Abstract: A cervical traction device includes a base, a cervical force application member, and a motor operably attached to the cervical force application member. The motor preferably drives the cervical application member through a direct drive system in order to provide a force to a person's cervical vertebra. The cervical traction device may also include a linear actuator for elevating the person's head to direct the force applied to the cervical vertebra. When integrated on a vertebral distraction machine, the cervical traction device includes its own motor for applying force to the cervical vertebra.

Abstract: A method of producing a simulated 3-dimensional image, the method comprising: assimilating 2-dimensional image data, e.g. from MR image slices; assigning a feature, e.g. gray scale value to each datum; reducing the resolution of each gray scale value of the data; generating a histogram of the reduced resolution gray scale data; performing a fast fuzzy c-means clustering on the histogram data. The resolution of each pixel object in the images may be reduced from 12 bit to 8 bit resolution, and the histogram may be generated from these. Subsequently a value may be assigned for each entry in the histogram, each entry value being equal to the number of objects of any given feature (e.g. gray scale) in the reduced resolution (8 bit) image. The image may be displayed using a novel color blending technique. A 3D image is produced quickly and without supervisory intervention and can be used in endoscopic surgery and in diagnostic methods as well as in understanding healthy anatomical features better.

Abstract: Provided is an architecture for a cryptography accelerator chip that allows significant performance improvements over previous prior art designs. In various embodiments, the architecture enables parallel processing of packets through a plurality of cryptography engines and includes a classification engine configured to efficiently process encryption/decryption of data packets. Cryptography acceleration chips in accordance may be incorporated on network line cards or service modules and used in applications as diverse as connecting a single computer to a WAN, to large corporate networks, to networks servicing wide geographic areas (e.g., cities). The present invention provides improved performance over the prior art designs, with much reduced local memory requirements, in some cases requiring no additional external memory. In some embodiments, the present invention enables sustained full duplex Gigabit rate security processing of IPSec protocol data packets.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with improvements to a ledger for a rod-making machine of the type comprising a rod supporting part (14, 16) which is pivotally mounted on two linear motion devices (10; 12) each comprising a fixed gear (A), a first orbiting gear (B) which is preferably smaller than the fixed gear, and a pair of connected coaxial gears (C) and (D) of different diameter which also orbit about the axis of the fixed gear and which mesh respectively with the fixed gear and first orbiting gear (B), such that the effective gear ratio between the fixed gear (A) and the first orbiting gear (B) via the other two gears is 2:1, the rod supporting part being pivotally connected to the first orbiting gear (B) or to a crank connected thereto. According to the main improvement, an assembly including gears B, C and D and parts carrying them at appropriate positions is arranged to be readily replaceable to achieve a rod length change.

Abstract: A room ventilation air inlet is mounted in a wall or ceiling to operate in conjunction with a central vacuum system as a suction source. Activation of a suction source connected by conduit to the inlet draws air from the room, removing odor and moisture. The air inlet has a valve to seal and open the air inlet. A single lever actuates both the valve and the central vacuum system.

Abstract: A room ventilation air inlet is mounted in a wall or ceiling to operate in conjunction with a central vacuum system as a suction source. Activation of a suction source connected by conduit to the inlet draws air from the room, removing odor and moisture. The air inlet has a valve to seal and open the air inlet. A single lever actuates both the valve and the central vacuum system.

Abstract: A measuring configuration for transforming an electric variable on a high-voltage line into a measurable variable. An electrically conductive hollow body that can be connected to a ground potential is connected to a hollow insulating body so as to produce in the interior a cavity through which an electric conductor is guided. In this case, a section of the insulating body at an end of the hollow body side is walled around externally with an electrode body. An electric transformer externally surrounds the hollow body. The measuring configuration is explosion-proof and can be produced in a comparatively cost-effective fashion.

Abstract: Duplex layers of carbon fiber each comprising a lower portion of uni-directional filaments and an upper staple fiber portion are laid one on top of the other in an annular form. Needles are reciprocated through the layers to cause the staple fiber to be pushed downwardly to interconnect the layers. The base supporting the layers being assembled is gradually lowered until there comes a time when the bottom of the needle stroke no longer passes through all of the layers. At that time additional layers comprising staple fiber only are added and needled down into the stack to enrich the lower layers. After that enrichment the stack is then built up by adding further duplex layers. When all of the duplex layers have been added, further staple fibers may be added to the stop of the stack and needled in order to enrich the upper layers with interconnecting staple fibers, which upper layers would otherwise be deficient in interconnecting staple fiber.

Abstract: A bathroom ventilation air inlet is mounted in conjunction with a toilet paper dispenser. Activation of a suction source connected by conduit to the inlet draws air from the bathroom, removing odour and moisture. The system also operates using a central vacuum system as a suction source. In such case the air inlet has a valve to seal and open the air inlet.

Abstract: A method of producing a shaped fibrous fabric structure is similar to that described in the parent application, in that a continuous filament sheet is subjected to a needle punching action, segments are cut from the sheet and these segments are assembled to form an annulus, and then subjected to rotary motion under a reciprocating needling head and continuing to add segments to build up a stack of layers whilst at the same time continuing the needling action, and lowering the base of the stack relatively to the needling head. However, in a final step, one or more layers of segments are added to the top of the stack, and these are needled into the stack without lowering the stack. Furthermore, these additional layers are preferably made entirely of stapled fibres.

Abstract: An apparatus for organizing and hanging a plurality of I.V. bags on a carousel for use primarily in a refrigerator which includes a central column having disk spacable there along which are rotatable relative to the central column, the disk further being equipped with a plurality of hangers for organizing I.V. bags held in refrigerated suspension prior to dispersion to patients.

