Abstract: Devices and methods facilitate inspections, repairs, and other operations within vessels without human entry into the vessels, and without introducing contaminants that could reduce the purity of materials held in the vessels below predetermined minimum levels.

Abstract: A precipitated silica having a d50-value of from 150 to 2000 nm, a d90-value of from 500 to 7000 nm, a silanol group density of from 2.5 to 8 OH/nm2, and a modified tapped density of less than or equal to 70 g/l is useful for thickening and providing thixotropy in liquid systems and shows superior efficiency at thickening and creating thixotropy compared to existing grades of precipitated silica. The precipitated silica functions best as a thixotrope in non-polar or intermediate polar liquid systems such as unsaturated polyester (UPE) resin systems.

Abstract: New gel coat composition, in particular new marine gel coat compositions, a process for their manufacture as well as their use to coat surfaces of articles exposed to light, water and solvents. The gel coats incorporate a precipitated silica having A BET surface of from 150 to 250 M2/g A SiO2 content of more than or equal to 98.5% by weight A Na2O content of less than or equal to 0.5% by weight.

Abstract: An integrated system concurrently connects voice and data communications devices used by small and medium sized businesses to a network T1 data line terminating at the customer premises. A system chassis includes multiple slots and backplane connectors for removably receiving a bank controller unit (BCU), power service unit (PSU), and one or more different types of smart and dumb voice and data access modules that provide the functional interface to the customer premises equipment. The BCU controls the operation of the system, which can be configured by the customer through an external terminal interface.

Abstract: A single switch fabric-based, multi-channel bank digital subscriber line access multiplexer includes a master channel bank containing a master switch module in which the switch fabric and a downstream-directed traffic scheduler reside, and one or more expansion channel banks that are linked with the master channel bank by way of upstream and downstream communication links. Distributed among the channel banks are respective policing mechanisms and cell rate control mechanisms that control upstream-directed communications from line card ports of each expansion channel bank to the switch fabric. Downstream data transmissions are locked to network timing, and are scheduled by a centralized scheduling mechanism resident in the master channel bank.

Abstract: An integrated system concurrently connects voice and data communications devices used by small and medium sized businesses to a network T1 data line terminating at the customer premises. A system chassis includes multiple slots and backplane connectors for removably receiving a bank controller unit (BCU), power service unit (PSU), and one or more different types of smart and dumb voice and data access modules that provide the functional interface to the customer premises equipment. The BCU controls the operation of the system, which can be configured by the customer through an external terminal interface.

Abstract: An inter-channel bank addressing and identification protocol, for use with a multi channel bank, digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), enables the control processor of a master channel bank to selectively communicate with control processors of subtended slave channel banks, and allows a subtended slave shelf to retain provisioning information, irrespective of a change in shelf location or removal of a subtended slave shelf between the master shelf and another subtended slave shelf. The inter-channel bank addressing and identification protocol uses a shelf address code that is controllably incremented or decremented during the transport of a packet between the master and a slave shelf. In addition, a shelf address code is assigned each slave shelf during initialization. These two codes enable the master to track which channel bank is in which shelf bay.

Abstract: An integrated system concurrently connects voice and data communications devices used by small and medium sized businesses to a network T1 data line terminating at the customer premises. A system chassis includes multiple slots and backplane connectors for removably receiving a bank controller unit (BCU), power service unit (PSU), and one or more different types of smart and dumb voice and data access modules that provide the functional interface to the customer premises equipment. The BCU controls the operation of the system, which can be configured by the customer through an external terminal interface.

Abstract: A fuel distributor (10) and mounting arrangement that helps support the weight of the fuel distributor (10) during removal and replacement for improved maintainability. The mounting arrangement includes a hanger (60) mountable on a first support which hanger (60) includes a slot (70), and a manifold (40) separate from the hanger (60) that has a first side (43) with a plurality of ports (54) arranged in a first configuration. The manifold (40) is connectable to a plurality of fluid lines on an engine (80). A fuel distributor body (12) has a first surface, a second surface spaced from the first surface and a third surface between the first surface and the second surface with a hanging cleat (36) projecting from the first surface that is configured to be received within the slot (70). The third surface has a main fuel inlet (16) and a plurality of additional fluid ports (18) arranged in the same configuration as the ports on the manifold (40). A mounting pin (26) projects from the third surface.

