Abstract: A security seal of the twist-type comprises a housing (11) that contains a revolving stem-like insert (13) having two axially opposed holes (17) positioned in line with guiding holes (19) which extend across the housing wall to receive a locking wire which is wound by turning the revolving stem (13) with a handle (15) solidly fixed to it in a pre-determined direction. The revolving stem has a disc-shaped section with an anti-rotational device that comprises six helical teeth (35) engaging with matching shoulders (37) formed on the respectively matching surfaces of the inner wall of the housing to prevent rotation of the stem in the unwinding direction. Included is a lid (27) to cover the stem-like insert once it is in place in the housing, the lid being attached to the housing by means of a breakable strip (59) and an identification code engraved inside the lid, said identification being at least partially identical to an univocal code identification engraved on the housing.

Abstract: A novel blast nozzle and nozzle apparatus are provided to eliminate time and tooling requirements of prior art blast nozzles. The nozzle is utilizable with a union connector, which includes a connector body having an axial bore and a boss centrally disposed within the bore. The connector also has a collet seated within the bore that includes gripping teeth. The teeth are oriented inwardly toward the boss and are positioned at an engagement distance from the boss. The nozzle includes a nozzle body with an inlet end and an axial bore. The nozzle also includes a capture band that is positioned about the nozzle body at approximately the engagement distance from the inlet end. The capture band is sized and configured to substantially engage the gripping teeth of the collet to restrict axial movement of the nozzle upon insertion into the connector.

Abstract: A portable memory devices which is connectable with a computer. The memory device has a display and suitable controls for scrolling through a list of file names within the memory or within an optional memory card attached to the memory device. This allows the user to see the names, files sizes, data types, etc. of the files on the memory device and/or the optionally attached memory card.

Abstract: An electronic data device used for reminding a user of an event, deadline, appointment, or the like. The device includes a housing which contains internal electronic components such as a microprocessor coupled to a data memory. These internal components are electrically coupled to external electronic components of the housing such as an input arrangement, for entering time and/or date data into the data memory, a data entry display for displaying the entry of data into the data memory, and a reminder display for indicating including an array of lights for displaying signals which indicate a continuous countdown of time corresponding to the time and/or date data from the data memory. In one embodiment the device includes an clip attachment mechanism for attaching the device to an article such as a file folder, a refrigerator, or the like.

Abstract: An automated method of managing computing resources having a workload of a given type comprises providing resource data collectors for collecting data regarding performance of the resources, such as a server network, in accordance with the type of workload; developing a forecast of utilization of the resources, based on historical performance data; and collecting real-time performance data regarding the resources running under the workload. The method then includes analyzing the performance data and the forecast to identify a critical resource: and automatically adjusting a capacity of the resource to provide steady-state performance of the resource under the workload. Additional hardware resources such as CPUs, computer memory and computer disk storage are initially available to, but unused by, the computing resources.

Abstract: Optical sensors used in harsh environments require a sealed pressure tight passage of an optical waveguide into an interior of the sensor. In one embodiment, a pressure sensor assembly for determining the pressure of a fluid in a harsh environment includes a sensing element suspended within a fluid filled housing. An optical waveguide that provides communication with the sensing element couples to a feedthrough assembly, which includes a cane-based optical waveguide forming a glass plug sealingly disposed in the housing. The glass plug provides optical communication between the optical waveguide and the sensing element. A pressure transmitting device can transmit the pressure of the fluid to the fluid within the housing. The assembly can maintain the sensing element in a near zero base strain condition and can protect the sensing element from shock/vibration.

Abstract: An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly passes at least one optical waveguide through a bulk head, a sensor wall, or other feedthrough member. The optical waveguide feedthrough assembly comprises a cane-based optical waveguide that forms a glass plug sealingly disposed in a feedthrough housing. For some embodiments, the optical waveguide includes a tapered surface biased against a seal seat formed in the housing. The feedthrough assembly can include an annular gold gasket member disposed between the tapered surface and the seal seat. The feedthrough assembly can further include a backup seal. The backup seal comprises an elastomeric annular member disposed between the glass plug and the housing. The backup seal may be energized by a fluid pressure in the housing. The feedthrough assembly is operable in high temperature and high pressure environments.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and a data processing system for controlling a first climate control device is provided. An operational mode is obtained for each of a plurality of climate control devices. The operational mode of each of the plurality of climate control devices is compared with a desired operational mode of the first climate control device. A determination of whether any of the operational modes of the plurality of climate control devices differs from the desired operational mode. The first climate control device is placed in the desired operational mode dependent on the comparison of the operational modes of the plurality of climate control devices with the desired operational mode.

Abstract: A cleaning machine with a sound suppression system may include a waste recovery tank and a centrifugal-bypass vacuum motor assembly. The vacuum motor assembly may include a working-air flow path and a separate motor-ventilating-air flow path, with the working-air flow path including a working-air inlet and a working-air outlet. The working-air inlet may be fluidly connectable to the waste recovery tank, whereby the vacuum motor assembly may enable a soil-containing fluid to be vacuumed into the waste recovery tank. The cleaning machine also may include a sound-suppression hood that covers at least a part of the vacuum motor assembly. Alternatively, or in addition to the sound-suppression hood, the cleaning machine may include a first muffler assembly and a second muffler assembly. The first muffler assembly may be fluidly connected to the working-air outlet; and the second muffler assembly may be fluidly connected to the first muffler assembly.

