Abstract: A tensioner for providing a conduit, e.g., drilling and production riser strings, from a floating vessel at the surface of the ocean to the blowout preventer stack, production tree, or other assembly which is connected to the wellhead at the sea floor. The tensioner compensates for vessel motion induced by wave action and heave and maintains a variable tension to the riser string alleviating the potential for compression and thus buckling or failure of the riser string. The tensioner of the present invention preferably includes at least one mandrel having at least one hang-off donut; at least one upper flexjoint swivel assembly, at least one radially ported manifold, and at least one tensioning cylinder co-linearly combined in a single unit. Methods for assembling risers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tensioner/slip-joint module for providing a conduit from a floating vessel at the surface of the ocean to the blowout preventer stack, or production tree, which is connected to the wellhead at the sea floor. The tensioner/slip-joint module compensates for vessel motion induced by wave action and heave and maintains a variable tension to the riser string alleviating the potential for compression and thus buckling or failure of the riser string. The tensioner/slip-joint module preferably includes at least one mandrel having at least one hang-off donut; at least one upper flexjoint swivel assembly, at least one radially ported manifold, at least one tensioning cylinder, and at least one slip-joint assembly combined in a single unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating multiple communicating caches. Between caches, unnecessary transmission of repeated information is substantially reduced. Each cache maintains information to improve the collective operation of the system of multiple communicating caches. This can include information about the likely contents of each other cache, or about the behavior of client devices or server devices coupled to other caches in the system. Pairs of communicating caches substantially compress transmitted information. This includes both reliable compression, in which the receiving cache can reliably identify the compressed information in response to the message, and unreliable compression, in which the receiving cache will sometimes be unable to identify the compressed information. A first cache refrains from unnecessarily transmitting the same information to a second cache when each already has a copy.

Abstract: A system for continuous pasteurizing of liquid foods is provided which includes the ability to clean the pasteurizing system in place without the need for manual connection and disconnection of piping. The system includes a supply of liquid food product, a source of water, a heat exchanger section for heating the liquid food product, a balance tank for maintaining desired flow to the heat exchanger during fluctuations in demand, and at least one mixproof valve connected to the water source and liquid food supply for delivering one or the other, without risk of intermixing, upstream of the balance tank. The system also discloses the use of a mixproof valve for delivering clean in place solution to the balance tank while preventing the flow of liquid food into the clean in place solution source.

Abstract: The catalyst of the invention includes Aluminium, Lead, Copper, Tin, Antimony, Zinc and Nickel located to be in contact with the fuel to be burned. Each of the elements is present in a preferred concentration range by weight which varies depending on the type of fuel. In a preferred embodiment, the Aluminium forms a container having an inlet and an outlet which defines a flow path through which the fuel flows. The other elements are located in the flow path such that all of the elements are in contact with the fuel as it flows through the container.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and system for automatically refreshing documents in a cache, so that each particular document is refreshed no more often and no less often than needed. For each document, the cache estimates a probability distribution of times for client requests for that document and a probability distribution of times for server changes to that document. Times for refresh are selected for each particular document in response to both the estimated probability distribution of times for client requests and the estimated probability distribution of times for server changes. The invention also provides a system and system for objectively estimating the value the cache is providing for the system including the cache.

Abstract: A combination bath fan, register box, air conditioning and heating boot requires one opening on the wall or the ceiling of the bathroom, thus reducing the installation and maintenance costs associated with the ventilation of the bathroom. The combination includes a trim kit or assembly which is adapted to be fitted into a rough-in kit or assembly. The rough-in kit or assembly, typically mounted onto a building stud during the early phases of the building construction, has an air outlet which is connected to the outside air and an inlet for receiving conditioned air to be distributed within a confined space. The trim assembly or kit is installed in the rough-in assembly. Louvers are provided around the perimeter of the face plate of the trim assembly to dispense conditioned air from the air inlet to the confined space with the appropriate air gradient. Air flow through the louvers is controlled using one or more slidable dampers mounted above the louvers.

Abstract: A flexible insulated air duct is provided with a core of a helical wire encapsulated in a tape, an insulation blanket wrapped around the core, and a jacket with a diamond interlock scrim on the outside of the insulation blanket. The jacket is comprised of an inside layer, a diamond-interlock scrim, a parallel scrim, and an outer coat layer. The diamond-shaped scrim has yarns arranged in a criss-crossed pattern, while the parallel scrim has yarns arranged in parallel. The criss-crossed yarns are made from a heavier gauge material with better tensile strength than that of the parallel yarns. The inside layer, the parallel and criss-crossed yarns, and the outer layer are laminated together using an adhesive. The completed jacket is pulled over the insulation blanket and the inner core to form a flexible air duct having a jacket with a diamond interlock scrim.

Abstract: Thin metal adaptor rings fit within elastomeric seal rings holding an orifice plate within a fitting. The thin metal rings have an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the pipe line and fitting. Therefore, the inside diameter is maintained without variations as previously resulted from protrusion or recess tolerances of the elastomeric seal rings. The seal ring is modified with notches to hold the thin metal adaptor rings in the desired position.

