Abstract: A system for cooling heat generating objects arranged in a room. The system adapts in real time to changing cooling demands of the objects. Remote sensors mounted in proximity to the heat generating objects relay information to cooling units, which adjust their operation in response to the information.

Abstract: A waste box for use with a litter box, the waste box is used for collecting litter clumps removed from the litter box and for collecting litter particulate scattered onto the waste box after a cat exists the litter box. The waste box includes a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a pivotable top forming a waste storage area. The top is movable between closed and opened positions. The waste box pivotable top includes an opening to direct the scattered litter particulate present on the waste box pivotable top into the waste storage area as the waste box pivotable top moves to the open position.

Abstract: A valve operable between a valve close position and a valve open position for a gaseous fuel system includes a housing having a fuel inlet port, a fuel outlet port and a chamber disposed between the fuel inlet port and the fuel outlet port A valve seat is disposed adjacent the fuel outlet port and includes an aperture. The valve further includes a magnetic coil and an armature magnetically coupled to the magnetic coil and disposed with in the housing. The armature is movable in response to the magnetic coil. A piston is coupled to the armature and is movable within the chamber away from the seat when the magnetic coil is actuated in the valve open position. Fuel flows from the inlet port through the chamber to the outlet port. The piston engages the seat when the magnetic coil is deactuated in the valve close position to prevent fuel from flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port. The piston includes a projection or radius for closing the valve seat aperture.

Abstract: A flow distributor for mounting in an inlet of a heat exchanger includes a nose cone and one or more diverting rings. The nose cone is aerodynamically shaped to divert impingent gas flow around the nose cone. A first diverting ring is spaced outwardly from the nose cone and can be oriented such that at least a portion of the gas flow diverted by the nose cone is redirected into the wake of the nose cone. A second diverting ring can be spaced outwardly from the first diverting ring and can be oriented to divert gas flow impingent thereon. Struts connect the nose cone and one or more rings. Refractory on the wall of the inlet is shaped to reduce the recirculation at the outer perimeter thereof. The flow distributor is installed in the inlet with refractory to achieve substantially equal flow across the tube sheet of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A pet feeder for dispensing a supply of pet food includes a food dish and a food storage reservoir. The food storage reservoir is disposed adjacent the food dish and is adapted for holding a supply of the food. A top wall and a floor define the reservoir. The food dish is defined by a sidewall and a floor and has an open top to allow pets access to the food dish. The reservoir floor and the food dish floor form a continuous and downwardly sloping floor to gravitally direct pet food from the storage reservoir into the food dish. An agitator is disposed inside the reservoir. The agitator includes an arm secured to a disc for stirring the food to reduce food stagnation inside said reservoir. A food level sensor is further included in the reservoir to alert the user when the food level in the reservoir is empty or is approaching empty.

Abstract: A universal connection kit for installing a bath spout having an internal coupling at the discharge end to a wall pipe. The connection kit is made up of a conduit and a number of adapters for connection to varying types of wall pipe. The components are connected together via corresponding threaded sections. The particular adapter used depends upon the type of wall pipe present since each adapter allows connection to one of the common types of wall pipe. The universal connection kit provides a flush fit of the bath spout against the wall, regardless of which adapter is used, if any.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for gravel packing is provided. The apparatus includes a substantially tubular-shaped base pipe having a plurality of apertures disposed along part of its length and a dual-wall sand screen coaxially secured to the base pipe. The dual-wall screen is substantially permeable to fluids and impermeable to sand. The apparatus provides a plurality of fluid permeable channels formed within the sand screen, which are disposed along the entire length of the screen. Each channel has an associated plurality of ports spaced along discrete intervals of the screen, which communicate with an annulus formed between the apparatus and the wellbore. The method provides for injecting a sand and fluid slurry mixture through the screen and out of the ports. This design reduces the incidence of sand bridge formation, and packs gravel around any sand bridges, which may be formed.

Abstract: The storable, low-density, hydraulically-active, cementitious slurry of the invention is suitable for cementing within a subterranean formation for oil or gas wells. The low-density slurry comprises a hydraulically-active cementitious material, a set retarder, a plasticizer, glass or ceramic micro-spheres, and a strengthening agent. Further the slurry is substantially free of a suspension agent. The storable, low-density, hydraulically-active, cementitious slurry is made by adding glass or ceramic micro-spheres to a hydraulically-active cementitious material, adding a strengthening agent to the microsphere containing composition, and mixing the resulting composition with water, a set retarder, and a plasticizer to generate a slurry, wherein the set retarder is present in an amount sufficient to allow storage of the slurry.

