Abstract: A storage networking device provides remote direct memory access to its buffer memory, configured to store storage networking data. The storage networking device may be particularly adapted to transmit and receive iSCSI data, such as iSCSI input/output operations. The storage networking device comprises a controller and a buffer memory. The controller manages the receipt of storage networking data and buffer locational data. The storage networking data advantageously includes at least one command for at least partially controlling a device attached to a storage network. Advantageously, the storage networking data may be transmitted using a protocol adapted for the transmission of storage networking data, such as, for example, the iSCSI protocol. The buffer memory advantageously is configured to at least temporarily store at least part of the storage networking data at a location within the buffer memory that is based at least in part on the locational data.

Abstract: A composting apparatus comprising a container for receiving material to be composted a base member in the apparatus for supporting material to be composted and the compost when formed, the base having a curved lower wall and an upper opening to define a volume for receiving a drainage medium, a leachate chamber formed in the wall so that when leachate forms, the leachate is able to flow through the medium into the chamber; and an outlet from the chamber for supplying the leachate to the outside of the container.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus is disclosed that can directly connect to a portable digital video camera and can record uncompressed video and audio data, along with associated metadata, in the field and elsewhere. Most preferably, the integrated apparatus includes a removable, recordable, reusable digital magazine that may be mounted. Most preferably, the integrated apparatus also supports a variety of input and output formats, and the apparatus may be easily connected to other computing systems, either directly or through network connections, wired or wireless. The digital magazine can be mounted in a variety of docking stations and can be directly connected to a network, allowing the video and audio data to be easily stored and transferred.

Abstract: A composting apparatus is disclosed which comprises a container (10) formed from a plurality of segments (12a, 12b and 12c). An aerator (20, 521) is located in the container for receiving air from the exterior of the container and distributing the air into the composting mass within the container. The apparatus has a base (501) which includes a leachate chamber (454) for collecting liquid that strains from the composting mass during composting. An anti-compaction member (99, 527) is provided for preventing compost from compacting and blocking the aerator (20, 521), and a plug (570) provides addition or alternative air supply to the container (10).

Abstract: The present invention describes, generally, a method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load functioning or operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique asymmetric pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation. The asymmetric pressure control valve, which may be referred to as a dynamic pressure regulator because of its capabilities, utilizes different sized free floating spools that are physically independent of one another and freely supported in interior cavities of respective corresponding different sized valving components that make up the valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retaining washer for retaining threaded fasteners, such as bolts, that have been inadvertently loosened, in use. The invention finds particular application in gas turbine engines and in aircraft in general where wire locking of threaded fasteners has traditionally been employed. The washer (10) comprises a base member (14) having a plurality of apertures (18) each for receiving the shank of a respective bolt (20) or stud part of a threaded fastener, and engagement means (16) extending from the base member for engagement with respective bolt head or nut parts of the fasteners to retain the said head or nut parts with respect to the washer in the event of inadvertent loosening. The said engagement means is deformable between an open configuration which enables access to the bolt head or nut parts of the fasteners for tightening and/or removal thereof and a closed configuration in which the bolt head or nut part are captively retained with the washer.

Abstract: The invention is a method of producing a cross-linked polymeric support having a multimodal pore structure, which comprises providing a degradable initiator molecule; providing an organic phase comprising said initiator molecule, radically polymerizable monomers and a porogen in a solvent; providing an aqueous phase comprising a transition metal catalyst; suspension polymerization of the organic phase by adding a ligand, co-ordinating to the transition metal in the aqueous phase to produce a cross-linked polymeric support having a primary pore structure and comprising initiator molecule; and subjecting the support obtained to degrading conditions to remove the initiator molecule from within the support to produce a cross-linked polymeric support having a secondary pore structure in addition to the primary pore structure.

Abstract: A storage networking device provides remote direct memory access to its buffer memory, configured to store storage networking data. The storage networking device may be particularly adapted to transmit and receive iSCSI data, such as iSCSI input/output operations. The storage networking device comprises a controller and a buffer memory. The controller manages the receipt of storage networking data and buffer locational data. The storage networking data advantageously includes at least one command for at least partially controlling a device attached to a storage network. Advantageously, the storage networking data may be transmitted using a protocol adapted for the transmission of storage networking data, such as, for example, the iSCSI protocol. The buffer memory advantageously is configured to at least temporarily store at least part of the storage networking data at a location within the buffer memory that is based at least in part on the locational data.

Abstract: The present invention describes, generally, a method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load functioning or operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation. The pressure control valve, which may be referred to as a dynamic pressure regulator because of its capabilities, utilizes dual spools that are physically independent of one another and freely supported in the valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure.

Abstract: Mechanisms and processes for directly storing data into the memory of a storage device using the iSCSI protocol are described. One mechanism includes a transmitting device that encodes data to be stored in an iSCSI protocol data unit. Also encoded is buffer locational data that indicates, directly or indirectly, one or more memory addresses of where the data is to be stored within the buffer memory of a receiving device. The buffer locational data is encoded using standard fields within the iSCSI protocol data unit, such as the Target Transfer Tag. A receiving device decodes the buffer locational data and stores the received data at the memory locations specified by the buffer locational data.

