Abstract: A face seal cartridge to facilitate the operation of a shaft and a bore forming a sealed rotating assembly is disclosed. The face seal cartridge includes first and second sealing members to form the face seal, and first and second o-rings and cartridge walls which act, along with a cartridge bottom, to contain the first and second sealing members and provide additional sealing functions to the interface of the shaft and the bore.

Abstract: A face seal cartridge to facilitate the operation of a shaft and a bore forming a sealed rotating assembly is disclosed. The face seal cartridge includes first and second sealing members to form the face seal, and first and second o-rings and cartridge walls which act, along with a cartridge bottom, to contain the first and second sealing members and provide additional sealing functions to the interface of the shaft and the bore.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for dynamically determining the order of execution of a plurality of computer program components. A characterization mechanism provides an annotation of each executable component. A partial order mechanism depends upon the characterization mechanism, and enables a first executable component to declare which other executable components, times, data sets, or other resources are pre-conditions to execution of the first executable component. At load time, a partial order evaluator resolves the pre-conditions and generates a final order of execution of the components based upon interdependencies and resource requirements represented in the pre-conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the pre-conditions are stored in an acyclic directed graph, and the final order is generated by making a breadth-first traversal of the graph and adding nodes of the graph to the final order in the order in which the nodes are traversed.

Abstract: A machine operator or service person is alerted to the excessive wear condition of friction discs in friction couplings or brakes of construction machinery by being provided with a visual indication of wear of the friction discs in one embodiment, a wear indicating pin element is shifted axially by a brake piston and the position of the end of the pin element is visible through a window in a brake housing, thereby providing a visual indication of the wear condition of the friction disc. In a second embodiment of the invention the excessive wear condition of the friction discs is revealed by a signal light which is activated by a pressure switch responding to the pressure of the fluid delivered to a brake cylinder when the brake piston moves a predetermined distance in application of the brake.

Abstract: In a network management system, a method and apparatus for preparing a computer program for execution in relation to a particular network device among a plurality of network devices having a plurality of device types is provided. Each network device is associated with a device type value, and each network device has an associated device mapper. The device mappers are stored in a hierarchical structure that reflects a functional relationship or family relationship of the devices. Functions to be carried out by one or more devices are expressed as a plurality of executable program components. Preferably, each executable program component has one or more classes that define executable functions. Each device mapper associates a device type value with one or more overridden classes in the executable program components and one or more overriding classes. At runtime, device type values are acquired for each device in the managed network.

Abstract: There is provided an improved method for removing water from oil based drilling fluids used in the drilling of boreholes through the ground wherein MgSO4 (magnesium sulfate) is added to the drilling fluid to scavenge the water therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for parallel processing is provided. A parallel execution object organizes and initiates execution of two or more parallel processing threads that act on members in the context of a transaction. The members comprise one or more sets of data for which parallel processing is needed, for example, sets of network device data. The threads are organized by receiving a set of execution components that have a partial order defined by preconditions and resource requirements. A partial order evaluator resolves the partial order into a final order of execution of the components. The parallel execution object, members, transaction, and partial order can be declared in the context of an application program. Optionally, the threads are organized by selecting execution components that are optimized for use with a particular current phase of execution of the application program.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming at least one curved, rectangular bodied surgical needle which comprises frame means, flat press means associated with said frame means for imparting first flat surfaces to opposite sides of at least a portion of at least one needle blank, curving means associated with said frame means for imparting an arcuate profile to at least a portion of the at least one needle blank and side press means mounted on said frame portion for imparting second flat surfaces to opposite sides of the needle blank, wherein said second flat surfaces are imparted substantially perpendicular to said first flat surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening wire stock includes a support member defining a generally elongated opening adapted for advancement of the wire stock therethrough, at least a first pair of engaging members associated with the support member and extending from a first direction sufficiently to engage the wire stock during advancement through the opening, at least a second pair of engaging members associated with the support member and extending from a second direction sufficiently to engage the wire stock during advancement through the opening, a mechanism for rotating the first and second pairs of the engaging members about an axis in general alignment with a longitudinal axis defined by the support member and a mechanism for selectively adjusting the positions of at least one of the first and second pairs of the engaging members relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming at least one curved, rectangular bodied surgical needle which comprises frame means, flat press means associated with said frame means for imparting first flat surfaces to opposite sides of at least a portion of at least one needle blank, curving means associated with said frame means for imparting an arcuate profile to at least a portion of the at least one needle blank and side press means mounted on said frame portion for imparting second flat surfaces to opposite sides of the needle blank, wherein said second flat surfaces are imparted substantially perpendicular to said first flat surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus having a frame; a shuttle member, adapted to receive and hold a needle blank, and movably mounted to the frame; a clamp member detachably mounted on the frame for supplying needle blanks to the shuttle member; a transfer mechanism mounted on the frame for facilitating the transfer of the needle blanks from the clamp member to the shuttle member; a press mechanism for imparting first flat surfaces to first opposing sides of the needle blanks held by the shuttle member; a mandrel mounted on the frame for imparting an arcuate profile to the needle blanks; a transport mechanism for transporting the needle blanks from the shuttle member to the mandrel; and a needle side press for imparting second flat surfaces to second opposing sides of the needle blanks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning and pressing surgical needle blanks. The apparatus includes a needle blank transferring system which transfers needle blanks between a gripping position and a pressing position. A side press system presses a portion of the needle blank when the blank is in the pressing position, and a gripping member is provided to hold the needle blank at least during the transfer and press operations of the apparatus. The method according to the present invention includes inserting a needle blank into a needle blank gripping member at a gripping position, transferring the needle blank between the gripping position and a pressing position, and pressing a side portion of a body portion of the needle blank with pressing dies.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a curved, flat sided surgical needle, which comprises a frame member including an anvil member having an arcuate surface profile; a movable first die member for simultaneously imparting an arcuate profile and at least a pair of first opposing flat surfaces to a body portion of a needle blank and adapted to receive a needle blank, the first die member having an arcuate needle forming surface which is substantially parallel to the arcuate surface of the anvil member; a first side tool for curving a tapered end portion of the needle blank about the anvil; a transfer tool adapted to slide the needle blank along the anvil a side press adapted to import second flat surfaces to a second pair of opposing sides of the body portion of the needle blank; a second side tool member for curving a drill end portion of the needle blank about the anvil; and an ejection tool for moving the needle blank away from the anvil.

