Abstract: A portable pressurized gas delivery system with impact protection includes a pressure regulator device comprised of a shut-off valve/refill portion, a pressure regulation portion and a flow control portion. The pressure regulator device is attached via a mating machine threaded portion to a high pressure gas vessel or tank. An adapter or flange washer is situated between the regulator device and tank. A u-shaped handle is attached to the flange washer and extends along side and beyond the height of the gas pressure regulator. A circular ring is transversely attached to the u-shaped handle and situated to surround the regulator device thereby providing impact protection from all directions for the gas pressure regulator device. The pressure regulator device and flange washer include mechanical alignment mechanisms so that angular alignment of the devices is established.

Abstract: A network processor or other type of processor includes in an illustrative embodiment a first pass classifier coupled to first memory circuitry in the form of a relatively small internal memory, and a second pass classifier coupled to second memory circuitry in the form of a larger internal buffer memory. The first memory circuitry is configurable to store at least a portion of a given packet to be processed by the first pass classifier. The second memory circuitry is configurable to store a different and preferably smaller portion of the given packet to permit processing thereof by the second pass classifier. The portion of the given packet storable in the second memory circuitry is a portion of the given packet determined by a first pass classification, performed by the first pass classifier, to be required for a second pass classification, performed by the second pass classifier.

Abstract: A tote box retainer made from a cable tie having a tear tab that is attached to the main strap of the tie on one side near a strap-teeth, engaging-pawl enclosure and extending alongside the enclosure in a direction inline with the strap, there being at least one channel in the strap between the pawl enclosure and edge of the tear tab closest to the enclosure producing a web that connects the strap and enclosure wherein a centerline in the channel does not rotate through more than about 60° and the web does not extend completely to the edge of the strap opposite the tear tab leaving a thick portion in the strap for reinforcement. Other variations replace the thick portion with a second tear tab reinforcing an extension of the web or relocate the web away from the pawl enclosure.

Abstract: An optical measurement system is presented that offers precision on-line monitoring of the quality of steam. Multiple wavelengths of radiant energy are passed through the steam from an emitter to a detector. By comparing the amount of radiant energy absorbed by the flow of steam for each wavelength, a highly accurate measurement of the steam quality can be determined on a continuous basis in real-time. In an embodiment of the present invention, the emitter, comprises three separate radiant energy sources for transmitting specific wavelengths of radiant energy through the steam. In a further embodiment, the wavelengths of radiant energy are combined into a single beam of radiant energy for transmission through the steam using time or wavelength division multiplexing. In yet a further embodiment, the single beam of radiant energy is transmitted using specialized optical elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding include initiating a pulse welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power, maintaining the arc by providing CV type power. Then, pulse type welding power is provided. The method and system can be used to start short circuit, or other welding processes by providing short circuit power, or welding power of a given mode, instead of providing pulse power. Also, in one alternative, a method and system of initiating a pulse, short circuit, or given welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power at least until a pseudo-equilibrium for the arc is established. Then, providing welding power in a pulse, short circuit, or the given mode.

Abstract: An imaging device (30) can include a plurality of lenses (51, 52, 53, 54) mounted on a multi-dimensional support structure (32), a plurality of optical detectors (40) corresponding to the plurality of lenses for capturing an optical signal from at least two lenses among the plurality of lenses, and a processor (34) for combining the optical signal from at least two lenses to form an image and electronically controlling the field of view and a resolution of the image. The plurality of lenses each can include an array of sub-wavelength apertures or a plurality of photon sieve lenses (36).

Abstract: A network processor or other type of processor includes first classification circuitry, scheduling circuitry and second classification circuitry. The first classification circuitry is configured to determine for a given packet received by the processor whether the packet has one or more errors. The scheduling circuitry in an illustrative embodiment receives an indication of the error determination made by the first classification circuitry, and based on the indication controls the dropping of the given packet from the processor memories if the packet has one or more errors, e.g., via a flush transmit command. The second classification circuitry, which may be implemented as a single classification engine or a set of such engines, may be configured to perform at least one classification operation for the given packet, e.g., if the packet is supplied thereto by the scheduling circuitry.

Abstract: A medicament composition for the administration to pets is provided. The composition generally includes a film, a medicament and a flavoring composition that renders the film palatable to a pet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding is disclosed. The output is preferably a cyclical CV MIG output, and each cycle is divided into segments. An output parameter is sampled a plurality of times within one or more of the segments. The CV output is controlled within the at least one segment in response to the sampling. The parameter is output power, a resistance of the load, an output current, an output voltage, or functions thereof in various embodiments. The control loop is preferably a PI or PID loop. The loop may be applied only within a window. The set point may be taught or fixed. The system can be used to weld with a controlled arc length.

