Abstract: A valve for use in a downhole tool The valve has an inlet communicating with the work string from which it is anchored. The inlet provides a flow path of a first cross-sectional area. A sealing assembly comprising a spring biased seal cap moves within an outer tubular body to open and close a number of ports arranged through the body. The ports provide a flow path of a combined cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area and the valve is arranged such that fluid flow through the inlet moves the seal cap to open the valve and create an unimpeded flow path between the inlet and the ports with negligible pressure drop. An embodiment including a shear ring is described to facilitate pressure testing above. A further embodiment includes a load adjuster to assist in closing the valve. The valve can be a high lift injection valve.

Abstract: An electronic actuation system for a pressure equalising device in a downhole apparatus such as a wellbore plug is described. The system includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the wellbore, and means for setting a reference pressure value using a measurement from the pressure sensor. In a method of use, an applied pressure value is determined using a measurement from the pressure sensor and the reference pressure value, and the device is actuated, or opened, when the applied pressure meets a pre-determined condition, such as falling within a pressure window for certain time period. The invention allows natural changes in wellbore pressure to be accounted for when detecting a pressure actuation event.

Abstract: A method of operating an image-based self-service check depositing terminal having an optical character recognition (OCR) reader comprises the steps of (a) receiving from a self-service depositor a check to be deposited, (b) illuminating the check with infrared radiation, (c) capturing a first image of the check while the check is illuminated with infrared radiation, (d) processing the first check image to provide an enhanced image of the check, and (e) applying OCR techniques to read a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) codeline from the enhanced check image.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism for use in a tool such as a plug used in oil and gas wells. The mechanism being operable under pressure in the well bore to set the plug in a first natural closed state for a pressure under a predetermined pressure range; a second closed state wherein the plug is locked closed regardless of the pressure; and a third open state by increasing the pressure to the predetermined pressure range and holding the pressure in the range for a predetermined time. Electronic and mechanical, dual piston, actuating mechanisms are described as is a method of controlling fluid flow in a well bore using the plug and performing a pressure test against the plug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the discovery of immortalized neonatal human hepatocytes that exhibit phenotypic features of human hepatic progenitor cells. The invention is also directed to a method of obtaining telomerase-immortalized neonatal human hepatocytes that exhibit phenotypic features of human hepatic progenitor cells. Furthermore, the instant invention describes methods of using the immortalized neonatal human hepatocytes in cellular therapies, toxicological studies, pharmacokinetic studies, metabolic studies, therapeutic gene delivery and for the production of fully differentiated hepatocytes.

Abstract: A pool cleaning apparatus is provided that employs a pump and a filtering device. An engine or motor drives the pump. The pump draws water and debris into the pool cleaning apparatus through a wand. The pump moves the water through the filtering device to remove debris. The filtering device comprises a vessel having a sealable lid. The vessel contains a tube for transporting water and debris into the vessel, a leaf trap for catching debris, a primary filter of polyester fiber, and a positive stop having a gasket. The primary filter sits on the gasket, with the leaf trap resting above the primary filter. Both the leaf trap and the primary filter have a hole through which the tube extends, and handles. The primary filter houses a filtration element which is washable and disposable. The pool cleaning apparatus may be mounted onto a cart, or be permanently installed.

Abstract: A valve for use in a downhole tool The valve has an inlet communicating with the work string from which it is anchored. The inlet provides a flow path of a first cross-sectional area. A sealing assembly comprising a spring biased seal cap moves within an outer tubular body to open and close a number of ports arranged through the body. The ports provide a flow path of a combined cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area and the valve is arranged such that fluid flow through the inlet moves the seal cap to open the valve and create an unimpeded flow path between the inlet and the ports with negligible pressure drop. An embodiment including a shear ring is described to facilitate pressure testing above. A further embodiment includes a load adjuster to assist in closing the valve. The valve can be a high lift injection valve.

Abstract: A well tubing valve is described, having a substantially tubular body connected in a tubular string and a rotational valve member having at least one aperture. The valve member, which may be a sleeve having a part spherical surface, is rotationally moveable relative to the body to align and misalign the aperture in the valve member with a port in the body. The valve member is actuable to rotate relative to the body in a single direction, and moves from the open position to a closed position and back by rotation in the same sense. In an alternative embodiment, two such valves members are provided and each valve member is actuable from a common control line to at least three operating positions, to. incrementally adjust flow through the ports. Methods of operation are also described.

Abstract: A support assembly for a deformable sealing element of a downhole tool such as a packer, bridge plug or straddle. The support assembly has first and second support devices at each end of the sealing element with each device having an elastically deformable support member adapted to be located between the respective end of the sealing element and an actuating member of the downhole tool. Additionally, a guide member with an inclined guide surface is provided such that the support member travels along the inclined surface when a force is exerted by the actuating member to expand the sealing element radially into abutment with a surface downhole. The support member moves radially outwards to support the respective end of the sealing element during deformation.

