Abstract: A seal assembly (10) includes a first seal element (12) defining a fist sealing surface (14); displacement means including at least one electromagnet (20) operatively coupled with the first seal element (12), the displacement means being operable to displace the first seal element (12) via the, or each, electromagnet (20); and a second seal element defining a second sealing surface (28) associated with the first sealing surface (14), the first and second seal elements providing a seal. The invention extends to a combination comprising a gas turbine and a seal assembly. The invention further extends to a method of controlling a spacial relationship between respective sealing surfaces of two seal elements.

Abstract: A linear actuator monitors and distinguishes between the open and closed states of a valve. The states of the actuator are monitored electrically by two switches and visually via a mechanical indicator. The electrical switches are initialized by an adjustable system, according to the random position of the valve stem when it is opened or closed. The visual indicator is also adjusted to an initial position corresponding to the valve stem position. The adjustment of the system allows for flexibility and use on a wide range of valve stems with various stroke lengths. The visual indicator is visible from the top and the sides of the unit. It is visible on the circumference of the unit so that it is visible at an angle as well. The visual indicator matches three possible states of the valve as follows: when the valve is closed, the indicator is not visible, when the valve is either opening or closing, only one indication area is visible, and when the valve is fully open, two indication areas are visible.

Abstract: Photothermally sensitive recording sheets for color imaging are disclosed comprising a transparent support sheet having a thermal slip layer disposed on one surface of the support and a heat sensitive image layer on the opposite surface of the support. A second opaque (paper) or transparent (plastic) sheet is laminated to the color-producing layer. The image layer comprises photohardenable microcapsules containing a photopolymerizable or photocrosslinkable compound, a photoinitiator and a dye precursor and a developer material external to the microcapsules. Image-wise exposure of the recording sheet to actinic radiation causes selective photohardening of microcapsules sensitive to that radiation. Heating the resultant exposed recording sheet to a temperature well above the developer melting point by for example a thermal head allows the developer to selectively permeate the non-photohardened capsules resulting in the development of an image, including full color images.

Abstract: An arrangement for securing a load carrier to a transporting vehicle that includes an anchor mechanism adapted for securement to a transporting vehicle and for releasable engagement with a carrier foot. The carrier foot has a latching mechanism for releasable engagement with the anchor mechanism. The latching mechanism is adapted for latching engagement to, and disengagement from the anchor mechanism by movement of the carrier foot in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the carrier foot. An example of such movement is vertical movement substantially of an up and down nature. The latching mechanism has a latching and an unlatching configuration and the latching mechanism is urged toward the latching configuration by a resilient biasing mechanism.

Abstract: Tail-mounted devices and methods for securing an object in an animal's, preferably a cow's, vagina, the device typically comprising a first and second tail anchor or ring, and a tether attached to the first tail anchor. The invention is most suited for and capable of attachment to a housing or object that is inserted into the cow's vagina. The purpose of the disclosed devices and methods is to hold an object resident in the vagina for an extended periods of time, including periods of 14 days or longer.

Abstract: An acrylic fiber having cotton-like properties with modified, internal void structure and optical characteristics, the acrylic fiber comprising a BYK Gardner Luster (BYL) reflectance measurement of less than about 44.

Abstract: The invention relates to an information and/or document processing system. The information processing system includes at least one user input device, a transcription center at which voice files received from the at least one user input device are transcribed to text format and a natural language processing system receiving the transcribed voice files for analysis and processing. The natural language processing system applies knowledge based analysis for compiling the transcribed voice files. The system, further includes a dynamic experiential database processing the compiled and transcribed voice files to add value to the incoming information.

Abstract: A screw device, an assembly for theft-proofing vehicle wheels, and a motor vehicle with theft-proofed vehicle wheels is disclosed. The screw device has a screw with a head and a threaded portion intended to be screwed into a thread of a wheel hub, a sleeve and a lock member. The threaded portion is intended to be screw into the thread of the wheel hub via a recess arranged in a central portion of a vehicle wheel. The lock member is an endless, smoothly undulating or curved lock member. The dimensions of the sleeve are adapted to the dimensions of the recess so that regions of the central portion adjacent to the recess encompass substantially entirely and closely a circumference of the sleeve when the threaded portion has been screwed into the thread. The invention can be applied to all types of vehicle wheels, and is particularly advantageous for exclusive private cars with special rims.