Abstract: A plastic mounting plate closes a electrical box which delivers wires to an alarm unit or emergency light or the like. The alarm unit is mounted to the mounting plate by a snap connection and a tab-in-slot connection, without requiring the use of a tool. The mounting plate is connected to the electrical box by screws which engage threaded holes provided by the electrical box. The mounting plate can be mounted to either a single-wide electrical box or a double-wide (4×4) electrical box and provides corresponding holes for connection to either box. An alternate mounting plate for a single-wide electrical box is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reassembling data blocks back into their constituent data packets in a network processor. Each data block associated with a packet is assigned a unique queue identifier for use in assembling all blocks from the same packet. The packet is also assigned a packet identifier, a start of packet identifier and an end of packet identifier for use by downstream network processors to process the packet. The blocks are assembled according to the assigned queue identifier until the last block of a packet is received, at which time the packet reassembly is complete.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding include initiating a pulse welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power, maintaining the arc by providing CV type power. Then, pulse type welding power is provided. The method and system can be used to start short circuit, or other welding processes by providing short circuit power, or welding power of a given mode, instead of providing pulse power. Also, in one alternative, a method and system of initiating a pulse, short circuit, or given welding process includes initiating a welding arc by providing CC type welding power at least until a pseudo-equilibrium for the arc is established. Then, providing welding power in a pulse, short circuit, or the given mode.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing dispersion in an optical transmission line is provided. The system and method comprise measuring the amplitude of a d.c. voltage component of a synchronously demodulated data signal of at least one wavelength channel by an in-phase carrier at the baud frequency of the wavelength channel. In an alternative embodiment, the system and method comprise measuring the IF amplitude of the resulting a.c. signal of a data signal of the at least one wavelength channel comprising a received RZ signal mixed with a local oscillator, whose frequency differs from the wavelength channel baud by a relatively small amount, somewhere on the order of about 100 kHz.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding is disclosed. The output is preferably a cyclical CV MIG output, and each cycle is divided into segments. An output parameter is sampled a plurality of times within one or more of the segments. The CV output is controlled within the at least one segment in response to the sampling. The parameter is output power, a resistance of the load, an output current, an output voltage, or functions thereof in various embodiments. The control loop is preferably a PI or PID loop. The loop may be applied only within a window. The set point may be taught or fixed. The system can be used to weld with a controlled arc length.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control that upon detection of an autothread input determines the amount of time in which a motor of a drive assembly should be activated so as to precisely supply an initial segment of wire to a welding gun of a welding system. The control determines the requisite time necessary to precisely thread the welding wire based on a wire feed speed and gun length. The gun length and wire feed speed may be determined from a series of user inputs or read from memory. By limiting user involvement with the actual “feeding” of wire to the welding gun, a more precise segment of welding wire may be fed to the welding gun such that trimming of wire extending past the tip of the welding gun is not needed.

Abstract: An optical measurement system is presented that offers precision on-line monitoring of the quality of steam. Multiple wavelengths of radiant energy are passed through the steam from an emitter to a detector. By comparing the amount of radiant energy absorbed by the flow of steam for each wavelength, a highly accurate measurement of the steam quality can be determined on a continuous basis in real-time. In an embodiment of the present invention, the emitter, comprises three separate radiant energy sources for transmitting specific wavelengths of radiant energy through the steam. In a further embodiment, the wavelengths of radiant energy are combined into a single beam of radiant energy for transmission through the steam using time or wavelength division multiplexing. In yet a further embodiment, the single beam of radiant energy is transmitted using specialized optical elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a control that upon detection of an autothread input determines the amount of time which a motor of a drive assembly should be activated so as to precisely supply an initial segment of wire to a welding gun of a welding system. The control determines the requisite time necessary to precisely thread the welding wire based on a wire feed speed and gun length. The gun length and wire feed speed may be determined from a series of user inputs or read from memory. By limiting user involvement with the actual “feeding” of wire to the welding gun, a more precise segment of welding wire may be fed to the welding gun such that trimming of wire extending past the tip of the welding gun is not needed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing welding-type power including a source of welding-type power connected to a controller is disclosed. The controller includes a controller network module with a controller multiple level message module. A welding-type device includes a device network module with a device multiple level message module. A network is operatively connected to the network modules, and is capable of sending a plurality of multiple level messages. A welding peripheral and/or a second source of power has a network module with a multiple level module and is connected to the network. The multiple level message includes an identifier portion and a data portion, and the data portion can include a pointer portion and a value portion in various alternatives. The components may have memory connected to the multiple level message modules, and store common message decoding data therein so that they have shared knowledge for decoding the pointer portions and data portions.

Abstract: A livestock and material inventory system having a database storing inventory data, at least one data explorer operable to access predetermined portions of data in the database, and a graphical user interface operable to display data accessed by the at least one data explorer to a user is provided. The graphical user interface includes a first window operable to display a hierarchical tree structure representation of the inventory data, and a second window operable to display a data summary associated with a selected node in the hierarchical tree structure.