Abstract: A wearing surface for tires includes a rubber or rubber mix and an admixture of friction-improving materials. The admixture of friction-improving materials include a mixture of crystalline chrysolite (olivine) and a metal powder. The metal powder can be steel or an aluminum alloy.

Abstract: Nickel acetyl acetonate catalysts used in the manufacture of polyurethanes and particularly polyurathane foam, is replaced with a more environmentally friendly organo-metallic catalyst, specifically other metal acetyl acetonates such as iron or copper. In accordance with an important feature of this invention, in addition to the metal acetyl acetonate, the catalyst system also includes acetyl acetone. The acetyl acetone acts as a delay mechanism to delay the catalytic action of the metal acetyl acetonate which is normally highly catalytic at relatively low temperatures. It will be appreciated that high catalytic activity at relatively low temperature will lead to deleterious premature cure. By adding acetyl acetone into the catalyst system, the acetyl acetone acts to delay and/or slow the catalytic action of the metal acetyl acetonate until the polyurethane is heated at which point the acetyl acetone is driven off and the metal acetyl acetonate then provides a relatively fast cure at the elevated temperature.

Abstract: A traveler rung for a cable bed for laying cables and/or pipes and a cable bed incorporating the traveler rung are disclosed. The cable bed includes two elongated panels each having a lower shelf extending inward. The traveler rung is received on the lower shelf of the cable bed. The traveler rung includes a housing body having an elongated groove. A plurality of roller drums are received within the groove and rotate freely. The groove includes a longitudinal opening at its upper portion so that the roller drums are partially exposed. The cable or pipes contact the exposed portions of the roller drums.

Abstract: A progressive ophthalmic lens is presented which is a linear composite of a hard lens design and a soft lens design resulting in a composite lens which combines features of the visual utility of a hard lens design with the visual comfort of a soft lens design.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, strips of a gutter decoration are piece-wise end-to-end (or seamlessly) attached to a gutter mounted to a building or structure to decoratively cover the gutter. The gutter decoration strip extends horizontally and cross sectionally comprises a first generally vertical section and a second section depending upwardly therefrom. The first vertical section includes a series or pattern of decorative features formed therein. The gutter decoration strip further includes means for attaching the strip to the gutter. Alternatively, the gutter decoration is attached below the gutter to either the fascia board or the gutter. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, strips of a fascia decoration are piece-wise end-to-end attached to a fascia board of a building or structure to decoratively cover the fascia board.

Abstract: A moveable driver floorboard device for motorcycles, which allows the driver to make rapid and easy adjustments to the preset positions in the driver's floorboard plates that hold the floorboards. The adjustable floorboard device may be applied to existing fixed floorboard systems that may already be on a motorcycle or they may also be used as a complete new system with new floorboards and new brake lever, along with the adjustable plates and associated hardware. The invention allows for immediate adjustments without unbolting and reinstallation of the existing floorboards.

Abstract: A system for communicating between a plurality of completed zones in a production well includes telemetry devices in each completed zone which communicate either directly via wireless or hardwired techniques or which communicate using a third telemetry device located at the surface of the production well. Zone to zone communication can also be effected between completed zones in different production wells.

Abstract: A wire manager for use with a wiring block assembly. The wire manager has a base portion connected to a retaining portion which together provide an area for wire management. The base portion includes a latching portion which has a lip for affixing the wire manager to the wiring block assembly. The wire manager is preferably made from plastic and is easily mounted to and removed from the wiring block assembly by compressing the base portion.

Abstract: An ingot mould for a continuous casting plant is described, comprising an ingot mould body (22), which defines an axial flow channel (18) for molten metal and which contains a circuit for cooling this axial flow channel (18). The ingot mould body (22) is surrounded, at least partially, by an outer casing (44) in which it is supported axially using a hydraulic/pneumatic suspension device, for example a cylinder with rotational symmetry whose axis of symmetry is coaxial with the casting axis. This hydraulic/pneumatic suspension device is preferably controlled by a hydraulic/pneumatic control system (72) designed to make the ingot mould body (22) oscillate about a reference position.

