Abstract: Methods are provided for the constructing of subterranean soil-cement structures in situ. The methods utilize techniques designed to prolong the period of time in which an auger machine can operate in a bore hole without encountering difficulty due to the hardening of the soil-cement mixture. The techniques utilized include a preparatory drilling phase during which a lubricating slurry may be injected. This preparatory drilling serves to break up the soil and particularly if a lubricating slurry is used, reduce friction so that final drilling may progress more quickly. After preparatory drilling, final drilling takes place. Final drilling is divided into a downward and an upward phase. Either hardening or non-hardening slurry may be introduced and consolidated with the soil during the downward phase, but only hardening slurry is typically utilized during the upward phase of final drilling.

Abstract: A modified DBR laser having at least one extended tuning range is disclosed. A plurality of gratings are arranged on opposing sides of a gain section which can be selectively tuned to provide one or more continuous wavelength ranges of laser light.

Abstract: A method of making a balloon includes providing two balloon films and providing two valve films. The two valve films are placed one on top of the other and then inserted between the two balloon films. Then a portion of each of the valve films is tack sealed to its respective adjacent balloon film. The valve films are then sealed together to form a valve passageway therein. During the valve sealing step, the balloon films are held in a fanned out manner. Finally, the balloon films are sealed together along the perimeter thereof to form the balloon.

Abstract: The silencer combined with a catalytic converter comprises a housing including an inner tubular element in which a catalytic converter is fitted. The engine exhaust gases enter into the silencer through a venturi nozzle, flowing through a series of diaphragms made of porous ceramic material treated with catalytic materials, and flow out from an exhaust outlet of the silencer depleted of pollutants. The ceramic diaphragms may be cup shaped and provided with through-holes or ogive shaped with perforated walls and they may consist of elements formed by a plate provided with lateral flanges forming opposite cavities. The elements may be combined with one another in different manners to form a sequence of chambers with shape and volume best suited for each type of engine.

Abstract: Novel controllers have been discovered which permit control of the outputs of a system with minimal knowledge of the system's internal dynamics, and with no knowledge of the values of disturbances on the system, or of the effects of the disturbances on the system. Very rapid convergence of the actual outputs to selected desired outputs is possible. The systems controlled may have multiple inputs and multiple outputs; may be linear or nonlinear; may be expressed in input-output form, state space form, or mixed form; and may be implemented with analog circuit elements, digital circuit elements; or a hybrid of both analog and digital circuit elements. Both general and special cases of such controllers are disclosed.

Abstract: A balloon of at least two balloons is facilitated by a connecting tab on one balloon joined to a collar on another balloon. The collar wraps around the connecting tab to contribute to the aesthetic appearance of the balloon assembly by hiding the balloon joinder.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a circuit board having a lateral conductive pattern and shield regions, a first laminate of a substrate, covered on one side by a copper foil, is contour cut whereafter a second entirely covering copper foil is laminated to the second side of the substrate, and a conductive pattern of signal conductors and ground conductors is etched in the second copper foil. The second substrate is also contour cut and is laminated to a copper foil, whereafter a window is etched in the copper foil, corresponding to a window cut in the substrate. The second laminate thus formed is adjusted in regard of the pattern to the first laminate and is adhesively secured thereto, the side of the second laminate covered by the copper foil turned away from the wide of the first laminate provided with the conductive pattern.

Abstract: A system and method for retrieving enhanced subscriber services from at least one database and delivering those services to the subscribers of a telecommunications network without requiring the expensive upgrading of local switches (LSs) to operate with the Transaction Capabilities Application Part/Advanced Intelligent Network (TCAP/AIN) communications protocol. The system comprises a plurality of LSs which are connected to an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) and provide the subscribers with access to the network. The system also includes at least one virtual service switching point (ViSSP) within the AIN for storing the database of enhanced subscriber services. LSs or tandem switches may retrieve enhanced subscriber services from the ViSSP utilizing the Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (ISUP) call-setup protocol.

Abstract: A method for reacting to disturbances that occur in industrial processes includes the steps of extracting information regarding occurrence of disturbances from an industrial process, transmitting the extracted information to a disturbance filter which includes a leaky bucket having a defined disturbance step and floor and ceiling height for the disturbances, and triggering an alarm when occurrence of disturbances in the industrial process falls without the defined disturbance step and floor and ceiling height. The present invention also provides a rigorous method of setting parameters within a leaky bucket algorithm.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a mining support for supporting rock within a mine. The support includes a cable and a threaded shaft fixedly attached to a first end of the cable. There is also an expansion anchor threadingly engaged about the threaded shaft for anchoring against the rock within a bore hole and means for bearing against the rock at the opening of the bore hole. The bearing means preferably includes a second collar having a threaded portion on which a hex nut is mounted and a contact plate for bearing against the rock. Preferably, there is a first collar for fixedly attaching the cable to the threaded shaft. Alternatively, the threaded shaft has a cavity for engaging with the cable. In a preferred embodiment, the mining support includes means for mixing resin in a resin cartridge. The mixing means is positioned about a portion of the cable. The mixing means preferably includes a helical wire strand that wraps about a portion of the cable.

