Abstract: An offshore hydrocarbon-production umbilical having concentrically: an outer sheath, at least two cross-wound armouring layers, and a core enclosed by the armouring layers, and comprising a plurality of elongate active umbilical components, wherein each armouring layer comprises a plurality of reinforced polymer strips. The use of reinforced polymer strips to form the armouring layers achieves a reduced weight but still flexible arrangement, which is significantly easier to manufacture as far fewer strips are required to form the armouring layers compared with the large number of steel wires of conventional armouring layers.

Abstract: Tamper resistant fittings for restricting access to valves, such as refrigerant valves and the like, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a tamper resistant fitting includes a cap having a threaded cavity to engage a valve. The cap can include a tamper resistant feature having one or more engagement features that can be engaged by a tool having a corresponding coupling feature. A sleeve can be coupled to the cap to prevent or at least deter access to the cap and/or to the engagement features. The tool can be used to threadably couple or uncouple the fitting with a valve.

Abstract: A moldable ankle flexible brace is disclosed. The flexible ankle brace may include a heat-moldable, multi-layer leg support portion, a heat-moldable, multi-layer foot support portion, a pair of hinges connecting the leg support portion to the foot support portion, an opening for receiving a user's ankle, and a closure mechanism. The flexible ankle brace may include a middle layer that is substantially stiff at a temperature below about 130° F. and moldable at temperatures above 130° F. Also disclosed is a method of using a flexible ankle brace to treat an ankle. The method may include, for example, heating the brace to above 130 ° F. placing the heated brace on a patient's ankle and molding the brace to conform to the shape of the patient's ankle.

Abstract: A moldable rigid ankle brace is disclosed. The rigid stabilizing ankle brace includes a heat-moldable multi-layer housing having an opening for receiving a user's ankle, a footplate attached to the housing, and a closure mechanism. The multi-layer housing includes a middle layer, which is substantially stiff at a temperature below about 130° F. and moldable at temperatures between about 130° F. and 275° F. A method of stabilizing an ankle is also disclosed. The method may include providing a rigid stabilizing ankle brace, having a heat-moldable multi-layer housing having an opening for receiving a user's ankle, and a footplate removably attached to said housing, heating the ankle brace to between about 130° F. to about 275° F.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the on-site surface coating of a structure, the structure being part of a construction including a plurality of structures, the method including the steps of: a) applying one or more layers of a coating system on-site to at least a part of the structure, b) arranging at least one gas catalytic infrared emitting unit in a position so that the infrared radiation is adapted for heating the one or more layers of the protective coating system on-site and c) irradiating the coated surface with infrared radiation emitted by the at least one gas catalytic infrared emitting unit on-site. The method allows the drying and/or curing of the one or more layers of the coating system to be accelerated.

Abstract: An umbilical for use, for example, in deep water applications includes a plurality of power cables and may include other elements bundled together and within a sheath. An end termination at each of the power cables or at a plurality of the power cables includes a resin ferrule around the cable at the end termination and provides a connection between the cable and an installation to which the umbilical is connected.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless diagnostic equipment. HVAC equipment is configured with wireless technologies that are enabled to communicate diagnostic data with a wireless communications device, such as a smart phone, tablet, laptop or other wireless communications device. Software on the wireless communications device is enabled to receive the diagnostic data and to perform various operations based on the diagnostic data and other data at the wireless communications device. Furthermore, the software is enabled to remotely configure and operated the HVAC equipment.

Abstract: A cookie dough tray is formed with a substantially rigid frame having a plurality of cavities formed from an elastomeric material, each of the cavities being sized to accommodate dough for a single cookie. The cavities may include a convex bottom portion to facilitate inversion of the cavities for removal of the dough.

Abstract: An umbilical for use, for example, in deep water applications includes a plurality of power cables and may include other elements bundled together and within a sheath. An end termination at each of the power cables or at a plurality of the power cables includes a resin ferrule around the cable at the end termination and provides a connection between the cable and an installation to which the umbilical is connected.

Abstract: A dip clip includes a container portion and a clip portion. The container portion is configured to hold a desired quantity of a dip such as salsa, dressings, or other such food items.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one metallic element from ore or other material is described and includes reacting ore or other material with a salt capable of recovering the metallic element from the ore or other material to form a reaction product that includes the metallic element. The method also includes recovering the metallic element from the reaction product. To remove the metallic element from the reaction product, the method can involve crushing the reaction product to form a crushed material and dissolving the crushed material in a solvent to remove the precipitates, thereby leaving a sulfate solution containing the metallic element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing one or more insurance subrogation claims can be utilized during the process of collecting on a claim. Various techniques can be used to assess claim information to determine, initiate, process, and/or create one or more collection events, legal actions, and/or subrogation claim documents to aid in the recovery of a claim. Civil procedure rules and collection law rules, along with predetermined claim objectives can be utilized to schedule events and trigger the automatic generation of legal and correspondence documents having claim information. Interactive and customizable presentation of claim information and determined collection events, legal actions, and/or subrogation claim documents can provide organized management of claims. Various parties interested in a claim can be in communication with the collection systems and have unique, secure, and/or defined access.

Abstract: A technique to automate legal aspects of the automotive insurance subrogation recovery processes using a computerized database system is enclosed. This technique includes storing standardized data such as court and insurance company information and claim specific data such as claimant and insured party information in an organized database. A computer then interprets these two kinds of data in the context of applicable legal statutes and schedules events to further the recovery of the claim. Scheduled events then trigger the program to automatically generate legal and correspondence documents using information stored in the database. The program also creates specialized web pages for a variety of users. These pages display necessary information for the user using information held in the database.

Abstract: A method for recovering at least one metallic element from ore or other material is described and includes reacting ore or other material with a salt capable of recovering the metallic element from the ore or other material to form a reaction product that includes the metallic element. The method also includes recovering the metallic element from the reaction product. To remove the metallic element from the reaction product, the method can involve crushing the reaction product to form a crushed material and dissolving the crushed material in a solvent to remove the precipitates, thereby leaving a sulfate solution containing the metallic element.

Abstract: A USB-based data acquisition system including virtual buffer software which increases USB data transfer rates with minimal changes to DAQ driver level software. The virtual buffer software operates to receive or intercept calls made by the DAQ driver level software to acquire data from the device, wherein the DAQ driver level software is designed to read the data from the device one sample at a time from the device. The virtual buffer software intercepts the call and requests the data in bulk packets from the device. The virtual buffer software then stores the received packets of data in a virtual buffer or virtual FIFO maintained in computer system memory. The DAQ driver level software then obtains the data from the computer system memory using much faster transfers.