Abstract: Fluid flow control members for use with valves are described. An example poppet apparatus for use with an internal valve includes first and second opposing seating surfaces to control fluid flow through the internal valve. Additionally, the example poppet apparatus includes an aperture to receive a stem of the internal valve. Further, the example poppet apparatus includes a flow diverter to divert fluid flow through the poppet apparatus to substantially prevent the fluid flow from compressing a spring to be at least partially positioned in the poppet apparatus.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, methods and an apparatus are provided for removing an inorganic material from a substrate. More specifically, the methods provide for removing the inorganic material from the substrate through exposure to a high density plasma generated using an inductively coupled etching apparatus. The high density plasma is set and controlled to isotropically contact particular regions of the inorganic material to allow for trimming and control of a critical dimension associated with the inorganic material.

Abstract: A fluid handling and cogeneration system has an inlet conduit receiving a fluid, a housing having a inlet end, a outlet end and an interior surface. The housing encloses an inner body which together with the housing is arranged to form an annular space between the interior surface of the housing and an exterior surface of the inner body. The system also includes at least one diverter configured such that the fluid is directed to circulate around the inner body and traverse the annular space from the diverter toward the outlet end of the housing in an organized fashion. A generator is provided within the housing to harness the fluid traversing the annular space to generate electrical power.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying flowable material through a conduit that creates a strong laminar flow of the material surrounded by a boundary layer flow of the same or a different flowable material, such that long transport distances through dramatic elevation and directional changes can be achieved. Some embodiments of the system include a blower assembly, an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a mixing chamber, wherein the mixing chamber includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel and an accelerating chamber. Low pressure air is supplied to the system by the blower assembly and mixed with particulate material. The air/material mixture is transported through the mixing chamber into the accelerating chamber and through the outlet conduit. In other embodiments, the particulate material is mixed with the air in the accelerating chamber.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to operation frame filtering, building, and execution. Some embodiments include identifying a frame signature, counting a number of execution occurrences of the frame signature, and building a frame of operations to execute instead of operations identified by the frame signature.

Abstract: An apparatus for blow molding comprises a mold component comprising at least one shell member having a semi-cylindrical recess for receiving a cavity sub-assembly having molding surfaces, the cavity sub-assembly being installed in the recess by sliding rotation to a seating position exposing the molding surfaces, and releasable retaining means for restraining the cavity sub-assembly at the seating position whereby the cavity sub-assembly is retained in the recess, the cavity sub-assembly, shell member and retaining means being effective to the cavity sub-assembly to be installed in and removed from the shell member is retained in the clamp unit of a blow molding machine and the retaining means being adapted to restrain and release the cavity sub-assembly without use of tools. The retaining means comprising at least one pin member for engaging the cavity sub-assembly and shell member to restrain the cavity sub-assembly from sliding rotation at the seating position.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to operation frame filtering, building, and execution. Some embodiments include identifying a frame signature, counting a number of execution occurrences of the frame signature, and building a frame of operations to execute instead of operations identified by the frame signature.

Abstract: A mold for blow molding has a base component for forming at least one portion of a concave base of a container and comprising a mounting plate having connections for supply and return of a heat transfer fluid, a body having a molding surface thereon and having a substantially cylindrical recess having a roof spaced from the molding surface, a substantially cylindrical insert comprising a diverting surface, an inlet passage therethrough and open to the diverting surface and an outlet passage therethrough, the diverting surface spaced from the roof and side of the recess so as to define a cavity and a drain therefrom open to the outlet passage. In a method of blow molding turbulent flow is induced in heat transfer fluid conducted through the base component from impact with the roof and the turbulent flow is dispersed within the cavity over the diverting surface whereby heat transfer from the molding surface is enhanced.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for processing calls. Initiation of a call by a user is detected in the communications device. In response to detecting the call, a geographic identification based on a number assigned to the communications device and/or a language identification based on a user of the communications device is identified. The geographic identification and the language identification are transmitted with caller identification information for use by a called party.

Abstract: An apparatus for blow molding wherein at least one panel insert comprises the molding surfaces of at least one mold component, the depth of at least one panel insert within a recess of the mold component is adjustable in predetermined increments while the panel insert is retained in the recess of the mold component. In one embodiment, relative depth of the panel insert is determined by abutment of stepped seating surfaces comprising at least one indexable post and stepped support surfaces comprising the insert. In a second embodiment, relative depth of the panel insert is determined by abutment of a seating surface comprising at least one indexable rod and a support surface comprising the insert, the seating surface comprising plural longitudinal flats, each flat offset from the rod centerline by different distances, relative depth of the panel insert being determined by abutment of the support surface with a selected flat.