Abstract: A process for the production of polyester resins having an intrinsic viscosity higher than 0.57 dl/g from polyester resins having intrinsic viscosities of lower than 0.57 dl/g in which 1) a melt of the polyester resin having an intrinsic viscosity lower than 0.57 dl/g is mixed with a polyaddition additive containing at least two groups which react with the terminal OH and COOH groups of the resin, 2) the melted mixture is converted into solid particles which are subsequently crystallized at temperatures higher than the Tg of the polyester resin and lower than its melting point, and 3) the particles are heated at temperatures higher than 150.degree. C. but lower than the melting point of the resin to increase the intrinsic viscosity.

Abstract: A pump with axial thrust compensation having an external housing, a main shaft within the housing to which are axially fixed two spaced apart rotors. The main shaft supports the rotors apart at respective collars against which the rotors are clamped. Each rotor including a series of radially displaceable elements within respective bores. The stroke rings for the rotors are rigidly attached to each other by a respective bearing shaft. A respective stroke ring around each rotor for moving the displaceable elements into and out of the bores. A respective control slot into each of the bores in the rotor and the control slots of each rotor extending laterally toward the other rotor.

Abstract: A composition of polyester resins comprising diblock copolymers formed of two different polyester blocks joined by a bifunctional radical deriving from a dianhydride of a tetracarboxylic acid. The compositions are prepared by a reaction in the solid state of two different polyesters in the presence of a dianhydride of a tetracarboxylic acid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for allocating channels in a radiotelephone system wherein local estimation of interference for a potential new connection is achieved by measuring interference on the available downlink channels at a plurality of locations within a cell. The measurements can be made, for example, by already connected mobile stations, mobile stations which are not connected, fixed measurement stations or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A new snow stop includes a base, a support projecting from the base, and a restraining member attached to or made integral with and part of the support, wherein the base has a support opening therein, and the support is formed from a suitable foldable stock and is attached to the base, the support having a leg which projects upwardly from the base and which thrusts through the support opening of the base, and the support having a foot which lies underneath the base and which extends outwardly of the support opening of the base. A method to make the snow stop includes providing an intermediate restraining member and support having an extended leg with enough suitable foldable stock to provide a foot, inserting the extended leg of the intermediate through a support opening of a base, and folding the suitable foldable stock inserted therethrough to provide a foot of the support. Use of the snow stop can include attachment to a roof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold for simultaneously molding a plurality of ferrules onto a corresponding number of optical fibers. The mold preferably includes a runner plate, a first cavity plate, a second cavity plate, and a support plate, each of which is to be inserted between a movable top plate and a fixed bottom plate of a transfer molding machine. The plates to be inserted have a vertical inlet channel and primary and secondary runners for distributing molding compound. These runners lead to a plurality of first and second mutually coincidental mold cavities arranged in rows in the first and second cavity plates, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, each of the first and second mold cavities are made up of mutually coincidental, cylindrical coaxial parts and a larger coaxial, cylindrical bore formed in one or both cavity plates. The dividing plane between the first and second cavity plates coincides with the wider bore.

Abstract: The present invention is a tool holder and quick change adaptor which permits very tight tolerances to be kept when operations are being performed while at the same time permitting quick change of the tool holder. The tool holder and quick change adaptor of the present invention employs a cone and conical recess which are dimensioned such that the two mate with surface to surface contact without locking and provide limited deflection of the tool for precise tool operation.

Abstract: A soccer game apparatus to be played by two or more players which includes a planar rectangular base area to serve as a playing surface, a peripheral wall surrounding the planar playing surface, a spherical soccer ball of predetermined size, a pair of goal slots, catch basins, and goal nets, a plurality of pegs disposed in a predetermined pattern on the playing surface to form ball paths for unimpeded travel of the soccer ball, and cue sticks used by the players to move the soccer ball on the playing surface.

Abstract: A variety of Kentucky bluegrass having a medium to high level of disease resistance, a desirable green color throughout the growing season, good drought recovery capability, a medium to high quality dense presistent turf forming ability under a wide variety of environmental conditions, and a high level of seed yielding capacity.