Abstract: Duct units for delivery of air to an air supply fan and for connecting this fan to an air heater unit are disclosed. The duct unit for delivering air in one version has a narrow first section, a second, transition-type section and a wide sound attenuating, third section with these three sections extending generally vertically. Spaced apart splitters containing sound attenuating material and having side walls of perforated metal are mounted in the third section. The splitters include a central splitter and outer splitters with the latter converging inwardly towards a central axis of the third section. This duct unit also has an elbow-shaped duct section connected to the third section at its upstream end and connectible to the fan at its downstream end. In another version, the duct unit has a single, elongate splitter that extends longitudinally along at least a major portion of a second duct section and that bends through a smooth curve.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell contains first and second monolithic electrically conducting flow field-bipolar plate assemblies arranged essentially parallel to each other such that an inside surface of the first bipolar separator plate is facing an inside surface of the second bipolar separator plate, wherein the bipolar separator plates are electrically and mechanically connected by intervening layers that are directly bonded to each other. The fuel cells can be stacked between endplates and supplied with hydrogen and oxygen to generate electric power. An air cooled condenser for use with a fuel cell stack is composed of a porous foam condensing element and a porous foam cooling element. The condenser can be placed by a fuel cell stack for cooling purposes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method includes providing a conduit having a fluid flowing therethrough, disposing a plurality of temperature measurement devices inside a wall of the conduit, positioning at least some of the temperature measurement devices proximate an inside surface of the wall of the conduit, positioning at least some of the temperature measurement devices at different radial positions at the same circumferential location within the wall, measuring a plurality of temperatures of the wall with respective ones of the temperature measurement devices to obtain a three-dimensional temperature topology of the wall, determining the temperature dependent thermal conductivity of the conduit, and determining a multi-dimensional thermal characteristic of the inside surface of the wall of the conduit based on extrapolation of the three-dimensional temperature topology and the temperature dependent thermal conductivities.

Abstract: A capacitive fill level measurement device with a fill level sensor having a plurality of sensor fields, electrical wires for electrically connecting the plurality of sensor fields to a multipole side of a selector switch, and a power supply and evaluation circuit electrically connected to a monopole side of the selector switch. The capacitive fill level measurement device can be made with simple production technology and thus economically for a host of different applications using a matrix of printed conductors which extend vertically and horizontally such that each horizontally extending printed conductor on one side is connected to one sensor field and on the other side connected to a vertically extending printed conductor. Each horizontally extending printed conductor is connected with a respective vertically extending printed conductor to form an electrical line or a part of an electrical line.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the production of polyphenol oligomers having n polyphenol monomeric units, n being an integer from 2-18. The process includes coupling of a protected polyphenol, having protected phenolic hydroxyl groups, with a C-4 functionalized polyphenol monomer. The protected polyphenol may be a protected polyphenol monomer or a protected polyphenol oligomer having 2-17 monomeric units. Advantageously, polyphenol monomeric units forming the polyphenol oligomers may be the same or different flavanoid compounds.

Abstract: An integrated storage device, for storing a data package received wirelessly from a remote base station, includes a secondary non-volatile storage device, an antenna, a primary non-volatile storage medium, and a processor. The antenna is configured to receive the data package wirelessly from the remote base station. The antenna is also configured to receive electrical energy from the remote base station in order to power the secondary non-volatile storage device, such that, the secondary non-volatile storage device is accessible in order to store the data package. The primary non-volatile storage medium is only accessible when electrically connected to a power supply. The secondary nonvolatile storage device and the primary non-volatile storage medium are permanently operationally connected.

Abstract: A cementitious composition is provided that is composed of hydraulic cement and a liquid coloring suspension. The liquid coloring suspension which contains polycarboxylate dispersant and pigment provides the cementitious composition with increased dispersion of pigment particles, lowered water content, and improved coloration over that observed in the prior art. Also, a liquid coloring suspension for cementitious compositions is provided which contains polycarboxylate dispersant, pigment, and thixotropic additive. The liquid coloring suspension increases the color of cementitious compositions, reduces the water content and has long term stability in that it does not become increasingly viscous over time.

