Abstract: A system and method of identifying faulted devices in an Ethernet network of a building management system (BMS). The system includes a network manager device, a first client device, and a second client device. A first port of the first client device is connected to a first port of the network manager device, a first port of the second client device is connected to a second port of the first client device and a second port of the second client device is connected to a second port of the network manager device. A third port of the first client device is connected to a port of a device external to a ring of the network. The network manager device is configured to transmit a frame having a count field.

Abstract: A system and method of identifying faulted devices in an Ethernet network of a building management system (BMS). The system includes a network manager device, a first client device, and a second client device. A first port of the first client device is connected to a first port of the network manager device, a first port of the second client device is connected to a second port of the first client device and a second port of the second client device is connected to a second port of the network manager device. A third port of the first client device is connected to a port of a device external to a ring of the network. The network manager device is configured to transmit a frame having a count field. The first client device is configured to increment the count field once based on a successful transmission of the frame to the second client device and increment the count field twice based on a failed transmission to the second client device.

Abstract: A system for administering medication to an eye. The system includes a siphon tube in fluid communication with a medication reservoir, a dispensing nozzle connected to the siphon tube, and a shield coupled to the dispensing nozzle for movement relative thereto between an opened position and a closed position. The siphon tube defines a longitudinal axis extending along a substantially vertical direction when the siphon tube is in an upright position. The dispensing nozzle extends at an angle offset from the longitudinal axis when the shield is in the opened position. The nozzle and the angle are so dimensioned as to facilitate accessing the eye when the siphon tube is substantially in the upright position.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes a cartridge and a syringe. The cartridge includes a housing and a stopper positioned within a fluid chamber defined by the housing. The syringe includes a needle, and an outer body and an inner core which cooperate to receive at least a portion of the housing. When the fluid delivery device is in a first configuration, at least a portion of the cartridge is positioned within the syringe and the stopper is connected to the inner core. In a second configuration, a lumen defined by the needle is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The inner core and stopper are movable distally relative to the outer body and needle as the fluid delivery device is transitioned from the first to the second configuration. In a third configuration, the cartridge and syringe cooperate to disable the fluid delivery device.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes a cartridge and a syringe. The cartridge includes a housing and a stopper positioned within a fluid chamber defined by the housing. The syringe includes a needle, and an outer body and an inner core which cooperate to receive at least a portion of the housing. When the fluid delivery device is in a first configuration, at least a portion of the cartridge is positioned within the syringe and the stopper is connected to the inner core. In a second configuration, a lumen defined by the needle is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A fluid delivery device includes a cartridge and a syringe. The cartridge includes a housing and a stopper positioned within a fluid chamber defined by the housing. The syringe includes a needle, and an outer body and an inner core which cooperate to receive at least a portion of the housing. When the fluid delivery device is in a first configuration, at least a portion of the cartridge is positioned within the syringe and the stopper is connected to the inner core. In a second configuration, a lumen defined by the needle is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The inner core and stopper are movable distally relative to the outer body and needle as the fluid delivery device is transitioned from the first to the second configuration. In a third configuration, the cartridge and syringe cooperate to disable the fluid delivery device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which incorporates low pressure drop contaminant removal from gas phases or streams, which advantageously can be used to enhance efficiency, improve humidity characteristics, and reduce capital cost of air handing systems such as HVAC systems and the like. Placement of the low pressure drop contaminant removal mechanism for enhancing effectiveness of same is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for brewing beverages in accordance with the present invention can improve the flavor of brewed beverages and reduce the vertical space required for a system using suction. One such assembly comprises a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter having an intake duct for receiving fluid for brewing, and an output duct for expelling a brewed beverage. The brewing chamber is positioned above a pressurizable container, or carafe, having an adjustable standpipe and containing the fluid. The carafe has a heated base, which when heated causes pressure to build up, forcing the fluid up the standpipe, through a check valve, through the intake duct and into the filter. Once substantially all of the fluid has been urged into the brew chamber, the heat is removed, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed beverage back into the carafe. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: Systems and methods for brewing beverages in accordance with the present invention can improve the flavor of brewed beverages and reduce the vertical space required for a system using suction. One such assembly comprises a brewing chamber adapted to hold a filter having an intake duct for receiving fluid for brewing, and an output duct for expelling a brewed beverage. The brewing chamber is positioned above a pressurizable container, or carafe, having an adjustable standpipe and containing the fluid. The carafe has a heated base, which when heated causes pressure to build up, forcing the fluid up the standpipe, through a check valve, through the intake duct and into the filter. Once substantially all of the fluid has been urged into the brew chamber, the heat is removed, creating a partial vacuum that pulls the brewed beverage back into the carafe. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: A method of controlling and operating a fluid dispensing apparatus is provided which modifies a tool speed signal from a robot and generates a corrected signal to a dispenser nozzle flow controller to compensate for non-linear flow characteristics of fluids, such as non-Newtonian adhesive fluids, to maintain uniform bead size as the tool speed varies. The corrected tool speed signal is generated by computing the ideal flow for the tool speed, comparing the computed flow with actual flow data stored in memory using linear interpolation of data between the stored values, and generating a control signal modified in accordance with the comparison. The stored data is acquired by operation of the apparatus in a calibration mode wherein a series of standard signals is sent to the fluid controller while the actual flow at each signal level is measured and stored in a table. The method corrects for non-linear flow phenomena such as that known as the shear-thinning effect that is flow rate dependent.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing control for controlling the dispensing of a fluid by a metering valve through a nozzle onto a workpiece. An initial value of a flow characteristic of the fluid is determined that is correlated to the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and nozzle pressure. Desired nozzle pressure values are periodically determined by evaluating a model of flow rate of the fluid through nozzle in response to the initial value of the flow characteristic and a desired flow rate value. Thereafter, the control provides command signals to the metering valve as a function of the desired nozzle pressures. A new value of the flow characteristic is determined as a function of the measured volume of fluid dispensed during the dispensing cycle to the measured nozzle pressure. During a subsequent dispensing cycle, the control determines the desired nozzle pressures by evaluating the model of flow rate of the fluid through the nozzle as a function of the new value of the flow characteristic.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing control for controlling the dispensing of a fluid by a metering valve through a nozzle onto a workpiece. An initial value of a flow characteristic of the fluid is determined that is correlated to the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and nozzle pressure. Desired nozzle pressure values are periodically determined by evaluating a model of flow rate of the fluid through nozzle in response to the initial value of the flow characteristic and a desired flow rate value. Thereafter, the control provides command signals to the metering valve as a function of the desired nozzle pressures. A new value of the flow characteristic is determined as a function of the measured volume of fluid dispensed during the dispensing cycle to the measured nozzle pressure. During a subsequent dispensing cycle, the control determines the desired nozzle pressures by evaluating the model of flow rate of the fluid through the nozzle as a function of the new value of the flow characteristic.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular access device for introducing a catheter in a blood vessel using a guide advancing mechanism. The device generally comprises a housing, an introducer needle, a catheter, a guide wire and an actuating means. The introducer needle of the vascular access device is used to penetrate the blood vessel. The actuating means is then initiated and the guide wire is steadily propelled into the blood vessel. Once the guide wire is in place, the catheter, which is concentrically placed over the introducer needle and guide wire, is uncoupled from the vascular access device and guided into the blood vessel by the guide wire.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing control for controlling the dispensing of a fluid by a metering valve through a nozzle onto a workpiece. An initial value of a flow characteristic of the fluid is determined that is correlated to the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and nozzle pressure. Desired nozzle pressure values are periodically determined by evaluating a model of flow rate of the fluid through nozzle in response to the initial value of the flow characteristic and a desired flow rate value. Thereafter, the control provides command signals to the metering valve as a function of the desired nozzle pressures. A new value of the flow characteristic is determined as a function of the measured volume of fluid dispensed during the dispensing cycle to the measured nozzle pressure. During a subsequent dispensing cycle, the control determines the desired nozzle pressures by evaluating the model of flow rate of the fluid through the nozzle as a function of the new value of the flow characteristic.

