Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for identifying the root cause of device communication failures in a communication network comprising collecting communication data transmitted and received on the communication network from a controller and one or more devices operably connected to the communication network and analyzing the collected communication data to diagnose if communication data is local looping or has been lost between the controller and the one or more devices and the location of the fault in the communication network.

Abstract: A valve, such as a throttle valve plate, which is suitable for use with a throttle assembly, and is able to withstand a backpressure test. The throttle valve plate includes a flat plate, and a plastic material overmolded onto a portion of the valve plate. The plate includes at least one rib, and may include a plurality of ribs, allowing for a thinner and lighter weight plate which is manufactured at a lower cost. The valve may also be a two-piece valve plate having an overlap portion. The two pieces of the valve plate overlap at the portion of the valve plate which interfaces with the shaft of the throttle assembly. The remaining portion of the plate surface includes at least one ribbed feature, and may include a plurality of ribbed features which reduce material usage and therefore reduce weight and cost, but also provide the required strength and rigidity.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting faults in a communication interface is disclosed. The communication interface is connected to a field device and a device bus comprising generating periodic diagnostic pulse by a programing unit. The programming unit is communicatively connected to the controller and a controller interface and provides the diagnostic pulse to a multiplexer to periodically apply the diagnostic pulses from the programming unit to a first winding of a transformer. The programming unit provides the diagnostic pulse to the isolation unit. A sensing unit senses a voltage drop across a sense resistor, the sensing unit having an input connected to the sense resistor and an output connected to the programming unit. The sensing unit communicates a sense signal based on the comparison to the programming unit, and switches from a primary or a secondary module to the other based on the sense signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for the secure access to field instruments. An interface device that includes a built-in firewall, is communicatively coupled between the device manager of an industrial automation process control system and a network of field instruments. The interface device includes at least one processor configured to execute instructions that provides a firewall for the one or more field instruments by blocking one or more user selected commands from being sent to the field instruments from the device manager.

Abstract: A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

Abstract: A valve, such as a throttle valve plate, which is suitable for use with a throttle assembly, and is able to withstand a backpressure test. The throttle valve plate includes a flat plate, and a plastic material overmolded onto a portion of the valve plate. The plate includes at least one rib, and may include a plurality of ribs, allowing for a thinner and lighter weight plate which is manufactured at a lower cost. The valve may also be a two-piece valve plate having an overlap portion. The two pieces of the valve plate overlap at the portion of the valve plate which interfaces with the shaft of the throttle assembly. The remaining portion of the plate surface includes at least one ribbed feature, and may include a plurality of ribbed features which reduce material usage and therefore reduce weight and cost, but also provide the required strength and rigidity.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting faults in a communication interface is disclosed. The communication interface is connected to a field device and a device bus comprising generating periodic diagnostic pulse by a programing unit. The programming unit is communicatively connected to the controller and a controller interface and provides the diagnostic pulse to a multiplexer to periodically apply the diagnostic pulses from the programming unit to a first winding of a transformer. The programming unit provides the diagnostic pulse to the isolation unit. A sensing unit senses a voltage drop across a sense resistor, the sensing unit having an input connected to the sense resistor and an output connected to the programming unit. The sensing unit communicates a sense signal based on the comparison to the programming unit, and switches from a primary or a secondary module to the other based on the sense signal.

Abstract: A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

Abstract: A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

Abstract: A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

Abstract: A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for the secure access to field instruments. An interface device that includes a built-in firewall, is communicatively coupled between the device manager of an industrial automation process control system and a network of field instruments. The interface device includes at least one processor configured to execute instructions that provides a firewall for the one or more field instruments by blocking one or more user selected commands from being sent to the field instruments from the device manager.

Abstract: A structural lightweight concrete composition comprising cement, a fine aggregate such as sand, a natural coarse aggregates, such as limestone, scoria or perlite or mixtures thereof, a synthetic coarse aggregate comprising a polymeric material, such as polypropylene beads, an industrial waste byproduct in the form of fine particles, such as silica fume or heavy oil ash, a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate ether and water demonstrating lower thermal conductivity and sufficient compressive strength. Concrete products made therefrom and methods for producing such products are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete is described. The concrete has a coarse aggregate partly replaced by recycled plastic pieces. This enables the concrete to maintain a high compressive strength, low thermal conductivity, and low weight, while providing a use for waste plastic. The waste plastic pieces may comprise polyethylene in the form of flakes, fibers, or granules. Due to its low unit weight, adequate compressive strength and high thermal resistance the developed concrete can be used as a structural lightweight and thermal insulating concrete. The use of this concrete leads to economic and environmental benefits.

Abstract: A structural lightweight concrete composition comprising cement, a fine aggregate such as sand, a natural coarse aggregates, such as limestone, scoria or perlite or mixtures thereof, a synthetic coarse aggregate comprising a polymeric material, such as polypropylene beads, an industrial waste byproduct in the form of fine particles, such as silica fume or heavy oil ash, a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate ether and water demonstrating lower thermal conductivity and sufficient compressive strength. Concrete products made therefrom and methods for producing such products are also provided.

Abstract: A structural lightweight concrete composition comprising cement, a fine aggregate such as sand, a natural coarse aggregates, such as limestone, scoria or perlite or mixtures thereof, a synthetic coarse aggregate comprising a polymeric material, such as polypropylene beads, an industrial waste byproduct in the form of fine particles, such as silica fume or heavy oil ash, a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate ether and water demonstrating lower thermal conductivity and sufficient compressive strength. Concrete products made therefrom and methods for producing such products are also provided.

Abstract: A structural lightweight concrete composition comprising cement, a fine aggregate such as sand, a natural coarse aggregates, such as limestone, scoria or perlite or mixtures thereof, a synthetic coarse aggregate comprising a polymeric material, such as polypropylene beads, an industrial waste byproduct in the form of fine particles, such as silica fume or heavy oil ash, a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate ether and water demonstrating lower thermal conductivity and sufficient compressive strength. Concrete products made therefrom and methods for producing such products are also provided.

Abstract: A structural lightweight concrete composition comprising cement, a fine aggregate such as sand, a natural coarse aggregates, such as limestone, scoria or perlite or mixtures thereof, a synthetic coarse aggregate comprising a polymeric material, such as polypropylene beads, an industrial waste byproduct in the form of fine particles, such as silica fume or heavy oil ash, a superplasticizer, such as a polycarboxylate ether and water demonstrating lower thermal conductivity and sufficient compressive strength. Concrete products made therefrom and methods for producing such products are also provided.

Abstract: A multi-protocol wireless sensor network is provided. The multi-protocol wireless sensor network includes a first field device, a second field device, an access point, and a programmable logic controller (PLC). The first field device is configured to operate using a first protocol. The second field device is configured to operate using a second protocol. The access point is configured to communicate with the first field device using the first protocol and the second field device using the second protocol. The PLC is configured to control the first field device and the second field device through the access point.

Abstract: A sulfur concrete has constituents that include a coarse aggregate in an amount in a range of 40-50 wt % of the weight of the sulfur concrete, a fine aggregate in an amount in a range of 20-40 wt % of the weight of the sulfur concrete, a fine filler in an amount in a range of 8-12 wt % of the weight of the sulfur concrete, and a binder in an amount in a range of 12-20 wt % of the weight of the sulfur concrete. The binder includes elemental sulfur in an amount in a range of 25-60 wt % of the weight of the binder and asphalt in an amount in a range of 40-75 wt % of the weight of the binder.