Abstract: A workpiece cutting apparatus includes a laser source, a first suction system, and a first finger configured to guide a workpiece as it moves past the laser source. The first finger includes a first end provided adjacent a point where a laser from the laser source cuts the workpiece, and the first end of the first finger includes an aperture in fluid communication with the first suction system.

Abstract: An adjustable rebound buffer includes: an outer perimeter, a central shaft hole and at least one adjustable hole. The outer perimeter is sized to fit inside a buffer cavity of the hydraulic damper. The central shaft hole is sized to fit around a damper shaft and position the adjustable rebound buffer on the damper shaft. The at least one adjustable hole provides an adjustable bleed path through the adjustable rebound buffer. A hydraulic damper with the adjustable rebound buffer includes the buffer cavity, wherein, the outer perimeter of the adjustable rebound buffer is adapted to fit inside the buffer cavity as the hydraulic damper approaches full extension.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for wide-flanged cartridge extractors are provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for routing Internet Protocol (IP) messages over a network of an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system that employs a different communications protocol.

Abstract: Thermal cycling devices are provided. In one embodiment, a thermal cycling device includes a packed tube comprising an inlet portion defining an inlet and an outlet portion defining an outlet. The packed tube is provided in a double coil arrangement, wherein the double coil arrangement causes radially neighboring turns of the packed tube to have opposing flow directions therethrough. The thermal cycling device further includes a cooling device disposed axially adjacent to the packed tube, and a heating device disposed axially adjacent to the packed tube opposite the cooling device.

Abstract: An electrical relay (2) includes an electromagnetic drive system for providing bi-directional drive. The electrical relay (2) includes a first a coil (212) and a second coil (213). A current is supplied to the coils (212) and (213) in opposite directions. The two coils (212) and (213) can be used to accelerate the armature in either direction in relation to the two contacts. This can be used to drive the armature to either one of the contacts and to accelerate and decelerate the armature during a single transit. In the latter regard, the armature can be accelerated and decelerated to shorten the transit time, reduce bounce, reduce wear on the contacts, and allow for different contact material options.

Abstract: A modular arrangement is provided for housing electronic equipment and associated cooling structure in a data center environment. The modular units provide cooling air on an as-needed basis to individual pieces of equipment by way of individual plenums and associated valves. The units can be interconnected by vertical stacking, in side-to-side arrangements, and back-to-back arrangements. A number of units can be interconnected to form a cell. The cells can be interconnected to form larger units. In this manner, data centers can be configured in any desired arrangement without requiring complicated cooling design.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for determining the redox condition of cementitious materials. The methods are leaching methods that utilize an in situ redox indicator that is present in the cementitious materials as formed. The in situ redox indicator leaches from cementitious material and, when the leaching process is carried out under anaerobic conditions can be utilized to determine the redox condition of the material. The in situ redox indicator can exhibit distinct characteristics in the leachate depending upon the redox condition of the indicator.

Abstract: A compact solid state relay (7) is provided. Solid state devices (74, 75), such as Triacs or Thyristors are used to implement the relay functionality. The device is at least partially enclosed in a housing that has pins for mounting on an electronics board. A number of “U” shaped jumpers (72) or other jumpers or wires are provided in the housing to act as heat sinks. A subminiature fan (70) is positioned to create an air flow over the heat sinks and dissipate heat from the device.

Abstract: A relay (1) includes a motor (20) and a primary electrical switch assembly (132). Primary electrical switching attachment points (113) are switched by a moveable switching link (101) which is moved in and out of the switch on an switched off position axially by the motor (20) in response to electrical signals delivered to the coil (26) via the flexible leads (32, 33). The switching link (101) includes a mercury reservoir (119). A piezoelectric disk bender (105) displaces mercury to close the gaps between the attachment points (113).

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for determining the redox condition of cementitious materials. The methods are leaching methods that utilize a redox active transition metal indicator that is present in the cementitious material and exhibits variable solubility depending upon the oxidation state of the indicator. When the leaching process is carried out under anaerobic conditions, the presence or absence of the indicator in the leachate can be utilized to determine the redox condition of and location of the oxidation front in the material that has been subjected to the leaching process.

