Abstract: An adjustable quick release door hinge for connecting a door to a door frame comprises a hinge component, a hinge bracket, and a pin for connecting the hinge bracket to the hinge component. The hinge component includes a housing having an interior concave surface, an elongated portion extending from the housing and a rotatable bearing member contained in the housing. The bearing member has an arcuate portion and an aperture. Portions of the bearing member protrude from the interior of the housing. Each of the protruding portions is flat. A fastener device is used for connecting the hinge component to a door frame or door. The hinge bracket is attached to the other of the door or door frame. The pin extends from the hinge bracket and is received by the aperture of the bearing member of the hinge component for connecting the hinge bracket with the hinge component. Also featured is a quick release hinge component and a method of attaching a door to a door frame.

Abstract: A method of removing sludge from a continuously supplied sedimentation tank which discharges through a pipe having a substantially vertical section and an outlet at or just above the fluid level of the tank by supplying pulses of gas to the base of the vertical section of the tank to lift the sludge therein and discharge it from the pipe outlet in which the pulses are continued until the sludge thickness diminishes to a value which is determined by measuring one or more conditions of the sludge, the conditions including the measurement of the drop in level of the sludge at the pipe outlet after discharge due to an air pulse compared with that before discharge and/or the measurement of pressure of the shock wave produced against time and the time taken for this is stabilised to a predetermined value and/or the measurement of the amplitude of the pressure induced in the sludge after commencement of an air pulse and the time taken for this to reduce to a predetermined amplitude.

Abstract: A pressurized fluid circulating assembly includes a body made of non-metallic, brittle material. At least two apertures formed by internal threads are disposed in the body. First coupling members each include a first externally threaded male portion that can engage the threads of one of the apertures, a second internally threaded female portion and a head with multiple flats. Second coupling members each have an externally threaded male portion that can engage the second threaded portion of one of the first coupling members. A movement-inhibiting member is disposed at a fixed position near at least one flat of each of two of the first coupling members to prevent their rotation. A device may employ a movement-inhibiting member having a size and shape so as to be adapted to be received at a fixed position near at least one flat of each of two of the first coupling members when threaded into engagement with the apertures, thereby preventing rotation of the first coupling members.

Abstract: As an optimization problem, clustering data (unsupervised learning) is known to be a difficult problem. Most practical approaches use a heuristic, typically gradient-descent, algorithm to search for a solution in the huge space of possible solutions. Such methods are by definition sensitive to starting points. It has been well-known that clustering algorithms are extremely sensitive to initial conditions. Most methods for guessing an initial solution simply make random guesses. In this paper we present a method that takes an initial condition and efficiently produces a refined starting condition. The method is applicable to a wide class of clustering algorithms for discrete and continuous data. In this paper we demonstrate how this method is applied to the popular K-means clustering algorithm and show that refined initial starting points indeed lead to improved solutions. The technique can be used as an initializer for other clustering solutions.

Abstract: An exciter circuit for an ignition system including an igniter plug. The exciter circuit includes an energy storage device comprising a pair of capacitors and a charging circuit for charging the capacitors of energy storage device to a predetermined voltage. The exciter circuit further includes a discharge circuit electrically coupled to the energy storage device and the igniter plug providing a conductive path between the energy storage device and the igniter plug. The exciter circuit periodically energizes the igniter plug by applying an output signal of the discharge circuit to the igniter plug, the output signal having a voltage magnitude sufficient to initiate a spark across electrodes of the igniter plug.

Abstract: Type partitioned dataflow analyses perform a dataflow analysis of a program by partitioning the dataflow analysis into phases using types to help reduce costs attendant to the dataflow analysis of the entire program. Each phase models only a subset of the relevant program quantities and may be analyzed separately. Type partitioned dataflow analyses extend quantity-based partitioning to non-separable dataflow analyses by determining analysis-time dependencies connoting potential run-time interactions between relevant program quantities and scheduling the dataflow analysis of each program quantity after the dataflow analysis of all other program quantities upon which it depends.

Abstract: Cooling means for cooling an electric motor mounted on or adjacent a volute of a centrifugal fan, the cooling means including an opening through the wall of the volute, and a shroud connected to the volute, the shroud including a volute end and a motor end, wherein the volute end of the shroud substantially covers the opening, and the motor end of the shroud extends around at least a portion of the periphery of the electric motor, such that the shroud provides a passage for flow of air from the volute and directs the flow of air around at least a portion of the periphery of the motor.

Abstract: A flooring system is disclosed which utilizes prefabricated base modules installed in side by side relationship. The modules have base panels with elongate corrugations which stiffen the panels in one direction. Pedestal strips with elongated corrugations are secured to the base panels with the corrugations of the strips and panels orthoganal to one another. The strips include a series of upstanding pedestals. The pedestal and end half pedestals are positioned such that when the modules are installed they provide a geometric pedestal array. The pedestals are notched to receive snap in panels which collectively define fluid conduit, power cable and communications chases. Working floor panels are mounted atop the pedestals. The power cable, communications and work floor panels have knock outs which are readily removable to provide access to the chases. A heat pump is connected to supply, return and condensate conduits installed in the conduit chase to supply cooling water from a cooling tower.