Abstract: A multilayer sliding bearing includes a rigid metal backing having a metal bearing liner attached thereto. The metal bearing liner includes a metal bearing liner layer which is attached to the bearing surface of the metal backing layer and at least one metal overplate layer deposited over an outer surface of the metal bearing liner layer. The metal bearing liner layer has a layer of hard particles embedded in an outer surface thereof which is adjacent to the inner surface of the at least one metal overplate layer. The bearing may also include a barrier layer interposed between the metal bearing liner layer and the metal over plate layer to inhibit diffusion therebetween and/or promote adhesion of the metal over plate layer to the metal bearing liner layer. The invention may also include a thin metal protective coating layer over the outer surface of the bearing liner and backing layer.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: An electrical overvoltage protection circuit in a dual voltage electrical distribution system such as a motor vehicle includes a PTC device in series between a low voltage source and a low voltage distribution wire, and also a voltage limiting circuit element such as a zener diode in thermal contact with the PTC device and connected across the low voltage distribution wire and a common electrical return path. The voltage limit is set to be below a high voltage and above the low voltage. When the low voltage distribution wire becomes cross-connected to a high voltage distribution wire, the voltage limiting circuit element conducts a large current and generates heat which is transferred to the PTC device which thereupon trips and limits current flow from the low voltage source to the high voltage load via the cross-connected low voltage and high voltage distribution wires.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a composite polymeric circuit protection device in which a polymeric assembly is provided and is then subdivided into individual devices (2). The assembly is made by providing first and second laminates (7,8), each of which includes a laminar polymer element having at least one conductive surface, providing a pattern on at least one of the conductive surfaces on one laminate, securing the laminates in a stack (1) in a desired configuration, at least one conductive surface of at least one of the laminates forming an external conductive surface (3) of the stack, and making a plurality of electrical connections (31,51) between a conductive surface of the first laminate and a conductive surface of the second laminate. The laminar polymer elements may be PTC conductive polymer compositions, so that the individual devices made by the process exhibit PTC behavior. Additional electrical components may be attached directly to the surface of the device or assembly.

Abstract: A circuit protection device suitable for welding to a battery terminal or other substrate without adverse affects caused by weld splatter. The device contains a laminar PTC resistive element, e.g. made from a conductive polymer composition, sandwiched between first and second electrodes. A first electrical lead has a first attachment portion having an attachment surface which is attached to the first electrode, a first connection portion which can be connected to an electrical circuit and is spaced away from the PTC element, and a first barrier portion. The first barrier portion is positioned on the first lead between the first attachment and first connection portions and extends toward the second electrode. During resistance welding, the barrier portion prevents weld splatter from contacting the PTC resistive element.

Abstract: A laminar sensor (1) for detecting changes on a laminar substrate (35). The sensor includes a laminar sheet (3) which has a first surface (5) and a second opposite surface (7), and is made from a conductive polymer composition which exhibits temperature dependent resistance behavior, preferably PTC behavior. A plurality of sensing elements (12) are electrically connected, preferably in series, on the sensor. Each sensing element is formed as an electrode pair containing a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes (9,11) may be on the same surface of the laminar sheet or on opposite surfaces of the sheet. Two electrical leads (17,19) are present for connecting the sensing elements into a circuit, which may be used to detect changes in resistance which occur when a sensing element is exposed to an elevated temperature, a change in pressure, or a solvent.

Abstract: A laminar sensor (1) for detecting changes on a laminar substrate (35). The sensor includes a laminar sheet (3) which has a first surface (5) and a second opposite surface (7), and is made from a conductive polymer composition which exhibits temperature dependent resistance behavior, preferably PTC behavior. A plurality of sensing elements (12) are electrically connected, preferably in series, on the sensor. Each sensing element is formed as an electrode pair containing a first electrode and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes (9, 11) may be on the same surface of the laminar sheet or on opposite surfaces of the sheet. Two electrical leads (17, 19) are present for connecting the sensing elements into a circuit, which may be used to detect changes in resistance which occur when a sensing element is exposed to an elevated temperature, a change in pressure, or a solvent.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A protection circuit for use with a charger and a chargeable element, such as a rechargeable lithium ion battery, comprises a shunt regulator having a threshold ON voltage coupled in parallel across the chargeable element, and a temperature-dependent resistor, e.g., a positive temperature coefficient device, coupled in series between the charger and the chargeable element. The temperature dependent resistor is thermally and electrically coupled to the shunt regulator, wherein the first variable resistor limits current flowing through the shunt regulator if the current reaches a predetermined level less than that which would cause failure of the regulator, due to ohmic heating of the regulator.

Abstract: A circuit protection device suitable for welding to a battery terminal or other substrate without adverse affects caused by weld splatter. The device contains a laminar PTC resistive element, e.g. made from a conductive polymer composition, sandwiched between first and second electrodes. A first electrical lead has a first attachment portion having an attachment surface which is attached to the first electrode, a first connection portion which can be connected to an electrical circuit and is spaced away from the PTC element, and a first barrier portion. The first barrier portion is positioned on the first lead between the first attachment and first connection portions and extends toward the second electrode. During resistance welding, the barrier portion prevents weld splatter from contacting the PTC resistive element.