Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods for processing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin into highly desirable product forms that fill the needs of the fluoropolymer industry. The subject invention concerns methods for making a multi-directional planar oriented PTFE resin structure. PTFE produced by methods of the present invention will challenge or exceed the capabilities of melt processable resins and accomplish many of the goals not previously realized by the fluoropolymer industry. The subject invention also concerns methods for preparing PTFE resin primary colloidal particles. The subject invention also concerns the PTFE primary colloidal particles produced by the methods and products utilizing the particles.

Abstract: A software and method for updating a scan tool with limited memory are provided. An available diagnostic software database is located remotely from the scan tool. The diagnostic software database is vastly larger than the available memory on the scan tool. The technician can access the database and download the software modules he needs based on the vehicle or vehicles he is servicing and the available scan tool memory.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool and method are provided wherein the diagnostic tool can function as an inspection tool and a scan tool. The diagnostic tool determines if it is authorized for an inspection and then functions as an inspection tool and does not allow the scan tool function until the inspection is completed or voided. A software of the diagnostic tool includes a shared code, an inspection tool mode and a scan tool mode. The scan tool code and the inspection code are not shared so that updating of one code does not affect the code of the other.

Abstract: Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are structurally related to the pepsins, thought to be restricted to the hoofed (ungulate) mammals and characterized by being expressed specifically in the outer epithelial cell layer (chorion/trophectoderm) of the placenta. By cloning expressed genes from ovine and bovine placental cDNA libraries, the inventors estimate that cattle, sheep, and most probably all ruminant Artiodactyla, possess possibly 100 or more PAG genes, many of which are placentally expressed. The PAGs are highly diverse in sequence, with regions of hypervariability confined largely to surface-exposed loops. Selected PAG that are products of the i0nvasive binucleate cells, expressed highly in early pregnancy at the time of trophoblast invasion and expressed weakly, if at all, in late gestation are useful in the early diagnosis of pregnancy. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to immunoassays for detecting these PAGs.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to methods for processing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin into highly desirable product forms that fill the needs of the fluoropolymer industry. The subject invention concerns methods for making a multi-directional planar oriented PTFE resin structure. PTFE produced by methods of the present invention will challenge or exceed the capabilities of melt processable resins and accomplish many of the goals not previously realized by the fluoropolymer industry. The subject invention also concerns methods for preparing PTFE resin primary colloidal particles. The subject invention also concerns the PTFE primary colloidal particles produced by the methods and products utilizing the particles.

Abstract: An improved hand held starting/charging system tester. According to one aspect of the present invention, the portable handheld tester includes a connector to which various test cables can be removably connected to the tester. Detection circuitry within the tester determines which of several types of test cable is connected to the tester before testing. According to another aspect of the present invention, the portable handheld tester includes an improved user interface that permits a user to review test data from previously performed tests and further permits a user to either skip a previously performed test (thereby retaining the previously collected data for that test) or re-do the test (thereby collecting new data for that test). According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the portable handheld tester that performs a more complete set of tests of the starting/charging system.

Abstract: A guide rail support assembly includes a brace and a guide rail positioned on the brace. A hook device having a base and two hooks extending from the base and around the brace and secures the guide rail to the brace. The brace has no apertures such that the hooks extend completely around the brace without penetrating any portion of the brace. Adjustment shims are positioned adjacent the brace and a spring clip is mounted adjacent the base and the adjustment shims for securing the hook device to the brace.

Abstract: A guide rail support assembly includes a brace and a guide rail positioned on the brace. A hook device having a base and two hooks extending from the base and around the brace and secures the guide rail to the brace. The brace has no apertures such that the hooks extend completely around the brace without penetrating any portion of the brace. Adjustment shims are positioned adjacent the brace and a spring clip is mounted adjacent the base and the adjustment shims for securing the hook device to the brace.

Abstract: An OBDII device method and system includes an inexpensive, user friendly way to determine a vehicle's readiness for emissions testing and if repairs were successful. An audible and/or visual indicator is provided to alert the repair shop technician or driver that the vehicle has completed its drive cycle and may now be tested for compliance with state and federal emissions laws or indicate that the emissions related repairs were successful.

Abstract: An OBDII device and method and system which includes an inexpensive, user friendly way to determine a vehicle's readiness status for emissions testing. An audible or visual indication that may or may not be wirelessly connected to the tool is provided to alert the repair shop technician or driver that the vehicle has completed its drive cycle and may now be tested for compliance with state and federal emissions laws. The device also includes the ability to prevent the tool from discharging a power source of the vehicle when the device is coupled to the vehicle.

Abstract: An oriented, i.e. uniaxial or biaxial, thermoplastic article, e.g. extruded sheet, blown film, and cast film, comprising a first component comprising a continuous phase and a dispersed phase, where A) the continuous phase contains a polymer composition resulting from the polymerization of a monomer mixture containing a styrenic monomer and an alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer in the presence of the dispersed phase; and B) the dispersed phase contains one or more block copolymer selected from diblock and triblock copolymers of styrene-butadiene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-isoprene, styrene-isoprene-styrene, partially hydrogenated styrene-isoprene-styrene, wherein the oriented thermoplastic article has a thickness ranging from 0.02 mm to 0.50 mm, a tensile strength ranging from 15 Mpa to 70 Mpa as measured by ASTM D 882, an impact value ranging between 0.05 ft. lb/mil to 1.0 ft. lb/mil as measured by ASTM D 3763, and a Haze value less than 10% as measured by ASTM D 1003.

