Abstract: A method of obtaining in image of the phase change introduced by an object in penetrating radiation incident on the object includes irradiating the object with penetrating radiation having high lateral spatial coherence, and receiving at least a portion of the radiation at a detector after the radiation has merged from the object and thereby obtaining and storing at least two intensity records for the received radiation each including intensity values at predetermined intervals. These values are utilized to derive a grid of values defining an image of the phase change introduced by the object in the penetrating radiation. The intensity records are obtained at a uniform finite distance after the radiation has emerged from the object, and are for respective different energy distributions of the detected radiation. Apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hot swap tray having a housing adapted to be slidably inserted in a rack. The tray includes an electromagnetic shield member mounted for rotation about an axis traversing the sliding direction of the tray. The shield has a resting state in which the shield presents a first dimension in a plane traversing the sliding direction and a deflected state in which the shield presents a second dimension in the plane, the first dimension being greater than the second dimension. The shield is actuated on insertion of the tray into the rack to move from the resting state to the deflected state so that the shield clears adjacent shields located within the rack and from the deflected state to the resting state so that the shield engages the adjacent shields.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining a sequence of sub-word units representative of at least two words output by a word recognition unit in response to an input word to be recognized. In a preferred embodiment, the word alternatives output by the recognition unit are converted into sequences of phonemes. An optimum alignment between these sequences is then determined using a dynamic programming alignment technique. The sequence of phonemes representative of the input sequences is then determined using this optimum alignment.

Abstract: Shrink films having an outstanding balance of physical properties and shrink properties are manufactured from “pseudohomogeneous” linear low density polyethylene resin. The preferred pseudohomogeneous resins used in the present invention are prepared with an advanced Ziegler Natta catalyst (having a magnesium component and a titanium component), preferably in medium pressure solution polymerization process. The films of this invention may be employed in a variety of uses, including, 1) “overwrap” packaging to protect goods during transportation, distribution, handling and display; and 2) food packaging, such as shrink wrap for frozen poultry, primal meat cuts and processed meat and cheese products.

Abstract: A sheath for at least partially covering a tubular member, includes a helically wound strip having an electrically conductive portion extending through the strip from an inner surface of the strip to an outer surface of the strip. The conductive portion also extends continuously substantially helically along at least part of the length of the sheath. The sheath, and in particular the strip, may be formed from a flame retardant material.

Abstract: A TMS, cage type or top hat type incorporates a deployment frame. The TMS may be operated by a winch from a surface vessel. The TMS delivers a main ROV and a smaller mini ROV. The main ROV is fully functional to accomplish the necessary task subsea. However, in the event there is an operational failure of the main ROV, the mini ROV can be deployed. The mini ROV may have fewer functionalities than the main ROV, but can at least offer video and lighting to allow monitoring of a particular location subsea. All the necessary positioning capabilities are available on the mini ROV.

Abstract: A connector for use in a computer is arranged so as to accept an adapter card and a card insulator. The adapter card is inserted into one or more first openings. The card insulator is inserted into one or more second openings. The connector has an insulating molding common to the first and second openings.

Abstract: This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearings and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.

Abstract: The method for assembling and presenting a structured electronic message begins when the sender creates a voicemail message that includes a plurality of messaging elements that include embedded instructions that define a structure of the message. Other messaging elements may include textual fragments, audio fragments that refer to audio data files that are associated with the message, and/or references to textual fragments and/or audio fragments that are stored at specified locations. The instructions may define a hierarchical menu structure which, when the message is presented to the recipient by a messaging system, offers the recipient different navigational choices from which the recipient may select and thus effect the information content of what is presented.

Abstract: A mounting for a computer accessory such as a hard disc drive comprises a tray (2) for accommodating the accessory (1) which can be inserted into a mounting bay in the computer against the bias of a pair of springs (4). The tray (2) carries a bezel member (7) movable along the insertion path independently of the tray to latch or unlatch the tray in place, using latching members (6) in association with latching tracks formed in the bezel, by way of a push-push action.

Abstract: This invention relates to rotary pumps adapted, but not exclusively, for use as artificial hearts or ventricular assist devices and, in particular, discloses in preferred forms a seal-less shaft-less pump featuring open or closed (shrouded) impeller blades with the edges of the blades used as hydrodynamic thrust bearing and with electromagnetic torque provided by the interaction between magnets embedded in the blades and a rotating current pattern generated in coils fixed relative to the pump housing.

