Abstract: A casing centralizer is provided that may be shipped unassembled and is then assemblable at a well site. According to one embodiment, first and second collars each have a plurality of circumferentially spaced aligning slots and a corresponding plurality of threaded, extruded through-holes. A plurality of bow-springs each have a foot at each end. Each bow-spring axially extends between the first and second collars. The foot at one end of each bow-spring is disposed in one of the aligning slots of the first collar, and the foot at the other end is disposed in one of the aligning slots on the second collar. A plurality of threaded fasteners corresponding in number to the threaded extruded through-holes secure the ends of the bow-springs to the threaded extruded through-holes. The extruded through-holes have a flange height greater than a collar thickness adjacent to the extruded through-holes.

Abstract: A method of making an acoustic assembly for use in a transducer includes forming a multi-layer assembly. The multi-layer assembly includes a first layer member and a second layer member. Each member includes a center portion, an edge portion and an aperture separating the center portion and the edge portion. The assembly has an assembly stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of either the first or second layer members. A hinge joins the assembled first and second center portions and the first and second edge portions such that the assembled first and second center portions is free to at least partially rotate relative to the assembled first and second edge portions about an axis. A flexible layer member is coupled to the assembly and provides airtight sealing of the passageway.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to protective headgear worn by a user to protect his eyes, head, and face. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a protective headgear assembly used by welders and the like wherein a headgear strap can be tightened or loosened upon the ratcheting of a knob connected to the headgear strap. The headgear strap can also be automatically disengaged for removal of the headgear by pulling the knob away from the user's head.

Abstract: A driver circuit limits the magnitude of the initial wave front launched onto a transmission line to a voltage that is approximately one-half of the supply voltage. Thus, immediately after the initial wave front is reflected from an open circuit receiver, a voltage at the receiver is approximately equal to the supply voltage when a rising voltage is launched, and ground when a falling voltage is launched.

Abstract: A user host device privately controls a shared remote process that executes in a remote device, in which respective public keys between the user host device and the shared remote process are exchanged through an intermediary device, the user host device validates the process public key based on current and previous nonce values, and sends to the remote process a double-encrypted process command, and the remote process double-decrypts the process command, executes the process command, and then returns a double-encrypted response to the user host device which decrypts and validates the response. Trust between the user host device and the remote process is established by the user host device verifying a remote process response, and the trust is maintained by chaining each session nonce with the previous session nonce, without the knowledge of the intermediary process host device.

Abstract: A belt and garment fasten around a user's waist to support the garment at a selected waistline position. The belt has first and second arches with each arch having a front end a rear end fastened to the belt. The front end of each arch is located so it fastens to the belt adjacent the user's crotch during use. The rear end of each arch is located so it fastens to the belt at or before the hips of the user during use. Two first fasteners are connected to each of the arches adjacent a top of the arch. The garment has two second fasteners connected to a waistband of the garment. The second fasteners are located to releasably engage the first fasteners to fasten the arch to the garment so the arches hold the waistline of the garment above the belt. The garment covers the belt and arches. The garment is optionally connected to the belt by a third fastener located between the arches, along the user's back.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic process for making dibutyl ethers using a reactant comprising isobutanol and water. The dibutyl ethers so produced are useful in transportation fuels.

Abstract: Various linkage assemblies are shown and described for connecting a first movable member to a second movable member of a transducer. The linkage assemblies provide for motion amplification or reduction and, when used for sound generating purposes such as hearing aids or speakers, three different schemes for compensating for amplification-induced distortion. One scheme for compensating for distortion while providing amplification is the use of a lower horizontal span segment in a closed-loop linkage assembly that is longer than a corresponding upper horizontal span segment or upper vertex. Thus, a horizontal span segment used to connect the loop to the first movable member of the armature is longer than a corresponding segment or vertex used to connect the loop to the second movable member. A second distortion compensating feature that provides amplification is found in the use of non-parallel legs used to connect the linkage loop to the housing.

Abstract: A massage head comprised of a contoured edge shaped to conform to and capture specific areas of the human body for use in soft tissue therapy by perpendicular attachment to a vibratory massage appliance. The perpendicular attachment of the massage head provides both surface and deep tissue action in any proportion and the contoured shape of the massage head focuses percussive motion of the vibratory massage appliance on afflicted soft tissues, resulting in enhanced therapeutic effect.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making butenes using dry 1-butanol obtained from fermentation broth. The butenes so produced may be converted to isoalkanes, alkyl-substituted aromatics, isooctanes, isooctanols, and octyl ethers, which are useful in transportation fuels.

Abstract: An image file format and a method of creating and restoring an image file is provided by the present invention. The image file format includes a plurality of streams such as a control stream, a data stream, a bitmap stream, and a cluster map stream. An audit trail stream, properties stream and fix-up stream may also be provided. The present invention allows the contents of a storage media to be captured and stored as an image file. The image file is used to restore the storage media to a previous state or allows multiple computers to be provided with a common configuration. The plurality of streams further allow the image file to be viewed, edited or otherwise manipulated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic process for making butenes using a reactant comprising 1-butanol and water. The butenes so produced may be converted to isoalkanes, alkyl-substituted aromatics, isooctanes, isooctanols and ethers, which are useful as transportation fuels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic process for making isooctenes using a reactant comprising 1-butanol and water. The isooctenes so produced are useful for the production of fuel additives.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making dibutyl ethers using dry isobutanol derived from fermentation broth. The dibutyl ethers so produced are useful in transportation fuels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for making isooctenes using dry isobutanol derived from fermentation broth. The isooctenes so produced are useful for the production of fuel additives.

Abstract: A carrier shell and a central divider are molded of a resin composition and are assembled to form a beverage bottle carrier. The carrier shell is molded in a flat sheet with living hinges between a bottom panel, opposite side panels and end panel sections that are operatively positionable by folding at the living hinges to form a generally rectangular box configuration with an open top. Male and female tabs on the carrier shell interface with the central divider and interlockingly engage to secure the carrier in the box configuration with the central divider extending parallel between the opposite sides. Secondary dividers extend between the opposite sides and the central divider to form individual bottle compartments for placement of beverage bottle therein. The bottom of the carrier may include recesses for receiving the tops of bottles stored in a like carrier directly below the upper positioned bottle carrier to thereby facilitate vertical stacking of the bottle carriers when filled with beverage bottles.

Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for detecting aerosols. The systems and methods can be used to detect harmful aerosols, such as, bio-aerosols.

Abstract: A method to increase carotenoid production in carotenogenic microbial host cells is provided by down-regulating or disrupting glycogen synthesis. Disruption of glycogen synthase activity in a carotenogenic microbial host cell significantly increased carotenoid production. Carotenogenic microorganisms are also provided that have been optimized for the production of carotenoid compounds through the down-regulation and/or disruption of glycogen synthase activity.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for testing and analyzing websites via a test-enabled web browser. In the representative embodiment a user controls a test-enabled web browser via a set of pull-down menus, thereby choosing between alternative testing and analysis functional capabilities, selecting files in which to store recordings (scripts), choosing files into which to place test results and messages, and setting various parameters that affect how the testing and analysis functions are performed.

Abstract: Spinous process implants have an elastomeric cuff and/or integral elatomeric spacer with the cuff sized and configured to encase at least a minor portion of a first spinous process.