Abstract: A railroad turnout lift frog has a combination tread and flange bearing design that uses two separate castings to form the lift frog and securely bolt it to the main rail. The lift frog allows for a continuous, unbroken mainline track and also has built-in guarding for a safer move.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to uniaxially-oriented extrudate and methods for processing the same utilizing colloidal size polytetrafluoroethylene resin particles. Still another aspect of the subject invention relates to the advantage of uniaxially paste extruding colloidal size PTFE particles and particularly micron size fillers and additive up to 90% by volume. Another aspect of the subject invention relates to biaxially-oriented PTFE compositions made from uniaxially-oriented paste extrudate of the invention in the hydrostatic pressure coalescible state. The subject invention also relates to methods for preparing porous biaxially-oriented PFTE compositions utilizing fugitive pore-forming materials and methods for forming shapes from the PTFE composition of the subject invention.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of an improved OBT are provided. General concepts of the invention include an OBT combined with an optical scanner. In one embodiment, the OBT includes a housing that at least partially retains a processor; vehicle communication circuitry for linking to a vehicle diagnostic system, and an optical reader for optically obtaining additional information. Another exemplary embodiment includes an OBT used in conjunction with a bar code scanner and/or a camera. In addition, a method of obtaining diagnostic data from the vehicle diagnostic system and optically obtaining information using an off-board device is provided.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of an improved OBT are provided. General concepts of the invention include an OBT combined with an optical scanner. In one embodiment, the OBT includes a housing that at least partially retains a processor; vehicle communication circuitry for linking to a vehicle diagnostic system, and an optical reader for optically obtaining additional information. Another exemplary embodiment includes an OBT used in conjunction with a bar code scanner and/or a camera. In addition, a method of obtaining diagnostic data from the vehicle diagnostic system and optically obtaining information using an off-board device is provided.

Abstract: An improved code reader for reading and displaying OBD II diagnostic codes. The code reader displays textual diagnosis descriptions corresponding to diagnostic codes. The code reader can display both an OBD II code and the textual diagnosis description corresponding to a selected OBD II code by using multiple display rows for the display. The improved code reader also uses an improved user interface.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of off-board tools (OBTS) may be used in vehicle inspection maintenance programs are provided. The OBT may include a processor, vehicle communication circuitry for linking to a vehicle diagnostic system, host interface circuitry for communicating with a host computer, and voltage determination circuitry for measuring a voltage through the vehicle diagnostic system. The OBT may include logic for storing a communications protocol used to link with a vehicle diagnostic system that is preferably used for re-establishing dropped communications links. In addition, the OBT may contain logic for testing at least one component of a starting and/or charging system of a vehicle. Still other embodiments may include logic for sending unsolicited messages to a host computer. Additional embodiments may include logic for determining the minimum number of messages that must be received by an OBT.

Abstract: A single input having multiple functions is provided. The single input having multiple functions may be used on off-board tools. In accordance with one embodiment, an off-board tool having a read/scroll actuator is provided. The read/scroll actuator, upon being actuated, performs either a read function or a scroll function. Another embodiment of an off-board tool having a display and capable of receiving information is provided. The off-board tool includes a contextual actuator having a first and a second mode. Actuation of the actuator in the first mode effectuates retrieval of information. Actuation of the actuator in the second mode effectuates display of at least a portion of the retrieved information. In accordance with another embodiment, an off-board device is provided. The off-board tool includes a display, read logic, scroll logic and a read/scroll actuator. Another embodiment of an off-board tool includes a display, a read means, a scroll means and a read/scroll means.

Abstract: An improved code reader for reading and displaying OBD II diagnostic codes. The code reader displays textual diagnosis descriptions corresponding to diagnostic codes. Although the code reader preferably has a display having fewer available display characters than the number of characters in the OBD II textual diagnosis descriptions, the code reader can display both an OBD II code and the textual diagnosis description corresponding to a selected OBD II code. This is accomplished using code giving the appearance that the textual diagnosis description corresponding to the selected OBD II code is either streaming on the display or scrolling on the display.

Abstract: This invention involves forward integration of the art paste extrusion process by adding a step to the processing sequence to change the uniaxially-oriented art form to a desirable planar biaxially-oriented form. This invention also involves the backward integration of the resin preparation to reduce the commercial coagulated dispersion resin particle size (average 500 micron) to the size range of colloidal size particles contained within the original 500 micron particle. In this small particulate form, the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin can be blended more homogeneously and extruded with less turbulence in the plug extrusion process, the rheological mechanism of this extrusion process. The size reduction makes processing of micron size fillers possible in up to 90 percent volume of the PTFE resin. This invention also provides a direct and simple method of producing planar biaxially-oriented sheet and a source of resin formulations for fabricating other forms and shapes.