Abstract: A mechanism is provided for detecting new devices added to a Fibre Channel adapter. When a device is added to a connector, the mechanism generates a device detect signal for that port. The Fibre controller receives device detect signals for the existing ports and generates port select signals to configure the port bypass. The controller may then simply poll the device detect signals in an internal register to automatically detect a new device being added or a device being removed without breaking the loop and without a high software overhead.

Abstract: A single unit sports board bag for storing and transporting various sports boards (e.g.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a hydrophobic carbon fiber construction, such as a fuel cell gas diffusion layer, by electrophoretic deposition of a highly fluorinated polymer, which may be followed by sintering of the fluoropolymer. A hydrophobic carbon fiber construction is provided, such as a fuel cell gas diffusion layer, which is coated with a monolayer of particles of a highly fluorinated polymer, which may be sintered.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a hydrophilic carbon fiber construction, such as a fuel cell gas diffusion layer or diffuser/current collector, by electrophoretic deposition of a metal oxide selected from Type I or Type II, where Type I consists of metal oxides having a negative zeta potential and Type II consists of metal oxides having a positive zeta potential. A hydrophilic carbon fiber construction is provided, such as a fuel cell gas diffusion layer or diffuser/current collector, which is coated with a metal oxide and capable of wicking 200 mg of water per 40 mg of the hydrophilic carbon fiber construction.

Abstract: A portal imaging device positioning apparatus includes a portal imaging device positioner (255) attachable to a support (256). The portal imaging device positioner (255) is adapted to vertically adjust an imaging panel (250) in a treatment or dosimetry mode to receive radiation through a body in the patient plane (8a), and adjust the panel in a physics mode to receive radiation at the patient plane (8a).

Abstract: A portal imaging device positioning apparatus includes a portal imaging device positioner (255) attachable to a support (256). The portal imaging device positioner (255) is adapted to vertically adjust an imaging panel (250) in a treatment or dosimetry mode to receive radiation through a body in the patient plane (8a), and adjust the panel in a physics mode to receive radiation at the patient plane (8a).

Abstract: A power actuated tool for driving a fastener such as a pin or nail into a substrate, has a fastener guide mounted at the forward end of a body of the tool for displacement axially inwardly relative to the body when the forward end of the tool is pressed against a substrate whereby to permit firing of the tool. A magazine carried by the tool for containing a plurality of fasteners mounted seriatim on segments of a carrier strip advances the leading end of the carrier strip and the fastener carried thereby into the fastener guide. A locking system for impeding firing of the tool is releasable in response to the presence of a fastener and associated segment of the carrier strip within the fastener guide whereby to permit firing of the tool only when a fastener is present within the fastener guide. The locking system thereby acts to prevent firing of the tool when the magazine is empty of fasteners and which could otherwise lead to damage occurring to the tool.

Abstract: A push nut fastener has first and second gripping openings. The first gripping opening is substantially circular and the second gripping opening is substantially rectangular. The substantially circular gripping opening has a plurality of blades or finger-like engagement portions extending from the outer circumference of the substantially circular gripping opening towards the center of the substantially circular gripping opening. The substantially rectangular gripping opening has a plurality of blades or finger-like engagement portions extending from the outer perimeter of the substantially rectangular gripping opening towards the center of the substantially rectangular gripping opening. The substantially rectangular gripping opening includes at least two blades or finger-like engagement portions, a respective blade extending from each of two opposing sides of the substantially rectangular gripping opening. The push nut may have flanges formed at two opposing ends of the member.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided an explosively-actuated tool for use in setting fasteners into a substrate, comprising a barrel (2), a driving piston (6) mount within the barrel for driving the fastener into a substrate upon detonation of an explosive charge positioned at or adjacent the rear of the barrel, a firing chamber (8) defined in the barrel rearwardly of the piston, and a system capable of controlling the power of the tool by controlled venting of combustion gases from the firing chamber. The power control system comprises an exhaust port arrangement (14) leading from the firing chamber through the wall of the barrel, and a control member (16) for controlling the effective open area of the exhaust port arrangement. Particularly advantageously, the end of the control rod is provided with a concave arcuate control edge (16b) which provides a relatively uniform relationship between displacement of the control rod and the degree of opening of the exhaust port arrangement.

Abstract: The barrel of a power actuated tool for driving a fastener into a substrate upon detonation of an explosive charge, comprises front (4) and rear (2) barrel sections mounted for telescopic movement to absorb recoil upon firing. The sections are held in assembled relation by a retainer element (14) and are such that assembly and disassembly can occur by manipulation of one barrel section relative to other without the need to remove the retainer element (14).

