Abstract: Rheometer, also usable for stress-strain-investigations, with at least one bearing (28; 35) having an adjustable stiffness in a direction normal to the bearing surfaces (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27). The instrument further includes a system (31, 32, 33, 34; 36, 37) for controlling a parameter for adjusting the stiffness of the at least one bearing (28; 35); a system (10) for determining a value of a quantity associated with a second force exerted between the rotor (8, 5, 6,7) and the stator (2) and opposing the force associated with the quantity to be determined; and a data processing system for correcting the determined value of the quantity associated with the second force by a bias value, obtained using a mapping having as a parameter a variable representative of the parameter for adjusting the stiffness.

Abstract: Techniques for system wide analysis of industrial protocol traffic are provided to determine an optimal location of a security device and/or to dynamically and automatically create rules for security devices, communication modules, and/or proxy devices, including replacement devices. Intrusion detection and/or prevention can be provided for an system utilizing mechanisms for an industrial protocol space. Automated configurable security rule combining can maintain a rule set that is simple and manageable. Configuration and maintenance of industrial protocol devices, communication devices, security-enabled devices, security proxies, and intrusion detection and/or prevention can be simplified within unique industrial environment architectures.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is directed towards a method and device for optimizing a light-up procedure of a gas turbine engine. An aspect of the method comprises repeating an engine start attempt with amended light-up parameter values or range of light-up parameter values, where the values are amended by a predefined scheme including recording the light-up parameter value or the range of light-up parameter values of each start attempt together with the light-up success rate achieved in the respective start attempts, and optimizing the light-up parameter value or range of parameter values by analyzing the recorded data after the start attempts have been finished. An aspect of the device is to provide a control unit that implements the inventive method.

Abstract: A method of starting a gas turbine engine by use of a start sequence is provided. Turbine speed and fuel delivery are coordinated so as to provide a fuel/air mixture at an ignition device allowing a successful ignition. If a successful ignition has not occurred by end of the start sequence the gas turbine engine is purged and the start sequence is repeated after the purging of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A prism pole has a tubular housing having an open top, a flange at the open top, a bottom portion for contacting ground soil, a height-adjustable rod insertable into the tubular housing with an outer diameter less than inner diameter of the tubular housing to provide a slidable friction fit therebetween for positioning the height-adjustable rod with respect to the tubular housing, a lip at the top of the rod, a laser sensor mounted on the tubular housing for emitting a laser toward the lip to measure distance between the laser sensor and the lip, an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the laser sensor for receiving height measurements and providing height reference data corresponding to the height measurements, an electronic display in electrical communication with the electronic control unit for receiving the height reference data and displaying the height reference data, an audio device in electrical communication with the electronic control unit for emitting an alarm in response to rec

Abstract: A method of developing a computer software system comprising defining a first interface between a proposed view sub-system and a proposed business logic sub-system, defining a second interface between a proposed handler sub-system and the proposed business logic sub-system, creating the view sub-system in accord with the second interface, and creating the handler sub-system in accord with the second interface. In another form, the invention provides is a related computer software system and computer program.

Abstract: A prism pole has a tubular housing having an open top, a flange at the open top, a bottom portion for contacting ground soil, a height-adjustable rod insertable into the tubular housing with an outer diameter less than inner diameter of the tubular housing to provide a slidable friction fit therebetween for positioning the height-adjustable rod with respect to the tubular housing, a lip at the top of the rod, a laser sensor mounted on the tubular housing for emitting a laser toward the lip to measure distance between the laser sensor and the lip, an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the laser sensor for receiving height measurements and providing height reference data corresponding to the height measurements, an electronic display in electrical communication with the electronic control unit for receiving the height reference data and displaying the height reference data, an audio device in electrical communication with the electronic control unit for emitting an alarm in response to rec

Abstract: A process for producing a flexible foam sheet from a flexible foam block comprising the steps of: forming at least one cut in a first wall of the flexible foam block, the at least one cut extending from the first wall toward a second wall, the second wall being generally opposite the first wall; forming at least one cut in the second wall of the flexible foam block, the at least one cut extending from the second wall toward the first wall; thereby forming a concertina of flexible foam sheet.

Abstract: A video compression system includes a compression module to compress each of a plurality of segments of an input signal using an initial quality setting. A rate calculation module calculates, for each compressed segment, a data rate for an output signal that would result from adding a compressed segment to the output signal. A selection module automatically selects, in response to the calculated data rate deviating from a target range, a quality setting for each segment that results in a data rate this is within the target range when a segment compressed using the automatically-selected quality setting is added to the output signal.

Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Abstract: A support having adjustable pressure relief zones comprising at least three pressure zones, each having an adjustable pressure relief valve operatively attached to each of the at least three pressure zones. There is at least one cell in a first zone having a first effective fluid volume and at least one cell in a second zone having a second effective fluid volume adjustable to greater than said first effective fluid volume. The greater effective fluid volume is associated with supporting a greater load associated with that said zone and the lower fluid volume is for greater responsiveness.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is divided into two portions. The first portion is supplied to a fractionation column at an upper mid-column feed point. The second portion is directed in heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream rising from the fractionation stages of the column, whereby this portion of the LNG feed stream is partially vaporized and the distillation stream is totally condensed. The condensed distillation stream is divided into a “lean” LNG product stream and a reflux stream, whereupon the reflux stream is supplied to the column at a top column feed position. The partially vaporized portion of the LNG feed stream is separated into vapor and liquid streams which are thereafter supplied to the column at lower mid-column feed positions.

