Abstract: A heat recovery device for use on a clothes dryer includes a body having a main passageway. The body has a first end and a second end and a dryer exhaust coupling proximate to the first end. The first end has a main flow inlet and the second end has a main flow outlet. The heat recovery device also includes a return air conduit coupled to the body. The return air conduit has a return air inlet and a return air outlet. The return air inlet is disposed within the main passageway and facing the main flow inlet. The dryer exhaust coupling is configured to be removably coupled to a dryer exhaust outlet of a clothes dryer. The return air inlet is configured to receive a portion of the exhaust air discharged from the clothes dryer and discharge that portion through the return air outlet.

Abstract: A film based chromatography system for capturing and releasing a material from a fluid. In one embodiment, the system includes a housing containing a spiral wound film element. The film element includes a material-capturing web and a fluid passageway web. In another embodiment, the system includes a series of such housings containing film element(s). In a further embodiment, the system includes a plurality of housings arranged in parallel and in series in various combinations. Controllers and valves are arranged to allow flexible fluid processing. The spiral wound film maximizes material contact area in the limited space and volume of the housing.

Abstract: A system and related method to facilitate the programming of a PLC without requiring a physical connection of the PLC to the device used to program it. The system includes a database and a group of functions embodied in one or more computer programs. The functions enable a user to convert industrial process information of a process worksheet into PLC programming language. The system also enables a user to generate test documents associated with the controlled industrial process. This methodology enables a robust and structured workflow for software change control with new parameters established and any changes in the process control are captured by the system.

Abstract: Improving scalability and throughput in publish/subscribe messaging systems by allowing the spoke systems to vary the member of the hub collective that it attaches to. The scalability is improved because the spoke systems do not have to have a long lasting attachment to a specific hub system. Instead, the spoke systems can be redistributed more evenly when new spoke systems are added or removed. The throughput is increased by distributing workload and fan-out responsibilities within hub collectives. Availability is improved because single points of failure are removed. Ease of administration is also improved over a hierarchy by allowing child nodes to automatically change parent nodes if a parent node is modified or removed.

Abstract: A sequence of processing transactions operating on a cached data set, which depend on each other because they operate on the same items of data from the data set. The transactions are saved until the master copy of the data becomes available. The transactions are played back against the master copy until one of the played back transactions fails because another transaction which operated on the same items of data but against a separate cached copy and originating from another application, was successfully played back on the master copy at an earlier time. At this point, all subsequent transactions which depended on the failing transaction are rolled back on the cached copy (with appropriate failure reports generated) and activity resumes from there. “Chained” (optimistic) transactions can therefore be applied to cached data and can be allowed to progress by recording their dependencies so they can be undone when required.

Abstract: Contention in a distributed processor computer system with a replicated message environment is reduced. The system comprises processor consumers intercommunicating via a server interface that receives a message from a producer. The server favors one consumer, marks the message accordingly, communicates the marked message to the system, and delays the processing in another consumer beyond a predetermined time, for example the time normally taken to process a message.

Abstract: Improving scalability and throughput in publish/subscribe messaging systems by allowing the spoke systems to vary the member of the hub collective that is attaches to. The scalability is improved because the spoke systems do not have to have a long lasting attachment to a specific hub system. Instead, the spoke systems can be redistributed more evenly when new spoke systems are added or removed. The throughput is increased by distributing workload and fan-out responsibilities within hub collectives. Availability is improved because single points of failure are removed. Ease of administration is also improved over a hierarchy by allowing child nodes to automatically change parent nodes if a parent node is modified or removed.

Abstract: A sequence of processing transactions operating on a cached data set, which depend on each other because they operate on the same items of data from the data set. The transactions are saved until the master copy of the data becomes available. The transactions are played back against the master copy until one of the played back transactions fails because another transaction which operated on the same items of data but against a separate cached copy and originating from another application, was successfully played back on the master copy at an earlier time. At this point, all subsequent transactions which depended on the failing transaction are rolled back on the cached copy (with appropriate failure reports generated) and activity resumes from there. “Chained” (optimistic) transactions can therefore be applied to cached data and can be allowed to progress by recording their dependencies so they can be undone when required.

Abstract: A sequence of processing transactions operating on a cached data set, which depend on each other because they operate on the same items of data from the data set. The transactions are saved until the master copy of the data becomes available. The transactions are played back against the master copy until one of the played back transactions fails because another transaction which operated on the same items of data but against a separate cached copy and originating from another application, was successfully played back on the master copy at an earlier time. At this point, all subsequent transactions which depended on the failing transaction are rolled back on the cached copy (with appropriate failure reports generated) and activity resumes from there. “Chained” (optimistic) transactions can therefore be applied to cached data and can be allowed to progress by recording their dependencies so they can be undone when required.

