Abstract: A device and method that converts the high temperature produced by combustion into a fluid volume of high pressure gas without requiring a boiler or heat exchanger. By injecting a fluid directly into a combustion system, heat energy that may otherwise be wasted is converted directly into high pressure gas.

Abstract: A display device for displaying two graphics is provided. The display device has first and a second light transmitting substrates, each having a front surface and a rear surface, the first substrate including at least one etched region corresponding to a first graphic, and the second substrate including at least one etched region corresponding to an inverse or negative of the first graphic. The display device also has first and second light sources arranged to emit light into the first and second substrates. The first substrate conveys the light to the etched region(s) of the first substrate which then scatters light towards the user. The second light source is behind the second substrate and emits light through both substrates towards the user. When the first light source is illuminated only the first graphic is displayed, and when the second light source is illuminated only the second graphic is displayed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) using fiber optics with increased acoustic sensitivity are provided. Acoustic sensing of a wellbore, pipeline, or other conduit/tube based on DAS may have increased acoustic sensitivity through fiber optic cable design and/or increasing the Rayleigh backscatter property of a fiber's optical core. Some embodiments may utilize a resonant sensor mechanism with a high Q coupled to the DAS device for increased acoustic sensitivity.

Abstract: A system and method for testing the operation of fuel pump is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressure measurement portion, a flow measurement portion, an electrical diagnostic portion, and a fault simulation portion, where a user can simulate a number of potential fuel system failures to determine the diagnostics of the fuel system. The method includes the steps of measuring an electrical value related to the fuel pump, measuring a pressure related to the fuel pump, measuring a fuel flow related to the fuel pump, simulating a fuel system failure condition, and determining an operating status of the fuel pump.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a rope clamping device, which is made up of the following elements: a central bar, two threaded bolts, two grooved wheels, two large clamps, eight metal washers, and four nuts. The device allows a rope, chain, or cable to pass over a grooved wheel, wherein the rope is held securely when a clamp is released onto the grooved wheel. There is a second clamp and grooved wheel on the opposing side of the device. When both clamps have engaged the rope, chain or cable, the loop of rope, chain or cable is held securely. This is done to serve as an alternative to traditional knot tying in order to quickly and easily secure an object with a rope, chain or cable.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for removing heat from subcutaneously disposed lipid-rich cells are disclosed. In selected embodiments, suction and/or heat removal sources are coupled to an applicator. The applicator includes a flexible portion and a rigid portion. The rigid portion includes a thermally conductive plate and a frame coupling the thermally conductive plate and the flexible portion. An interior cavity of the applicator is in fluid communication with the suction source, and the frame maintains contiguous engagement between the heat removal source and the thermally conductive plate.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of identifying sub-circuits in circuit designs includes: receiving a selection of a sub-circuit; specifying a match expression for the sub-circuit, where the match expression characterizes matching properties of components of the sub-circuit; modifying the match expression to change the matching properties of components of the sub-circuit; and producing an information structure in a computer readable medium, where the information structure associates a graph representing a topology of the selected sub-circuit with the modified match expression. Subsequently, the information structure corresponding to the selected sub-circuit can be identified in a given circuit design.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a rope clamping device, which is made up of the following elements: a central bar, two threaded bolts, two grooved wheels, two large clamps, eight metal washers, and four nuts. The device allows a rope, chain, or cable to pass over a grooved wheel, wherein the rope is held securely when a clamp is released onto the grooved wheel. There is a second clamp and grooved wheel on the opposing side of the device. When both clamps have engaged the rope, chain or cable, the loop of rope, chain or cable is held securely. This is done to serve as an alternative to traditional knot tying in order to quickly and easily secure an object with a rope, chain or cable.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of identifying a modulator of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC), which method comprises bringing into contact a VGSC, a p11 peptide and a test compound under conditions where the VGSC and the p11 peptide are capable of forming a complex in the absence of the test compound; and measuring an activity of the VGSC, wherein a change in the activity of the VGSC relative to the activity in the absence of the test compound indicates that the test compound is a modulator of said VGSC. Compounds identified in such screening methods are proposed for use in the treatment of VGSC-related conditions, for example in the treatment or prevention of pain. Also provided are methods of enhancing the functional expression of a voltage gated sodium channel (VGSC) in a cell comprising the step of increasing the level of p11 in the cell.

