Abstract: A method for identifying minerals and other materials illuminates a mineral with monochromatic light for an illumination duration and a true Raman spectrum is determined. The true Raman spectrum data is compared to reference spectrums to identify the mineral or material by calculating an identification score for each reference Raman spectrum relative to the Raman spectrum data of the unknown material using a formula that includes both a coincident-peak term and a missing-peak-penalty term.

Abstract: A method for identifying minerals and other materials illuminates a mineral with monochromatic light for an illumination duration and a true Raman spectrum is determined. The true Raman spectrum data is compared to reference spectrums to identify the mineral or material by calculating an identification score for each reference Raman spectrum relative to the Raman spectrum data of the unknown material using a formula that includes both a coincident-peak term and a missing-peak-penalty term.

Abstract: A method for identifying minerals and other materials illuminates a mineral with monochromatic light for an illumination duration and collects scattered light using a Raman spectrometer detector and an aggregated or average Raman spectrum data is determined. True Raman spectrum data is determined by subtracting a blank spectrum. The true Raman spectrum data is compared to reference spectrums to identify the mineral or material. A display or output of one or more of: (a) a name and/or chemical composition of one or more identified minerals; (b) the true Raman spectrum data; and (c) the one or more reference spectrums; are provided. The monochromatic light preferably has a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 425 nm and the Raman spectrometer detector is adapted to detect a Raman-shift range of about 100 cm?1 to about 1400 cm?1.

Abstract: A crimping tool, configured to crimp an electrical connector onto a conductor, includes a crimping body having an interior volume, a crimping head connected to the crimping body, a user interface installed on the crimping body, an identification tag reader provided in the crimping tool, a wireless module installed within the interior volume of the crimping body, and a microcontroller installed within the interior volume of the crimping body. The wireless module transmits/receives crimp connection data to/from a remote computing device, which is capable of communicating with one or more databases in a server. The microcontroller is configured to communicate with the identification tag reader and the wireless module.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying materials. The apparatus includes a laser device adapted to produce monochromatic light in the wavelength range of about 400 nm to about 425 nm, a first set of optical components for focusing the laser light on a material sample positioned on a sample stage, a second set of optical components for transmitting light reflected from the material sample, and a spectrograph adapted to receive light reflected from the material sample via at least part of the second set of optical components and adapted to collect data in the Raman shift range of about 100 cm?1 to about 1400 cm?1. The first set of optical components includes a fiber optic cable adapted to transmit the laser light to the material sample. The second set of optical components includes an objective lens having an opening adapted to receive the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying materials. The apparatus includes a laser device adapted to produce monochromatic light in the wavelength range of about 400 nm to about 425 nm, a first set of optical components for focusing the laser light on a material sample positioned on a sample stage, a second set of optical components for transmitting light reflected from the material sample, and a spectrograph adapted to receive light reflected from the material sample via at least part of the second set of optical components and adapted to collect data in the Raman shift range of about 100 cm?1 to about 1400 cm?1. The first set of optical components includes a fiber optic cable adapted to transmit the laser light to the material sample. The second set of optical components includes an objective lens having an opening adapted to receive the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A method for identifying minerals and other materials illuminates a mineral with monochromatic light for an illumination duration and collects scattered light using a Raman spectrometer detector and an aggregated or average Raman spectrum data is determined. True Raman spectrum data is determined by subtracting a blank spectrum. The true Raman spectrum data is compared to reference spectrums to identify the mineral or material. A display or output of one or more of: (a) a name and/or chemical composition of one or more identified minerals; (b) the true Raman spectrum data; and (c) the one or more reference spectrums; are provided. The monochromatic light preferably has a wavelength in the range of about 400 nm to about 425 nm and the Raman spectrometer detector is adapted to detect a Raman-shift range of about 100 cm?1 to about 1400 cm?1.

Abstract: A crimping tool, configured to crimp an electrical connector onto a conductor, includes a crimping body having an interior volume, a crimping head connected to the crimping body, a user interface installed on the crimping body, an identification tag reader provided in the crimping tool, a wireless module installed within the interior volume of the crimping body, and a microcontroller installed within the interior volume of the crimping body. The wireless module transmits/receives crimp connection data to/from a remote computing device, which is capable of communicating with one or more databases in a server. The microcontroller is configured to communicate with the identification tag reader and the wireless module.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention provides an internal combustion engine comprising a variable volume combustion chamber (10), an air intake passage (18), a throttle (23), a bypass passage (28) which bypasses the throttle (23) and via which air and/or recirculated exhaust gas is supplied to the intake passage (18) via a delivery nozzle (27) located downstream of the throttle (23). A fuel injector (20) delivers fuel to a mixing chamber and the bypass passage (28) is connected to the mixing chamber so that air or recirculated exhaust gas flowing through the bypass chamber entrains fuel present in the mixing chamber and a resulting mixture is delivered to the intake passage (18) via the delivery nozzle (28).

