Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a leak in a conduit line includes a housing in fluid communication with the line, a valve including a valve seat and a valve element movable relative to the seat between opened and closed positions, a bypass line around the valve, a flow detector coupled to the bypass line for detecting fluid flow therethrough, and a first mechanism configured to urge the valve element toward the closed position. The apparatus may further include a second mechanism separate from the first mechanism for maintaining the valve element in the closed position until a threshold pressure drop is reached. The first mechanism may operate on the principle of buoyancy and the second mechanism may operate on the principle of magnetism.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire having a built-in sealant layer and its preparation. In one embodiment, the pneumatic tire includes an outer circumferential rubber tread and a supporting carcass. An optional rubber inner liner is disposed inwardly from the supporting carcass. A built-in sealant layer is disposed inwardly from the rubber inner liner. The built-in sealant layer provides self-sealing properties to the pneumatic tire. A gas permeable layer is situated adjacent an innermost rubber inner liner and the built-in sealant layer. The innermost rubber inner liner has a plurality of spaced apart openings extending therethrough, which are covered by the gas permeable layer. The tire, with its innermost inner liner with holes and the gas permeable layer, allows for elimination or reduction in blister formation in the tire by permitting gas from the built-in sealant layer to escape.

Abstract: Syringes for holding fluids susceptible to void formation when the syringe and fluid are frozen and thawed before use. The interior surface of the syringe barrel is modified by exposure to a plasma such that the incidence of void formation in the fluid is prevented or, at the least, significantly reduced in comparison with conventional syringes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved aircraft electronics cooling system for an aircraft having a liquid cooling system (2), the aircraft electronics cooling system providing a thermal coupling between an electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 42, 44) to be cooled and the liquid cooling system (2) of the aircraft. A coolant delivered by the liquid cooling system (2) may flow through a board of the electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d), through a heat sink on which the electronic device (42) is arranged and/or through a housing in which the electronic device (44) is arranged. The coolant may be permanently in the liquid state in a cooling circuit. The coolant may vaporize at least partially while cooling the electronic device.

Abstract: An escape system (1) for evacuation is disclosed including a chute (2) comprising a succession of linked and spaced apart shaping sections (7), the succession including a number of shaping sections being connected by elastic cords (9) and linking successive shaping sections in a direction corresponding to a longitudinal axis (18) of the succession of shaping sections, and at least one tunnel-like device (6) being adapted to enable a person (16) who is being evacuated to move from a first position (3) to a second position (4) through the tunnel-like device, and wherein the chute (2) is arranged to have a self adjusting length (20, 22) and hereby operable at least two relative different chute lengths (20, 22) when the chute (2) has been launched and the chute is hanging substantially vertically from the higher position to the lower position, and the escape system comprises length limiting means (32, 36, 38) for changing between operation modes (24, 26) between the at least two relative different chute lengths (

Abstract: A method of treating a workpiece is described. The method comprises selectively forming a sacrificial material on one or more regions of a substrate or a layer on the substrate using a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), and adjusting a surface profile of a surface on the substrate or the layer on the substrate by performing an etching process following the selective formation.

Abstract: A wedge fastener configured for use in extreme ambient conditions includes a pin or bolt having a head and a shank with an elongate slot through the shank. The wedge fastener also includes a wedge sized so that at least a portion of the wedge may extend through the elongate slot to grip a flange between the head and the wedge. The wedge fastener also includes a locking mechanism for locking the wedge in a gripping position against the flange. In one example, the locking mechanism includes locking keys with angled ridges configured to slide in angled slots on the wedge until the locking keys engage the shank. In another example, the locking mechanism includes a jack plate attached to the wedge and adjustment screws for engaging the shank to pull the wedge through the elongate slot.