Abstract: Data stored in a portable storage device are encrypted, for example by a processor of the portable storage device itself, using a backup key and stored in a backup medium. The backup key is protected by being stored in a backup key storage medium, such as an internet server, a pocketable medium or a trusted computer, preferably after being encrypted using a password. As needed, the backup key is retrieved and used to decrypt the data from the backup medium. The decrypted data are restored to the original portable storage device or to a different portable storage device.

Abstract: A disk-shaped propellant module (6) for a propellant charge (2), which can be composed of several modules of this type. To ensure a uniform and symmetrical ignition of the propellant charge (2) for a cartridge with increased charge density (>1.2 g/cm3), the propellant module (6) is provided with at least three axially extending ignition channels (9), uniformly distributed over a partial circle, and at least three radial ignition channels (10) that extend from the inside or interior of the propellant module (6) to its outer edge surface (11). The center of the circle for the axial ignition channels (9) is positioned on the central axis (100) for the propellant module (6) and each of the radial ignition channels (10) intersects with at least one of the axial ignition channels (9).

Abstract: The invention concerns modified hydrophobic polyelectrolytes by amide formation of a hydrophilic skeleton by n-alkylamines whereof the alkyl chain comprises 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Preferably, the amide formation is obtained by di-n-dodecylamine. The hydrophilic skeleton is preferably a sodium polyacrylate or polyacrylic acid corresponding to a statistical acrylate-AMPS copolymer. Said polymers can be used for stabilising direct or invert emulsions likely to be destabilised or inverted by a modification in the degree of salinity of the aqueous phase or a pH modification. The invention is particularly useful for stabilising oil drilling fluids or the like in particular drilling, fracturation, acidification or completion fluids.

Abstract: Methods of construction for inductive components such as inductors, chokes, and transformers enable these components to be fabricated using mass production techniques, thereby avoiding the need to handle discrete devices during the manufacturing process. In one preferred embodiment, holes are formed through a ferromagnetic substrate and plated with conductive material. The arrangement of these holes, and the subsequent design that ensues, will form the inductive components within the plane of the media in which the device is formed; using the substrate for a magnetic core. By using this approach, the inductive components can be miniaturized to physical sizes compatible with the requirements of modern surface mount technology (SMT) for integrated circuitry (IC). In another preferred embodiment, a series of thin, concentric high permeability rings are etched on a substrate to provide high permeability transformers and inductors having minimal eddy current effects.

Abstract: A packet core network (PCN) includes a plurality of interconnected routers. An emulator is provided along with at least one of the routers and operates to control transmission of Internet Protocol (IP) datagrams there through in order to simulate the effects of having one of the non-radio inter-router connections fictionally comprise a wireless cellular radio link. The emulator responds to user input specifying wireless cellular radio link conditions to determine a time delay to be applied by the router against the transmission of each datagram. This time delay is set roughly equivalent to the delay introduced, under the user specified wireless cellular radio link conditions, by emulated radio link operation to erase uncorrectable frames to obtain retransmission. The emulator further sets a data rate for router handling of datagrams based on the user input to simulate congestion on the radio link due to the presence of other, competing users.

Abstract: A flow nozzle (10) that conveys plastic melt from an injection unit of a molding machine to a mold cavity (72) has an improved, removable seal design. The nozzle body (12) is designed to threadedly receive a nozzle tip (24) that includes an outlet (30) that communicates with the mold cavity. A thin-wall, cylindrical seal ring (40) includes a compression portion that is received between the nozzle body and nozzle tip and is compressed to create a seal between these two elements when the tip is assembled to the nozzle body. The seal ring further includes a sealing portion (50) that encircles the nozzle tip and has an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the nozzle body.