Abstract: A transdermal patch containing an extract of the herb Plantago major is presented. Use of the transdermal patch, of the present invention, produces a diminished desire for tobacco (i.e., nicotine) without the use of nicotine itself.

Abstract: Charging device for supplying liquid metal to an electric furnace with a shaft 15, the device consisting of a balcony 19 extending the shaft 15 of the furnace 10 laterally and communicating with the hearth of the furnace 10.

Abstract: A temperature protection device and method for an air-cooled housing containing electronic equipment is disclosed. A fan forces air to circulate through the housing with air being expelled from the housing at a normal operating temperature inside the housing and with air at an ambient temperature being drawn into the housing. A temperature sensitive element such as a temperature sensitive switch is mounted to the housing such that it is maintained cooler than the operating temperature in the housing as a result of air being drawn into the housing and such that it is exposed to the operating temperature only upon failure of the air circulation. The temperature sensitive element or switch generates an interrupt signal when it senses a response temperature which is near the operating temperature in the housing. In the case of a temperature sensitive switch, power to the electronic equipment may be shut down by the switch.

Abstract: An "image information enhancement" technique for processing digital images is presented, wherein enhancement of image detail contrast is accomplished by adding a differential hysteresis pattern to a digital image. The differential hysteresis image processing utilizes the persistence of intensity variations (i.e., hysteresis) as means for data reduction and image detail contrast enhancement. Image hysteresis is determined by a hysteresis cursor of an interactively chosen hysteresis range and differential hysteresis patterns are generated as a difference between hysteresis images.

Abstract: A method and system for scheduling using a facet ascending algorithm or a reduced complexity bundle method for solving an integer programming problem is presented. A Lagrangian dual function of an integer scheduling problem is maximized (for a primal minimization problem) to obtain a good near-feasible solution, and to provide a lower bound to the optimal value of the original problem. The dual function is a polyhedral concave function made up of many facets. The facet ascending algorithm of the present invention exploits the polyhedral concave nature of the dual function by ascending facets along intersections of facets. At each iteration, the algorithm finds the facets that intersect at the current dual point, calculates a direction of ascent along these facets, and then performs a specialized line search which optimizes a scaler polyhedral concave function in a finite number of steps.

Abstract: An axle seal is presented. The axle seal is disposed about an automotive axle at the automotive differential to prevent leakage of lubricant from the differential. The axle seal comprises a rigid cylindrical body member having outer grooves receptive to o-ring seals to provide a seal between the differential and the body member which is mounted within an opening of the differential. The axle is attached to the differential and passes through an opening in the body member. The body member is chamfered at the opening to direct the axle to the center line during assembly. A step defining a recessed portion is formed within the opening of the body member where inner seals are disposed. The inner seals provide a seal between the axle and the body member and allow significant angular displacement of the axle from the center line without compromising the integrity of the seal between the body member and the axle or between the body member and the differential.

Abstract: A dual utility hacksaw blade includes additional mounting through holes. The first set of holes (outer) being the mounting holes for the use of the saw as a conventional hacksaw and the second set of holes being initially pilot holes to be enlarged by the end user when the second utility is desired. The method of the invention also recommends enlarging the first set of holes for mounting in the reciprocating saw as the second utility. Additionally, the blade may include construction facilitating breakage of the hacksaw at predetermined areas and in predetermined angles to provide the second utility. The hacksaw may also simply, and preferably, be cut or broken off for the second utility.

Abstract: A novel and improved device for interconnecting an integrated circuit package to a circuit board is presented. In accordance with the present invention an integrated circuit package having an central area devoid of surface contacts is positioned over a resilient or compressible connector system. The compressible connector includes an opening about its center which corresponds to the central area on the integrated circuit package. A component is mounted on the circuit board within the opening of the compressible connector between the integrated circuit package and the circuit board.