Abstract: A method of assigning a place to a customer, including the steps of: determining a set of business rules associated with the provision of the place to the customer; determining a set of available places, the or each of the set of available places having one or more attributes; determining one or more customer preferences in respect of the one or more attributes; applying the business rules to define a set of allowed combinations of place and customer; determining a score in relation to the set of allowed combinations of place and customer; selecting the highest scoring allowed combination from the set of allowed combination of place and customer; and assigning the place to the customer based on the highest scoring allowed combination.

Abstract: In a fractional treatment system, an adjustable mechanism can be used to adjust the beam shape, beam numerical aperture, beam focus depth, and/or beam size to affect the treatment depth and or the character of the resulting lesions. Adjustment of these parameters can improve the efficiency and efficacy of treatment. Illustrative examples of adjustable mechanisms include a set of spacers of different lengths, a rotatable turret with lens elements of different focal distances, an optical zoom lens, and a mechanical adjustment apparatus for adjusting the spacing between two optical lens elements. In one aspect, the fractional treatment is configured with a laser wavelength that is selected such that absorption of the laser wavelength within the tissue decreases as the tissue is heated by the laser (e.g., 1480-1640 nm).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product retrieve data for a task utilizing demand-based direct memory access (“DMA”) requests. The method comprises, prior to the execution thereof, analyzing a first portion of a task to determine whether data required for execution thereby is stored in a local memory, and, in response to determining that the data required for execution by the first portion of the task is not stored in the local memory, proactively issuing a first DMA request for the data required for execution by the first portion of the task. The method further comprises, in response to determining that the first DMA request is not complete, determining whether to proactively analyze a second portion of the task prior to the execution thereof for a determination whether data required for execution thereby is stored in the local memory.

Abstract: A liner removal process is described, wherein an excess portion of a conformal liner formed in a trench is substantially removed while reducing or minimizing damage to a bulk fill material in the trench.

Abstract: Shear test apparatus for gold and solder balls of a semiconductor substrate comprises a support element (21) on which is provided a piezo-electric crystal (24) in the direct shear load path. The crystal (24) may have a shield (25). The interface between shield and crystal, and crystal and support element may include an epoxy resin layer to distribute force and retain the components as a unit.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal fare for a trip comprising a departure location, an arrival location, the method comprises the following steps: sending a request for the trip wherein the request comprises a departure location, an arrival location and a corresponding fare for the trip; automatically modifying the request by searching in a predetermined database to determine a set of additional requests wherein each comprises at least one of the departure location, the arrival location or one or more additional locations which may form at least a part of the requested route wherein the predetermined database comprises said additional requests and a corresponding fare for each additional request; selecting one or more additional requests to form one or more alternative requests which include at least on of the departure location or the arrival location as the request; calculating the up to date fares for each alternative request in order to determine a resulting fare for each alternative request; comparing t

Abstract: Spring cushions 10 having slow-acting pocketed spring cores 12 characterized by the individual springs of the cores 12 being pocketed within semi-impermeable fabric material and a method of making such pocketed spring cores 12.

Abstract: A casket having provision for displaying a photograph, the photograph having a pair of opposite side edges, comprises a casket shell adapted to receive the remains of a deceased and having a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and a bottom wall, a casket cap closable on the casket shell, the cap including a dish assembly mounted to an underside thereof, the dish assembly including a cap panel, the cap panel including at least one pair of opposed retention members sized and configured to receive and retain the pair of opposite side edges of the photograph for display of the photograph when the cap is in an open position.

Abstract: The invention relates to fuel cell devices and systems, and methods of using and making fuel cell devices and systems. The fuel cell devices include an elongate ceramic substrate, such as a rectangular or tubular substrate, the length of which is the greatest dimension such that thermal expansion is exhibited along a dominant axis that is coextensive with the length. A reaction zone is positioned along a first portion of the length for heating to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone is positioned along a second portion of the length for operating at a temperature below the operating reaction temperature. There are one or more fuel passages and one or more oxidizer passages extending within an interior solid support structure of the elongate substrate, each having an associated anode and cathode, respectively, which are separated by an electrolyte. The passages include a neck-down point.