Abstract: A method of obtaining in image of the phase change introduced by an object in penetrating radiation incident on the object includes irradiating the object with penetrating radiation having high lateral spatial coherence, and receiving at least a portion of the radiation at a detector after the radiation has merged from the object and thereby obtaining and storing at least two intensity records for the received radiation each including intensity values at predetermined intervals. These values are utilized to derive a grid of values defining an image of the phase change introduced by the object in the penetrating radiation. The intensity records are obtained at a uniform finite distance after the radiation has emerged from the object, and are for respective different energy distributions of the detected radiation. Apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A high speed, brushless, DC motor has a rotor comprising a solid rare earth magnet core magnetized diametrically. The rotor includes a sleeve surrounding the magnet core to radially constrain the core during high speed rotation thereof. The sleeve extends axially in both directions from the core to form a hollow shaft for the rotor. The sleeve is formed of non-magnetic, low electrical conductivity material. Control circuitry is provided including an electronic inverter of a predetermined rating, the control circuitry including means to maintain substantially constant power through the range of motor speeds from a base speed to a maximum speed while maintaining a power factor close to 1.

Abstract: There is described a method of preparing a positive working water-less lithographic plate which comprises a support having an oleophilic surface, there being coated on the support a mixture which comprises as one component an ink-repellant and water-repellant polymer or a mixture of such polymers or polymer precursors, and as the other essential component of the mixture an infra-red or heat sensitive composition selected from (a) an organic solvent soluble diazo compound and an infra-red absorbing compound, (b) a photopolymer and an infra-red absorbing dye, or (c) a mixture of a free-radically polymerisable ethylenically unsaturated compound or compounds together with either a photoinitiator which is infra-red sensitive or an initiator which is heat sensitive together with an infra-red absorbing compound, the ratio of ink-repellant polymer to infra-red or heat sensitive composition (a), (b) or (c) in the mixture being from 20-80 ink repellant polymer to 80-20 infra-red or heat sensitive composition by weight,

Abstract: There is provided a rinse aid composition containing an amino tricarboxylic acid or its salts or complexes. The pH of said composition as a 1% solution in distilled water at 20°C. is preferably less than 7.

Abstract: A first movable connector part and a second fixedly positioned connector part form a connector. The second fixedly positioned connector part has at least two catch members separately positioned at spaced apart locations. The first connector part is adapted to be moved in a first direction toward the second connector part in response to a predetermined insertion force until the first connector part and the second connector part are connected. The first connector part has at least two movable latches separately supported at spaced apart locations on the first connector part, each of the latches being associated with a respective one of the catch members. Each of the catch members are adapted for engaging a respective one of the movable latches. A flexible linking bar connects the movable latches. On application of a predetermined extraction force, the linking bar flexes so as to cause the movable latches to be released from the catch members.

Abstract: A method for preparing a waterless lithographic plate is disclosed. A mixture that contains a water-repellant release material and a compound that becomes aqueous developable on heating is coated on a support, heated imagewise, and developed to produce the printing plate. Preferred water-repellant release materials are acrylic and methacrylic polymers with fluorinated side chains and silicone containing polymers, especially organo functional siloxanes. Preferred compounds that become aqueous developable on heating are phenolic resins as well as complexes of phenolic resins with quinolinium compounds, benzothiazolium compounds, pyridinium compounds, and imidazoline compounds.

Abstract: An improved fuel tank for a lifting body re-entry vehicle having a particular external shape comprising four elongated lobes each having an external surface, each of the external surfaces having selected cylindrical and conical shapes, the lobes being selectively mateable to form a combined external configuration having a multiplicity of cylindrical and conical shapes conformable to at least a portion of the external shape of the vehicle. The cylindrical and conical shapes have variable radii at selected cross-sections thereof, such radii being selected for forming the external configuration. In a particular embodiment, the fuel tank has an initial portion, a midsection portion and a final portion and the cross-sectional shape of the initial portion of the fuel tank is that of two overlapping circles whose centers are positioned above one another, each of the circles being formed by two of the four lobes.

Abstract: There is described a method of preparing a water-less lithographic plate by coating a positive working photosensitive composition onto an oleophilic base imagewise exposing the plate and developing it to remove the areas of the photosensitive composition which have been light exposed, coating overall the surface of the plate with a layer of a composition which is ink-releasing or when cured becomes ink releasing, then either as a separate step or as a combined step curing the ink-releasing composition or drying the ink-releasing composition and light exposing overall the plate, then redeveloping the plate to remove the photosensitive composition remaining after the first development and any ink-releasing composition overlying the photosensitive composition.

Abstract: There is described a water-less lithographic plate precursor which comprises on an aluminium plate a light-sensitive composition which comprises a polymer with hydroxy functional groups, an acid generator which when light exposed yields an acid together with a silyl ether of general formula (I), where Rf is a fluoroaliphatic group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, Y is oxygen, SO.sub.2, carbonyl or a direct link, X is N R.sub.4 where R.sub.4 is hydrogen or lower alkyl having up to six carbon atoms or is a direct link, each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are lower alkyl groups having up to six carbon atoms and R.sub.5 is a lower alkyl group having up to six carbon atoms.