polymeric layer, and define a first region of the cavity extending between each respective outer polymeric layer and adjacent fiber reinforcement layer, and a second region of the cavity extending between the fiber reinforcement layers. A core is located between the two outer polymeric layers, and is made of a resinous core material capable of exhibiting a foamed character and a resinous character.

Abstract: A filtration device having a base portion including a sump which has an inlet and an outlet and which accommodates a filter element. The base has a reception port for receiving the filter element. The sump optionally is enclosed by a housing which is engaged to a portion of the base.

Abstract: A beam limiting apparatus is provided for reducing the amount of off-focus radiation in the image-forming beam emitted from an x-ray tube assembly. The x-ray tube assembly has a housing with an x-ray port for the passage of x-rays therethrough, a mounting boss defining the x-ray port, an x-ray tube mounted within the housing and defining a glass envelope, an anode mounted within the glass envelope, and a cathode spaced relative to the anode within the glass envelope. A peripheral flange of the beam limiting apparatus is mountable to the mounting boss of the x-ray tube housing, and a radiation-absorbing body of the beam limiting apparatus projects downwardly from the peripheral flange through the x-ray port.

Abstract: A system and method for managing real estate transactions is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of contacts including buyers and sellers of real estate, receiving and storing data relating to a plurality of vendors each associated with at least one phase of a real estate transaction, accessing vendor data based upon occurrence of a particular phase of the real estate transaction and communicating data relating to the vendors to a contact upon occurrence of the particular phase of the real estate transaction. The system includes means for conducting each of these steps.

Abstract: A modular plug for use with unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable of circular cross section and having a multiplicity of twisted pairs of insulated wires includes a stabilizer having an insert portion of generally rectangular cross section at one end with greater width than height. The insert portion provides a multiplicity of laterally spaced, parallel, separate channels for each of the wire pairs, and the stabilizer is fabricated of a deformable material. The plug housing is comprised of a pair of mating halves defining a cavity opening at one end thereof cooperatively dimensioned with and seating the stabilizer. The halves of the plug housing are deformable about the stabilizer to effect secure engagement thereof.

Abstract: A filter element according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of longitudinally extending pleats including outwardly radiating primary pleats and inwardly radiating secondary pleats, with at least one secondary pleat positioned between two adjacent primary pleats. Each primary pleat has a predetermined radial height, and each secondary pleat has a radial height that is less than the radial height of each primary pleat and different from the radial height of at least one other secondary pleat. A filter element according to the present disclosure provides greater filter area, an increased overall filter density, and access to more radial flow paths at the outer diameter of the filter element.

Abstract: An herbal composition is used to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with migraines and other types of headaches. The preferred herbal composition includes white willow bark extract, kava kava root extract, feverfew extract, ginger root extract, Guarana extract, and Vitamin B6. The herbal composition may be combined with liposomes to carry the composition. The result is an herbal composition that can be applied sublingually for rapid, effective pain relief.

Abstract: A power tool is disclosed, having an elongated motor housing in which an electric motor is received, having a gear drive housing at a first end of the motor housing to receive a gear drive for driving a working spindle, and having a handle element which is fastened rotatably at a second end of the motor housing and in which a grip switch is arranged. The handle element is rotatable with respect to the motor housing into at least four predefined angular positions that are preferably offset from one another by angles of 90°, and can be snap-locked in them.