Abstract: A portable anchorage point assembly for use with structures such as railroad tank cars. A base plate having straps extending therefrom includes a rubber base, which is placed on the top surface of the tank car. The rubber base prevents the base plate from slipping on the surface of the tank car. The straps extend around the body of the tank car and are each secured to an I-beam or similar structure at the bottom of the tank car by a load binder assembly and a web sling secured about the I-beam. Once the assembly has been secured about the body of the tank car, one end of a safety line may be attached to the base plate of the portable anchorage point assembly.

Abstract: A sliding rail anchor fall arrest system (20) includes an anchor assembly (22), a safety hook (24), a safety harness (26) worn by a worker and a flexible lanyard (28) extending between the hook (24) and the harness (26). The sliding rail anchor assembly (22) includes a pair of anchor members (23) that cooperate to slidably engage a crown (29) of a rail (30) or other elongate member being used as an anchor point for fall arrest purposes. Each anchor subassembly (23a and 23b) includes a rail engaging portion (34 and 40) and a connector portion (35 and 41). When the rail engaging portions (34 and 40) are positioned around the crown (29), a cavity is formed to envelope the crown (29) thereby allowing longitudinal movement along the rail (30) but little to no movement transversely along the rail (30) by the anchor assembly (22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable anchorage point assembly for use with structures such as railroad tank cars. A base plate having straps extending therefrom includes a rubber base, which is placed on the top surface of the tank car. The rubber base prevents the base plate from slipping on the surface of the tank car. The straps extend around the body of the tank car and are each secured to an I-beam or similar structure at the bottom of the tank car by a load binder assembly and a web sling secured about the I-beam. Once the assembly has been secured about the body of the tank car, one end of a safety line may be attached to the base plate of the portable anchorage point assembly.

Abstract: A hydrate of 5-[4-[2-(N-methyl-N-(2-pyridyl)amino)ethoxy]benzyl]thiazolidine-2,4-dione, maleic acid salt, characterized in that it: (i) comprises water in the range of from 0.4 to 2.5 %w/w; and (ii) provides an infra red spectrum containing peaks at 1749, 1703, 1645, 1623, 1365 and 736 cm−1; and/or (iii) provides an X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) pattern substantially as set out in Figure II and/or (iv) provides a Raman spectrum containing peaks at 3106, 3069, 3002, 2961, 1750, 1718, 1684, 1385, 1335, 1229, 1078, 917, 428 and 349 cm−1 and/or (iv) provides a solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum containing chemical shifts substantially as set out in Table I; a process for the preparation of such a compound, a pharmaceutical composition containing such a compound and the use of such a compound or composition in medicine.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel hydrate of 5-[4-[2-(N-methyl-N-(2-pyridyl)amino)ethoxy]benzyl]thiazolidine-2,4-dione, maleic acid.

Abstract: A sliding rail anchor fall arrest system (20) includes an anchor assembly (22), a safety hook (24), a safety harness (26) worn by a worker, and a flexible lanyard (28) extending between the hook (24) and the harness (26). The sliding rail anchor assembly (22) includes a pair of anchor members (23) that cooperate to slidably engage a crown (29) of a rail (30) or other elongate member being used as an anchor point for fall arrest purposes. Each anchor subassembly (23a and 23b) includes a rail engaging portion (34 and 40) and a connector portion (35 and 41). When the rail engaging portions (34 and 40) are positioned around the crown (29), a cavity is formed to envelope the crown (29) thereby allowing longitudinal movement along the rail (30) but little to no movement transversely along the rail (30) by the anchor assembly (22).