Abstract: An exemplary skew-tolerant true-single-phase-clocking (TSPC) flip-flop is disclosed that reduces current spikes by allowing willful introduction of skew in the clock tree of a single-phase circuit design. More precisely, a split-clock TSPC flip-flop, which allows the flip-flop hold times to be met in the face of skewed clocks, which, in turn, reduces the maximum value of current spikes, can be substituted for a traditional TSPC flip-flop in a sequential logic circuit. The input of the split-clock TSPC flip-flop is latched according to a first clock signal, which was used in a preceding stage, while the output of the split-clock TSPC flip-flop is driven according to a second clock signal. The first and second clock signals can be skewed in time, but have the same frequency and substantially the same phase. Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) device can also be included within the split-clock TSPC flip-flop to reduce power dissipation in cases of large clock skew.

Abstract: In a mobile communication network (SYS) data transmission between a radio base station (RBS) and a subscriber station (UE) is carried out by successively transmitting frames. The radio network controller (RNC) inserts at the beginning of the respective frames an indicator flag (MOP) indicating to the subscriber stations (UE) whether the frame or a succeeding frame contains data which must be read and decoded by the subscriber stations (UE). The subscriber station can by reading and decoding the indicator flag (MOP) determine that there is no necessity to read data from the present frame or a succeeding frame and can therefore use the time period of one or more frames to save network resources or to perform inter-frequency measurements on another frequency. The invention finds particular application in a WCDMA mobile communication system.

Abstract: A restraint anchorage for a child safety seat for an automotive vehicle having a cross member disposed behind the vehicle's seat. U-shaped latch wires are attached to the cross member. Collars are provided on the legs of the latch wires which engage one side of the cross members. The ends of the legs which protrude through holes provided in the cross member are peened over to form enlarged heads locking the latch wire to the cross member.

Abstract: Buoyant balloons are provided with a texturizing layer which is operated upon with embossing or other techniques to provide interesting visual effects. The texturizing is formed on the outer surface of the texturizing layer, which is located on the outer surface of the balloon film. One or more ink coatings may be used in conjunction with the texturized balloon film to augment visual interest.

Abstract: The present invention provides batteries with low cost, excellent in high rate discharge characteristics (high power characteristics) and high reliability. For example, the present invention provides Ni/MH batteries with low cost, excellent in high rate discharge characteristics (high power characteristics) and high reliability. The batteries of the present invention are obtained by applying the conductive electrode substrate obtained by the following method to a positive electrode and/or a negative electrode and by combining these electrodes with a separator which is much thinner than conventional separators. The conductive electrode substrate which is made three dimensional is obtained by forming innumerable bridge structural portions on both sides of a nickel foil, having no burr on the apparent surface of said three dimensional substrate. The same type of substrate made of Al and Cu foil are applicable for a Li secondary battery system positive and negative electrodes, respectively.

Abstract: A high speed switching apparatus comprises first and second parallel balanced lines each directed from an input line end to an output line end and adapted to receive equal and opposite currents to provide balanced operation. Third and fourth parallel balanced lines are spaced apart one from the other and each directed from an input line end to an output line end and adapted to receive equal and opposite currents to provide balanced operation. A first switch is coupled between the output end of the first line and the input end of the third line, and operative in a first high impedance off state and a second low impedance on state. A second switch is coupled between the output end of the second line and the input end of the fourth line, and operative in a first high impedance off state and a second low impedance on state.

Abstract: A method of the preparation and utilization of polymerized alpha-hydroxycarboxylic-acid-coated proppants for gravel pack and removal of filter cake that was deposited by reservoir drilling fluid. In a preferred example, polyglycolic-acid-coated sand is used to replace conventional gravel pack sand typically used for gravel packing. Under downhole conditions, the acidic by-product generated from the hydration of polyglycolic-acid-coated sand can break down acid-soluble and/or acid-breakable components embedded in the filter cake. This reaction enhances the filter cake removal and the flow of hydrocarbon from the producing formation. The polyglycolic-acid-coated sand may be produced by polymerizing a glycolic acid with a natural or synthetic proppant like 20-40 mesh commercial sand, at temperatures of about 210° F. or higher.