Abstract: An orally-administered pre-biotic composition for promoting the growth of normal, healthy intestinal flora while preventing the proliferation of unhealthy and toxic intestinal flora. When ingested, the composition improves the natural biological protection of the human body against toxic substances that are present in foods ingested and those that are produced by abnormal intestinal flora. The suspension is comprised of a source of fructose, esters of short chain fatty acids, salts of short chain fatty acids, sodium or potassium chloride, monocalcium phosphate, and sodium citrate.

Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet and through the media separator. The centrifuge media separator comprises an upper panel, a lower panel, and an outer wall. The upper panel has a central opening formed therein. The outer wall is configured in a generally curvilinear shape and which extends between the upper and lower panels. The outer wall has at least one particulate escape aperture formed therein. The upper panel, lower panel and outer wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to allow a flow of air to enter the air passageway and circulate therethrough toward the outlet. The escape aperture is configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the passageway. The central opening is configured to exhaust the fine particulate out of the passageway.

Abstract: Provided is a blast medium pot for a blast cabinet for delivering blast particulate. The blast medium pot includes a housing portion, a hollow pressure vessel, and a plunger assembly disposed therebetween. The pressure vessel has a blast inlet disposed at an upper end of the interior chamber and a compressed air inlet fluidly connected to a compressed air source for pressurizing the pressure vessel. The plunger assembly has a valve body located within the pressure vessel and is sized and configured such that direct engagement thereof against the blast inlet creates a fluid-tight seal. The plunger assembly is configured such that the valve body is selectively movable between open and closed positions wherein compressed air may be maintained within the pressure vessel when the valve body is in the closed position and blast particulate may pass through the blast inlet when the valve body is in the open position.

Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet and through the media separator. The centrifuge media separator comprises an upper panel, a lower panel, and an outer wall. The upper panel has a central opening formed therein. The outer wall is configured in a generally curvilinear shape and which extends between the upper and lower panels. The outer wall has at least one particulate escape aperture formed therein. The upper panel, lower panel and outer wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to allow a flow of air to enter the air passageway and circulate therethrough toward the outlet. The escape aperture is configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the passageway. The central opening is configured to exhaust the fine particulate out of the passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the position of a hydraulically actuated sliding sleeve valve in real time is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a reference sensor and a position sensor, both of which constitute fiber optic windings wound around the hydraulic fluid cavity used to activate the sleeve. The sensors measure the pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid in the cavity, with the reference sensor circumferentially lengthening to create an optical time delay indicative of the base line pressure of the hydraulic fluid. As the sleeve moves, the position sensor becomes increasingly exposed to the hydraulic fluid pressure and also begins to experience a time delay, which can be compared to the reference sensor's time delay to determine sleeve position.

Abstract: A data input device including a cartridge having an outer surface, a data input element such as a keyboard on the outer surface of the cartridge, and a communications interface within the cartridge. The cartridge is designed to be matedly and removably attachable to a hand held electronic data organizer such that when the data input device is attached to the organizer, both the data input element and the communications interface are electrically connected to a microprocessor of the organizer. Thus, upon attachment, the data input element is capable of inputting data into the microprocessor and the communications interface is capable of transmitting data between the microprocessor and a telecommunications network.

Abstract: A submersible canal bypass is used to bypass the flow around a distinct section of an earthen canal for lining. The canal bypass is placed within the canal and uses a plurality of pipelines and a plurality of bulkheads assembled from portable modular sections. The headgates on the portable modular sections are so arranged along the bulkhead to divert the flow of water through bypass pipelines so as to isolate a section of the canal during lining activities and return the flow of water to the lined canal after lining.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the position of a hydraulically actuated sliding sleeve valve in real time is disclosed. The apparatus comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a reference sensor and a position sensor, both of which constitute fiber optic windings wound around the hydraulic fluid cavity used to activate the sleeve. The sensors measure the pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid in the cavity, with the reference sensor circumferentially lengthening to create an optical time delay indicative of the base line pressure of the hydraulic fluid. As the sleeve moves, the position sensor becomes increasingly exposed to the hydraulic fluid pressure and also begins to experience a time delay, which can be compared to the reference sensor's time delay to determine sleeve position.

Abstract: There is provided a pipe restoration system which uses abrasives to remove encrustation from a piping system. The pipe restoration system first comprises a main header having a plurality of header outlets. A pressure generator with abrasives is also provided with the system and is connected to one of the header outlets to receive air pressure therefrom. The pressure generator is further connected to one of piping system's inlets so as to discharge the abrasives therethrough via the air pressure. A separator is connected to the piping system's outlet to receive and separate the abrasives from the encrustation removed thereby. The separator retains the abrasives therewithin. Lastly, a particle collector is connected to the separator to receive and retain the encrustation separated in the separator.