Abstract: A system and method for reading data to and writing data from multi-level (M-ary) partial response channels uses a trellis coder to encode an input bit stream sequence into a stream of multi-level data symbols. The data symbols are written to the partial response channel using any of a number of techniques. Preferably, the trellis coder anticipates the modulation transfer function of the partial response channel in encoding the data. Because the partial response channel has its own transfer function, the relationship between the data read from the channel and the actual input data bits is a function not only of the data encoder but also of the partial response channel. Therefore, a decoder specification used to implement the decoder takes into account the effect of the trellis encoder as well as the effect of the partial response channel.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for compensating for intersymbol interference on an optical disc. The method includes measuring an intersymbol linear transfer function. The intersymbol linear transfer function substantially describes a linear portion of the effect of intersymbol interference on an optically detected read signal from an optical disc. A partial response target frequency response is divided by the intersymbol linear transfer function to obtain a linear equalization filter response. A read signal from the optical disc is convolved with the linear equalization filter response. This results in the read signal being equalized and containing a controlled partial-response target intersymbol interference. There is also disclosed a method of compensating utilizing a decision feedback equalizer where the target frequency response is either a partial-response or a zero-forcing response.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for reading a multilevel signal from an optical disc. The method includes reading a raw analog data signal from a disc using an optical detector and adjusting the amplitude of the raw analog data signal. A timing signal is recovered from the amplitude adjusted analog data signal and correction is made for amplitude modulation of the raw analog data signal by processing the raw analog data signal and the timing signal.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for reading a multilevel signal from an optical disc. The method includes reading a raw analog data signal from a disc using an optical detector and adjusting the amplitude of the raw analog data signal. A timing signal is recovered from the amplitude adjusted analog data signal and correction is made for amplitude modulation of the raw analog data signal by processing the raw analog data signal and the timing signal.

Abstract: Improvements are made to an electronic circuit simulator. The circuit is represented by a set of nodes to which devices and components are connected. In a computer simulator of circuit behavior using the Harmonic Balancing methodology it is desirable to precondition the Jacobian matrix associated with the circuit equations. Proper preconditioning of the Jacobian matrix may increase the computational efficiency of the simulator. A preconditioning matrix for the Jacobian matrix may be obtained by generating an inverse matrix for dissimilar diagonal blocks.

Abstract: An improved content addressable memory includes a control circuit which, during a single clock pulse, receives and compares one search address on search address input terminals to compare addresses in N address registers, and simultaneously the control circuit conditionally writes a previously received search address into a selectable one of N address registers. With this improvement, the operating speed of the content addressable memory is increased since the writing of one search address into an address register and the searching with another search address does not require two separate clock cycles.

Abstract: A bookkeeping memory is disclosed in which a row-column matrix of storage cells are written by row and cleared by column, and output signals are generated that indicate which rows of cells are in a "0" state. Bookkeeping functions are performed extremely fast by correlating one set of items to the rows, correlating a related set of items to the columns, and performing row write/column clear/zero row detect operations in the memory.

Abstract: An improved CAM (content addressable memory) cell is provided with dual address lines operable independently for a Read operation or for a Write operation. The cell is additionally provided with dual ports so that the first port permits a data input for Write operations or alternatively a data input for Search-Compare operations. The second port (Data Output) is independently connected to enable Read out of data residing in the cell. Each CAM cell also has a coincidence line (match-hit) output to indicate when an input Search bit or word coincides with resident data within the CAM cell. The CAM cells are arranged in an array of "m" rows with each row having "n" bits to hold a "n" bit word. Operationally the array permits both "Read" and "Search-Compare" operations to be accomplished in one clock cycle rather than the usual requirement of 3-4 clock cycles.

Abstract: The invention relates to an expanding caravan comprising first and second modules wherein the caravan has a contracted condition in which the second module is received by the first module and an expanded condition in which the second module is displaced relative to the first module to increase the usable floor space.

Abstract: A fuel pre-heater including a compartment for receiving fuel, a hollow metal member passing centrally through the fuel space in the compartment and coupled to the liquid cooling system of an internal combustion engine for transferring heat to the fuel, a length of a hollow pipe of insulation plastic material disposed within the hollow metal member and for regulating and controlling water flow therethrough to a heat transfer surface of the hollow metal member so that the heat transferred therefrom is received by the fuel and the fuel, being thus pre-heated, passes to the engine. The hollow plastic pipe regulates the water flow and controls the rate of heat transfer through and around it by an arrangement of apertures therein. The plastic pipe may be of polyvinyl chloride. The compartment may have a bracket for mounting it securely upon a wall in the engine compartment of the vehicle.

Abstract: An artificial fishing lure which simulates the vacillatory movement of natural bait comprises a pliable plastic cylindrically shaped central body along the axis of which a fishing hook may be forcibly inserted. Extending somewhat radially from the central body is a skirt which comprises a plurality of individual elongated plastic members to the ends of which are, in turn, integrally attached a plurality of tail elements. Each of the skirt members and the tail elements is formed of a soft, pliable plastic. The tail element is shaped as a flattened curl which, in repose, lies in a single plane on one side of the skirt member. Upon extension of the curl, such as occurs when the lure is pulled through water, a lateral, reverse twist forms, and the tail vacillates and gyrates simulating natural bait movement.