Abstract: A chitosan enhanced erosion control device is described. A walled elongated core member is disclosed having a first open end, a second end, an interior space and one or more openings in the wall communicating the interior space with the exterior of the core member. An outer filter member surrounds the core member. One or both the first and second ends of the core member can be open. One or both of the open ends can comprise couplers or connectors for connecting one core member to one or two complimentary core members. The core member may comprise a flexible plastic pipe, such as high-density polyethylene pipe having a plurality of perforations. Chitosan may be added to one or more device elements to assist in removing unwanted silt and contamination from passing fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical circuit that measures the ground current due to insulation leakage in electrical heating elements. The circuit uses a CT to measure the current being supplied to at least one of a plurality of electrical heating elements. Using a comparator circuit and noise rejection circuitry to prevent erroneous tripping, once the current reaches a predetermined threshold, a signal is sent to a switch that causes a non-volatile memory device to clear thereby de-energizing the coil of the contactor that provides power to at least one of the heating elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to press tools for the connection, by cold forming, of tubular workpieces (2, 3) whose connection regions are provided with circular external cross-sectional shapes and are pushed one into the other. The press jaws (10) of the press tool have, in the closed state, approximately the external cross-sectional shape of the workpieces and can be provided with recesses (13, 17). Such a press tool may also have only two press jaws (10) and one bearing bolt (4). As a result of drive forces (F) introduced into the tool, cold-forming forces are exerted on the workpieces (2, 3) via said tool. Depending on manufacturing tolerances of the workpieces (2, 3), the distance (A) between the press jaws (10) varies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing intraocular pressure by administering pharmaceutical compositions comprising indole derivatives. The pharmaceutical compositions useful in this invention comprise indole derivatives and melatonin analogs of Formulae I-IV. A preferred embodiment is a method of lowering intraocular pressure using 5-(methoxycarbonylamino)-N-acetyltryptamine (5-MCA-NAT), also known as GR 135531, which has a prolonged duration of action and greater efficacy in lowering intraocular pressure compared to melatonin. The present invention further provides a method of treating disorders associated with ocular hypertension, and a method of treating various forms of glaucoma; the method comprises administering an effective dose of a pharmacuetical composition comprising an indole derivative with or without agents commonly used to treat such disorders.

Abstract: A class of wheat SEBII genes, called SBEII-1, can be used to influence properties of starch produced by a plant, including the gelatinisation and/or pasting temperature of the starch. Such a produced starch is useful, for example, in certain industrial applications and the preparation and/or processing of foodstuffs such as bakery products. One aspect of the present invention provides a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 10 (SEQ ID No: 2).

Abstract: An extended range proportional valve which can control rates of mass flow over continuous low, intermediate and high ranges has a pilot member mounted on an armature of a solenoid which can be dithered onto and off of a pilot opening in a main valve member which seals a main valve opening to control mass flow rates over the low range by varying the duty cycle and/or frequency of a pulse width modulated current in the solenoid coil. Intermediate and high flow rates are achieved by dithering the pilot valve member with a duty cycle and/or frequency sufficient to raise the main valve member relatively short and relatively long respective distances from the main valve seat.

Abstract: A system and method for performing real-time gamma correction of video in which a pixel having multiple components, e.g., RGB components, can be gamma corrected through a single access to a lookup table.

Abstract: An interior permanent magnet machine is disclosed that, in one exemplary embodiment, includes a stator defining a number of stator poles, a rotor, a number of permanent magnets positioned within the interior of the rotor and at least two impedance reduction slits associated with each permanent magnet where the impedance reduction slits are positioned radially outward of the permanent magnets. In further embodiments, each impedance reduction slit is positioned such that at least a portion of the slit is within a defined region.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a telephone switching environment. In a preferred embodiment the system and method identify telephone call segments that relate to one telephone call and construct a data representation of a lifetime of the telephone call, using data regarding telephony events associated with the telephone call segments of the telephone call. The system and method are also capable of using the data representation to display a graphical representation of a lifetime of a telephone call.

Abstract: A method of monitoring service operations performed on a well involves creating, directly at the well site, a cohesive report of what work was done to the well and which of several contractors did the work. The report includes supporting data generated by one or more transducers. The transducers sense various conditions of a process or service operation, which is being performed by a contractor with the assistance of a special service vehicle. The report is computer generated and can be conveyed from a remote well site to a home base location using two computers communicating across a wireless communication link. The method is particularly useful when the work at the well involves several independent contractors using different service vehicles to perform different service operations.