Abstract: A filter for removing particles from a feed liquid. The filter includes a filtration material having a metal oxide composition selected to provide the material with an affinity for the particles of the feed liquid. The affinity of the material is dependent upon a pH of the feed liquid.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing webs of side connected bags is disclosed. A tube of heat sealable material is flattened and spaced, transverse seals are formed from one edge of the tube toward the other to delineate bag sides. Thereafter, the seals are bisected by lines of weakness to facilitate separation of sides of adjacent bags. Longitudinal lines of weakness are formed immediately adjacent the seals to delineate the tops of bag faces and backs and a separate top or lip section.

Abstract: An endoprosthesis includes a body structure formed of a biocompatible material, the body structure including a first material having an average atomic number greater than 24 and a second material that is different than the first material. The body structure has a mass absorption coefficient effective to provide a ratio of an intensity of an incident X-ray to an intensity of a transmitted X-ray in a range of 1e.sup.-2 to 1e.sup.-4. The endoprosthesis may have a yield strength not greater than 100,000 psi. The endoprosthesis may be in the form of a wire or a tube. In one embodiment the first material is present in an amount not greater than 9% by volume based on the combined volume of the first and second materials. In another embodiment, about 30 to about 40% by volume of the first material is present based on a combined volume of the first and second materials in an endoprosthesis of tubular form.

Abstract: A device for use in inserting a label into a holder or pocket comprises a pair of laminar members of low friction material of a size and shape corresponding generally to that of the label so as to be adapted to lie against opposite surfaces of the label to reduce frictional resistance between the label and the surfaces of the pocket to facilitate insertion of the label, a central portion of one of the members being removed at the end which is first inserted into the pocket and the other member being shorter in length, whereby following insertion pressure may be applied through the container or pocket to the portion of the label at said central location to hold the label in position during withdrawal of the device. An alternative form of device incorporates locating devices at intervals along its length for use in inserting labels of different length.

Abstract: An electronic control system and a device is disclosed proving improved control and diagnostics of glow plugs as are typically energized in diesel engines prior to and during cold start and also during engine warmup, especially for motor vehicles under human operator control.

Abstract: A head for a scanning probe microscope comprising a tuning fork (130) with an SPM tip (134) attached to one prong of the tuning fork. An AC signal (Vin) generated by oscillation of the tuning fork is supplied by a pair of electrodes on the tuning fork to input terminals (110 and 112) of a source-follower circuit comprising a dual-gate GaAs-MESFET (114), the gates (G1, G2) of which are connected in parallel to one of the pick-up electrodes via one of the input terminals (110), the other of the pick-up electrodes being earthed via the other of the input terminals (112). The signal (Vin) is processed by the circuit and supplied to two output terminals (126 and 128) as an output signal (Vout). The megaohm output impedance of the tuning fork is thus translated into an output impedance of the order of a hundred ohms, thus improving signal transfer efficiency from the head to an external signal amplifier.

Abstract: A writing instrument has an elongate body equipped with a pocket connector. The connector includes a leg secured to the body and a relatively ridged, elongate stem extending from the leg in generally parallel relationship with a face surface of the body to define a pocket receiving space therebetween. The stem has a remote spring engaging surface near an end of the stem remote from the leg. A pocket engaging leaf spring is disposed in the space and has ends in biased engagement with the remote spring surface and another spring surface near the leg. The spring is bowed such that a central portion of the spring is closer to the body face than the spring ends. The disclosed body is a scabbard which remains in a user's pocket when the writing implement is in use.

Abstract: A portable data collection device having an imaging based dataform reader utilizing a binarization process to identify an imaged dataform or signature area with a target image area. An imaging assembly is provided that includes a board camera having black and white circuitry and generates a composite video signal representing an image of a target area of the imaging assembly when actuated. The imaging assembly includes a two dimensional photosensor array. The imaging assembly is selectively actuatable with a first trigger for reading a target dataform in the imaging assembly's target area and actuatable with a second trigger for capturing a image of the target object in the target area. When the device is operated in a dataform reading mode or in a signature area capture mode, binarization circuitry is provided that binarizes gray scale values generated from the composite video signal and examines the binary values to identify the imaged dataform or signature area.

Abstract: A heater for use with a chafing dish having water and food pans with complemental peripheral flanges is disclosed. The heater includes a spacer sized to be interposed between such flanges to maintain at least portions of the flanges in spaced relationship. An immersible heater assembly including an upstanding arm is connected to and depends from the spacer. The heater assembly includes an encased electrical resistance heater loop having end portions connected to the arm. The arm and loop are sized to position the loop near a bottom of the water pan and immersed in water when the chafing dish is in use. A temperature sensitive switch is connected to the heater unit for interrupting a power supply when the temperature of the heater unit exceeds a predetermined temperature. A power supply cord extends from the spacer outwardly from the dish when the heater is in use.

Abstract: A loadwheel assembly for a tire testing machine includes a loadwheel with a tire contacting surface supported along substantially its entire circumference by one or more solid discs. The loadwheel consistently measures forces and generates electrical signals corresponding to the forces to more precisely determine tire uniformity. The loadwheel, formed as an aluminum weldment which reduces manufacturing costs, rotates about spindles provided with load cells and mounted to a C-shaped carriage. The carriage has upper and lower legs with the spindles fixed to one side of each leg such that the load cells are easily accessible from one side of the carriage.