Abstract: A system and method for increasing the horsepower and torque provided by an internal combustion engine involve the use of a vortex tube to provide cooled air to the air intake of the engine. The system utilizes a source of compressed air such as provided by a compressor and air tank. The compressed air is injected into the vortex tube producing a heated stream of air and a cooled stream of air. The cooled stream of air is directed into the intake of the engine. The system enhances the air flow and drops the induction air temperature into the engine. An air valve may be used to control the flow of compressed air into the vortex tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat shield for pipes and tubes that is flexible, has an interior insulating layer, and has an exterior reflective layer. A shield may include a flap extending from the shield body for covering a portion of the component not already covered by the shield body. The interior layer faces the exhaust pipe, is made of woven silica, and may include a conductive coating. The exterior layer is an aluminum finish. The heat shield may be secured with stainless steel clamps or a lace and installed on an installed pipe or tube. The heat shield may be installed with an air gap between the pipe and the heat shield.

Abstract: A device applicable to the positioning of a loose object on a carrier such as a device mounted on a necklace with a pendant to keep the pendant in a stationary position on the necklace. The device comprises at least one coil forming an opening and a locating section. The necklace is contained in the opening of the coil with the locating section serving to retain the pendant in position on the necklace. Optional end configurations serve to reduce risk of necklace entanglement as well as increase friction between the device and the necklace.

Abstract: In one aspect, a network system includes a user interface which allows a user to interact with the network system. An agent server is coupled to the user interface. The agent server manages the operation of the network system. Furthermore, the agent server in conjunction with the user interface is operable to create or modify an agent in response to interaction by the user. In another aspect, a network system includes an agent server which manages the operation of the network system. An agent is operable to utilize a service within the network system. A service wrapper, associated with the service, cooperates with the agent server to mediate interaction between the service and the agent.

Abstract: An in-process verification system includes a base and a support. The base includes a holding location for holding and locating a sample of a material. The system also includes an infrared sensing system with a sensor head supported by the support above the base in spaced vertical registry with the base and aligned over the holding location. The infrared sensing system measures the infrared radiation emitted by the material and calculates the temperature of the material.

Abstract: A speech-enabled distributed processing system forming a Voice Web includes a gateway, one or more voice content sites coupled to the gateway over a wide area network, and a browser coupled to the gateway over a network, which may or may not be the wide area network. The gateway receives telephone calls from one or more users over telephony connections and performs endpointing of speech of each user. The browser provides the gateway with information enabling the gateway to selectively direct the endpointed speech to a voice content site via the wide area network. The gateway outputs the endpointed speech in the form of application protocol requests onto the wide area network to the appropriate site, as specified by the browser, or to the browser. The gateway receives prompts in the form of application protocol responses from the browser or a voice content site and plays the prompts to the appropriate user over the telephony connection.

Abstract: An improved shaft sealing assembly (18) for use with an elongated, axially rotatable shaft (14) typically forming a part of a blender (10) or similar device is provided, which permits rapid, easy seal repair without the need for complete breakdown of the blender (10). The assembly (18) includes a tubular sleeve adapted to be disposed about the shaft (14) at the region of a shaft/blender wall interface, with an annular sealing body (42) disposed about the sleeve (40) in a sealing position and supporting a seal (66) which engages the sleeve (40) at a first sealing location (66a) thereon. A lock device (48) operably to maintain the sealing body (42) in its sealing position is provided, and the sleeve (40) is selectively movable relative to shaft (14) and sealing body (42) so as to change the sealing location from the first location (66a) to a second, different sealing location (66b). The sleeve 40 can also be easily replaced if desired.

Abstract: An improved shaft sealing assembly (18) for use with an elongated, axially rotatable shaft (14) typically forming a part of a blender (10) or similar device is provided, which permits rapid, easy seal repair without the need for complete breakdown of the blender (10). The assembly (18) includes a tubular sleeve adapted to be disposed about the shaft (14) at the region of a shaft/blender wall interface, with an annular sealing body (42) disposed about the sleeve (40) in a sealing position and supporting a seal (66) which engages the sleeve (40) at a first sealing location (66a) thereon. A lock device (48) operably to maintain the sealing body (42) in its sealing position is provided, and the sleeve (40) is selectively movable relative to shaft (14) and sealing body (42) so as to change the sealing location from the first location (66a) to a second, different sealing location (66b). The sleeve 40 can also be easily replaced if desired.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring torque and position of a shaft having an internal torsion bar. The sensor has a torque sensor, located in the housing and connected to the shaft. The torque sensor has a rotor in electrical contact with a first and second resistive track disposed on an opposed disc. A position sensor is located in the housing and is connected to the shaft. The position sensor has a third contactor mounted to the housing in electrical contact with a third resistive track located on the disc. Several electrical terminals are located in the housing and are electrically communicated with the contactors to provide an electrical signal indicative of the torque and position of the shaft to an external electrical circuit. A slip ring is attached between the rotor and the housing. The slip ring has a fourth and fifth contactor in contact with the torque sensor. The slip ring is adapted to electrically connect the torque sensor to the electrical terminals.