Abstract: The present invention describes, generally, a method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load functioning or operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique asymmetric pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation. The asymmetric pressure control valve, which may be referred to as a dynamic pressure regulator because of its capabilities, utilizes different sized free floating spools that are physically independent of one another and freely supported in interior cavities of respective corresponding different sized valving components that make up the valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure.

Abstract: A composting apparatus having a heating unit is disclosed so that the heating unit is heated by the composting of material in the apparatus. The heating unit (200, 300) may be used to heat foodstuffs or other material such as soil for growing plants or additional compostable material. The heating unit (300) may have holes (307) for allowing air to enter the oven. The unit may also include a conduit which is wrapped around the heating unit for facilitating heating of the heating unit (300) and for also supplying heated fluid to drive a pump or turbine (460). A condensing chamber (430) is provided for allowing heated fluid to condense and a conduit (422) is provided for returning the condensed fluid to the storage chamber (403) within the composting material (C).

Abstract: The present invention features a sleeve valve comprising an elongate body having an outer surface and including a lumen for receiving a fluid and an associated fluid pressure therein and for defining a flow path of the fluid; at least one fluid flow port formed through the outer surface that is in fluid connection with the lumen; and a sleeve slidably disposed about the outer surface of the body and configured to displace across the fluid flow port to precisely regulate fluid emission through the fluid flow port. The sleeve and elongate body are operably related in a manner so as to provide some degree of fluid force compensation, such that the forces necessary to displace the sleeve across the fluid flow port are substantially unaffected by the fluid pressures acting within the body and at the fluid flow port. In other words, the fluid pressures do not substantially contribute to the resistance in the sleeve during actuation.

Abstract: A composting apparatus is disclosed which comprises a container (10) formed from a plurality of segments (12a, 12b and 12c). An aerator (20, 521) is located in the container for receiving air from the exterior of the container and distributing the air into the composting mass within the container. The apparatus has a base (501) which includes a leachate chamber (454) for collecting liquid that strains from the composting mass during composting. An anti-compaction member (99, 527) is provided for preventing compost from compacting and blocking the aerator (20, 521), and a plug (570) provides addition or alternative air supply to the container (10).

Abstract: The present invention describes, generally, a method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load functioning or operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation. The pressure control valve, which may be referred to as a dynamic pressure regulator because of its capabilities, utilizes dual spools that are physically independent of one another and freely supported in the valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation, thus eliminating the need for electronically or mechanically user controlled systems. The pressure control valve, which may be referred to as a dynamic pressure regulator, utilizes dual spools that are physically independent of one another and freely supported in the valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure. The dual spools function in cooperation with one another to maintain a state of equilibrium in the system, namely to keep pressure acting on or within the actuator (the load pressure), or the feedback pressure corresponding to the load pressure, the same as the pilot pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the dynamics of an actuatable load functioning or operable within a servo or servo-type system, wherein the dynamics of the load are controlled by way of a unique pressure control valve configured to provide intrinsic pressure regulation. The pressure control valve comprises dual spools physically independent of one another and freely supported in a valve body to regulate the pressures acting within the overall system between the control or pilot pressure and the load or load pressure. The dual spools of the pressure control valve, although physically independent of one another, function in cooperation with one another in an attempt to maintain a state of equilibrium in the system, namely to keep pressure acting on or within the actuator (the load pressure), or the feedback force corresponding to the load pressure, the same as the control or pilot pressure.

Abstract: Improvements in security relating to the use of personalized document production equipment. The invention has particular use with respect to printers that are used to produce plastic cards, such as financial cards and identification cards. The invention prevents the unauthorized production of personalized documents through the use of stolen or fraudulently obtained production equipment or software. The equipment is locked until a user enters authorization data that matches authorization data stored in memory of the equipment. The equipment is able to power-up in the locked state, at which point the user is prompted to enter the authorization data. As a result, if the equipment is stolen, the thief is unable to operate the equipment without the necessary authorization data.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retaining washer for retaining threaded fasteners, such as bolts, that have been inadvertently loosened, in use. The invention finds particular application in gas turbine engines and in aircraft in general where wire locking of threaded fasteners has traditionally been employed. The washer (10) comprises a base member (14) having a plurality of apertures (18) each for receiving the shank of a respective bolt (20) or stud part of a threaded fastener, and engagement means (16) extending from the base member for engagement with respective bolt head or nut parts of the fasteners to retain the said head or nut parts with respect to the washer in the event of inadvertent loosening. The said engagement means is deformable between an open configuration which enables access to the bolt head or nut parts of the fasteners for tightening and/or removal thereof and a closed configuration in which the bolt head or nut part are captively retained with the washer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting energy from an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a chamber having a primary piston and a secondary piston with a combustion portion of the chamber situated adjacently between the primary piston and secondary piston. The secondary piston includes a substantially lesser mass than that of the primary piston. The chamber includes at least one fluid port for supplying fuel to the combustion portion and an out-take port for releasing combustive exhaust. The chamber includes a controller for controlling the combustion therein at selected cycles of the primary piston. With this arrangement, the secondary piston is configured to draw a portion of energy from combustion controlled by the controller in the chamber. Such portion of energy is provided with a rapid response to an energy transferring portion interconnected to the secondary piston, which in turn, transfers and/or converts the energy for acting on a load or external application.