Abstract: A foot pedal for electronic drums includes a lower tab or pedal or other extension for triggering by pressing down, and an upper tab or pedal or other extension for triggering by raising the foot. Also included is the joining of the upper and lower extensions (tab, pedal or other) into a pedal assembly that includes: a hinge or axle or other device which allows the pedal assembly to rotate in an arc; a striking device (stick, rod or other) that is attached to the pedal assembly and hits impact sensitive electronic drum triggering devices (pads, tubes or others); and an elastic device or spring which returns the pedal assembly to the neutral (at-rest) position.

Abstract: An Electronic Bass Drum includes one or more loudspeakers, an internal amplifier system, an optional electronic drum module and control panel, an impact sensitive electronic kick pad, an attachment for a bass drum pedal, mounting hardware for tom toms or other acoustic or electronic instruments, legs for stabilization, one or more headset jacks for silent play, input jacks for other instruments and/or microphones, and an ipod™ cradle for playing along with music. All of which are enclosed in a cylindrical shell which cosmetically matches the dimensions and design characteristics of a conventional acoustic bass drum.

Abstract: An Electronic Bass Drum includes one or more loudspeakers, an internal amplifier system, an optional electronic drum module and control panel, an impact sensitive electronic kick pad, an attachment for a bass drum pedal, mounting hardware for tom toms or other acoustic or electronic instruments, legs for stabilization, one or more headset jacks for silent play, input jacks for other instruments and/or microphones, and an ipod™ cradle for playing along with music. All of which are enclosed in a cylindrical shell which cosmetically matches the dimensions and design characteristics of a conventional acoustic bass drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for triggering electronic drums having a pedal assembly and a striking assembly spaced therefrom. The pedal assembly includes a base, a first hub body rotatably connected thereto, and an extension extending outwardly from and coupled to the first hub body. The striking assembly includes a base, a second hub body rotatably connected thereto, and a striking device connected to and extending outwardly from the second hub body. The distal end of the striking device is disposed between first and second triggering devices. The first and second hub bodies are coupled together via a connecting rod, which transfers a rotational force therebetween. The striking device contacts the first triggering device when the extension is depressed, and contacts the second triggering device when the extension is raised.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pin and tumbler cylinder lock and a retrofitted cylinder lock which minimizes unauthorized openings of the lock by bumping. The cylinder lock utilizes specially designed driver pins which are correlated in size to the largest possible stack height of the tumbler pins with a bump key inserted in the plug portion of the lock and the shear line height of the lock. All the driver pins are about the same height and preferably symmetrical with a lip on each end. The invention also provides a method for retrofitting existing locks by removing at least one of the driver pins and replacing the removed driver pin or pins with the driver pins of the invention.

Abstract: A system for producing fluids from a subterranean zone comprises a tubing string disposed in a well bore, the tubing string adapted to communicate fluids from the subterranean zone to a ground surface. A downhole fluid lift system is operable to lift fluids towards the ground surface. A downhole fluid heater is disposed in the well bore and is operable to vaporize a liquid in the well bore. A seal between the downhole fluid lift system and the downhole fluid heater is operable to isolate a portion of the well bore containing the downhole fluid lift system from a portion of the well bore containing the downhole fluid heater. A method comprises: disposing a tubing string in a well bore; generating vapor in the well bore; and lifting fluids from the subterranean zone to a ground surface through the tubing string.

Abstract: The present disclosure addressed apparatus and methods for forming an annular isolator in a borehole after installation of production tubing. Annular seal means are carried in or on production tubing as it is run into a borehole. In conjunction with expansion of the tubing, the seal is deployed to form an annular isolator. An inflatable element carried on the tubing may be inflated with a fluid carried in the tubing and forced into the inflatable element during expansion of the tubing. Reactive chemicals may be carried in the tubing and injected into the annulus to react with each other and ambient fluids to increase in volume and harden into an annular seal. An elastomeric sleeve, ring or band carried on the tubing may be expanded into contact with a borehole wall and may have its radial dimension increased in conjunction with tubing expansion to form an annular isolator.

Abstract: A security device with rotating floodlights comprises a housing having a control circuit and a motor positioned within the housing. A motion detector is mounted on the front wall of the housing. A shaft from the motor engages with a drive platform, and a pair of lamp base platforms is connected to a pair of turntables on the top wall of the housing. The turntables are mounted on the top wall of the housing, and are constructed to be rotatable either clockwise or counterclockwise. Lamp sockets for flood lights are attached to the lamp base platforms. Posts are mounted on the base platforms and drive platforms with linkages engaged with the posts. When the motion detector communicates with the control circuit, and the motor and lights are activated, the platforms turn in a synchronized manner because of the linkages. Illumination is provided for a set period of time and over a swept 180° of coverage.

Abstract: A high pressure D-tube with enhanced through tube access for use in a well system. The well system includes the tube having an interior and a generally D-shaped exterior surface. An inner support structure spans the interior of the tube. The exterior surface may be formed on a single piece of material. The inner support structure may resist deformation of the tube due to pressure applied to the interior and/or exterior surface of the tube. The inner support structure may form at least a portion of the exterior surface of the tube.

