Abstract: A system and method for installing aggregate piers is provided. A cylindrical hollow mandrel is driven to a desired depth. Aggregate is fed through the mandrel in steps. The mandrel is raised and driven to tamp the aggregate. Physical members in a tamping head of the mandrel allow aggregate to remain in a cavity formed by the mandrel, and prevent aggregate from entering the mandrel during driving.

Abstract: Methods are provided for manipulating droplets. The methods include providing the droplet on a surface comprising an array of electrodes and a substantially co-planer array of reference elements, wherein the droplet is disposed on a first one of the electrodes, and the droplet at least partially overlaps a second one of the electrodes and an intervening one of the reference elements disposed between the first and second electrodes. The methods further include activating the first and second electrodes to spread at least a portion of the droplet across the second electrode and deactivating the first electrode to move the droplet from the first electrode to the second electrode.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for automatically crimping terminals or connectors to wires wherein the terminals or connectors are provided in strip form and may be of varying sizes, shapes, and pitches. An apparatus according to the present invention includes an applicator body and a ram movably mounted in relation to the body and drivable in a first path through a working stroke towards, and a return stroke away from, a crimping anvil. The apparatus further includes a crimping die on the ram for cooperation with the anvil and adapted to crimp a terminal connector located therebetween onto a wire during each working stroke of the ram. The apparatus additionally includes a drive mechanism adapted to contact the strip through pressure engagement and to feed the strip along a second path to locate the leading connector on the strip between the anvil and the die.

Abstract: The system and method facilitates transition from one software packaging model to a new model. New software packages include a capability package and an enabler package. The capability package provides new or enhanced functionality, and the enabler package serves to provide information that the user has purchased the particular software involved, and is entitled to use the optional feature that the package delivers. The system and method provides for installation of the new software package on older software packages in a non-disruptive manner.

Abstract: A tamper head having an elongated pyramidal or conical shape is used to construct rammed aggregate piers. The pyramidal or conical shape of the tamper head is more efficient at building up lateral earth pressure and provides for greater economy in the construction of the piers than available with existing methods that rely on tamper heads with flat bottoms and beveled sides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to droplet-based surface modification and washing. According to one embodiment, a method of providing a droplet in contact with a surface with a reduced concentration of a substance is provided, wherein the method includes: (a) providing a droplet microactuator comprising a surface in contact with a droplet comprising a starting concentration and starting quantity of the substance and having a starting volume; (b) conducting one or more droplet operations to merge a wash droplet with the droplet provided in step (a) to yield a combined droplet; and (c) conducting one or more droplet operations to divide the combined droplet to yield a set of droplets comprising: (i) a droplet in contact with the surface having a decreased concentration of the substance relative to the starting concentration; and (ii) a droplet which is separated from the surface.

Abstract: The folding boat includes bow and stern members made up of a pair of tubes connectable to each other through a pin mechanism. A polarity of chines extend the length of the boat and are made up of connected tubes which can be disconnected amidships. Cockpit tubes serve to define a cockpit region and are interconnected by hinges and by pin clips to allow folding along two axis approximating one-forth of its assembled size.

Abstract: In accordance with a method and system described herein, in order to map the physical location and connections between all of the components of a network from the perspective of a particular host, i.e., discover the fabric of the network, and the hierarchical relationship between storage disk array components including chassis IDs, storage processors, and storage processor ports, queries are generated and sent to the different operating systems or software that are implemented on the components, i.e., hardware devices of the network. These queries ask the device what it sees. Starting with identifiable starting points and ending points in the fabric, the host selectively queries components within the fabric. Using the query data the host applies a series of comparison and process of eliminations steps, in order to complete a table of the components and connections that comprise the network fabric.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided for detecting contaminant in a fuel system, such as a fuel system of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a fuel filter comprising an upper unit having a fuel inlet port, a fuel outlet port, and a closeable vent port and a lower unit releasably mounted to the upper unit and comprising a contaminant collection zone adapted for holding collected contaminant and a closable contaminant outlet port adapted for draining the collected contaminant. The apparatus further includes a programmable low-voltage variable contaminant detection sensor formed integrally within the upper unit of the fuel filter and comprising detection probes extending into the lower unit of the fuel filter for sensing contaminant levels within the contaminant collection zone, the sensor being adapted for generating a signal upon detection of a predetermined level of contaminant in the contaminant collection zone.

Abstract: In a method for sampling a continuous liquid flow, the liquid flow is supplied to a surface along an input flow path. The liquid flow is sampled by forming a sample droplet from a portion of the liquid flow. The sample droplet is moved along an analysis flow path to a processing area of the surface, where the sample droplet is processed. Discrete sample droplets are formed and moved using an electrowetting technique. A binary mixing apparatus and method are also provided. The apparatus comprises an array of electrodes, an electronic controller communicating with the electrodes, a sample droplet supply area communicating with the array, and an additive droplet supply area communicating with the array. The electronic controller alternately energizes and de-energizes selected electrodes to carry out droplet-to-droplet binary mixing operations to obtain one or more droplets having a target mixing ratio.

Abstract: An erectable rocking chair is described which can be packed together in close and parallel relationship for assembly into a rocking chair with reinforced joints attaching seat to front and rear uprights.

Abstract: A method and system are described for reducing search for data in a directory scheme employing hash tables. The method involves compacting directory entries in a manner in which the directory entries will gradually migrate and concentrate at the highest level hash tables which coincide with early blocks in a hash table sequence representing the directory.

Abstract: The method and system allows for predicting the capacity of a data network to have voice over IP communications implemented thereon. Information corresponding to network data transmission traffic is collected. Information corresponding to telephone call traffic on the PSTN for an organization is also collected. A determination is made about what load the telephone call traffic would impose on the network if implemented as voice over IP traffic. This is compared to the network capacity and it is determined from this comparison whether the network is capable of having conventional legacy telephone traffic implemented thereon as voice over IP.