Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and a method to unload bulk powders from large bulk containers. The system and method are particularly useful for unloading bulk cohesive powders.

Abstract: A system, method, and software for facilitating the identification and recovery of missing persons. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising a portable device comprising a computer memory medium and means for interfacing with a computer system having a display device; a software program loaded on said computer memory medium, said software comprising means for receiving data indicative of a person's unique identification information, means for storing said received data on said computer memory medium, said computer memory containing data indicative of said person's unique identification information stored thereon, and means for displaying said stored data on said display device when said portable device is interfaced to the computer system. The invention stores all necessary data identification data for a person in a single location for ease of access and distribution to authorities in time of crisis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and a method to unload bulk powders from large bulk containers. The system and method are particularly useful for unloading bulk cohesive powders.

Abstract: A transaction processing system for processing a transaction between a supplier and a customer, said system comprising a supplier device for initiating the transaction, a system server and a mobile communication device, said device containing a message processing program module for enabling local verification of the transaction within the mobile device, wherein a transaction message is sent from the supplier device to the system server, a message requesting payment for the transaction is sent from the system server to the mobile communication device, the transaction is authorised and verified at the mobile telecommunications device from which a verification message is sent back to the system server, and the transaction is then processed.

Abstract: An alignment device for aligning a manually loaded media sheet to a printer feed path has at least one registration feature disposed to register the trailing edge of the media sheet to the feed path. By aligning the trailing edge, an orthogonal media sheet is loaded into the printer without skew ensuring that the printed image is precisely aligned to the media sheet.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism for an adjustable steering column for a vehicle includes an actuating lever for actuating a clamping device which is coupled to an operating lever to which is mounted an operating handle. The two levers are interconnected intermediate their ends such that one lever can pivot and slide in a slot relatively to the other and the lever having a moveable fulcrum to allow for adjustment of the steering column. The fulcrum of the lever is fixed and the geometry is such that the clamping device always returns to the same, fully locked position, regardless of the rake and/or reach adjustment position of the steering column.

Abstract: A system, method, and software for facilitating the identification and recovery of missing persons. In one aspect, the invention is a system comprising a portable device comprising a computer memory medium and means for interfacing with a computer system having a display device; a software program loaded on said computer memory medium, said software comprising means for receiving data indicative of a person's unique identification information, means for storing said received data on said computer memory medium, said computer memory containing data indicative of said person's unique identification information stored thereon, and means for displaying said stored data on said display device when said portable device is interfaced to the computer system. The invention stores all necessary data identification data for a person in a single location for ease of access and distribution to authorities in time of crisis.

Abstract: A synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene for expression in a multicellular plant is provided. The gene comprises a desaturase domain and a cyt b5 domain, and is customized for expression in a plant cytoplasm. Methods for designing and making a synthetic fatty acid desaturase gene customized for expression in a plant cytoplasm are also provided.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism for an adjustable steering column for a vehicle includes an actuating lever for actuating a clamping device which is coupled to an operating lever to which is mounted an operating handle. The two levers are interconnected intermediate their ends such that one lever can pivot and slide in a slot relatively to the other and the lever having a moveable fulcrum to allow for adjustment of the steering column. The fulcrum of the lever is fixed and the geometry is such that the clamping device always returns to the same, fully locked position, regardless of the rake and/or reach adjustment position of the steering column.

Abstract: A personal health care system utilizing a unitary command center having a computer for receiving, storing, processing, and transmitting information, and a plurality of interfacing ports. Each interfacing port is adapted to accept a plurality of different patient monitoring sensor modules, a plurality of different accessory modules, and a plurality of different therapy-providing modules. An accepted module is electrically interconnected to the data processor for sending and receiving information therebetween. The data processor includes means for providing operating instructions to the sensor modules, accessory modules, and therapy-providing modules. Each sensor module senses and provides information on a condition of a patient and each therapy-providing module provides a therapy to the patient. The data processor monitors the information provided by the sensor modules and controls provision of the therapy to the patient.

