Abstract: A printing mechanism of a plastic card retransfer printer includes a platen roller with a homing mechanism attached thereto that automatically returns the platen roller to the same home position at the end of each printing pass. The homing mechanism ensures that the portion of the retransfer film being printed on travels over the same surfaces of the platen roller in each print pass. Therefore, any variations in the surface of the platen roller will manifest themselves at the same locations on the resulting printing on the retransfer film.

Abstract: A printing mechanism of a plastic card retransfer printer includes a platen roller with a homing mechanism attached thereto that automatically returns the platen roller to the same home position at the end of each printing pass. The homing mechanism ensures that the portion of the retransfer film being printed on travels over the same surfaces of the platen roller in each print pass. Therefore, any variations in the surface of the platen roller will manifest themselves at the same locations on the resulting printing on the retransfer film.

Abstract: A fitted sheet for a mattress comprises a rectangular panel of knit material having a central rectangular area extending from one end of said panel to the other end thereof. Side margins flank the central area, and folded under said central area and joined thereto by seams extending across each end of the central rectangular area. The sheet is characterized in that the seams at each end of said central rectangular area are arcuate.

Abstract: A mattress covering is described. The covering may be a sheet or a mattress pad. A mattress pad according to the present invention has: i) a central rectangular panel comprising a plurality of layers including an upper textile layer, a lower textile layer, and a batting layer quilted to at least one of the upper and lower textile layers. Side panels depend from the central panel, comprising a single layer of a textile fabric. End panels are defined by extensions of the central panel. The side panels are joined to the end panels by seams extending in a transverse direction in relation to the rectangular central panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to treat fluid streams, and in particular emissions from lean-burn engines such as diesel engines, are disclosed, which use multiple catalysts chosen to remove hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and oxides of nitrogen. The apparatus and method also provide for heat exchange between the inlet and outlet exhaust streams to sustain the catalyzed reactions, by placing the catalysts in the temperature zones where their operation is enhanced, and they also allow for regeneration of a filter used to trap particulate matter in the streams.

Abstract: A fitted sheet for a mattress comprises a rectangular panel of knit material having a central rectangular area extending from one end of said panel to the other end thereof. Side margins flank the central area, and folded under said central area and joined thereto by seams extending across each end of the central rectangular area. The sheet is characterized in that the seams at each end of said central rectangular area are arcuate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing computer resources in a network environment. A network of computer systems is partitioned into at least one computing system partition, and is configured into at least one redundancy group. The computing system partitions include applications, computing system nodes, and copies of a database schema. The copies of the database schema are replicated at each computing system partition within a network. The computing system partition manages interactions between the instances, the computing system nodes, and the copy of the database schema within the respective computing system partition. The redundancy group comprises at least one computing system and at a plurality of computing system partitions, and manages the replication of the database schema within the computing system and computing system partitions.

Abstract: A method and a system of assembling a launch vehicle vertically on an aboveground platform are presented in the present invention. The method of the present invention enables a rapid assembly of the launch vehicle; thus substantially reducing the final cost of the launch vehicle. The system of the present invention includes a plurality of specially designed tools that enable the rapid assembly of the launch vehicle.

Abstract: An orbital assist module and an interstage for a launch vehicle. The orbital assist module includes a cylindrical outer wall and a support structure secured to an inner surface of the cylindrical outer wall. The support structure defines a plurality of fuel tank supporting zones, at least one of the zones supporting a fuel tank by means of securing formations. A plurality of nozzles are connected to the fuel tanks by means of fuel lines and a plurality of valves are mounted in the fuel lines. The interstage comprises a cylinder having a leading and a trailing end and an explosive connector at the leading end for connecting the interstage to a trailing end of a launch vehicle motor. A connecting bracket is secured to the trailing end of the cylinder for connecting a second launch vehicle motor to the cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for regenerating a catalyst absorber after contact with a combustion exhaust which consist of a pair of cooperating louvered doors one on each side of a bed of catalyst absorber, there being at least two beds such that closing a cooperating pair of louvers, isolates the bed contained between the louvers from the exhaust gases while the other bed is left with the louvers open to continue treating the exhaust gas. Between each pair of louvers and associated with the catalyst absorber bed between the respective pair of louvers, there are positioned a regeneration inlet nozzle and a used regeneration gas outlet. By selectively closing various pairs of the louvers, a portion of the bed can be regenerated while the remainder of the bed continues to treat the exhaust gases. In this way an equivalent amount of active or regenerated catalyst absorber is in contact with the combustion exhaust gases to maintain a specified outlet pollution concentration limit.

Abstract: A launch vehicle pedestal and an umbilical mast in which the pedestal includes a launch mount pedestal and four pedestal adapters. The launch mount pedestal includes a launch vehicle support base having an exhaust opening. Four legs extend downwardly from the support base and pedestal connecting means are secured to lower ends of each of the legs. The four pedestal adapters serve to secure the legs to existing launch vehicle support posts, the pedestal adapters each having adapter connecting means complementarily engageable with the pedestal connecting means. The umbilical mast comprises a plurality of round cylindrical segments connected by means of connectors at their ends. The connectors comprise radially extending flanges with circumferential holes in them. The mast further includes an access door and at least one opening in at least one of the segments for electrical cables and an air conditioning duct.

Abstract: A launch vehicle payload housing and assembly joint for a launch vehicle, the housing comprising a shroud having first and second shell sections, and a frusto-conical payload adapter mounted in the shroud. The shell sections are connected together to form a housing. A peripherally extending explosive seam and a pair of longitudinally extending explosive seams hold the shell sections together. Each seam comprises a plurality of seam elements which include a pair of brackets attached to opposed ends of those parts of the shell abutting the longitudinally and peripherally extending seams. The brackets are spaced from one another to define a cavity. The cavity accommodates a deformable tube which houses explosive material in the form of an explosive cord. Detonation of the explosive material causes the shell sections to separate from one another.

Abstract: A launch vehicle system includes at least one primary solid fuel motor, a shroud for housing a payload and an attitude control system. The attitude control system is connected intermediate the primary solid fuel motor and the shroud. It has a circular outer wall and liquid fuel motors for exerting thrust along a longitudinal axis of the rocket system, and for controlling pitch, roll and yaw of the shroud. The attitude control system includes a support structure defining three pairs of fuel tank supporting zones, each zone having laterally extending supporting brackets connected to the outer wall. The attitude control system also includes connecting tubing for connecting outlets of sets of fuel tanks consisting of one, two and three pairs of fuel tanks to the liquid fuel motors.