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 pipe ejection assembly, integrated into said boom, is operable as the boom lowers into the cavity for the purpose of laterally ejecting pipe from the trough. The ejection assembly is adaptable for uni-directional or bi-directional ejection. Motive means are provided to permit powered movement of the ejector members when the boom is nested.

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 visor for a vehicle is disclosed that is configured for movement between a stowed and one or more use positions and between a front position and a side position. The visor may include consumer devices such as mirrors, illumination devices, holders, instruments, etc. and may have an exterior surface that is textured, colored or configured to match or compliment and interior trim scheme of the vehicle. The visor has a body made from a material configured to be deform or yield during events such as deployment of an overhead frontal air bag system. A bracket assembly for positioning the visor during normal conditions is provided with the body of the visor and configured for attachment of the visor to a structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: The kerning of text modified in various ways is disclosed. The text can be modified by distortion or perturbation. In one way no unmodified text character pair kerning distance is stored. The kerning distance (x) is calculated as typesetting proceeds. In another way, an unmodified text character pair kerning distance (k1) is used but modified by the amplitude of the text perturbing functions.

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 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 pipe ejection assembly, integrated into said boom, is operable as the boom lowers into the cavity for the purpose of laterally ejecting pipe from the trough. The ejection assembly is adaptable for unidirectional or bidirectional ejection. Motive means are provided to permit powered movement of the ejector members when the boom is nested.

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: 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: 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: The method generates a skeleton of a polygon by selecting a line segment or concave vertex (104) of the polygon and comparing it against the other line segments(106) in turn. The method determines (108,110,112), when comparing a selected line segment or concave vertex i with another line segment j, any significant parameter value associated with a point on selected line segment, where the locus(i,j) at that parameter value describes the skeleton.

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: In one embodiment, a breathable, incrementally stretched elastic composite material comprises an inner elastomeric film extrusion-laminated to an outer nonwoven web at each film surface. The inner elastomeric film has a random pattern of incremental stretch-formed macroholes therein and is substantially free of pore-forming filler. In another embodiment, a breathable, incrementally stretched elastic composite material comprises an elastomeric film extrusion-laminated to a nonwoven web at one or both of the film surfaces. The elastomeric film has a random pattern of incremental stretch-formed macroholes therein and is substantially free of pore-forming filler. Methods of manufacturing the composite materials comprise extrusion laminating and incremental stretching. Garments and disposable articles are formed at least in part from the composite material.

Abstract: To protect computer programs against security attacks that attempt to corrupt pointers within the address space of the program, the value of a pointer is encrypted each time the pointer is initialized or modified, and then the value is decrypted before use, i.e., each time the pointer is read. Preferably, the encrypting and decrypting steps are effected by instructions generated by a compiler during compilation of the program. One convenient method of implementing the encrypting and decrypting steps is by XOR'ing the pointer with a predetermined encryption key value, which could be specially selected or selected at random.

Abstract: A brake circuit has brake means (36, 136) connected with a master cylinder (11, 111) via a brake application line (35, 135) and a brake return line (37, 137). The brake master cylinder has a first chamber (12) in which brake fluid is pressurised on movement of a first piston (13) in a brake applying direction by an operating means (24). The first chamber (12) is connected via a first port (14) and a non-return valve (15) with the brake application line (35) of the circuit. A second chamber (16) is in communication with the brake return line (37) of the circuit via a second port (18) and has a second piston (17) moveable by the brake operating means (24) in brake applying and releasing directions. The second chamber (16) is also in communication with a reservoir (19) via a third port (20) when the second piston is in a fully released position.

Abstract: The present invention concerns the field of saddlery for the riding of horses and other animals, and particularly relates to numnahs (or saddle cloths) which are interposed between a saddle and the horse, or other animal to be ridden. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved numnah which has good non-slip performance, but which is more comfortable for the animal being ridden and maintains good resilience during use. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a numnah suitable for interposing between a saddle and an animal to be ridden, comprising a foam polymer base layer and a scrim layer attached to one surface of the base layer, wherein the scrim layer comprises a planar polymer foam matrix configured to provide a plurality of open air pockets each extending through the thickness of the scrim to the base layer, the scrim layer providing a non-slip surface which may be juxtaposed the back of the animal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing an image is disclosed. First an output value of a first current pixel (inx,y−1), which is not at an edge of the image, is determined using a first influence value (Wx,y−2) for a first current pixel which equals a first sum, over a first set of pixels, of the product of a pixel weight value and a corresponding pixel value, where the pixel weight value is substantially equal to a weight factor (X, Z) raised to the power (i) of the distance of the pixel from the first current pixel.

Abstract: An undirected graph is generated based on a set of finite n-dimensional space curves. One or more traversal modulations are selected and a directed graph is created by traversing the edges of the undirected graph and determining a direction, either a forward direction or a reverse direction, for each edge in accordance with the selected traversal modulations. The method then re-orientates the set of finite n-dimensional space curves in accordance with the directed graph.

Abstract: A burner set adaptable to standard commercial ovens that allows for the quick change-out of burners. Sockets, threaded on one end and open on the other end, are installed in existing threaded couplings in communication with a burner manifold. Each socket has a burner guide attached to the open end and receives a burner in the open end. The burners are secured to the oven by a burner support with a pivotally attached gate.

Abstract: A cable containment device for supportedly routing cables and air lines along a cross member of a truck frame to eliminate potential interference of the cables and air lines with operating structures beneath the cross member defines an elongate channel having at least a horizontal bottom wall which extends across a major portion of the length of the cross member for providing securely supported elevation of the cables above the operating structures.