Abstract: A gantry apparatus for a proton treatment system, including a proton beam nozzle to emit a proton beam to a targeted region of a patient, a gantry wheel to support the proton beam nozzle to direct the proton beam to an isocenter of the gantry wheel corresponding to a center of the targeted region, a plurality of adjustable bearings incrementally spaced apart along an outer diametrical surface of the gantry wheel, and a bearing surface to support a portion of the adjustable bearings such that when the wheel is rotated from a first angular position to a second angular position, at least a portion of the bearings contact the bearing surface to raise or lower the gantry wheel to realign the proton beam to the center of the targeted region.

Abstract: A washer adapted to wash a part with a solution, the washer comprising spaced apart sidewalls, and at least one arm rotatably mounted near its center on at least one of the sidewalls. The arm has one end and another end, a central portion, and an angled portion near the one arm end and angled relative to its adjacent arm central portion. The washer also includes a plurality of nozzles spaced apart along the arm central portion and the arm angled portion between near the one arm end and near the other arm end.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided solar water pasteurizers that are portable, efficient, inexpensive and easy to use. In its simplest form, the solar pasteurizer includes a transparent container such as a bag or envelope that contains at least one energy converting structure and has sufficient insulation to enable heating water to a temperature of at least 65° C. (and preferably to a temperature of at least 70° C.) for a time sufficient to achieve pasteurization (at 65-70° C., a period of only about 6 minutes is required for pasteurization). Invention solar pasteurizers are particularly useful for pasteurizing water. In additional embodiments, invention solar pasteurizers include additional features, such as, for example, a water pasteurization indicator, and a receptacle for retaining same within the invention container.

Abstract: An air separation unit is integrated with a power generating plant to improve the efficiency of power generation. The methods and systems improve the efficiency of power generation by utilizing liquid nitrogen from the air separation unit as the working fluid in a turbine. The liquid nitrogen is pressurized while in the liquid state. After warming the pressurized nitrogen stream by cooling the air for the air separator unit, the compressed nitrogen is expanded in a turbine to perform work. After expansion, the nitrogen is vented to ambient air. The nitrogen in its pressurized state can be used for energy storage and/or for smoothing out power demand on a power grid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes reading image data from a print medium and performing image processing on the image data by querying a database to verify that each object to be included on the print medium appears on the medium in a manner in which it is supposed to appear.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a highly dilutable chemical mechanical polishing concentrate comprising an abrasive, an acid, a stabilizer, and water with a point-of-use pH ranging from 2.2-3.5 for planarizing current and next generation semiconductor integrated circuit FEOL/BEOL substrates.

Abstract: A health aid and method for treating neck, shoulder and back pain including a first elongated member, a second elongated member, and an attachment connecting the first and second elongated members and configured for the first and second elongated members to move between an open position, wherein a bottom end of each of the first and second elongated members are separated by a first distance, and an engaged position, wherein the bottom ends are separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance.

Abstract: A neural monitoring system for detecting an artificially-induced mechanical muscle response to a stimulus provided within an intracorporeal treatment area includes a mechanical sensor and a processor in communication with the mechanical sensor. The mechanical sensor is configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle. The processor is configured to receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor and determine a frequency component of the mechanomyography output signal that has a peak magnitude and to detect the occurrence of an artificially-induced mechanical muscle response therefrom.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request to search for other users who are associated with at least a threshold level of similarity to the requesting user; accessing information indicative of a patient profile of the requesting user; determining one or more attributes of the requesting user; searching a data repository for information indicative of a user associated with one or more attributes corresponding to at least one of the one or more attributes of the requesting user; identifying, based on searching, a user associated with one or more attributes corresponding to at least one of the one or more attributes of the requesting user; determining that the one or more corresponding attributes of the identified user satisfy the threshold level of similarity; and transmitting information indicative of the identified user, with the transmitted information specifying the identified user as being a peer of the requesting user.