Abstract: A hoist line placing device 20, a support cable assembly 50, and a method whereby the support cable assembly is remotely attached to and removed from an out-of-reach overhead object. The hoist line placing device comprises a rigid, elongated, telescopic, tubular pole 21 with a hoist line 30 coaxially threaded through it from bottom to top, and with the free end of the hoist line attached to a closable fastener 40. A supply of hoist line 30 is wound on a line storage device or spool 31 disposed at or near the bottom end of the tubular pole. The support cable assembly comprises a running loop collar 51 connected to the top end of a support cable 60, with a retrieval cable 70 also connected to the support cable at a predetermined position below the running loop collar.

Abstract: A copper based alloy, which when employed in a marine environment with a cathodic protection system or when galvanically coupled to a dissimilar metal, is resistant to hydrogen embrittlement, copper being present in an amount of about 70% to 80% by weight, and the alloy having in addition, (by weight):______________________________________ nickel 13.5% to 20.0% aluminium 1.4% to 2.0% manganese 3.4% to 9.3% iron 0.5% to 1.5% chromium 0.3% to 1.0% niobium 0.5% to 1.0% ______________________________________and wherein the constituent elements are so controlled that:A Cu/(Mn+Ni) is less than 4.9 in terms of weight %;B Cu/(Mn+Ni) is greater than 3 in terms of weight %;C Al+Nb is at least 2.1 in terms of weight %; andD Ni/(Al+Nb) is at least 6.0 in terms of weight %.

Abstract: An adaptive stepper for adjusting welding heat boost to compensate for deterioration (flattening) of the electrode tips of a welder. Heat boost is provided to the welder as a function of expulsion rather than by a series of linear step profiles specified by a weld engineer. An operator sets up an adaptive schedule based upon an expected resistance difference between consecutive half-cycles considered to be "normal." If differences equal to or less than the normal level are detected during a group of welds, the heat boost will be incremented by 1% after a preprogrammed number of welds have been made. If differences greater than normal are detected, indicating expulsion, the boost will be decremented immediately by 1% between increases, if decrements are allowed at the time.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a programmable logical controller (PLC) system incorporating a universal input controller card, a universal output controller card, and a symmetrical current mirror fuse blown detector circuit. The universal input controller card is capable of tracking input voltages from 12 to 240 volts, AC or DC. The universal output controller card is capable of outputting output voltages ranging from 12 to 120 volts, AC or DC with no significant leakage current and no load resistors. The current mirror fuse blown detector circuit detects blown fuses in each output channel of the output controller card.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for determining the location of a member of a class of individual transmitter-receiver units distributed throughout a defined facility. A central station establishes a two-way communication channel with one or more relay stations and sends a coded message identifying a particular individual unit over the communication channel. The relay stations respond to the message by sending out wake-up signals and radiant energy inquiry signals. The individual unit identified in the inquiry signal responds with a radiant energy acknowledgment signal. Embodiments of the invention disclose the use of infrared energy or ultrasonic energy for the radiant energy. Ultrasonic signals are sent on a plurality of frequencies. The relay stations send identification signals to the central station which identify the sending relay station and indicate whether an acknowledgment signal was received.

Abstract: A synchro power amplifier and control circuit for an inductive load has a plurality of synchro leg amplifiers connected to the load. Each amplifier has an interstage transformer for deriving samples of current drawn by the load. A multiplicity of capacitors are respectively connectable in parallel with the (load) upstream of the amplifiers by switches in a circuit 10 responsive to the voltage/current phase angle of the power driving the load, to compensate for the inductance of the load.

Abstract: A voltage converter of the transformer type which incorporates at least one switching transistor coupled to control the application of current to the transformer primary and circuitry for switching the transistor off in response to the current drawn through the primary winding and the level of the input line voltage. Overcurrent shutdown may thus be tailored to approximate constant power dissipation within the voltage converter.

Abstract: A self-starting transformer-coupled FET multivibrator is constructed to avoid net dc flow in the primary winding of its transformer, driven push-pull by the multivibrator FET's.

Abstract: In a voltage conversion circuit, comprising a source of input DC voltage, an input voltage switching circuit and a transformer having a primary winding coupled in series with the switching circuit and input DC voltage for periodically receiving DC voltage thereat and having a secondary winding connected to a DC output circuit for producing a DC output voltage of a given polarity, the transformer primary normally undesirably produces a switching circuit damaging voltage spike of a polarity opposite the given polarity upon the voltage being removed from the transformer primary by the switching circuit. A voltage suppression circuit is responsive to the voltage polarity reversal in the transformer primary, which occurs when the input voltage is removed therefrom for storing the energy which would otherwise produce the voltage spike.