Abstract: A method of synthesis of taxanes from pseudocallus of Taxus species, particularly T. baccata , and methods for pseudocallus production are described. Pseudocallus of the invention can be distinguished from callus tissue and cell suspensions by (1) its unique morphology which is characterized by an amorphous aggregation of cells lacking both differentiated tissues and clearly defined meristematic zones; by (2) very poor intercellular adhesion resulting in marked tissue friability; and by (3) relatively high initial rate of mass doubling. Production of taxanes is achieved by culturing the pseudocallus on support culture medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for presenting a curved workpiece to a workstation, includes a frame member and a guide channel associated with the frame member for receiving a curved workpiece in a generally upright position. A first pusher mechanism is reciprocally movable in a transverse direction relative to the guide channel for engaging and positioning the workpiece against a bearing surface of the guide channel. A second pusher mechanism is advanceable within the guide channel to engage the workpiece and to advance the workpiece to the workstation. The apparatus has particular application in the manufacture of curved surgical needles.

Abstract: A backhoe loader includes a tractor-type vehicle with an operator station enclosed in a cab. Access to the cab is provided through a pair of front doors that are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the tractor hood, the upper portion of the doors also forming the front windshield of the cab. The major portion of the doors is formed by curved window glass, and each door includes a rigid metal frame that substantially conforms to the door opening. The door is made by placing the metal frame in a mold and encapsulating the frame in a polyurethane material that is molded around the metal frame by a reaction injection molding process. The door hinges and the latching mechanism are attached to the metal frame, while the molded polyurethane supports the window glass.

Abstract: An improved proximal cable-less communications system using at least two receivers is described. The system is significantly improved by eliminating the sidetone which can occur in full duplex systems. Components are placed in the receivers, between the mixer components and the components which detect the information encoded in the signal at the intermediate frequency, which function to cancel out the detrimental affect of those signals containing information derived from the modulation of the local oscillator of the receiver device.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve for a fixture having a conduit for the passage of a fluid through the fixture comprises a valve rod that is manually slideable through a hole in the fixture to intercept the conduit at right angles. The rod has a plurality of various apertures through the diameter, each alignable with the conduit and sealed of by an O-ring around the rod to prevent leakage along the rod. In addition, novel saddle shaped O-rings closely surrounding the conduit and conforming to the arcuate surface of the valve rod prevent peripheral leakage around the surface of the valve rod in its "off" position.

Abstract: A personal shower fixture to be inserted between a shower pipe and shower head for introducing a selected one or a mixture of several fluids contained in the fixture into the water flow to the shower head. A venturi in the fixture draws the fluids into the flow through a conduit having branches in the fluid containers, each branch having a valve and the common branch into the venturi having a flow control valve. The fluid containers are supported in a cylindrical basket secured by a bayonet connector to the bottom of the fixture body, the basket having a fluid sight gauge and floor openings for easy removal of a container. There are no check valves in the conduit system so that the conduit and its branches may be easily cleaned by merely blocking the shower head output to backflush the conduit system.

Abstract: A plurality of computer stations each includes a data processing computer capable of having its data processing function inhibited or halted by a halt signal applied to a halt input terminal, and each also includes a random access memory (RAM). The plurality of computer stations are interconnected by a bus system and controlled by a bus controller for allowing the periodic interchange of data among the random access memories of the computer stations. The bus controller periodically generates a halt signal which is applied in common to the halt input terminal of each computer station and which stops the processing of data by each data processing computer during the interchange of data. During the time of each halt signal, the bus controller generates in time sequence computer station address signals which are applied in common over the bus system to an address decoder associated with each computer station.