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 3, the present invention provides a fluid injector (10) which functions as a positive displacement pump and comprises: a housing (12) in which a piston chamber is formed; a piston (11) which reciprocates in the piston chamber to define therewith a variable volume fluid pumping chamber; a one-way inlet valve (32) which allows flow of fluid into the pumping chamber from a fluid inlet; and a one-way outlet valve (25, 26, 27, 28, 29) which allows flow of fluid out of the pumping chamber to a fluid outlet (31). In operation of the injector the piston (11) cyclically moves to increase volume of the pumping chamber and draw fluid into the pumping chamber via the one-way inlet valve (32) and then the piston moves to decrease volume of the pumping chamber and expel fluid from the pumping chamber via the one-way outlet valve (25, 26, 27, 28, 29).

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention provides a fuel injector (19) comprising a reed valve (35). The reed valve has at least one orifice and at least one reed valve blade, the or each reed valve blade having a valve head attached to at least one resilient spring arm. The or each valve head opens and closes a respective orifice in the valve seat. A support surrounds the reed valve blade(s). Each spring arm extending inwardly from the support. Each spring arm is curved.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention provides, an internal combustion engine comprising a variable volume combustion chamber (10); an air intake passage (103,104) via which air is delivered to the combustion chamber (10); a fuel injector (107) delivering fuel into the air intake passage (103,107); and a fuel storage tank (107) for storing fuel to be injected. The fuel injector (107) is at least in part immersed in fuel, the fuel injector (107) being located at least in part in a fuel chamber (108b) which is connected to or which forms part of the fuel storage tank (108). An escape path is provided for escape of fuel vapor from the fuel injector (107) and/or from the proximity of the fuel injector to the fuel storage tank (108).

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 3, the present invention provides a fluid injector (10) which functions as a positive displacement pump and comprises: a housing (12) in which a piston chamber is formed; a piston (11) which reciprocates in the piston chamber to define therewith a variable volume fluid pumping chamber; a one-way inlet valve (32) which allows flow of fluid into the pumping chamber from a fluid inlet; and a one-way outlet valve (25, 26, 27, 28, 29) which allows flow of fluid out of the pumping chamber to a fluid outlet (31). In operation of the injector the piston (11) cyclically moves to increase volume of the pumping chamber and draw fluid into the pumping chamber via the one-way inlet valve (32) and then the piston moves to decrease volume of the pumping chamber and expel fluid from the pumping chamber via the one-way outlet valve (25, 26, 27, 28, 29).

Abstract: An improved coaxial cable stripper and crimper tool is disclosed. The cable stripper includes a unique mechanism to release scrap portions of cable jacket that get stuck in between the dual-level cable stripping blades.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine. With reference to FIG. 1, fuel is supplied to charge air using an injector (116) which in each operation delivers a set amount of fuel. The amount of fuel supplied to the charge air in each engine cycle is controlled by how many times the injector (116) operates in each cycle. A desired fuel demand is calculated as a number of operations of the injector per cycle, calculated to at least one decimal place. The desired fuel demand is rounded to a near integer to provide an output fuel demand for the injector as a number of operations of the injector for the next operating cycle in varying operating conditions of the engine. The controller calculates an aggregate number of operations for a plurality of engine cycles which is closer to an aggregated desired fuel demand for the plurality of cycles than if for each cycle of the plurality of output cycles the output fuel demand is calculated independently.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine having an injector which functions as a a positive displacement pump and dispenses an amount of lubricant fixed for each and every operation of the injector. The fluid dispensed could be a lubricant delivered directly to crankshaft bearings, camshaft bearings, tappets or cylinder sleeve. Alternatively the fluid could be fuel, water or urea delivered to an exhaust system upstream of a catalytic converter. The injector can have a one-way valve with a valve element having a domed or conical surface for directing fluid flow across a sharp edge which induces turbulence in the fluid flow.

Abstract: A toilet seat assembly comprising a seat (2) and hinge means (5) for hingedly attaching the seat (2) to a toilet. The hinge means (5) comprises a mounting block (50) having an arcuate slot (17), and an arcuate seat tang (20) extends rearwardly of the seat which is slidable in the arcuate slot of the mounting block. The assembly may also comprise a lid (3); and hinge means for hingedly attaching the lid (3) to a toilet; and an arcuate lid tang (23) extending rearwardly of the lid which is also slidable in the arcuate slot (17) of the mounting block (50).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine having an injector which functions as a positive displacement pump and dispenses an amount of lubricant fixed for each and every operation of the injector. The fluid dispensed could be a lubricant delivered directly to crankshaft bearings, camshaft bearings, tappets or cylinder sleeve. Alternatively the fluid could be fuel, water or urea delivered to an exhaust system upstream of a catalytic converter. The injector can have a one-way valve with a valve element having a domed or conical surface for directing fluid flow across a sharp edge which induces turbulence in the fluid flow.