Abstract: A tree stake for the staking of a tree having a root ball includes a first anchor member for anchoring the tree stake, a central longitudinal member to support the tree and a first traverse member to connect the first anchor member and the central longitudinal member.

Abstract: A valley scupper for use in roof constructions on buildings which have valley portions therein. The scupper comprises an elongate housing which has a somewhat V-shaped lower wall sized to fit within the valley formed in the roof construction. In this way, the scupper is highly effective in collecting water. A reduced size forward end is formed on the scupper, also with a V-shaped construction and is adapted for connection to a downspout.

Abstract: A data processing method of testing a network of data processing units includes steps of sending a test message from an originating data processing unit to a destination data processing unit via an intermediate data processing unit; receiving at the originating data processing unit a channel definition from the intermediate data processing unit, the channel definition defining an action taken at the intermediate data processing unit to determine a next intermediate data processing unit to forward on the test message to; and displaying the channel definition at the originating data processing unit.

Abstract: A data processing method of testing a network of data processing units includes steps of sending a test message from an originating data processing unit to a destination data processing unit via an intermediate data processing unit; receiving at the originating data processing unit a channel definition from the intermediate data processing unit, the channel definition defining an action taken at the intermediate data processing unit to determine a next intermediate data processing unit to forward on the test message to; and displaying the channel definition at the originating data processing unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming and a composite superplastically formed structure comprising a panel (40) provided by at least a pair of superplastically-formed sheets (12, 14, 16, 18), which together form a plurality of cells (42), the panel having an opening (20) therein or therethrough defined by a side wall (48) of a respective one, or side walls (48) of respective ones, of the cells; and an insert plug (38) received in the opening and bonded to the said wall or walls.

Abstract: A method of communicating packet based digital data over a communications network between a sender and a receiver, includes steps of sending a request, the request having a plurality of packets, to a receiver; receiving an acknowledgement from the receiver for each packet of the request; receiving a reply from the receiver, the reply having a plurality of packets, at least one of the packets including an indication that the packet need not be acknowledged upon receipt; and acknowledging only the packets of the reply that do not contain the indication.

Abstract: A method of mounting a suspension bumper (10) in a motor vehicle providing a high degree of manufacturing confidence. The method includes inserting a first end (54) of an installation tool (50) in a blind bore (20) of the suspension bumper; aligning a retaining tip (40) with an aperture (44) in the vehicle; applying an insertion force (60) on the suspension bumper to compress the retaining tip through the aperture and allow a retaining groove (48) to engage a periphery (49) of the aperture; and applying a withdrawal force in a direction opposite from the insertion force sufficient to remove the installation tool from the suspension bumper, the withdrawal force being smaller in magnitude than a force required to disengage the retaining groove from the periphery.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus for carrying out workload management with respect to a group of servers in an asynchronous client/server computing system, has: a device for receiving a work request from a client application; a device for consulting availability data concerning the group of servers and for selecting a particular server in the group to be used to satisfy the received work request on the basis of the consulted availability data, where the consulted availability data is always used in its present state when the work request is received, irrespective of whether availability data has been received for each server in the group, in order to select a server from the group; and a device for placing the received work request in a transmission queue where it awaits transmission to the particular server in the group.

Abstract: A vibration responsive gas shut-off valve assembly which is highly effective in conditions which give rise to excessive vibration such as earthquakes and the like. The shut-off valve assembly is inserted into a gas line leading from a source of gas to an interior of a building such a dwelling structure. The valve assembly comprises a spherically shaped ball which may be located within the gas line and which contains a gas passage channel extending therethrough. When the Mall is in a first position, gas will flow from one side of the ball through the channel and to the other side of the ball in the gas line. When the ball is in a second position, the channel is located so that one side is vented through an orifice in the pipe and the other side is in communication with the downstream side of the pipe such that gas in the downstream side of the pipe leading to the building can be vented.

Abstract: A vibration responsive gas shut-off valve assembly which is highly effective in conditions which give rise to excessive vibration such as earthquakes and the like. The shut-off valve assembly is inserted into a gas line leading from a source of gas to an interior of a building such a dwelling structure. The valve assembly comprises a spherically shaped ball which may be located within the gas line and which contains a gas passage channel extending therethrough. When the ball is in a first position, gas will flow from one side of the ball through the channel and to the other side of the ball in the gas line. When the ball is in a second position, the channel is located so that one side is vented through an orifice in the pipe and the other side is in communication with the downstream side of the pipe such that gas in the downstream side of the pipe leading to the building can be vented.