Abstract: In a rotary valve including a housing having a rotor chamber and a drive shaft journaled in the housing and having an end portion thereof projecting into the rotor chamber, a rotor mountable on the drive shaft within the rotor chamber comprising a solitary body of plastic material having a cylindrical wall provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets machined-out therein, means for detachably mounting the body on the drive shaft and means for securing the body to the drive shaft when mounted thereon.

Abstract: A rotor for a rotary valve of the type including a housing providing a rotor chamber with a material inlet and a material outlet and a drive shaft journaled in said housing for supporting said rotor in said rotor chamber. The rotor includes a rotor shaft operatively connectable to the drive shaft and disposable in said rotor chamber. The rotor shaft has a plurality of longitudinally disposed, circumferentially spaced between recesses in which an edge of a plurality of vanes are received. The recesses include a slot preferably with a dovetail cross-sectional configuration, with the edge of the vanes having a comparable cross-sectional configuration. A pair of shrouds are included on either side of the vanes.

Abstract: A method of making a rotor for a rotary valve including cutting a round slug of a plastic material to a desired length, turning the round slug on a lathe to provide a desired outside diameter, milling the slug on a vertical milling machine to form a plurality of circumferentially spaced pockets, each of the pockets having rounded wall junctures and corners on a vertical milling machine, and milling an axial hole in the slug for receiving an end portion of a drive shaft.

Abstract: A Rod Kicker: is disclosed for applying downhaul to a boom of a sailing rig. The rod kicker consists of two telescopically engaged elongate struts (4, 5). One end of one strut is secured to a mast (2) below the boom (3) and the remote end of the other strut (5) to the underside of the boom (3). A pulley system acts between the struts to enable the strut (5) to be retracted into the strut (4). A pawl and rack assembly locks the struts together to prevent the boom dropping when no lift is applied by the sail. Operation of the pulley system unlocks the pawl and rack to allow retraction.

Abstract: A dynamic extension splint is provided which has a pair of elongated strut assemblies which each include a pivotal joint. Each strut assembly is removably supported on one side of a strut support unit which operates to mount the strut assemblies on a body member in alignment with a body joint. A strut assembly includes first and second elongated strut members which are flat units which extend from a pivotal joint. This joint connects one end of the first and second strut members for pivotal movement about one or more pivot axes, and a bias unit mounted at the joint opposes pivotal movement of the strut members in one direction and aids such pivotal movement in a second opposite direction. The bias of this bias unit is adjustable by a bias adjustment mechanism also located at the pivotal joint.

Abstract: An automatic reorder and alarm system for use with residential fuel-oil tanks which sends reorder and alarm data to a central station over the direct-dial telephone network when the fuel-oil level in the tank falls below a predetermined value or when an alarm situation, such as low temperature, occurs at the tank location. An inexpensive sensor/sending unit located at each customer tank includes a simple sensor which mounts on either the tank or an existing fuel-oil level gauge, a microcontroller circuit and a modem circuit. The microcontroller circuit uses a simple low-stability oscillator as a reference for internal operations and for modem transmission frequencies. Because the oscillator frequency cannot be precisely determined due to component tolerances and has a substantial amount of drift, a special data transmission format is used for data transmission over the telephone lines between the microcontroller and the central station.

Abstract: A well screen is provided, for insertion into a well, for screening out sand and other particles from the well, and for connection at its upper end to a pipe for delivering water or other liquid up from the well, with the well screen having a skin with slits in it for passage of liquid therethrough, and with the skin having internal rigidifying supports. The skin is provided with a surface area increase in the form of undulations preferably of sawtooth configuration throughout its surface, and is preferably thinwalled. The screen is preferably of thermoplastic construction.

Abstract: Fittings and methods for manufacturing fittings for piping are disclosed. The fittings are assembled from three identical molded pieces joined along longitudinal edges. Interfitting pieces form the joints between the sections and serve to draw the sections together during assembly and ensure roundness of the fitting. The technique is especially useful for the manufacture of fittings such as well screens, of synthetic polymeric materials.

Abstract: Fittings and methods for manufacturing fittings for piping are disclosed. The fittings are assembled from three identical molded pieces joined along longitudinal edges. Interfitting pieces form the joints between the sections and serve to draw the sections together during assembly and ensure roundness of the fitting. The technique is especially useful for the manufacture of fittings such as well screens, of synthetic polymeric materials.