Abstract: An erosion resistant coating for a substrate includes two or more coating layers affixed to the substrate having an increasing modulus of elasticity and hardness from an innermost layer of the coating adjacent to the substrate to an outermost layer of the coating furthest from the substrate. A method of applying a coating system to a substrate includes applying a first layer of a high hardness and high modulus of elasticity material combined with an added metal to the substrate. A second layer of the high hardness and high modulus of elasticity material combined with the added metal is applied to the first layer, resulting in a coating system wherein the second layer has a modulus of elasticity and hardness greater than the modulus of elasticity and hardness of the first layer.

Abstract: A device and method for securely removing a sewer cap from a sewer line that may be under pressure is disclosed. The device comprises a tube adapted to tightly fit onto the end tee of the sewer line that contains the cap and a piston containing a handle configured to fit and for movement inside the tube. A discharge port on the tube is adapted to discharge fluids into a container. The piston has a recess adapted to tightly fit over the square protrusion typically present on sewer line caps. To remove the sewer cap, the recess in the piston is threaded onto the protrusion on sewer line cap. The tube is then threaded over the piston and tightened over the end tee of the sewer line. Turning the handle to loosen the handle allows any discharge to safely drain through the discharge port.

Abstract: A wear resistant device includes a substrate of a first metallic material and a wear resistant layer disposed on a substrate. The wear resistant layer includes a matrix of a second, different metallic material, particulates dispersed throughout the matrix, and a boron material dispersed within a portion of the matrix.

Abstract: A method of managing a machinery monitoring system is provided. The machinery monitoring system includes a database of at least one rule set, the rule set including at least one rule expressed as a relational expression of a real-time data output relative to a real-time data input, the relational expression being specific to a plant asset. The method includes importing data representative of a rule set into the machinery monitoring system, applying the at least one rule set to a specific plant asset wherein the at least one rule set is configured to locate the data input using at least a portion of the relative path information, determining a data output of the at least one rule set using the at least one relational expression and the data input, and transmitting the data output to at least one of the machinery monitoring system and the plant monitoring and control system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fast and sensitive standoff surface-hazard detection with high data throughput, high spatial resolution and high degree of pointing flexibility. The system comprises a first hand-held unit that directs an excitation beam onto a surface that is located a distance away from the first unit and an optical subsystem that captures scattered radiation from the surface as a result of the beam of light. The first unit is connected via a link that includes a bundle of optical fibers, to a second unit, called the processing unit. The processing unit comprises a fiber-coupled spectrograph to convert scattered radiation to spectral data, and a processor that analyzes the collected spectral data to detect and/or identify a hazardous substance. The second unit may be contained within a body-wearable housing or apparatus so that the first unit and second unit together form a man-portable detection assembly.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing a machinery monitoring system is provided. The method includes relating an asset output to at least one asset input, generating at least one rule based on the relation, selecting at least one of live asset data, historical asset data, user-supplied asset data, and third party supplied asset data to test the at least one rule, testing the at least one rule incrementally using the selected asset data, and monitoring the output of the at least one rule at each increment.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for visualizing a scene that is monitored for substance contamination. The scene is scanned with a substance detector to detect a substance, such as a harmful chemical or biological substance. The position of the substance is determined. Graphical element data that represents the detected substance in the scene is generated. A displayed view of the scene is augmented with the graphical element data based on the position of the detected substance to show the detected substance in the view of the scene and provide the user with the location and type of detected substance shown with reference to the environment.

Abstract: An optical sensor, in particular for a scanning force microscope, measures the deflection of a cantilever (3) using an optical resonator between the cantilever (3) and an output surface (12b) of a lens assembly (10). In order to form the resonator, output surface (12b) is concave and parallel to the wavefronts of the light within the resonator. This design provides a resonator of high stability and allows to keep the distance between lens assembly (10) and cantilever (3) comparatively large.

Abstract: An optical sensor, in particular for a scanning force microscope, measures the deflection of a cantilever (3) using an optical resonator between the cantilever (3) and an output surface (12b) of a lens assembly (10). In order to form the resonator, output surface (12b) is concave and parallel to the wavefronts of the light within the resonator. This design provides a resonator of high stability and allows to keep the distance between lens assembly (10) and cantilever (3) comparatively large.

