Abstract: A full duplex (FDX) amplifier is provided that uses digital filtering for isolation of FDX sub-bands in FDX allocated spectrum, monitors media access control (MAC) management messages, and implements per-sub-band direction switching with precise timing. The FDX amplifier and associated methods have applications in data over cable networks, such as those that operate in accordance with the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications (DOCSIS) 4.0.

Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for the integration of a non-allergenic nanocellulose into a wound bed. The composition may be formed into a wide variety of implants, e.g., a suture, a sheet, a compress, a bandage, a band, a prosthesis, a fiber, a woven fiber, a bead, a strip, a clasp, a prosthesis, a catheter, a screw, a bone plate, a pin, a bandage or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A nickel-base alloy comprising: 12-40 wt % chromium; up to 13 wt % copper; up to 8% aluminium; balance nickel and incidental impurities is disclosed. Such alloys show an improved carbon corrosion resistance at high temperatures. Such an alloy could therefore be utilised in chemical processing or conveying apparatus, such as steam reforming, syngas production, fertilizer production, ammonia production or coal gasification, or more generally where gases with high carbon potentials are present. The alloy may further comprise one or more rare earth elements, up to a combined total of 1 wt %.

Abstract: A downhole crystal-based clock that is substantially insensitive to the factors that may cause frequency deviation as a result of downhole temperature. The clock may include a plurality of crystals, where a first crystal may be more stable, with respect to temperature, than a second crystal. The crystals may be thermally coupled together so that they may have substantially the same temperature. An error detector may monitor the differences between the frequencies associated with each crystal and provide this information to a storage device. This information may be determined prior to deploying the clock downhole. When deployed downhole, the signal from the error detector may be interpreted in light of the information in the storage device to provide a temperature measurement of the two crystals. The downhole temperature measurement then may be used to reduce frequency deviations in the downhole clock that may result from downhole temperatures.

Abstract: An axially extended downhole seismic source is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seismic source includes multiple pressure storage chambers, each having an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The inlet valve is coupled between the pressure storage chamber and the interior of the drill string, and the outlet valve is similarly coupled between the pressure storage chamber and the annular space around the drill string. A compressible fluid may be provided in the pressure storage chambers, and pistons may be positioned to contact the compressible fluid. For each pressure storage chamber, an inlet piston contacts the compressible fluid and fluid inside the drill string, while an outlet piston contacts the compressible fluid and fluid in the annular space around the drill string. When the outlet valve is closed, the inlet valve can be opened to allow pressure inside the drill string to compress the compressible fluid inside the pressure storage chamber.

Abstract: An adjustable pinion offset in a differential axle assembly. The offset between a pinion gear and shaft relative to a ring gear in the differential axle assembly is adjustable due to an eccentric mounting of the pinion assembly relative to the differential housing containing the ring gear. The pinion shaft is eccentrically mounted within a bore of the differential housing such that a simple rotation of the pinion assembly about the eccentric pilot mounting adjusts the position of the pinion shaft with respect to the ring gear to adjust pinion offset. Once properly positioned, the pinion assembly is secured to the differential housing to maintain the desired position. This invention substantially reduces the noise associated with gear offset error.

Abstract: A limited slip differential assembly comprising a differential case and two side gears rotatably supported within the differential case. Each of the side gears provided with a pre-loaded clutch pack mounted on a hub portion of the side gear. In one embodiment, a lock ring is permanently pressed on the hub portion of the side gear adjacent a collar and the clutch pack for retaining the clutch pack in a predetermined pre-loaded condition. In a second embodiment, an adjustment collar is threaded onto the side gear and a thrust washer having a selected thickness maintains the pre-load condition. In both embodiment, a side gear/clutch pack assembly may be pre-assembled as a pre-loaded self-contained module before the various components of the differential assembly are assembled in the differential case.

Abstract: A vertical seismic profiling system includes seismic receivers for placement on a drillstring and surface seismic sources. One-way checkshot data may thus be measured without tripping the drillstring. A downhole acoustic tool measures the local interval transit time of the formation, and improves the detection of targets ahead of the drill bit. The local interval transit time may be applied to the time of travel from reflections in front of the bit to establish distance to the bit. The down-going wavetrain may be deconvolved with the total up-going wavetrain to extract the nearest reflector and the relative acoustic impedance at the reflector. A synthetic seismogram may also be created based on reflection depth data and corrected with checkshot data.

Abstract: A differential having a housing for receiving differential components. An input shaft, for example a drive pinion gear, is rotatably mounted within the differential housing. A drive line connection point is affixed to the drive pinion gear and is the mounting point for the drive shaft. A fan is disposed on the drive line connection point and is used to force air over the differential housing. The fan may be formed integrally with a drive train part, or be separable therefrom. Rotation of the fan forces air over the surface of the differential housing causing forced convection cooling of the differential components.

Abstract: This invention provides an oil-in-water emulsion, particularly a photographic dispersion, having a reduced droplet size in the oil phase obtained by an increase in the viscosity of the aqueous phase prior to homogenization of the oil and aqueous phases; methods of forming thereof and to the use of the emulsion in a silver halide based photographic system.

