Abstract: A sealing member is disclosed having an outer surface that supports segments of a pipe coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relation. The segments are supported in spaced relation to permit the pipe elements to be inserted into the coupling without disassembly. The sealing member is a flexible ring that has conical lips around its inner circumference to engage and guide the pipe elements into the coupling. A tongue extends radially inwardly between the lips, the tongue having conical shoulders which engage and guide the pipe ends. The tongue locates the coupling segments relatively to the pipe elements.

Abstract: A preassembled mechanical pipe coupling having spacers is disclosed. The coupling has a plurality of interconnectable segments that straddle the ends of pipe elements to be joined. The segments have arcuate surfaces that engage outer surfaces of the pipe elements. Spacers, positioned between the segments, maintain them in spaced apart relation sufficient to allow the pipe elements to be inserted between the segments. The segments have adjustably tightenable connection members for connecting the segments and drawing them to one another. When the connection members are tightened and the effect of the spacers is overcome, the arcuate surfaces are brought into engagement with the outer surfaces of the pipe elements.

Abstract: A deformable mechanical pipe coupling is disclosed. The coupling is formed from an arcuate band that surrounds and defines a central space. The band has first and second ends in facing relation. arcuate surfaces that engage outer surfaces of the pipe elements extend lengthwise along the band. The arcuate surfaces have radii of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the pipe element outer surfaces, allowing pipe elements to be inserted within the central space. The band has adjustably tightenable connection members mounted at each end. When the connection members are tightened, the ends are drawn toward one another, and the arcuate surfaces on the band deform and conform to the radius of curvature of the outer surfaces of the pipe elements.

Abstract: A preassembled mechanical pipe coupling for joining pipe elements in end-to-end relationship is disclosed. The coupling is formed from a plurality of interconnectable segments that are initially maintained in spaced apart relation. The segments have arcuate surfaces that project inwardly. Connection members in the form of lugs and fasteners are mounted on the segments. The connection members are adjustably tightenable for drawing the coupling segments together and forcing the arcuate surfaces into engagement with the outer surfaces of the pipe elements. Notches are formed at ends of the arcuate surfaces to provide clearance allowing the pipe elements to be inserted between the segments when they are in the pre-assembled, spaced apart configuration.

Abstract: A deformable mechanical pipe coupling is disclosed. The coupling has a plurality of interconnectable segments that straddle the ends of pipe elements to be joined. The segments have arcuate surfaces that engage outer surfaces of the pipe elements. The outer surfaces subtend an angle of less than 180° and have radii of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the pipe element outer surfaces. The segments have adjustably tightenable connection members for connecting the segments to one another. When the connection members are tightened, the arcuate surfaces deform and conform to the radius of curvature of the outer surface of the pipe elements.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for facilitating decision-making in connection with management of enterprise assets are disclosed. A real time expert decision support module is interfaced with an access portal including a navigation table for asset management, and with an historical parameter database associated with a distributed control system of plant end sensors and actuated control elements of a production process. The access portal and navigation table provide access to tools in the support module that facilitate real time decision making information delivery to the functional teams that support an asset, line of sight management performance models of team performance, practical performance analysis tools that extract information in real time from the process control system and other sources of asset data for translation into actionable information, and a real time interactive schematic environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for focusing structured image such as a laser spot. A method for determining the degree of focus of such a structured image are disclosed whereby: an image is provided at a photosensitive array formed from a plurality of elements; the position of the image is determined; for an element of the array a weighting is assigned according to the position of that element relative to the position of the image; the intensity of the image at the element is determined; a value is produced for the element dependent on its weighting and the intensity of the image thereat. In addition the values of the plurality of elements are summed and one overall focus value is found which is indicative of the degree of focus of the image. This value is used to search for and maintain best focus and methods for achieving this are disclosed also. Apparatus is shown in which a microprocessor and a controller are used to perform the methods disclosed.

Abstract: A combined alarm test and drain device for a fire protection sprinkler system is disclosed. The apparatus is based on a globe valve and has certain specific modifications for the purposes of draining the system and allowing for flow through a specifically sized orifice under conditions simulating the flow through a sprinkler head having the same orifice size. Fluid flow through the apparatus occurs alternatively under a first set of conditions in a system alarm test mode of operation of the apparatus, and under a second set of conditions in a system fluid drainage mode of operation of the apparatus. A combination of mechanical and hydraulic forces are utilized to control opening and closing of the valve in both the alarm test and system fluid drainage modes of operation. The mechanical force is provided by a spring and the hydraulic force is provided by a fluid pressure differential.

Abstract: A set of oligonucleotide probes and method are disclosed for detecting a plurality of different target polynucleotides. The set includes a collection of different promiscuous probes each of which is capable of hybridizing to a target sequence shared between at least two of the target polynucleotides. At least one target polynucleotide comprises at least one target sequence that is shared with one or more other target polynucleotides. A predefined combination of promiscuous probes is capable of hybridizing to target sequences of said at least one target polynucleotide, wherein said predefined combination of probes provides specificity of detection of that target polynucleotide. Also disclosed are processes of identifying a set of target sequences for designing the set of oligonucleotide probes of the invention.

Abstract: A combined alarm test and drain device for a fire protection sprinkler system is disclosed. The apparatus is based on a globe valve and has certain specific modifications for the purposes of draining the system and allowing for flow through a specifically sized orifice under conditions simulating the flow through a sprinkler head having the same orifice size. Fluid flow through the apparatus occurs alternatively under a first set of test actuation conditions in a system alarm test mode of operation of the apparatus, and under a second set of fluid drainage actuation conditions in a system fluid drainage mode of operation of the apparatus. A combination of mechanical and hydraulic forces are utilized to control opening and closing of the valve in both the alarm test and system fluid drainage modes of operation. The mechanical force is provided by a spring and the hydraulic force is provided by a fluid pressure differential.

Abstract: A magnetic field responsive device which includes: an electrically insulating substrate (2), a layer of an electrically conductive soft magnetic material (3), a layer of giant magneto-resitive (GMR) material (5) arranged in electrical contact with ethe layer of electrically conductive soft magnetic material, the thickness of the GMR material layer being not greater than twice the mean free path of an electron in the said GMR material, the layers being arranged in any order or position on the substrate and having opposed directions of mangetisation in zero magnectic field.

Abstract: A quick-connect coupling is disclosed for thin-walled pipes which can accommodate pipes of the same internal diameter but of differing wall thickness, the coupling member being constructed to deform pipes of less than maximum wall thickness into a substantially elliptical condition in which the coupling is fully seated, bolting pads of the coupling being spaced from each other to induce deformation and seating of the pipes upon tightening of the coupling.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming arcuate radially-extending locking projections on the ends of pipes is disclosed, in which the pipe end is marked about its external circumference into spaced forming zones, and the projections are then formed employing one of the zone markings as an index of the location of a second zone marking spaced therefrom, the apparatus including an elevatable pipe support and a forming head provided with a male punch assembly and a female die member, the male punch assembly being operable by a power source and being located within the bore of the pipe.