Abstract: An arrangement for the automatic application of milking apparatus to a milk animal including a milking apparatus store, a milking apparatus handling device including a milking apparatus carrier movable on the device and a teat sensor on the handling device together with at least one animal position sensor and a control unit responsive to the animal and teat sensor to operate the handling device, the arrangement being such that when an animal is sensed to be in milking position the control unit operates the handling device to take milking apparatus for a teat of the animal from the store in the carrier to a specific teat with the carrier moved to a sideways offset at a selected angle to the device and the teat sensor in range of the teat.

Abstract: Comb-shaped polymers, comprised of hydrophilic backbones and dye-containi hydrophobic side chains are fabricated into multilayered, polarized, noncentrosymmetric, thin films by means of Langmuir-Blodgett processing techniques. These films exhibit harmonic, generated by shining a laser through the film, increases quadratically with the number of layers of polymeric dye in the film.

Abstract: Comb-shaped polymers, comprised of hydrophilic backbones and dye-containi hydrophobic side chains are synthesized for use in multilayered, noncentrosymmetric, thin films by means of Langmuir-Blodgett processing techniques. The second harmonic signal generation exhibited by these films increases quadratically with the number of layers of polymeric dye in the film.

Abstract: A method for depositing liquid material onto a workpiece in the form of a deposit having a desired conformation wherein the material is discharged under pressure from the nozzle of a dispensing gun which can be manipulated by a robot to lay the deposit according to a programmed pattern on the workpiece. One or more gas jets are directed toward the material after the material is discharged from the nozzle to impart a desired conformation to the material deposited on the workpiece. The flow rate of the gas jets is controlled in accordance with the liquid flow rate to maintain substantial uniformity of the conformation of the deposit. The flow rate of the gas jets may also be controlled with reference to a tool speed signal which varies according to the relative speed between the nozzle and the workpiece as well as an auxiliary signal the latter of which can be used to selectively alter the conformation of the deposit.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing apparatus having a controller which operates to modify a tool speed signal from a robot and to generate a corrected signal to the dispenser nozzle flow controller which compensates for non-linear flow characteristics of fluids, such as non-Newtonian adhesive fluids, to maintain uniform bead size as the tool speed varies. The corrected tool speed signal is generated by computing the ideal flow for the tool speed signaled, comparing the computed flow with actual flow data stored in a memory using linear interpolation of data between the stored values, and generating a control signal modified in accordance with the comparison. The stored data is acquired by operation in a calibration mode wherein a series of standard signals is sent to the fluid controller while the actual flow at each signal level is measured and stored in a table. The method of operation corrects non-linear flow phenomena such as the shear-thinning effect.