Abstract: A hydraulic damper cylinder 270 is provided for an electromagnetic actuated internal combustion engine cylinder valve 20. The damper includes a piston 68 slidably mounted within the damper cylinder 270. The piston 68 bifurcates the cylinder 270 into a first control volume 74 and a second control volume 76. The first and second control volumes are fluidly connected by an inboard flow path 372. Along the extreme ends of travel, the flow path 372 is blocked by the piston 68 and damping occurs through fluid transfer through an outboard flow path 374.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to self-contained devices and methods for detecting biological contaminants and, more particularly, to self-contained devices and methods for detecting biological contaminants in relevant settings including, for example, food processing plants, hospitals, medical offices, veterinary offices, and restaurants by using a device or methodology that includes a sampler component and dye component that binds to the biological material in a detectable fashion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the isolation of DNA or cell nuclei or a mixture thereof from cell samples in a CD device. The method includes treating a suspension of whole cells with a lysis reagent so as to lyse the cytoplasmic membrane and at least some of the nuclear membranes, and introducing the lysate into micro-channels of a microfabricated apparatus in which each of the micro-channels is provided with a barrier disposed in the channel to impede the passage or flow of DNA and cell nuclei while allowing the passage of liquid through the micro-channel so that a mesh comprising DNA is formed in the channel.

Abstract: Many proteins, when produced recombinantly, suffer from improper processing, folding and lack normal solubility. Modified proteins, including those indicative of disease states, also can have such defects. The present invention is directed to methods of identifying proper and improper protein folding, aberrant processing and/or insolubility. The method relies on the use of two components: a specialized fusion protein and structural complementation. The fusion protein contains sequences from the protein of interest and one portion of a marker protein that, by itself, is not active. A host cell then provides the remainder of the marker protein that serves to “complement” the function of the fused marker protein such that their association restores activity, permitting detection.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper cylinder 270 is provided for an electromagnetic actuated internal combustion engine cylinder valve 20. The damper includes a piston 68 slidably mounted within the damper cylinder 270. The piston 68 bifurcates the cylinder 270 into a first control volume 74 and a second control volume 76. The first and second control volumes are fluidly connected by an inboard flow path 372. Along the extreme ends of travel, the flow path 372 is blocked by the piston 68 and damping occurs through fluid transfer through an outboard flow path 374.

Abstract: Method and housing (2) for reducing particulate build-up on a surface of a device (5) contained in a recess (4) defined by the housing (2) when attached to a conduit. The method includes introducing gas into the recess (4) at a high volume and low velocity so that the gas flows in a laminar manner across the surface of the device (5). The volume lies in a range from 80 to 300 liters/minute and the velocity lies in a range from 0.2 to 3.6 meters/second. The method and housing (2) are particularly useful for preventing the build up of coal dust on the face of an ultrasonic transducer (5) used to measure the mass flow rate of coal being pneumatically transferred in the conduit.

Abstract: After the claims, please insert the following Abstract:—The invention provides a broadband mass communications network system and method comprising a plurality of patches (10), each patch including a plurality of subscribers, and each subscriber having a respective subscriber unit (12) for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from other subscribers. Each subscriber unit comprises an indoor interface unit (20) for user access to the system and an outdoor mounted communication unit (18) for the transmission and reception of signals. The signals are impressed on a carrier signal operating at frequencies in the range from infra-red to ultra-violet, the subscriber units of a respective patch being arranged to transmit the carrier signals substantially omni-directionally and to communicate by way of direct line of sight connections within the patch.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for an electromechanical valve is provided. The system includes a housing defining a chamber for holding fluid extending along an axis. The system further includes a damper stem disposed in the chamber configured to move along the axis. The damper stem is configured to be directly coupled to the valve member. The system further includes a piston coupled to the damper stem dividing the chamber into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion. The housing includes a conduit extending between the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion. The conduit has a first non-cylindrical opening communicating with the first chamber portion. When the piston moves past at least a portion of the non-cylinder opening, the cross-sectional area of the opening decreases to restrict fluid flow from the first chamber to reduce a velocity of the piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper for an automotive engine electromechanical cylinder valve 20 is provided. The hydraulic damper includes an inner piston 130 which is slidably mounted within an outer piston 110. The outer piston is slidably mounted within an interior hydraulic filled cavity 82 of a damper body 80. Movement of the valve body 20 along extreme positions causes the inner piston 130 to move the outer piston 110 within the interior cavity 82 to effectuate hydraulic damping of the valve body 20.

Abstract: An electrical connection system adapted to be environmentally sealed by mounting a conductor block having at least one electrical conductor within a port extending through an electrical component. A first cover portion is telescopically engaged with the conductor block and has at least one wire channel formed therein. A seal is disposed against and extends about the periphery of the front portion of the non-conductive block. A second cover portion is configured to sealingly mate with the first cover portion and configured to engage the non-conductive block whereby electrical leads are retained.

