Abstract: A broken pipe, such as a PVC water pipe, is repaired by cutting out a section and replacing that section with a special repair assembly. The replacement section is of at least the same diameter and specification, such as ASTM Schedule 40 PVC, as the existing line of pipe. The ends of the repair pipe section and ends of the existing pipe are provided with increased diameters, and special one-way couplings are provided to slide over the two joints, one at each end of the repair section, to solvent weld the joints together. In a modified procedure a single joint is made with the special coupling.

Abstract: A broken pipe, such as a PVC water pipe, is repaired by cutting out a section and replacing that section with a special repair assembly. The replacement section is of at least the same diameter and specification, such as ASTM Schedule 40 PVC, as the existing line of pipe. The ends of the repair pipe section and ends of the existing pipe are provided with increased diameters, and special one-way couplings are provided to slide over the two joints, one at each end of the repair section, to solvent weld the joints together. In a modified procedure a single joint is made with the special coupling.

Abstract: A thermal buffer device and installation method therefor are disclosed. The device includes a body and a fastening system. The body has a substantially planar rear surface, is generally cubic in shape, and is formed from a solid piece of thermally insulating material. The fastening system secures the rear surface of the body against an attachment surface within a temperature controlled enclosure, where the attachment surface is at a location in the enclosure selected for temperature monitoring. A temperature probe inserts into the body. The device is designed to resist air temperature changes in the temperature controlled enclosures in which the device is installed (i.e. to operate as a temperature buffer). In a preferred embodiment, the fastening system enables positive mechanical mounting of the device within the temperature controlled enclosures.

Abstract: Examples include providing technical support to a user via a wearable computing device, including identifying a user of the wearable computing device making a request to determine a user profile of the user, determining a location of the wearable computing device, determining, based on the user profile and the location of the wearable computing device, a virtual waiting room to place a digital representation of the user in, and transferring, based on a match between the user profile and at least one service personnel profile associated with the technical support center, the digital representation of the user from the virtual waiting room into a virtual private room.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface capable of producing surface enhanced Raman scattering of incident light from a complex adsorbed at the surface of the electrode, the complex including the electrically conductive material combined with a second material that is substantially reducible and not substantially oxidizable. The surface of the electrode can be microroughened. The invention also includes a method for making various embodiments of the electrode, and a method of generating electricity using the electrode. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a fuel cell is provided including the electrode of the invention.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode comprising an electrically conductive material having a surface capable of producing surface enhanced Raman scattering of incident light from an adsorbate material adsorbed on the surface of the electrode. The adsorbate is substantially reducible and not substantially oxidizable. The surface of the electrode can be microroughened and include, for example, a plurality of adatoms or clusters of adatoms of a metallic material. The adatoms or clusters of adatoms form sites for photocatalysis of electroreduction when the electrode is irradiated with a light source. The invention also includes a method for making the electrode, and a method of generating electricity using the electrode. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a fuel cell is provided including the electrode of the invention.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods of processing spatial data. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method of processing spatial data comprising retrieving spatial data from a remote database, loading the spatial data into a client, and generating a spatial feature on the client using the spatial data. In one embodiment, spatial data may be spatial geometry objects such as polygons. In another embodiment, spatial data may be topology data. Topology data may be used to perform edits and then used to generate spatial features or reconstruct geometries.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for preventing rotation of a fastener, such as a nut, bolt or plug, to ensure that a threaded connection remains tightened. An anti-rotation spring clip includes a first arm and a second arm integrally connected by an expansion portion. An aperture in the second arm may hover around a fastener, such as a polygonal threaded fastener, and the first arm may have prongs for clamping around the outer surface of a tubular member. The anti-rotation spring clip is reusable and removable, has a long service life, and does not require special tools or permanent deformation for installation or use.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pipe coupling (13) for coupling the ends of pipe sections (10 and 11) together end to end. The coupling includes a barrel member (19) adapted to bridge and surround the ends of the pipe sections to be coupled, and, together with coupling members (20), adapted to engage the ends of the barrel sections, and elastomeric sealing rings (21) adapted to be forced by the coupling members into the ends of the barrel member and expanded radially outwardly and inwardly into tight sealing engagement within the end of the barrel member and around the circumferences of the pipe sections being coupled.

Abstract: A system and method for blocking unwanted telephone calls. The system uses voice recognition as the primary characteristic for blocking as opposed to a simple dial source number block. The system thus allows call blocking from any phone anywhere, since the dialing number is immaterial for the decision to block.

Abstract: A call server for providing reminders to a user via a telephone, comprising a call control software agent for receiving a reminder message and time from the user, and a schedule reminder application for contacting the user via the user's telephone at the scheduled time and then playing the reminder message. Activation of the reminder system may take place either at the user's telephone or desktop computer. According to an aspect of the invention, if the user does not answer the telephone reminder, the schedule reminder application initiates additional calls via the call control agent to secondary numbers and devices such as cellular phones, pagers, home telephone numbers.

Abstract: An internally illuminatable card having an electroluminescent panel, an image overlay on at least one surface of the electroluminescent panel, and a plurality of power contacts in electrical communication with the electroluminescent panel and accessible through at least one surface of the card, and a card lighter wherein electrical energy sufficient to illuminate the electroluminescent panel is selectively coupled to the electroluminescent panel via the power contacts upon energization by the card switch terminal occurring after contact is established between the power contacts and the card lighter. The card lighter includes a housing, a power supply, a plurality of lighter contacts, and a delay mechanism for reducing arcing when the card is inserted into the card lighter. The power supply can be adapted so as to cause a card inserted into the lighter to flash or to cause the hue and intensity of the light emitted from the inserted card to alternate between two states.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing polyisobutenes from a feedstock comprising a mixture of C4 hydrocarbons and containing isobutene and at least 5% by weight of 1-butene using a cationic polymerisation catalyst, characterised in that prior to polymerisation, the feedstock is subjected to a pre-treatment step in order to reduce the 1-butene content thereof to a level which is at least 20% lower than that of the 1-butene content in the initial mixed C4 hydrocarbon feedstock prior to the pre-treatment thereof and the polyisobutene so formed is (a) very high in its vinylidene group content and (b) substantially free of halogen.

Abstract: This invention relates to a two-stroke engine oil which comprises polybutene base oils which are either very low in or are substantially free of n-butenes in the polymer backbone. The absence of n-butenes in the polybutenes significantly reduces smoke emission in exhaust gases generated by the use of the engine oil. Polybutenes such as ULTRAVIS.RTM. which are substantially free of chlorine and have a high degree of terminal unsaturation are particularly preferred.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing substituted acylating agents by the reaction of an enophile with an ene by the thermal route wherein (a) the molar ratio of the enophile to the ene is at least 3:1 and (b) the reaction pressure is raised to above 20 psig an least after addition of the enophile reaction to the reaction is completed and is maintained substantially constant until at least 80% of the ene reactant has been converted to the corresponding acylating agent. The agents so produced are substantially free of chlorine and can be further reacted with an amine or a hydroxy compound to form a derivative which can be used as an additive for a lubricating oil or a fuel.