Abstract: A wall switch is provided for an automatic lighting control system for a space equipped with multiple lamps for illuminating the space and multiple power circuits for supplying power to different groups of said lamps. The wall switch includes at least one sensor detecting conditions or events that indicate that increased illumination of the space by the lamps is needed or decreased illumination of the space by the lamps is allowable. Normal control of the electric lighting is thus automatic to a large degree. But, at least two manually operable switches are coupled to the microcontroller to provide the microcontroller with ON and OFF command signals for at least two of the lamp groups powered by different power circuits. A separate status indicator light for each of the switches is controlled by the wall switch and provides an indication of whether the lamp group associated with each manual switch is currently ON or OFF as a safety and economy feature.

Abstract: A plug locking assembly comprises at least one plug holder comprising opposing top and bottom arms, said top and bottom arms extending tranversely from a wall and defining open spaces therebetween, said open spaces for receiving and holding plugs. The plug holders are typically positioned adjacently to one another or in tandem and the configuration of the opposing top and bottom arms allows for side installation of plugs. The plug locking assembly may further comprise a cover overlying the plug holders.

Abstract: A lighting control system is provided for a space that is equipped with multiple lamps for illuminating the space and multiple power circuits for supplying power to different groups of the lamps. The control system stores information relating to the past illumination of the lamps in each of the different groups. The system detects conditions or events that indicate that increased illumination of the space by the lamps is needed, and produces a control signal in response to the detection of a condition or event that indicates that increased illumination of the space by the lamps is needed. In response to the control signal, the system supplies power to at least one of the power circuits, which is selected on the basis of the stored information, to turn ON the group of lamps receiving electrical power from that power circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for selecting a source cluster in a distributed storage configuration. A measurement module measures system factors for a plurality of clusters over a plurality of instances. The clusters are in communication over a network and each cluster comprises at least one tape volume cache. A smoothing module applies a smoothing function to the system factors, wherein recent instances have higher weights. A lifespan module calculates a mount-to-dismount lifespan for each cluster from the smoothed system factors. A selection module selects a source cluster for accessing an instance of a specified volume in response to the mount-to-dismount lifespans and a user policy.

Abstract: A dynamic selection of a communications link between a storage controller and one of a plurality of storage servers is provided so as to enhance the performance of the storage system. The storage system includes a plurality of storage devices, a corresponding plurality of virtual storage controllers coupled to the storage devices and a virtual storage controller. The virtual storage controller includes a host interface, a server interface, a stored table and a processing unit. The stored table includes a list identifying the active links between the server interface and each virtual storage server and, for each active link, a corresponding performance value.

Abstract: A pivotally adjustable toilet lid lifting apparatus, comprising a base with spring resisted pedal, the pedal operating a substantially semicircular adjustably positioned pivot arm, the pivot arm connected to an adjustably removable and reversible actuation arm, the actuation arm removably and slideably engaging a toilet lid, whereby pedal pressure lifts the toilet lid and release of the pressure provides lid closure. The actuation arm is removable and reversible to provide for using the invention on either side of a toilet.

Abstract: A photoresist trimming gas compound is provided which will selectively remove a resist foot or scum from the lower portions of sidewalls of a photoresist. Additionally, the trimmer compound hardens or toughens an upper surface of the photoresist thereby strengthening the photoresist. The trimmer compound includes O2 and at least one other gaseous oxide and is typically utilized in a dry etching process after a trench has been formed in a photoresist. The other oxide gases, in addition to the O2 may include CO2, SO2 and NO2.

Abstract: A photoresist trimming gas compound is provided which will selectively remove a resist foot or scum from the lower portions of sidewalls of a photoresist. Additionally, the trimmer compound hardens or toughens an upper surface of the photoresist thereby strengthening the photoresist. The trimmer compound includes O2 and at least one other gaseous oxide and is typically utilized in a dry etching process after a trench has been formed in a photoresist. The other oxide gases, in addition to the O2 may include CO2, SO2 and NO2.

Abstract: A doctor blade holder comprises upper and lower mutually spaced jaw components defining a slot. A doctor blade is removably retained in the slot, and nozzles in one of the jaw components are arranged to direct fluid under pressure into the slot for application to the doctor blade.

Abstract: In a system including multiple enclosures, unique enclosure addresses can be set automatically via software. The enclosure addresses may be stored in non-volatile memory within the enclosures. In a storage system, several enclosures contain several disk drives, wherein each disk drive requires a unique device address related to the enclosure in which it resides. A unique address is automatically assigned via software to each enclosure.