Abstract: An aspect of the invention is directed towards a method and device for optimizing a light-up procedure of a gas turbine engine. An aspect of the method comprises repeating an engine start attempt with amended light-up parameter values or range of light-up parameter values, where the values are amended by a predefined scheme including recording the light-up parameter value or the range of light-up parameter values of each start attempt together with the light-up success rate achieved in the respective start attempts, and optimizing the light-up parameter value or range of parameter values by analyzing the recorded data after the start attempts have been finished. An aspect of the device is to provide a control unit that implements the inventive method.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described in connection with auto-detection capabilities of a device in an industrial environment. The device can behave differently in a secured environment than it would in an unsecured environment. If in a secured environment, the device can obtain an auto configuration policy to control the device's security configuration from a security authority, for example. The device can configure itself based on the policy. Both secured-by-default and open-by-default can be supported based on the environment. According to some embodiments, needed security domain specific knowledge can be reduced, which increases the number of maintenance personnel that can add or replace a device in a secured system.

Abstract: A direct reading prism pole has a tubular housing having an open top, a flange at the open top, a conical bottom portion for wedging the tubular housing into ground soil, a height-adjusting rod partially inserted into the tubular housing by a friction fit, a lip positioned at the top of height-adjustable rod, a laser sensor mounted to the outer surface of the tubular housing for emitting a laser toward the lip to take height measurements of the distance between the laser sensor and the lip, an electronic control unit for receiving the height measurements and providing height reference data, an electronic display for displaying the height reference data, an audio device for emitting an alarm indicating movement of the height-adjusting rod with respect to the tubular housing, and an output device for sending the height reference data to a data collection device.

Abstract: A measuring device for obtaining inlet invert measurements, pipe invert measurements, and pipe diameter measurements includes an invert measuring rod having a plurality of rod segments, each a threaded bore at a first end and an axially extending threaded stud at a second end, a foot assembly comprising a guide rod removably connected to and extending perpendicularly from the bottom of the lower segment of the continuous rod, when connected having a free end opposite the connecting with the invert measuring rod with a bottom conical foot connected to and extending downwardly from the free end of the guide rod and parallel to the invert measuring rod, the bottom conical foot having an axial length the same as axial length of the conical rod tip, and extending from the free end of the guide rod parallel to the invert measuring rod and a diameter measuring sleeve, having a tubular portion positionable concentrically about the invert measuring rod and having an inner diameter just greater than the outer diameter

Abstract: A measuring device for obtaining inlet invert measurements, pipe invert measurements, and pipe diameter measurements includes an invert measuring rod having a plurality of rod segments, each a threaded bore at a first end and an axially extending threaded stud at a second end, a foot assembly comprising a guide rod removably connected to and extending perpendicularly from the bottom of the lower segment of the continuous rod, when connected having a free end opposite the connecting with the invert measuring rod with a bottom conical foot connected to and extending downwardly from the free end of the guide rod and parallel to the invert measuring rod, the bottom conical foot having an axial length the same as axial length of the conical rod tip, and extending from the free end of the guide rod parallel to the invert measuring rod and a diameter measuring sleeve, having a tubular portion positionable concentrically about the invert measuring rod and having an inner diameter just greater than the outer diameter

Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a lower mid-column feed position. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the stream and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the distillation stream and condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation tower at an upper mid-column feed position. A recycle stream is withdrawn from the tower overhead after it has been warmed and compressed. The compressed recycle stream is cooled sufficiently to substantially condense it, and is then expanded to the pressure of the fractionation tower and supplied to the tower at a top column feed position.

Abstract: A method and device for use in installing a cable past a desk based on positioning the cable ready for use above a desktop by means of a temporary cable-gripping component and a supporting component adapted to hang adjacent a desktop edge. This provides the advantages of making the installation job quicker and simpler, and allowing it to be performed by just one person. Alternatively, the device can be provided integrally with the cable.

Abstract: A direct reading prism pole has a tubular housing having an open top, a flange at the open top, a conical bottom portion for wedging the tubular housing into ground soil, a height-adjustable rod partially inserted into the tubular housing and having an outer diameter just less than an inner diameter of the tubular housing to create a friction fit therebetween for positioning the height-adjustable rod with respect to the tubular housing, a lip positioned at the top of height-adjustable rod, a laser sensor mounted to the outer surface of the tubular housing for emitting a laser toward the lip to take height measurements of the distance between the laser sensor and the lip, an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the laser sensor for receiving the height measurements and providing height reference data corresponding to the height measurements, an electronic display in electrical communication with the electronic control unit for receiving the height reference data and displaying the height re