Abstract: Apparatus for adaptive cooling comprising a first component having at least one aperture extending therethrough with a sacrificial component positioned within the at least one aperture. The first component is operable at a maximum duty temperature and the sacrificial component has a melting or sublimation point below the maximum duty temperature of the first component. The sacrificial component defines an effective aperture the size of which may be increased if, in use, the sacrificial component is subjected to a temperature between the melting or sublimation point of the sacrificial component and the maximum duty temperature of the first component.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating a wellbore using a loop system to heat oil in a subterranean formation contacted by the wellbore. The loop system comprises a loop that conveys a fluid (e.g., steam) down the wellbore via a injection conduit and returns fluid (e.g., condensate) from the wellbore via a return conduit. A portion of the fluid in the loop system may be injected into the subterranean formation using one or more valves disposed in the loop system. Alternatively, only heat and not fluid may be transferred from the loop system into the subterranean formation. The fluid returned from the wellbore may be re-heated and re-conveyed by the loop system into the wellbore. Heating the oil residing in the subterranean formation reduces the viscosity of the oil so that it may be recovered more easily.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for filling a tubing string as it is lowered into a subterranean hydrocarbon well. In one embodiment, an apparatus to fill a tubular with fluid in a wellbore comprises a housing defining a central bore. An aperture formed in the housing provides fluid communication between the central bore and the ambient environment of the tubing string. A piston valve slidingly disposed in the housing is selectively pressure actuatable relative to the housing to control fluid communication between the central bore and the ambient environment.

Abstract: A multi-layer deformable composite construction. In a described embodiment, a method of expanding a structure in a wellbore includes the steps of: positioning the structure in an unexpanded configuration in the wellbore, the structure including a wall made up of multiple layers; expanding the structure to an expanded configuration while permitting relative displacement between the layers; and then preventing relative displacement between the layers.

Abstract: A system and method for assembly of downhole equipment in a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a method of assembling an apparatus in a subterranean well includes the steps of: positioning an expandable shell in the well; expanding the shell in the well; and then interconnecting multiple portions of the apparatus to each other within the expanded shell.

Abstract: The subject invention includes mutant voltage-gated ion channels that are open over a wide range of potential differences across membranes. The present invention also includes methods of use such mutant voltage-gated ion channels in cells with highly negative potential differences across their membranes. One preferred mutant voltage-gated ion channel is a channel with a mutation at the residue homologous to P513 in Kv1.5 and at least one mutation at one of the residues homologous to R400, R403, and R409 in Kv1.5.

Abstract: A foot pedal for electronic drums includes a lower tab or pedal or other extension for triggering by pressing down, and an upper tab or pedal or other extension for triggering by raising the foot. Also included is the joining of the upper and lower extensions (tab, pedal or other) into a pedal assembly that includes: a hinge or axle or other device which allows the pedal assembly to rotate in an arc; a striking device (stick, rod or other) that is attached to the pedal assembly and hits impact sensitive electronic drum triggering devices (pads, tubes or others); and an elastic device or spring which returns the pedal assembly to the neutral (at-rest) position.

Abstract: A method and corresponding network element configuration for delivering communications services between first and second survivable rings, each comprising a respective plurality of network elements, at least two of which are common to both rings. For each particular service, one of the common network elements is designated as a primary gateway node and another as a secondary gateway node. A primary inter-ring connection is established for the particular service by a switch at the primary gateway node, but no inter-ring connection is established at the secondary gateway node. The secondary gateway node comprises a controller for monitoring the status of the primary gateway node and establishing a new inter-ring connection for delivery of the service upon detecting a failure of the primary gateway node. This provides survivable inter-ring traffic which is bandwidth-efficient and with a low switching delay.

Abstract: A combustion device, such as an afterburner 4 for a gas turbine engine, comprises primary and secondary fuel delivery means 12, 20. Pressure fluctuations in the afterburner 4 are damped by reducing the supply of fuel through the primary fuel delivery means 12 during pressure peaks. This is achieved by means of a spill valve 18, controlled by a controller 22 in response to pressure in the afterburner 4 as sensed by a transducer 24. The spill valve 18 diverts a proportion of the fuel to the secondary fuel delivery means 20. The secondary fuel delivery means 20 is positioned upstream of the primary fuel delivery means 12 by a distance X, such that the secondary fuel delivery means serves to supply additional fuel to the combustion zone 26 during pressure troughs.

Abstract: The present invention includes a screw tip for an extruder screw for effecting mixing in an extruder. The screw tip has a shaft portion and at least one mixing element ring connected to the shaft portion, or a mixing element having an aperture therethrough, or both.

Abstract: A network control entity that has an input for receiving data indicative of an event associated with a first member of a virtual concatenation group transported through the network. The network control entity also has a processing entity for computing a new route for a second member of the virtual concatenation group, the computing being triggered by the event.