Abstract: A method of producing a shaped fibrous fabric structure is similar to that described in the parent application, in that a continuous filament sheet is subjected to a needle punching action, segments are cut from the sheet and these segments are assembled to form an annulus, and then subjected to rotary motion under a reciprocating needling head and continuing to add segments to build up a stack of layers while at the same time continuing the needling action, and lowering the base of the stack relatively to the needling head. However, in a final step, one or more layers of segments are added to the top of the stack, and these are needled into the stack without lowering the stack. Furthermore, these additional layers are preferably made entirely of stapled fibers.

Abstract: A method of producing a shaped fibrous fabric structure is similar to that described in the parent application, in that a continuous filament sheet is subjected to a needle punching action, segments are cut from the sheet and these segments are assembled to form an annulus, and then subjected to rotary motion under a reciprocating needling head and continuing to add segments to build up a stack of layers while at the same time continuing the needling action, and lowering the base of the stack relatively to the needling head. However, in a final step, one or more layers of segments are added to the top of the stack, and these are needled into the stack without lowering the stack. Furthermore, these additional layers are preferably made entirely of stapled fibers.

Abstract: A succession of fibrous sheet segments (10) are supplied from a rotary magazine (12) to a rotating bowl (14). Segments are added to the bowl with their adjacent radial edges abutting each other and are passed beneath a reciprocating needle board (20), whereby filaments from the segments in upper layers are displaced into segments in lower layers to bind the segments together and form a self-supporting preform. Two needle heads (22) are able to move up and down and rotate in order to pick up a segment from the store and deposit that segment on the bowl. A few barbed needles (22A) pick up the segment and more grooved needles (22B) push through fibre to tack the segments down. A conical roller (28) bears against the top of the segments after they leave the needle board to bear against the preform to compress the fibres and also to provide a monitor of the distance between the needle board or the mounting block and the top layer of the preform.

Abstract: Duplex layers of carbon fibre each comprising a lower portion of uni-directional filaments and an upper staple fibre portion are laid one on top of the other in an annular form. Needles are reciprocated through the layers to cause the staple fibre to be pushed downwardly to interconnect the layers. The base supporting the layers being assembled is gradually lowered until there comes a time when the bottom of the needle stroke no longer passes through all of the layers. At that time additional layers comprising staple fibre only are added and needled down into the stack to enrich the lower layers. After that enrichment the stack is then built up by adding further duplex layers. When all of the duplex layers have been added, further staple fibres may be added to the stop of the stack and needled in order to enrich the upper layers with interconnecting staple fibres, which upper layers would otherwise be deficient in interconnecting staple fibre.

Abstract: A method of producing a shaped fibrous fabric structure is similar to that described in the parent application, in that a continuous filament sheet is subjected to a needle punching action, segments are cut from the sheet and these segments are assembled to form an annulus, and then subjected to rotary motion under a reciprocating needling head and continuing to add segments to build up a stack of layers whilst at the same time continuing the needling action, and lowering the base of the stack relatively to the needling head. However, in a final step, one or more layers of segments are added to the top of the stack, and these are needled into the stack without lowering the stack. Furthermore, these additional layers are preferably made entirely of stapled fibers.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for producing a shaped filamentary structure and more particularly, to filamentary structures which can be subjected to further processing to produce a carbon-carbon product. A specific use of the invention is in the production of discs for use in aircraft braking systems.The method includes needle punching a unidirectional layer of filaments to give a degree of dimensional stability; cutting a plurality of segments from the layer of needle punched filamentary material; assembling a plurality of segments in side-by-side contiguous relationship to produce a filamentary layer of the required structural shape; superimposing at least one similar layer on the first layer and needle punching the assembled layers to produce cross-linking of the layers.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for producing a shaped filamentary structure and more particularly, to filamentary structures which can be subjected to further processing to produce a carbon-carbon product. A specific use of the invention is in the production of discs for use in aircraft braking systems.The method includes needle punching a unidirectional layer of filaments to give a degree of dimensional stability; cutting a plurality of segments from the layer of needle punched filamentary material; assembling a plurality of segments in side-by-side contiguous relationship to produce a filamentary layer of the required structural shape; superimposing at least one similar layer on the first layer and needle punching the assembled layers to produce cross-linking of the layers.

Abstract: A method of producing a shaped fibrous fabric structure is similar to that described in the parent application, in that a continuous filament sheet is subjected to a needle punching action, segments are cut from the sheet and these segments are assembled to form an annulus, and then subjected to rotary motion under a reciprocating needling head and continuing to add segments to build up a stack of layers while at the same time continuing the needling action, and lowering the base of the stack relatively to the needling head. However, in a final step, one or more layers of segments are added to the top of the stack, and these are needled into the stack without lowering the stack. Furthermore, these additional layers are preferably made entirely of stapled fibers.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with apparatus for producing a shaped filamentary structure and more particularly, a filamentary structure which can be subjected to further processing to produce a carbon-carbon product. A specific use of the invention is in the production of discs for use in aircraft braking systems. The invention comprises an apparatus comprising an open-topped receptable for assembled segments formed by cutting a plurality of segments from a layer of needle punched filamentary material; a needling head located over only part of the receptacle; means for rotating the receptacle to bring a complete annulus of the filamentary segments in it under the needling head and a support located inside the receptacle and means for rotating the support with the receptacle, and lowering the support relatively to the receptacle during the needling operation.