Abstract: A modular muffler that is quickly and easily adapted for use with a wide variety engines is disclosed. The muffler has a dimensionally standardized body member with end portions that may receive any of a number of adaptor end plates provided with various inlet and outlet configurations. The adaptor end plates are inwardly and outwardly adjustable relative to the body member end portions in order to vary the body member internal volume.

Abstract: An end-cutting and stripping station for removing casings from sausages is disclosed. The station comprises a carousel having end-cutting units spaced around its perimeter. The carousel is connected to a conveyor, each unit receiving a sausage as the conveyor advances. Each unit includes a sausage support and a carriage slidably mounted below the support. An actuator is connected between the carriage and the carousel. As the actuator retracts, sensor fingers on the carriage slidingly engage a sausage on the support. When the finger tips reach the bottom end of the sausage, the fingers move inwardly, actuating a control valve and halting the carriage. A casing cutter is then actuated to cut off the lower end of the casing above the finger tips. As the conveyor exits the carousel, a pair of stripper bars positioned below the conveyor engage the tops of the sausages and force them out of the casings.

Abstract: A sausage transfer station is disclosed for transferring sausages from a rack where they are hung by respective string loops in a plurality of rows to a main conveyor. The transfer station includes an unload conveyor for advancing the rack forward, a selectively pivotable unloader shaft oriented transversely to the unload conveyor, and a transfer conveyor having a leg parallel to the unloader shaft and an apex proximate the main conveyor. The unloader shaft has a plurality of unloader fingers extending transversely outward therefrom. The unloader fingers engage the string loops of a row of sausages to push them off of the rack and then drop them onto respective fingers of the transfer conveyor. The sausages are carried by the transfer conveyor to the apex proximate the main conveyor where they are transferred to hooks on the main conveyor.

Abstract: A nonradioactive glass in particulate form adapted for radiation therapy in a mammal comprise a biodegradable rare earth-lithium borate glass material of a specified composition which, upon being subjected to an effective amount of neutron irradiation, will produce a beta or gamma emitting radioisotope, the radioisotope being distributed throughout the glass material, the glass upon being introduced into a body fluid for radiation therapy being adapted to react therewith causing the radioisotope to form an insoluble compound on the surface of the glass material which is retained in the glass material and thereby prevented from escaping from the treatment site. Radioactive glasses and methods for carrying out radiation therapy with such radioactive glasses are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for conducting electronic commerce include the steps of identifying items on a web site, registering on the web site an authorized individual associated with a customer, placing order selections of the items from a non-authorized individual associated with the customer in a sub tier electronic order, holding the sub tier electronic order for approval by the authorized individual, and converting the sub tier electronic order to an approved electronic order in response to approval by the authorized individual.

Abstract: The invention is a device applicable to the positioning of a loose object on a carrier such as a device mounted on a necklace with a pendant to keep the pendant in a stationary position on the necklace. The device comprises at least one coil forming an opening and a locating section. The necklace is contained in the opening of the coil with the locating section serving to retain the pendant in position on the necklace. Optional end configurations serve to reduce risk of necklace entanglement as well as increase friction between the device and the necklace.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring torque and position of a shaft having an internal torsion bar. The sensor has a torque sensor, located in the housing and connected to the shaft. The torque sensor has a rotor in electrical contact with a first and second resistive track disposed on an opposed disc. A position sensor is located in the housing and is connected to the shaft. The position sensor has a third contactor mounted to the housing in electrical contact with a third resistive track located on the disc. Several electrical terminals are located in the housing and are electrically communicated with the contactors to provide an electrical signal indicative of the torque and position of the shaft to an external electrical circuit. A slip ring is attached between the rotor and the housing. The slip ring has a fourth and fifth contactor in contact with the torque sensor. The slip ring is adapted to electrically connect the torque sensor to the electrical terminals.

Abstract: An improved floor drain assembly (10) is provided which includes an upright inlet section (12) presenting a waste inlet (30) and an outlet section (14) terminating in a discharge end (16). The assembly (10) includes an oblique first wall (26b) below the inlet (30) for diverting waste materials towards the end (16); a second oblique wall (82) spaced from the wall (26b) and a third wall (28a) intermediate the walls (26b, 82) complete an in-line trap (18). The inlet (30) is equipped with a grate (46) and a perforate filter (50). The wall (26b) serves to forcefully divert waste material through the assembly (10) to minimize clogging problems.

Abstract: A conveyor apparatus (10) is provided having a conveyor frame (12) and an overlying, shiftable conveyor belt (14). The frame (12) includes elongated side members (48, 50) supporting a series of transversely extending, axially spaced metallic supports (22) each equipped with openings (56) therein. A series of synthetic resin slide bars (16-20) are received within associated support openings (56), and are maintained in place by keepers (24) attached to corresponding supports (22). The slide bars (16-20) are preferably formed of aligned segments (16a, 16b, 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b). The slide bars (16-20) bridge the spaced apart supports (22) and thus become belt-supporting structural members in the frame (12). The support openings (56) are preferably slightly larger than the associated slide bars (16-20), so as to permit passage of cleaning fluid between the adjacent slide bar and support surfaces.