Abstract: An improved stud for assembling an engine valve cover or other mechanical parts together comprised of an elongated shaft having two end portions and at least one intermediate threaded portion therebetween. At least one end portion of the stud has a drive receiving recess formed therein. The intermediate threaded portion may be a single continuous thread or two distinct threads. The pitch and spacing on the thread or threads need not be identical and are ideally matched to the receiving threads of an orafice. The drive pocket in the head of the stud allows the shaft to be installed and removed by applying torque to the end and not to the body of the stud along the shaft. The stud may also be securely held so as not to be loosened or removed from one set of receiving threads into which it is installed while an object is installed or removed from the threads on the opposing end.

Abstract: A device to clamp on a tire to hold chains in place while the tire is rotated, allowing the chains to encircle the tire removing all the slack that is inherent in the “drape” method of chain installation on commercial vehicles. This device does not necessitate aligning itself with any holes in the rim of the tire.

Abstract: A solid-state component including a network of multi-layer structures is described. Each multi-layer structure exhibits magnetoresistance and has magnetization vectors associated therewith which are operable to be switched at least in part by current-induced magnetization reversal. The solid-state component generates an output signal when the network of multi-layer structures is resistively imbalanced. The output signal corresponds to output nodes in the network and is a function of an input signal applied at input nodes in the network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a dynamic alias page table are provided. With the apparatus and method, alias page table entries are added to an alias page table dynamically by determining if the alias page table has space for the entry and, if so, the entry describing the virtual address to physical address mapping is added to the alias page table and a successful completion is returned to the virtual memory manager. If the alias page table does not have space for the entry, a new page is used to map the next virtual page of the alias page table. This page must be marked as a fixed page if it not so marked already. This page is pinned in the software page frame table, and the hardware page table entry for this page is also pinned.

Abstract: A continuity testing device has a probe element for contacting a conductor. A continuity testing circuit is coupled to the probe element. The continuity testing circuit has at least one of a vibrating or audible sensor to indicate electrical continuity of the conductor. A grounding wire is coupled to the continuity testing circuit. The grounding wire has a magnetic contact coupled thereto to ground the continuity testing device to any ferrous metallic grounded element. A housing is provided for holding and storing the probe element and the continuity testing circuit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing frames. Frames intended for isolation are identified in which the frames include in-use frames and free frames. Reservation of free frames from the frames identified as intended for isolation is requested. Successfully reserved frames are moved to an isolation list. In-use frames are marked, and unisolated/unmarked frames are identified. Any free frames in the unisolated frames are moved to the isolation list. In-use frames in the unisolated frames are marked and reservation of the in-use frames in the unisolated frames is released.

Abstract: An electrical socket assembly including a contact organizer having a passage therethrough configured to receive a group of insulated conductive wires. The contact organizer includes notches that extend from a surface of the contact organizer to the passage. The electrical socket assembly also includes contacts securely held in the notches. The contacts have bottom portions configured to pierce insulation and engage the conductive wires. The contacts have upper portions extending beyond the notches. The upper portions are configured to engage conductive pads to convey at least one of power and data signals from the conductive wires.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for broadcasting information. A change in data used by a number of processors in the data processing system is identified. A message is sent to the number of processors in the data processing system in which the message is sent with a priority level equal to a set of routines that use the data in response to identifying the change. This message is responded to only when the recipient is at an interrupt priority less favored than the priority of the message. A flag is set for each of the number of processors to form a plurality of set flags for the message in which the plurality of set flags are located in memory locations used by the number of processors in which the plurality of set flags remains set until a response is made to the message.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing a dynamic alias page table are provided. With the apparatus and method, alias page table entries are added to an alias page table dynamically by determining if the alias page table has space for the entry and, if so, the entry describing the virtual address to physical address mapping is added to the alias page table and a successful completion is returned to the virtual memory manager. If the alias page table does not have space for the entry, a new page is used to map the next virtual page of the alias page table. This page must be marked as a fixed page if it not so marked already. This page is pinned in the software page frame table, and the hardware page table entry for this page is also pinned.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing frames. Frames intended for isolation are identified in which the frames include in-use frames and free frames. Reservation of free frames from the frames identified as intended for isolation is requested. Successfully reserved frames are moved to an isolation list. In-use frames are marked, and unisolated/unmarked frames are identified. Any free frames in the unisolated frames are moved to the isolation list. In-use frames in the unisolated frames are marked and reservation of the in-use frames in the unisolated frames is released.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products for removal of elements from a linked list while other elements of the linked list are allowed to be accessed during the removal operation. In one embodiment, the method, apparatus and computer program product include identifying an add/remove area of a linked list and a static area of the linked list. Elements may only be added or removed from the linked list in the add/remove area or by a garbage collector that performs garbage collection only on elements in the static area of the linked list. The garbage collector identifies an element after the last element in the add/remove area and performs garbage collection beginning with that element and moving through the static area. In an alternative embodiment, a “next element” pointer in a previous list element is set to point to the element being deleted's “next element” pointer. Any global references to the element being deleted must be modified.

Abstract: Utilizing the characteristic that a hydraulic pump, such as a gear pump, having the fluid flow from its outlet restricted will tend from the increasing internal pressure to rotate with the input shaft, a variable speed transmission is designed which includes such a hydraulic pump having a rotating input shaft coincident with the input shaft of the transmission, a fluid flow regulating unit between the fluid outlet and fluid inlet of the pump, and an output shaft connected to the external housing of the pump. The fluid flow regulation unit, which includes a first fluid containing chamber connected to the pump outlet and a second fluid containing chamber connected to the pump inlet, adjustably varies fluid flow between the two chambers. A cylindrical sleeve member, having a plurality of perforations interconnecting the two fluid containing chamber, and a blocking piston slidably installed within the cylindrical sleeve permit variation between no and full fluid flow.

Abstract: A ground surface contour modifying apparatus and method which includes a plurality of independent, selectively actuable hydraulic elements positioned below the surface of a defined area of ground. Selective actuation of the hydraulic elements enables modification of the contours of the overlying ground surface.