Abstract: In order to maintain product quality control and process control when producing photographic materials, it is necessary to measure droplet size of dispersions or dispersion melts utilized to produce such materials. Known methods of measuring the droplet size require off-line techniques and there is no readily available process control. Described herein is an on-line technique for the measuring of droplet size which provides such process control.

Abstract: An emulsion or dispersion in which the continuous phase is aqueous and comprises gelatin wherein its viscosity has been reduced by addition thereto of a water-soluble protein or a surfactant which is an ester of a polyalkoxylate.

Abstract: Surfactants useful as dispersing aids in the preparation of compositions comprising a hydrophilic colloid having hydrophobic particles dispersed therein have the structure ##STR1## wherein R is H or methyl provided that when each n=1, each R is methyl;M is a cation; and,n is an integer from 1 to 6.Such surfactants offer coating, photographic property and processing advantages when incorporated in photographic materials comprising a support bearing a plurality of hydrophilic colloid layers including at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer wherein at least one of the underlying hydrophilic colloid layers of the material contains hydrophobic particles dispersed therein with the aid of the surfactant.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sonic well tool for performing acoustic investigations of subsurface geological formations penetrated by a borehole. The well tool generally includes a longitudinally extending body for positioning in said borehole. The tool also includes a transmitter supported by the body for transmitting acoustic energy, and a receiver supported by the body for receiving acoustic energy. Finally, the tool includes an acoustic attenuation section positioned on the body between the transmitter and the receiver. This section includes one or more cavities defined by the body, inertial mass members positioned inside the cavities in a suitable manner to form a gap between the wall of the cavity and the inertial mass members, and an acoustical attenuation fluid in the gap. The method for attenuating sonic waves generally includes transmitting a sonic wave from the transmitter to the tool, passing the sonic wave through the acoustic attenuation section, and receiving attenuated wave at the receivers.

Abstract: Surfactants useful as dispersing aids in the preparation of compositions comprising a hydrophilic colloid having hydrophobic particles dispersed therein have the structure ##STR1## wherein R is H or methyl provided that when each n=1, each R is methyl;M is a cation; and,n is an integer from 1 to 6.Such surfactants offer coating, photographic property and processing advantages when incorporated in photographic materials comprising a support bearing a plurality of hydrophilic colloid layers including at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer wherein at least one of the underlying hydrophilic colloid layers of the material contains hydrophobic particles dispersed therein with the aid of the surfactant.

Abstract: It is known that the properties of powders affect the ease or difficulty of handling in many industrial processes. In may cases, the only way to test the suitability of a particular powder for a given system is to pass a sample of that powder through the system. This involves using a large quantity of the material with the uncertainty that the properties of the material are in fact suitable for that system. Described herein is a test device which allows certain properties of a material in powder form to be determined without the need for large quantities of material. The device (10) comprises a frame (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) in which is mounted a curved test surface (26). An aperture (22) is provided in a top member (14) of the frame (12) to allow the material being tested to fall on to the test surface (26) to form a `footprint`. The `footprint` can then be measured to provide an indication of the properties of the material prior to it being introduced into a system in bulk.

Abstract: The invention provides a photographic dispersion for inducing dye stability in the eventual photographic product. The invention provides in a first aspect a photographic dispersion comprising a photographic coupler and a solvent therefore wherein the solvent is solid at its temperature of fade concern thereby to promote dye stability in use.The invention also provides a photographic coupler and a solvent therefor wherein the solvent is an alkyl alcohol or an optionally substituted dialkyl or diaryl phosphate. The coupler may have a ballasted chain having a matched molecular structure thereby to further promote dye stability in use.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the electroplating of material onto substrates, such as computer memory disks, by use of a plating cell comprising cathodes, anodes, passive shields, filters, an oscillation system and an electrical power supply. Anodes and magnets are attached to the inside side walls of the plating cell. The magnets have a coating of an electrically nonconducting material covering it. Shields, each having a filter attached to it, are also fixed to the inside side walls. A pallet, having openings for holding disk substrates during electroplating, is placed between the shields in the plating cell. The disk substrates function as cathodes during electrolytic plating. The anodes and cathodes when electrically energized results in deposition of desired material, having uniform thickness, across the entire surface area of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the electroplating of material onto substrates, such as computer memory disks, by use of a plating cell comprising cathodes, anodes, passive shields, filters, an oscillation system and an electrical power supply. Anodes and magnets are attached to the inside side walls of the plating cell. The magnets have a coating of an electrically non-conducting material covering it. Shields, each having a filter attached to it, are also fixed to the inside side walls. A pallet, having openings for holding disk substrates during electroplating, is placed between the shields in the plating cell. The disk substrates function as cathodes during electrolytic plating. The anodes and cathodes when electrically energized results in deposition of desired material, having uniform thickness, across the entire surface area of the substrate.

Abstract: A sampling device comprising an outer tube and an inner tube that is eccentrically mounted for rotation within the outer tube, the inner and outer tubes being disposed in spaced, parallel relationship so that relative rotation therebetween cuts a sample of bulk material and retains that sample for subsequent removal.