Abstract: An improved apparatus for adjustably attaching a tray to a ladder side member. The apparatus includes a first clamping member for attachment to a ladder, an L-shaped support having a support leg and a mounting leg perpendicular to the support leg, thereby forming the L-shape and first and second tray clamping members, which allow a tray to be securely fastened to a ladder The support leg provides support to the bottom of the paint container when the device is mounted to the ladder. The mounting leg is attached to the clamping assembly and is provided with elongated slots therein for bolts to pass therethrough. The bolts also pass through the clamping assembly. The bolts are provided with threaded knobs and are used to draw the first clamp, the first and second tray clamp members and the mounting leg of the L-shaped support together when tightened.

Abstract: A local telecommunications network system IS arranged to provide a first asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) service in a first frequency band to a first set of subscribers and a second very high bit rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) service in a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band to a second set of subscribers. Interference between the two types of digital traffic within the multi-pair feeder cables leading to the exchange is suppressed by low pass filtering the ADSL traffic and high pass filtering the VDSL traffic. The filtering may be applied to the line cards to which each subscriber line is connected.

Abstract: A suction sound damper for a hermetically encapsulated compressor has a housing that is formed of at least an upper part (3), a lower part (1) and an insert (2), and having at least two chambers (7, 8) and a channel (9), connected thereto, leading from a lower inlet opening (10) to an upper outlet opening (11). The insert (2) has a side wall (18) which, together with a section (19) of the housing wall, forms a capillary gap (20) in which lubricating oil collects and is retained. This produces additional sound damping.

Abstract: A secure database system comprises a server having a database including at least one personal information table and at least one further table containing information relating to the persons whose details are stored in the personal information table. The keys of the tables in the database are unrelated, so that it is impossible to determine solely from information in the server which record in the further table corresponds to which record in the personal information table. Thus, even if a hacker obtains access to the database, the hacker will not be able to relate information in the different tables. Each legitimate client uses an encryption process to convert a personal identifier value, which identifies the record relating to a particular person in the personal information table, into a pseudo-identifier value, which identifies a record relating to the same person in the further table.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microwave flat plate or planar antenna, and a method of manufacturing the same. As the frequency of operation increases, traditional methods of manufacturing these antennas are becoming increasingly impractical. The present invention provides an antenna tri-plate structure comprising, a first dielectric layer carrying a plurality of radiating elements, a second and third dielectric layer each comprising a metallised surface having a plurality of apertures corresponding to said radiating elements, a number of dielectrics spacers formed with said second and third dielectric layers, each said spacer being located between a said aperture and a said radiating element to maintain said layers apart.

Abstract: A thermal expansion valve body for a thermal expansion valve. In order to provide universality so that the thermal expansion valve can ultimately be formed with an inlet and outlet either being aligned or at an angle to one another, the thermal expansion valve body includes an inlet protrusion for the inlet an outlet protrusion for the outlet, and a bypass aperture protrusion for a bypass aperture. The outlet protrusion and the bypass protrusion are substantially identical such that the outlet can be formed in one the outlet and bypass protrusions, and the bypass aperture can be formed in the other of the outlet and bypass protrusions.

Abstract: In a known method for regulating a delivery variable of a pump, which is driven by an electric motor operated with alternating current of variable frequency, especially via a converter, the input power of the motor is measured as the actual value for the delivery variable and is regulated by comparison with a desired value. To avoid the influence of the temperature of the motor on the delivery variable at constant input power, according to the invention upon a change in the temperature in the motor a corresponding compensating variable is taken into account in the control for the purposes of correcting the input power. As an alternative, associated values of the input power and the speed of the motor at a predetermined desired pressure value are determined empirically and stored as a table, and during operation a value of the input power belonging to a measured or approximately calculated speed of the motor is retrieved from the table as the desired value for regulating the input power.

Abstract: A method of processing data such as alarms from a communications network, by alarm correlation, the network comprising entities which offer and receive services to and from each other, the method comprising the step of: adapting a virtual model (87) of the network according to events in the network. The model comprises a plurality of managed units (91,92) corresponding to the network entities, each of said units containing information about the services offered and received by its corresponding entity to and from other entities, and having associated knowledge based reasoning capacity such as rules, for adapting the model by adapting said information. When one of the managed units is notified of an event such as an alarm raised by its corresponding entity, the cause of the alarm is determined using the virtual model. The development and maintenance of rules is easier, and correlation quicker since the rules for each unit need not relate to all the other units.

