Abstract: A heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a refrigerant loop having a compressor, where the compressor is configured to circulate a refrigerant through the refrigerant loop, a first heat exchanger disposed along the refrigerant loop, where the first heat exchanger is configured to place the refrigerant in a first heat exchange relationship with a working fluid, and an air handling unit having a second heat exchanger, where the second heat exchanger is configured to place the working fluid in a second heat exchange relationship with an airflow, and where the air handling unit is isolated from the first heat exchanger to reduce or eliminate mixing of refrigerant with the airflow.

Abstract: Apparatus for limiting access to items only during pre-determined times, a lockable container system includes a lockable container assembly and a remote control unit. The remote control unit includes an input keypad, a display, a processor, and a transmitter. The lockable container assembly includes a receiver, a locking mechanism, and an indicator. The pre-determined time that the lockable container assembly is able to be unlocked is entered on the keypad. When the predetermined time arrives, the remote includes an operator that, when actuated, sends an unlock signal to the lockable container assembly. At other times, the lockable container assembly remains locked, thereby limiting access to its contents. In one embodiment, the container includes perforations that ensure the inside environment matches the environment outside the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for limiting access to items only during pre-determined times, a lockable container system includes a lockable container assembly and a remote control unit. The remote control unit includes an input keypad, a display, a processor, and a transmitter. The lockable container assembly includes a receiver, a locking mechanism, and an indicator. The pre-determined time that the lockable container assembly is able to be unlocked is entered on the keypad. When the predetermined time arrives, the remote includes an operator that, when actuated, sends an unlock signal to the lockable container assembly. At other times, the lockable container assembly remains locked, thereby limiting access to its contents. In one embodiment, the container includes perforations that ensure the inside environment matches the environment outside the container.

Abstract: In an electrically shielded connector, conductive material covers an outer surface of said body and is spaced away from a conductive structure included in the connector to create electrical isolation therebetween. A channel in which the connector is situated is either plugged when conductive material is applied to the connector during manufacturing or is counter bored to create the electrical isolation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a test head and probe card in an IC testing system incorporating patterned divider elements (24) disposed between rows of signal conductors (22) to provide matching characteristic impedance values along each row of signal conductors. The divider elements have a patterned conductive layer formed thereon that is electrically connected to ground, and a method for determining a useful pattern is provided. Test dividers (24) fabricated with openings of various size and shape are used to construct transmission lines. The impedance of these lines is measured, and the results are used to interpolate an appropriate opening size and shape to achieve a desired transmission line impedance.

Abstract: In an electrically shielded connector, conductive material covers an outer surface of said body and is spaced away from a conductive structure included in the connector to create electrical isolation therebetween. A channel in which the connector is situated is either plugged when conductive material is applied to the connector during manufacturing or is counter bored to create the electrical isolation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a test head and probe card in an IC testing system incorporating patterned divider elements disposed between rows of signal conductors to provide matching characteristic impedance values along each row of signal conductors. The divider elements have a patterned conductive layer formed thereon that is electrically connected to ground, and a method for determining a useful pattern is provided.

Abstract: A coring arrangement for casting a railcar bolster, including left and right half center cores having faces defining internal surfaces of each of the bolster top, bottom, and opposing side walls from the bolster central transverse plane to a point between the left and right friction shoe pocket inner and outer walls. The coring arrangement also includes left and right top half end cores having faces defining an internal surface of the bolster top wall, and of each opposing side wall from a point between the left and right friction shoe pocket inner and outer walls to the ends of the bolster. Left and right bottom half end cores have faces defining an internal surface of the bolster bottom wall, and of each opposing side wall from a point between the left and right friction shoe pocket inner and outer walls to the ends of the bolster.

Abstract: The present invention provides a casting method comprising the steps of obtaining a thermal distribution of mold sand for a casting, and determining a mold wall thickness profile based at least partially on the mold sand thermal distribution.