Abstract: A lift truck has a wheeled rear section to which is pivotally connected a wheeled front section, with one of the sections being drivable, in use. The front section, which has lifting forks, is pivoted to an extended length arm at the front of the rear section, to allow the front section to pivot relative the rear section, to at least one side thereof, by an angle substantially greater than 90°. Part of the rear section can be relieved to permit said pivoting.

Abstract: A lift truck has front and rear sections pivotally connected for the front section to turn 90° to the rear section from the straight ahead state of the truck. The front and rear sections can each have a pair of wheels or one section can have a pair of wheels and the other section only a single wheel. All the wheels are drivable. In one aspect drive to a wheel is in proportion to the degree of articulation between the front and rear sections. In a second aspect drive to a wheel is controlled when said articulation exceeds a predetermined value, and in a third aspect a rear wheel or one or both of a pair of rear wheels can be undriven, i.e. freely rotatable in either direction of rotation.

Abstract: A hybrid driveline for an automotive vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and a power transmission mechanism for transferring torque to the traction wheels of the vehicle. An electric starter motor/alternator unit is situated between the torque input element of the automatic transmission and the crankshaft of the engine. A wet clutch disc assembly receives torque from the engine through a damper assembly. The torque output side of the clutch is connected to the rotor of the motor/alternator unit, which in turn is connected driveably to the torque input shaft of the transmission. The damper attenuates peak torque fluctuations of the internal combustion engine, thereby reducing the maximum torque transmitting requirements of the clutch. The damper and the clutch are arranged in a compact assembly within the stator and rotor of the motor/alternator unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to using mid-infrared high-power pulsed laser radiation sources for drilling high-quality microvia interconnection holes in printed circuit (wiring) boards and other electrical circuit packages.

Abstract: A technique for enhanced data mining of large scale relational databases is described. User defined functions (UDF) are created by a user and distributed by a managing node of a database to each node of the database. Upon the issuance of a prespecified SQL command, the UDF is executed by each node relative to the data controlled by each node. Specifically, targeted tuples in the data controlled by each node are scored based on criteria contained in the UDF. A new data field is added to each target tuple, and the score is placed therein. The score is then used to determine whether, for example, a customer which is represented by the tuple should be included in an advertising campaign or to tailor a mailing to a customer based on the score contained in the new data field.

Abstract: A network-based method for configuring air circuit breakers includes receiving air circuit breaker specification information from a user and using a server to compare the received specification information with pre-stored information. The method also includes selecting at least one air circuit breaker that matches the received specification information and displaying to the user information related to the air circuit breaker. A network-based method also provides for selection of a various accessories for the selected air circuit breaker.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to self-contained devices and methods for detecting biological contaminants and, more particularly, to self-contained devices and methods for detecting biological contaminants in relevant settings including, for example, food processing plants, hospitals, medical offices, veterinary offices, and restaurants by using a device or methodology that includes a sampler component and dye component that binds to the biological material in a detectable fashion.

Abstract: For each user in a multi-user detection arrangement in a CDMA communications system, a detector (80) provides a limiting function (88) responsive to a combined signal to produce a detection signal, having any of at least three possible values, for supply to a signal regenerator, regenerated signals being subtracted from a received signal in successive detection iterations of the multi-user detection arrangement. A code correlated signal is supplied via an inverse hyperbolic tangent function (84), or is multiplied by a multiplier inverse to an iteration index, to produce a derived signal. The derived signal is added (86) to a representation of a detection result stored from a previous iteration to produce the combined signal. The limiting function can comprise a hyperbolic tangent function.

Abstract: A control strategy for a hybrid powertrain for an automotive vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, a geared transmission mechanism for transmitting driving torque to the vehicle traction wheels, and an electric motor arranged in parallel with respect to the internal combustion engine at the torque input side of the transmission. A friction clutch connects and disconnects the engine from the torque flow path as transitions are made between an electric motor driving mode and an engine driving mode. A mechanical damper is located on the torque input side of the clutch. A transition from the electric motor drive mode to the internal combustion engine drive mode is achieved by controlling the engagement of the clutch using a closed loop clutch pressure modulation strategy and controlling the fuel supply to the engine to effect an engine drive mode without triggering undesirable inertia torque fluctuations in the powertrain.

Abstract: A nozzle in a nozzle plate for an inkjet printhead is formed by directing a laser beam at a nozzle plate. Accurate control of the divergence of the beam is achieved by splitting the beam into sub-beams, each sub-beam having divergence with an origin lying apart from the point at which the beam is created by splitting, and thereafter recombining the sub-beams. Greater accuracy in the taper and inlet shape of the manufactured nozzle is thereby obtained.