Abstract: An embodiment of a graphics device that maintains load balance on a graphics bus when an upgrade graphics device is installed is disclosed. The embodiment includes load balancing buffers for the strobe compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB# on a 2X mode AGP graphics device. The load balancing buffers couple the 2X mode AGP graphics device to the strobe compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB#, but the load balancing buffers are not connected to any internal circuits within the 2X mode AGP graphics device. The load balancing buffers provide equal capacitive loading between the strobe signals AD_STB0 , AD_STB1 , and SB_STB and their compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB# when an upgrade 4X mode AGP graphics device is installed.

Abstract: A mobile entertainment and informational system includes cellular interconnectivity capability, a user interface for identifying music or video selections which can then be acquired through existing cellular networks. A CD/DVD player can be provided, along with a USB port for connection to a personal computer, for example to download selections therefrom. The unit can operate as a cellular telephone, a PDA (personal digital assistant), web browser, and music and video player.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser interrogation of surface agents moving relative to the apparatus. A receiver telescope includes a secondary reflector that may compensate for variations in distance from a target to the laser. The secondary reflector relies on a distance to target signal that may be collected at a point substantially away from the target, in the direction of relative motion, to allow a focusing mechanism time to react.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a composite blade (300 through 313) having at least two blade portions (101, 201), for a tire curing mold having the steps of providing a first strip (100) of metallic material commonly used to form blades for tire curing molds; stamping or punching out from the strip various shapes to make main blade portions (101); providing a second strip (200) of metallic material; stamping or punching out from the second strip (200) a further set of blade portions (201) having a longitudinal and lateral dimensions which are preferably at most equal to those of the first blade portions (101), assembling at least one of the first and at least one of the second blade portions (201); and affixing the different blade portions (101, 201) together.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a composite blade (300 through 313) having at least two blade portions (101, 201), for a tire curing mold having the steps of providing a first strip (100) of metallic material commonly used to form blades for tire curing molds; stamping or punching out from the strip various shapes to make main blade portions (101); providing a second strip (200) of metallic material; stamping or punching out from the second strip (200) a further set of blade portions (201) having a longitudinal and lateral dimensions which are preferably at most equal to those of the first blade portions (101), assembling at least one of the first and at least one of the second blade portions (201); and affixing the different blade portions (101, 201) together.

Abstract: An embodiment of a graphics device that maintains load balance on a graphics bus when an upgrade graphics device is installed is disclosed. The embodiment includes load balancing buffers for the strobe compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB# on a 2X mode AGP graphics device. The load balancing buffers couple the 2X mode AGP graphics device to the strobe compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB#, but the load balancing buffers are not connected to any internal circuits within the 2X mode AGP graphics device. The load balancing buffers provide equal capacitive loading between the strobe signals AD_STB0, AD_STB1, and SB_STB and their compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB# when an upgrade 4X mode AGP graphics device is installed.

Abstract: An embodiment of a graphics device that maintains load balance on a graphics bus when an upgrade graphics device is installed is disclosed. The embodiment includes load balancing buffers for the strobe compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB# on a 2× mode AGP graphics device. The load balancing buffers couple the 2× mode AGP graphics device to the strobe compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB#, but the load balancing buffers are not connected to any internal circuits within the 2× mode AGP graphics device. The load balancing buffers provide equal capacitive loading between the strobe signals AD_STB0, AD_STB1, and SB_STB and their compliment signals AD_STB0#, AD_STB1#, and SB_STB# when an upgrade 4× mode AGP graphics device is installed.

Abstract: A correction circuit for correcting the frequency of the output pulses produced by a gas flowmeter in dependence on the temperature of the gas comprises a control input for receiving a voltage representative of the difference between the temperature of the gas and a reference temperature. A voltage-controlled oscillator, operative during fixed short periods initiated by each flowmeter pulse, produces auxiliary pulses at a rate dependent on the voltage at the control input, and the auxiliary pulses are counted in a counter. Each time the counter counts a predetermined number of auxiliary pulses, it produces a signal which either blocks one flowmeter pulse or adds an additional pulse to the flowmeter pulses, in dependence on the polarity of the temperature difference.