Abstract: An on-board, noncontact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises first and second optical emitters mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit beams of light that are detectable on the underlying surface; a camera mounted to the vehicle for recording the distance between the beams of light as the vehicle travels along the surface, a mechanism for measuring the distance between the beams of light for a particular portion of the surface; and a mechanism for determining the vertical track stiffness or vertical track modulus for a particular portion of the track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a plank product and related components having a controllable and realistic wood-grain appearance, the planks and related components having at least one accent color, the method including the steps of: a) introducing into an extruder a powdered or pelletized base material and accent color pellets, the base material containing less than about 75% by weight wood flour, and having a vicat softening temperature, the accent color pellets (i) having a higher vicat softening temperature than said base material, and (ii) including a styrene polymer having a high vicat softening temperature and a melt flow index of greater than or equal to 1.

Abstract: A differential hydraulic master cylinder (10) has a cylinder body (12) in which is provided a larger diameter first chamber (18) and a smaller diameter second chamber (20). A first fluid passageway (60, 74, 78, 80) connects the first chamber (18) with a source of ambient pressure and contains a pressure relief valve (70) for connecting the first chamber with said source of ambient pressure when the pressure in the first chamber reaches a threshold value. A second fluid passageway (76, 78, 80, 82) connects the first chamber (18) with an outlet (11) and the second chamber (20). A non-return valve (72) is located in the second passageway to prevent hydraulic fluid from flowing from the second chamber (20) to the first chamber (18) at least when the pressure relief valve (70) is open. The non-return valve (72) and the pressure relief valve (70) each have a movable valve member (100, 102, 88; 122) which are mechanically interconnected.

Abstract: An on-board, noncontact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises first and second optical emitters mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit beams of light that are detectable on the underlying surface; a camera mounted to the vehicle for recording the distance between the beams of light as the vehicle travels along the surface, a mechanism for measuring the distance between the beams of light for a particular portion of the surface; and a mechanism for determining the vertical track stiffness or vertical track modulus for a particular portion of the track.

Abstract: An RFID antenna that is protected from corrosion and is configured for easy attachment to an electronic chip is very advantageous. The electrically conductive RFID antenna pattern is coated with a layer of solderable material that protects the copper from corroding. The solderable material has a low melting temperature so that the solderable material can be heated to form a weld joint between a chip and the solderable material without damaging the chip.

Abstract: An electromagnetic interference shield includes a polymer thin film metalized with conductive metals and a solderable material deposited over the conductive metals. The solderable material has a low melting temperature so that the solder can be heated to form a weld joint between a chip (or component) and the solder without damaging the metalized polymer thin film. One example of a low melting temperature solder is SnBi.

Abstract: A preassembled water transfer pipe for use in a fire fighting system includes a generally hollow conduit member formed from a predetermined material and having each of a predetermined length and a predetermined cross sectional shape and a connection member equipped with a predetermined size connection for receiving a hose one of thereon and therein disposed at one end of said generally hollow conduit member. There is a pipe support assembly disposed at an opposed end of such generally hollow conduit member.

Abstract: A mounting system for securing brake hoses and electrical cables located to the rearward of a mobile vehicle cab. The mobile vehicle's cab is engaged to a chassis. The chassis has exhaust stanchions rearward of the cab relative to vehicle forward movement. The exhaust stanchions are supported by braces. Attached to these braces, or integrated into them, are mounting points for interchangeable brackets. One carries a “glad hand” and electrical connector hanger, and the other carries a hose tender.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for utilizing compression in database caches to facilitate access to database information. In contrast with applying compression to the database that is stored on disk, the present invention achieves performance advantages by using compression within the main memory database cache used by a database management system to manage data transfers to and from a physical database file stored on a storage system or stored on a networked attached device or node. The disclosed system and method thereby provide a significant technical advantage by increasing the effective database cache size. And this effective increase in database cache size can greatly enhance the operations-per-second capability of a database management system by reducing unnecessary disk or network accesses thereby reducing data access times.

Abstract: A brake circuit has a brake connected with a master cylinder via a brake application line. The brake master cylinder has a first chamber in which brake fluid is pressurized on movement of a first piston in a brake applying direction by an operating device. The first chamber is connected via a first port and a non-return valve with the brake application line of the circuit. A second chamber is in communication with the brake return line of the circuit via a second port and has a second piston moveable by the brake operating device in brake applying and releasing directions. The second chamber is also in communication with a reservoir via a third port when the second piston is in a fully released position.

Abstract: An on-board, noncontact measurement system and method is disclosed for measuring track quality, vertical track stiffness and vertical track modulus for a portion of track underlying the rail vehicle. The system comprises first and second optical emitters mounted to the vehicle and configured to emit beams of light that are detectable on the underlying surface; a camera mounted to the vehicle for recording the distance between the beams of light as the vehicle travels along the surface, a mechanism for measuring the distance between the beams of light for a particular portion of the surface; and a mechanism for determining the vertical track stiffness or vertical track modulus for a particular portion of the track.

