Abstract: A personal data device, system and method for storing personal data including authentication means for restricting access to the stored personal data to an authorized user and communication means for transferring at least some of the personal data between the personal device and a server. A copy of the personal data is stored on a database server and the data on the personal data device and the data on the database server is mutually updated and synchronized by communications over a communications network. A facility is supplied to delete the personal data stored on the personal data device when attempts are made by an unauthorized user to use the personal data device. The personal data may subsequently be reloaded into the personal data device, or into a replacement personal data device, from the database server.

Abstract: A thermostatic mixing valve for hot and cold water has two-stage inlet chambers for the hot and cold water flows respectively. The inlet chambers distribute the flows uniformly with respect to porting for admitting the flows to the mixing chamber to reduce asymmetric flow patterns and promote thorough mixing of the flows within the mixing chamber.

Abstract: The invention pertains to adjuvant and vaccine compositions of monophosphoryl lipid A, sugar and optionally an amine based surfactant, which when frozen and thawed or lyophilized and reconstituted reform a colloidal suspension having a light transmission of greater than or equal to 88% as measured spectrophotometrically.

Abstract: A system and method for railroad cab signal quality detection and reporting for use in connection with a railroad cab signaling system in which a status signal is carried on a railroad rail. The status signal has a cab signal parameter that is indicative of a status of a zone of track. A signal detector detects the status signal transmitted via the railroad rail. A signal measurement subsystem associated with the signal detector measures the cab signal parameter. A quality analysis subsystem analyzes the measured cab signal parameter and determines a measure of quality of the cab signal parameter. The system may include equipment that is mounted on a rail vehicle, such as a locomotive, or mounted along a block of track, or on portable equipment. The system may also include a cab signal quality collection and reporting system. The method includes detecting the cab status signal and measuring the cab signal parameter from the detected status signal.

Abstract: Internal combustion engine cleaning compositions are disclosed. As is known they are water-based and contain at least one primary surfactant selected from non-ionic alcohol ethylene oxides, at least one specific glycol, and optionally tar acid and one or more of the acids selected from acrylic, phosphonic or uric acids. The improved products, which are used to clean, reduce corrosive contaminants and prevent erosion in internal combustion engines, by spraying the atomised compound into the air intake of a running engine, are characterised by including a portion of catechol or a catechol derivative.

Abstract: A spinal syringe and needle for preventing the inadvertent injection of an intravenous drug spinally includes a needle engagement extension on the spinal needle defining an opening of a first diameter, a syringe engagement extension on the spinal syringe defining an opening of a second diameter, the syringe engagement extension engageable with the needle engagement extension to operatively connect the needle to the syringe. The first and second diameters are dimensioned such that a surface of the syringe engagement extension is in frictional engagement with a surface of the needle engagement extension, the first diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of an opening defined by the engagement extension of a typical syringe and the second diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of an opening defined by the engagement extension of a typical needle.

Abstract: A spinal syringe and needle for preventing the inadvertent injection of an intravenous drug spinally includes a needle engagement extension on the spinal needle defining an opening of a first diameter, a syringe engagement extension on the spinal syringe defining an opening of a second diameter, the syringe engagement extension engageable with the needle engagement extension to operatively connect the needle to the syringe. The first and second diameters are dimensioned such that a surface of the syringe engagement extension is in frictional engagement with a surface of the needle engagement extension, the first diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of an opening defined by the engagement extension of a typical syringe and the second diameter is substantially the same as the diameter of an opening defined by the engagement extension of a typical needle.

Abstract: Signalling apparatus (10) for use in restaurants or other establishments for attracting the attention of staff including a stand (11) which can seat upon a table or other supporting surface and which has first lower opening (15) and a second elevated opening (16) for receiving an elongated member (17) which carries at its upper end, a display card (23) which may be supported for free rotation to the member (17). The elongated member (17) when supported in an upright attitude in the elevated opening can attract the attention of staff.

Abstract: The invention pertains to adjuvant and vaccine compositions of monophosphoryl lipid A, sugar and optionally an amine based surfactant, which when frozen and thawed or lyophilized and reconstituted reform a colloidal suspension having a light transmission of greater than or equal to 88% as measured spectrophotometrically.