Abstract: A heater comprises an enhanced-surface area heat transfer vessel which is situated co-axially in a hot flue gas plenum. The plenum is formed by dual-wall heating jacket. Liquid flowing through the jacket is heated co-currently by the flue gas before the preheated liquid is conducted to the top of the vessel for countercurrent heat exchange therein before discharge from the bottom of the vessel. Hot flue gas flowing through the plenum is directed circumferentially by one or more spaced and perforated ring plates placed across the plenum annulus between the jacket and the vessel. Aluminum construction of the vessel and jacket with protective coatings contribute to a lightweight heater for either floor or even wall mounting. The heater is conveniently implemented in a hydronic heating system, a potable hot water system or a combination of both.

Abstract: In an electrically shielded connector, conductive material covers an outer surface of said body and is spaced away from a conductive structure included in the connector to create electrical isolation therebetween. A channel in which the connector is situated is either plugged when conductive material is applied to the connector during manufacturing or is counter bored to create the electrical isolation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of casting a sideframe including the steps of dividing the sideframe into design zones, and providing a core module for forming internal surfaces of the sideframe casting in the design zones. The design zones include a right outer leg design zone, a left outer leg design zone, a right tension member design zone, a left tension member design zone, and a bolster opening design zone. The present invention also includes the step of varying at least one core module to correspond with varying sideframe casting geometry in at least one design zone. The core modules include a right outer leg core module, a left outer leg core module, a right tension member core module, a left tension member core module, a right column wall core module, a left column wall core module, and a bolster opening bottom core module. The core modules define internal surfaces of the sideframe casting in their respective design zones.

Abstract: A heater comprises an enhanced-surface area heat transfer vessel which is situated co-axially in a hot flue gas plenum. The plenum is formed by dual-wall heating jacket. Liquid flowing through the jacket is heated co-currently by the flue gas before the preheated liquid is conducted to the top of the vessel for countercurrent heat exchange therein before discharge from the bottom of the vessel. Hot flue gas flowing through the plenum is directed circumferentially by one or more spaced and perforated ring plates placed across the plenum annulus between the jacket and the vessel. Aluminum construction of the vessel and jacket with protective coatings contribute to a lightweight heater for either floor or even wall mounting. The heater is conveniently implemented in a hydronic heating system, a potable hot water system or a combination of both.

Abstract: A bi-directional interface for transmitting signals between a circuit tester and a connection point proximate to a circuit to be tested includes a first and a second optical fiber link, a first directional gate for coupling both the input end of the first link and the output end of the second link to one endpoint of the interface and a second directional gate for coupling both the input end of the second link and the output end of the first link to the other endpoint of the interface. An optical fiber link includes an optical fiber, a light source, and a photodetector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a test head and probe card in an IC testing system incorporating patterned divider elements disposed between rows of signal conductors to provide matching characteristic impedance values along each row of signal conductors. The divider elements have a conductive layer formed thereon that is electrically connected to ground. Openings of various shapes and sized are formed in the conductive layer to adjust the characteristic impedance of a corresponding signal conductor. A method for determining the patterning required for characteristic impedance matching is also provided. Test dividers are provided with openings of different size, and characteristic impedance measurements are taken with the various openings aligned to a signal conductor. The size opening is then interpolated to provide a particular characteristic impedance value.

Abstract: A bi-directional interface for transmitting signals between a circuit tester and a connection point proximate to a circuit to be tested includes a first and a second optical fiber link, a first directional gate for coupling both the input end of the first link and the output end of the second link to one endpoint of the interface and a second directional gate for coupling both the input end of the second link and the output end of the first link to the other endpoint of the interface. An optical fiber link for transmitting a signal between a circuit tester and a connection point proximate to a circuit to be tested includes an optical fiber for transmitting the signal, a light source electrically coupled to the link input and optically coupled to the input of the fiber, and a photodetector optically coupled to the fiber output and electrically coupled to the link output.