Abstract: A method for notifying a user of changes to pre-selected portions of a web page includes dividing a web page into a plurality of blocks. User-selection information is added to each of the plurality of blocks. The user selects ones of the plurality of blocks by exercising a select user option from the user-selection information associated with each of the plurality of blocks. User-selectable notification-enabling information is added to each of the user selected ones of the plurality of blocks and for each selected block the user defines the notification condition. Each of the user selected ones of the plurality of blocks are monitored. Changes made to each of the user selected ones of the plurality of blocks based upon the notification condition are detected. The user is notified when the detection indicates that the user selected notification condition has occurred.

Abstract: An induction motor drive system and method estimates a motor power factor based on the AC power output to the motor phase windings and estimates the rotor speed based on the estimated power factor. The estimated rotor speed is compared to a rotor speed command signal to generate a speed error, and the voltage and frequency input to the motor are adjusted in response to the speed error. Rotor speed is estimated based on estimated rotor slip, which is estimated based on the applied voltage, frequency, estimated power factor and estimated motor power.

Abstract: A litter scoop holder comprising a support member and a removable receptacle. The receptacle includes a floor, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of sidewalls to form a scoop pocket. The receptacle rear wall includes a tab and the floor includes a rib. The support member contains a rear wall and a floor to support the receptacle. The support rear wall includes a pocket to receive the receptacle tab and the support floor includes a flexible release tab having an aperture to receive the rib. When in the locked position, the receptacle tab is inserted into the support pocket and the receptacle is pivoted such that the rib slideable engages and defects the flexible release tab until the release tab aperture receives and secures the rib. To remove the receptacle, the release tab is pressed and the receptacle is pivoted in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The present invention presents a method and apparatus for recording and analyzing uterine electrical activity, or electromyography (EMG), from the surface of the abdomen, vagina, or cervix of a patient for the purpose of diagnosing contractile patterns of the uterus in pregnant and non-pregnant women, as well as for monitoring maternal and fetal ECG and fetal brain activity. The method and apparatus described include methods for the systematic detection, analysis, characterization and communication of information about electrical signals recorded from the abdominal/vaginal/cervical surface. The present invention provides data analysis techniques for analyzing the electrical data measured from the surface of a patient to characterize their uterine, abdominal, and cardiac muscle activity, as well as cardiac and brain activity of the fetus simultaneously or separately.

Abstract: A low residue well treatment fluid comprises: an aqueous solvent; a gelling agent comprising one or modified polysaccharides, the modified polysaccharides having hydrophilic groups; and a crosslinking composition. The fluid may optionally further comprise a gel breaker, a buffer and/or a proppant. The fluids generate no or minimal residue upon being broken, and are particularly useful in well fracturing operations.

Abstract: A fastener mechanism operable between an unlocked position and a locked position to securely fasten items of various sizes and shapes includes a first member and a second member each having a sidewall, a front wall, a rear wall and a receiving chamber disposed adjacent the front wall of each member. The second member contains a hollow interior and is slightly larger than the first member so that the first member can be inserted inside the hollow interior. The receiving chambers extend axially along each member and contain an opening and angularly disposed sidewalls forming an apex. To securely fasten the item, the first member is co-axially aligned with the second member so that the receiving chamber openings are oriented to form an aperture to receive the item. The first member is then slideably inserted into the second member hollow interior. As the first member is inserted inside the second member, the aperture reduces in size to grip and securely fasten the item.

Abstract: Micro-optical elements such as lenses and wave-guides are manufactured by printing a hardenable optical fluid using digitally driven ink-jet technology. An array of micro-optical elements are precisely positioned in an electroformed substrate having a surface containing structural openings which serve as molds for micro-droplets of optical fluids deposited from an ink-jet printhead. The structural openings have a stepped down edge, a shelf-like support surface below the edge and a centered aperture in the substrate. The micro-optical element formed is controlled by the shape of the edge in the surface of the substrate and the radius by the volume of micro-droplets deposited into the structural opening. The structural openings can be circular, or any desired shape which is easily and precisely formed in an electroformed substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for the optimized storage and retrieval of video data at distributed sites calls for the deployment of “Smart Mirror” sites throughout a network, each of which maintains a copy of certain data managed by the system. User addresses are assigned to specific delivery sites based on an analysis of network performance with respect to each of the available delivery sites. Generalized network performance data is collected and stored to facilitate the selection of additional delivery sites and to ensure the preservation of improved performance in comparison to traditional networks.