Abstract: Constrained operation performance of exchanges (50) and switches (16, 216) of wireline communication systems (10) is mitigated and single entry point management of the system maintained through the provision of a distributed multi-service hub (MSH) sub-net (350) architecture in which individual MSHs (302-308) have hidden point codes (1001-1003). A signalling server (352) is able to translate an address of the MSH sub-net into a point code associated with an MSH entry point into the MSH sub-net, while dialled digit information pertaining to a service or party identifies a related MSH exit point from the MSH sub-net (350). A path can therefore be established, with the signalling server (352) further required to ensure that the hidden point code associated with the MSH exit point is translated back to the address of the MSH sub-net in onward routing of signalling messages to the dialled service or party.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electronic temperature controller, particularly for refrigeration appliances, with mains connections (3, 4) and an electronic circuit (1) having a power supply (7), a control unit and measuring and setting elements (9, 10, 11). The mains connections (3, 4) are connected with the power supply (7) via protective impedances (5, 6) consisting of at least two single impedances connected in series, and the electronic circuit is dimensioned for an operating current of maximum 0.35 mA (peak value) when connected to an AC mains and maximum 1 mA when connected to a DC mains. These values are doubled, when the electronic circuit has an earthing connection. This gives safety for the operator through shock-proof protection, which can be achieved at low cost and with small dimensions.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption and associated heating in a line card of line termination equipment (LTE, 12) employing multiple cub-channel carriers to communicate broadband information to customer premise equipment (CPE, 30) down a wireline communication resource (26, sub-channel carrier transmissions are restricted (58) during periods of CPE inactivity. Power supplies to a power amplifier (30) associated with the line card and wireline resource (26) are reduced, with digital signal processing capabilities of the LTE (12) further restricted (64). When the CPE wishes to re-start communication, the CPE (30) locks (68) to a correct alignment in a transmission scheme using a pilot tone that is transmitted within a simple pattern sent during reduced sub-channel carrier transmissions. Alternatively, should all transmission from the LTE cease during CPE inactivity, then the CPE monitors (80) the transmission environment and sends (82) a wake-up call to the LTE between boundaries of an uplink slot.

Abstract: A multipart gypsum casting composition comprising a gypsum composition and a water composition where either the water and/or the gypsum composition contains at least two acids selected from the group consisting of oxalic acid, boric acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, sodium citric acid, trisodium citric acid, tartaric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, formic acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid and aspartic acid.

Abstract: A method, and related apparatus, for determining symbol alignment in a discrete multi-tone communications system comprising the steps of: receiving a signal on each of at least one selected carrier frequency; for each of a plurality of receiver window alignments with respect to said signals, deriving a measure of received signal power level on each said selected carrier frequency; for each said receiver window alignment and selected carrier frequency deriving a measure of spectral leakage on at least one adjacent carrier frequency; selecting a receiver window alignment responsive to said derived measures.

Abstract: A power supply has a plurality of single line interface circuits (20, 22, 24 and 26) each connected by a respective line, to a respective telephone (4, 6, 8 and 10) or other telecommunications device. Each SLIC applies a sufficient voltage derived from a battery to the line to operate the respective telephone, and dissipate any excess power supplied by the battery. The apparatus includes common power regulation means (30), which incorporates a switch mode power supply unit (68), and which monitors the voltages being supplied by the SLICs at any one time and reduces the voltages applied to the SLICs to substantially the maximum voltage required by any one of the SLICs, thereby reducing the amount of power dissipated by the SLICs.

Abstract: A conventional circuit for blocking a semiconductor switching device (7) on overcurrent, the semiconductor switching device (7) having at least one continuously driven semiconductor switch (9), comprises a diver circuit (11), which has a driver stage (12) for each semiconductor switch (9), a control pulse generator (10) for producing control pulses (P1 to P6), which are fed in operation to a control input of the semiconductor switching device (7) via the driver circuit (11), and a monitoring device (34), which measures the current (I) flowing through the semiconductor switching device (7) and, when an overcurrent occurs, generates a fault signal (E), which initiates blocking of the semiconductor switching device (7). When the semiconductor switching device is being blocked, a high overvoltage can occur therein, possibly leading to destruction of the semiconductor switching device.

Abstract: A removably coated optical fibre (10) comprises an optionally clad optical fibre core (12) and a removable coating. The coating is formed from an elongate tape (14) having two edges (16, 18). The tape (14) is affixed adjacent the edges along a substantial part of the length of the tape (14) to form a releasable seam (20). Access to the fibre core (12) is obtainable by peeling apart the seam (20). Alternatively, distinct upper and lower tapes (24, 26) may be used to form the removable coating.