Abstract: The invention pertains to adjuvant and vaccine compositions of monophosphoryl lipid A, sugar and optionally an amine based surfactant, which when frozen and thawed or lyophilized and reconstituted reform a colloidal suspension having a light transmission of greater than or equal to 88% as measured spectrophotometrically.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump has an impeller rotatable by means of a drive shaft. The impeller has a plurality of radially extending vanes connected to a hub and a partial back shroud with sharpened leading edges. The pump has a pump casing with a back plate adjacent to the back side of the impeller. Spiral grooves on the back plate interact with the sharpened edges on the back shroud to aid in protecting the area between the back plate and the impeller by cutting of solids and expulsion of solids through an output port. Cutting bars on the front plate of the casing project into the pump intake and interact with front edges of the vanes to cut incoming solids in a liquid mixture. A preferred form of impeller has vanes with sharpened leading edges that extend in a generally radial plane. These vanes sweep backwardly from their leading edges and each vane is given a double twist between the leading edge and its trailing edge.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump has an impeller rotatable by means of a drive shaft. The impeller has a plurality of radially extending vanes connected to a hub and a partial back shroud with sharpened leading edges. The pump has a pump casing with a back plate adjacent to the back side of the impeller. Spiral grooves on the back plate interact with the sharpened edges on the back shroud to aid in protecting the area between the back plate and the impeller by cutting of solids and expulsion of solids through an output port. Preferably the leading edges on the back shroud are also serrated and beveled and the spiral grooves are outward threaded. A disintegrator is preferably mounted on the end of the drive shaft in the conical intake of the pump. Also, cutting bars on the front plate of the casing project into the pump intake and interact with front edges of the vanes to cut incoming solids in a liquid mixture.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: A method of a gas turbine compressor (1) in which droplets of a cleaning fluid are sprayed into the compressor, comprising the steps of: spraying droplets of a substantially first uniform size into or onto the fluid path for a first period; and then spraying droplets of a substantially second uniform size into or onto the fluid path for a second period, wherein the first and second uniform droplet sizes are different.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: In a rotary drag-type drill bit, or other downhole component used in subsurface drilling, bearing pads which engage the surface of the earthen formation of the borehole carry wear-resistant bearing inserts received in sockets in the bearing pad. Each bearing insert includes a preform element of the kind normally used as cutting elements in drag-type drill bits, and having a front facing table of polycrystalline diamond bonded to a less hard substrate. The preform element is orientated so that its front diamond surface is tangential to the surface of the bearing pad, or at a slight angle thereto, so as to provide a highly wear-resistant, but non-aggressive bearing insert. The preform element may be bonded to or partly embedded in a carrier which is received within the socket. The element or carrier may be formed with spaced longitudinal ribs to allow it to be force-fitted into the socket, or the element or carrier may be secured within a hollow sleeve which is formed with such ribs.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided herein for inhalation rewarming for the treatment of victims of hypothermia. The apparatus includes a water reservoir. A steam chamber communicates with ambient air. A heater means is associated with such water chamber, for the generation of steam into such steam chamber. An opening is provided admitting air to the steam chamber, thereby to provide an air-steam mixture. A first conductor is connected to the steam chamber for the conducting of the air-steam mixture from the steam chamber in a first direction. A valve is provided in the first conductor for varying the inflow of the ambient air while simultaneously reciprocally varying the inflow of the air-steam mixture and providing a substantially constant volume flow into the first conduit means. The valve includes actuated operator means for initially introducing sufficient ambient air into the air-steam mixture in the first conductor means to provide a continuous flow of the water-saturated air at the temperature of about 35.degree.

Abstract: A resilient roller is described having a rigid shaft and a flexible sleeve spaced apart by a resilient member to which axial pressure is applied. The axial pressure translates through the resilient member to become outward radial pressure. The roller of the invention is sufficiently resilient across its functional surface to maintain substantial contact and a substantially uniform nip width along its line of axial tangency with a cooperating surface.