Abstract: A system and method for testing the operation of fuel pump is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressure measurement portion, a flow measurement portion, an electrical diagnostic portion, and a fault simulation portion, where a user can simulate a number of potential fuel system failures to determine the diagnostics of the fuel system. The method includes the steps of measuring an electrical value related to said fuel pump, measuring a pressure related to said fuel pump, measuring a fuel flow related to said fuel pump, simulating a fuel system failure condition, and determining an operating status of said fuel pump.

Abstract: A system and method for testing the operation of fuel pump is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressure measurement portion, a flow measurement portion, an electrical diagnostic portion, and a fault simulation portion, where a user can simulate a number of potential fuel system failures to determine the diagnostics of the fuel system. The method includes the steps of measuring an electrical value related to the fuel pump, measuring a pressure related to the fuel pump, measuring a fuel flow related to the fuel pump, simulating a fuel system failure condition, and determining an operating status of the fuel pump.

Abstract: A fastening element for a joint forming device includes an elongate dowel and a sleeve for the dowel. The dowel has a head portion at one end thereof which is engagable in use with a tightening element. The dowel is adapted at the other end thereof to co-operate with the sleeve to cause radial expansion of an expandable end section of the sleeve upon relative axial movement between the sleeve and dowel. The expandable end section of the sleeve is insertable axially into a mounting hole in a first panel. The head of the dowel is insertable axially into a mounting hole in a second panel whereby to enable engagement with said tightening element. The sleeve is configured to allow the position of the dowel within its mounting hole in the second panel to be adjusted to enable insertion of the expandable end section of the sleeve into its mounting hole in the first panel, in use, even if the axes of the two mounting holes are out of axial alignment.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for interactive application of constraints to sub-circuits in a circuit design stored in a computer readable medium, comprising: receiving from a first designer a selection of a sub-circuit; receiving from the first designer a constraint; producing an information structure in computer readable medium that associates a graph representing a topology of the selected sub-circuit with the received constraint; using the graph to identify sub-circuit instances in the circuit design having the same topology as the selected sub-circuit; receiving from a second designer a selection of the information structure; presenting to the second designer one or more of the identified sub-circuit instances and the received constraint; and receiving from the second designer instruction as to application of the received constraint to one or more of the presented sub-circuit instances.

Abstract: A system and method for testing the operation of fuel pump is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressure measurement portion, a flow measurement portion, an electrical diagnostic portion, and a fault simulation portion, where a user can simulate a number of potential fuel system failures to determine the diagnostics of the fuel system. The method includes the steps of measuring an electrical value related to said fuel pump, measuring a pressure related to said fuel pump, measuring a fuel flow related to said fuel pump, simulating a fuel system failure condition, and determining an operating status of said fuel pump.

Abstract: A voice over IP (VoIP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pre-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.

Abstract: A voice over IP (VoIP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pre-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.

Abstract: A voice over IP (V0IP) softphone access module (VSAM) comprises a softphone client installed on a portable memory device (PMD). The softphone client is installed in its own read-only partition. The softphone client is adapted to autorun from the PMD when the PMD is connected to a computing device and to load an instance of the softphone client in the volatile memory of the computing device. When used with a computing device comprising a duplex audio system with analog-to-digital conversion and an Internet connection, the VSAM permits a VoIP service subscriber to send and receive VoIP telephone calls through a VoIP service provider gateway. The VSAM may be associated with an activation code that when sent to the VoIP service provider gateway associates a user with pro-paid softphone usage credits. Alternatively, the softphone client is installed on CD.

Abstract: A process for increasing the relative abundance of a molecule having a low relative abundance in a test sample.