Abstract: A method for processing calls. Initiation of a call by a user is detected in the communications device. In response to detecting the call, a geographic identification based on a number assigned to the communications device and/or language identification based on a user of the communications device is identified. The geographic identification and the language identification are transmitted with caller identification information for use by a called party.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a pair of spaced trucks, and a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill at four corners of the well structure; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.

Abstract: A noninvasive method and system are provided for assessing the performance of implanted actuators of semi or fully-implantable hearing aid systems. The invention utilizes an externally positioned measurement device to obtain a test measure of the electrical signal passing through an implanted actuator when driven by a test signal of predetermined characteristics. In one embodiment, the measurement device may comprise a pair of coils for measuring the magnetic field generated by an implanted actuator utilized to simulate the middle ear of a patient. The magnetic field strength is directly related to the amount of current passing through the actuator. In turn, such current is inversely related to the electrical impedance present at the implanted actuator. Such electrical impedance is directly related to the mechanical impedance present at the interface between the implanted actuator and middle ear of a patient.

Abstract: Broadly speaking, methods and an apparatus are provided for removing an inorganic material from a substrate. More specifically, the methods provide for removing the inorganic material from the substrate through exposure to a high density plasma generated using an inductively coupled etching apparatus. The high density plasma is set and controlled to isotropically contact particular regions of the inorganic material to allow for trimming and control of a critical dimension associated with the inorganic material.

Abstract: A service system receives a request for problem resolution knowledge from a service requestor. Upon receiving the request, the service system identifies candidate patterns where each candidate pattern has at least one element that characterizes a problem associated with the corresponding pattern. An iterative process is then repeated between the service requestor and the service system until a stopping criterion is met, which attempts to narrow the field of candidate patterns down until one or more possible root causes of the problem experienced by the service requestor are identified. Alternatively, it may be determined that a possible root cause of the problem is not contained in the candidate patterns or that some other action, event, etc., interrupts the iterative process.

Abstract: A ball valve having a ball valve assembly disposed within a unitary, elongated tube is provided. The unitary, elongated tube has a first, inlet end, a medial portion having a cross-sectional area, and a second, outlet end. The first, inlet end is a swedged tube having a cross-sectional area that is less than the medial portion cross-sectional area. The second, outlet end is also a swedged tube having a cross-sectional area that is less than the medial portion cross-sectional area. The ball valve assembly is disposed within the medial portion.

Abstract: A mold assembly for blow molding comprises first, second and third mating mold components, molding surfaces of each of the first and second mold components being open to a mating face of the mold component and defining a portion of the exterior of an article to be molded, molding surfaces of the third mold component defining a portion of a closed end of the article to be molded, the mold assembly accepting at least one height insert selected according to a desired longitudinal extension of the molded article, and indexable adjusting means for altering the position of the molding surfaces of the third mold component to accommodate the effective longitudinal extension of the article to be molded. A blow molding machine comprises a press mechanism for operating a mold assembly and a mold assembly according to the invention, each mold component being mounted to a movable member of the press.

Abstract: An integrated gas strut actuator assembly particularly adapted for providing power actuation of a motor vehicle lift gate or other opening closure. The assembly integrates the function of a counterbalancing gas spring and that of a electrically powered actuator. The integrated gas strut assembly includes a gas charged cylinder, internal plunger and a threaded rod. Rotation of the threaded rod through a cable drive system causes the internal plunger to be advanced or retracted within the cylinder. Other features of the invention are various embodiments of couplers between the plunger and rod and connectors for connecting the assembly to the vehicle.

Abstract: In a plasma processing system, including a plasma processing chamber, a method of optimizing the etch resistance of a substrate material is described. The method includes flowing pre-coat gas mixture into the plasma processing chamber, wherein the pre-coat gas mixture has an affinity for a etchant gas flow mixture; striking a first plasma from the pre-coat gas mixture; and introducing a substrate comprising the substrate material. The method also includes flowing the etchant gas mixture into the plasma processing chamber; striking a second plasma from the etchant gas mixture; and etching the substrate with the second plasma. Wherein the first plasma creates a pre-coat residual on a set of exposed surfaces in the plasma processing chamber, and the etch resistance of the substrate material is maintained.

Abstract: Methods of processing a substrate so as to protect an active area include positioning a substrate in an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber, supplying process gas to the chamber, generating plasma from the process gas and processing the substrate so as to protect the active area by maintaining a plasma potential of about 5 to 15 volts at the substrate surface and/or passivating the active area by using a siliane-free process gas including at least one additive effective to form a protective layer on the active area of the substrate wherein the protective layer includes at least one element from the additive which is already present in the active area.