Abstract: A thermal check valve for use in a gravity flow hot water recirculating system. The hot water system has a hot water heating tank, a water faucet, manifold piping from the hot water heating tank to the faucet, return piping from the faucet to the hot water heating tank, and a thermal check valve interposed in the return piping and adjacent a return inlet into the tank. The check valve has a valve body, an inlet chamber formed within the valve body, an inlet port in communication with the inlet chamber, an outlet chamber formed within the valve body, and an outlet port in communication with the outlet chamber, the outlet port being below the inlet port.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the mass flow of a fluid within a defined fluid stream including a conduit having two substantially parallel, flexible and continuous flow tubes fixedly mounted at their ends to a centrally positioned housing forming a flow splitter and a flow converger for directing the flow from the inlet and for directing the flow into the outlet between the apparatus and the fluid stream. The ends of each flow tube positioned proximal to one another and to the center of gravity formed by the shape of the flow tube. Each flow tube substantially forming a "B" shape having a first loop, a connecting portion and a second loop. The first and second loops being symmetrical with respect to the connecting portion and extending laterally from the center of gravity at a greater distance than the displacement of the connecting portion to the center of gravity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating particles from liquids is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a generally cylindrical swirl chamber with a generally axially symmetric shape, and a porous filter element positioned coaxially inside the swirl chamber. The porous filter is preferably composed of a plurality of porous tubes. The liquid to be treated is forced into the swirl chamber through tangential injection slits extending along most of the height of the chamber, which generate a vortex flow inside the swirl chamber and around the porous filter element. Particle-free liquid permeates across the porous filter, flows along its interior, and is collected at a filtrate outlet port. The remaining liquid, now having a higher particle concentration, flows out of the apparatus and can be separately collected, or recirculated back to the apparatus for further separation. The swirling flow retards particle motion toward the filter element thus minimizing buildup of a cake of particles on the porous filter medium.

Abstract: A fluid mass flow meter comprises a swirl generator 16 followed by a convergent nozzle 20 which produce a strongly swirling flow with periodic pressure fluctuations. The flow is subjected to a Coriolis force in a divergent nozzle 26. The pressure fluctuations are sensed by axially-spaced pressure-collecting pipes 32, 32', and a phase shift in the pressure fluctuations between the two pipes due to the Coriolis force is a measure of mass flow.

Abstract: A conduit having two substantially parallel, flexible and continuous flow tubes fixedly mounted at their ends to a centrally positioned housing The ends of each flow tube positioned proximal to one another and to the center of gravity formed by the shape of the flow tube. Each flow tube substantially forming a "B" shape having a first loop, a connecting portion and a second loop. The first and second loops being symmetrical with respect to the connecting portion and extending laterally from the center of gravity at a greater distance than the displacement of the connecting portion to the center of gravity. The flow tubes being oscillated in opposing modes at the connecting portion so as to produce a measurable Coriolis reaction force by the fluid on the flow tubes.

Abstract: Thin metal adaptor rings fit over the elastomeric seal rings holding an orifice plate within a fitting. The thin metal rings have an inside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the pipe line and fitting. Therefore, the inside diameter is maintained without variations as previously resulted from protrusion or recess tolerances of the elastomeric seal rings. The seal ring is modified with notches to hold the thin metal adaptor rings in the desired position.

Abstract: For the enclosed compartment space of a truck type of automotive vehicle rearward of the cab seating section, particularly herein with reference to a mail delivery truck, a movable shelf supported on rollers running on ledges formed by the internal wheel wells of the body of the truck, the shelf carrying mail baskets therein, both the shelf and baskets thereon being easily reachable by the operator seated in the cab section by use of a hook equipped rod whereby the operator can move forwardly the shelf and baskets thereon to be readily reachable for access thereto without the operator being required to step down to have access to the same by an approach through the rear of the truck.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic fluid divider is provided whereby by a shunt line directs a portion of the overall flow of a defined fluid stream through a flow measuring device, such as a Coriolis mass flow meter. The proportion of the shunt line flow portion is determined by the relationship of various fluid restrictions within the shunt line and the main line of the divider. The measured flow value for the shunt line flow is utilized along with a scale-up factor to determine the overall flow through the divider. The proportional relationship of the shunt line to the overall flow permits a reduction in the size and operational requirements for the flow measuring device.

Abstract: An infusion management and pumping system having an alarm handling system is disclosed. During operation, the pumping system checks for a variety of alarm conditions and stores any alarms in a ranking according to urgency. The system is operative to alter the mode of pumping operation to correspond to the priority of the alarm conditions.

Abstract: A filtration system having an in-line filter cartidge with the inlet at one end of the filter cartridge ans the outlet at the opposite end of the cartridge. The filter cartridge is connected to the cartridge mounting on the fluid conduits via quick-disconnect couplers with built-in automatic water shutoff capability which enables the filter cartridge to be installed and removed in a horizontal movement. A recirculating bypass is provided in the system which includes a pair of bypass branch lines to recirculate the fluid and prevent trapped stagnant water in the bypass lines.

Abstract: A variable area flowmeter (10) for monitoring the rate of flow of a cooling and lubricating medium about a pump seal, having a transparent flow tube (27) through which the flow passes. An adjustable metering member (38) is mounted within the flow tube (27) and supports a spring biased float (46) which is movable back and forth along the length of the flow tube (27). A cleaning ring (52) is affixed to the closed end (50) of the float (46) and is in tight frictional contact with the inner wall (29) of the flow tube (27). The cleaning ring (52) scrapes the inner wall (29) of the flow tube (27) to remove any accumulated dirt and debris from the inner wall (29) of the flow tube (27).