Abstract: A composition providing electrically conductive adhesive hydrogels suitable for use as skin contact adhesives and, particularly, suitable for use as an electrical interface for disposable medical devices. The present hydrogels provide for reduced skin irritation and/or malodor properties, hydrate a subject's skin, readily wet around a subject's skin surface hair, and protect against burning of a subject upon or due to electrical stimulation through the hydrogel. These hydrogels generally include a monomer, a first initiator, a solubilizer, and a cross-linking agent. The present hydrogels also desirably include a buffer system to help prevent discoloration of the hydrogels and/or hydrolysis of the hydrogels as well as to improve shelf-life. Other additives such as conductivity enhancers, pharmaceuticals, humectants, plasticizers, skin health agents, etc. may be added to the present hydrogels either before or after curing.

Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus for raising and lowering pipe to and from a raised derrick work floor. The apparatus comprises a longitudinally-extending base, with a longitudinally-extending cavity therein. An elongate, longitudinally-extending boom member is provided, which is adapted for raising out of and nestable positioning in such cavity. The boom member has a longitudinally-extending trough therein on an upperside surface thereof, adapted to receive at least one section of pipe. At least one arm member is coupled to the boom member for raising a proximal end of such boom member. A carriage member, slidably coupled to the boom member, is moveable longitudinally along the boom in the trough. The carriage member is adapted to engage and slidably transport one end of the pipe along the trough. Motive means are provided to permit powered movement of the carriage member along the boom.

Abstract: A mounting system for securing brake hoses and electrical cables located to the rearward of a mobile vehicle cab. The mobile vehicle's cab is engaged to a chassis. The chassis has exhaust stanchions rearward of the cab relative to vehicle forward movement. The exhaust stanchions are supported by braces. Attached to these braces, or integrated into them, are mounting points for interchangeable brackets. One carries a “glad hand” and electrical connector hanger, and the other carries a hose tender.

Abstract: A probe card assemblage for simultaneously testing one or more integrated circuit chips including an interposer having on one surface a plurality of protruding contact elements for electrically contacting one or more chips of a wafer positioned atop a layer of compliant material, and arrayed in a pattern corresponding to a chip pads, a series of conductive vias through the electrically insulating interposer which connect the chip contact elements with an arrangement of leads terminating in a universal arrangement of connectors on the second surface, and a probe card with connectors mating to those on the interposer. The connectors on the interposer is secured are secured to those on the probe card, thereby providing a vertical probe assemblage which makes use of ultrasonic energy to minimize scrub or over travel. The universal probe card is specific to a tester configuration and common to a family of circuits to be tested.

Abstract: The present invention provides functional client side data cache coherence distributed across database servers and clients. This system includes an application resident on a client operable to request access to data, and wherein the client is coupled to a local memory cache operable to store requested date. The client is coupled to a remote memory storage system, such as disk storage or network resources by a communication pathway. This remote memory storage system is operable to store data, process requests for specified data, retrieve the specified data from within the remote memory storage system, and transmit the requested data to the client with annotated version information. The data received by the client is verified as being coherent with any downstream linked information stored in the client's local memory cache. Otherwise, updated coherent data is requested, received and verified prior to being used by the client and its resident applications.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving the efficiency of write operations by intelligently managing disk pages that are written during checkpoint operations so that write operations can occur with reduced numbers of writes. As write data is received and cached, for example, by a database application, disk pages are allocated to the write data. When a checkpoint operation is taken to write the data cache to disk as modifications or additions to the database file, an intelligent write management module re-assesses the disk page allocation and re-maps disk writes to improve the efficiency of disk input/output (I/O) operations. As such, significant improvements in the speed and efficiency of database operations during checkpoint events are achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of orientating a space curve having two endpoints. The method comprises selecting a desired direction and then generating a first vector having a direction which is same as the selected desired direction. At least one second vector is then generated, each said second vector having a corresponding direction indicative of a corresponding characteristic of the space curve. The first and second vectors are compared so as to determine a direction of the space curve, wherein the determined direction of the space curve is along the curve from the first endpoint to the second endpoint and which is closest to the selected desired direction. The direction of the space curve is then oriented in accordance with the determined direction.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip package includes an integrated circuit chip and a substrate. A chip contact pad is formed on a first side of the chip. A stud is formed on the chip contact pad from wire using a wire bonding machine. The stud has a partially squashed ball portion bonded to the chip contact pad. The stud also has an elongated portion extending from the partially squashed ball portion. A first layer of insulating material is on a first side of the substrate. A bottomed well is formed in the first layer and opens to the first side of the substrate. A first conductive material at least partially fills the well. The first conductive material is electrically connected to at least one trace line in the substrate. The stud is partially embedded in the first conductive material to form an electrical connection between the chip and the substrate.

Abstract: A probe card apparatus comprising a rigid substrate having thermal expansion characteristics near that of silicon, laminated with a flex film having laser patterned leads and contact pads, and contact elements comprising noble metals protruding from two major surfaces, the first mirroring the closely spaced chip pads, and the second aligned to the more generously spaced probe card pads, providing an accurate and reproducible, low cost, rapidly fabricated probe contact device, capable of contacting very high density bond pads in either area array or perimeter locations, of being electrically optimized, and readily maintained.