Abstract: A recoil mechanism for an auto-loading firearm, having a gas-operated action bar assembly. One or more compression springs are used, mounted on associated retaining rods contained in a stationary orientation on the firearm. The springs are linked to the firearm's gas system at one end, and bear against stops affixed to ends of the spring retaining rods. The entire mechanism is contained within a forward grip mounted on the firearm, the grip optionally being provided with mounting rails.

Abstract: A tracheostomy dilator is curved along its length having a tapering patient end region (5) at one end and an oppositely curved handle region (7) at its opposite end. A passage (10) extends rearwardly along the dilator from its patient end (4) and opens on a side of the dilator at an opening (12) in the handle region (7). The passage (10) is blocked rearwardly of the opening (12) by an insert (2) with a forward ramp surface (23), which directs a guidewire (30). In use, one end of the guidewire (30) projects from the patient end (4) of the dilator and its opposite end extends along the outside of the handle region (7).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric compositions suitable for injection molding of single or multi-component pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising a plurality of drug substance containing sub-units, being capsule compartments and/or solid sub-units comprising a solid matrix of a polymer which contains a drug substance, the sub-units being connected together in the assembled dosage form by a weld between parts of the assembled dosage form.

Abstract: A rotation detection kit, comprising: a beam source; a receiver comprising at least one beam intensity sensor; a polarizer device for location in the path of a beam emitted from the beam source and received by the beam sensor; and a modulator. The modulator is configured to modulate at least one of i) the beam source and ii) a beam emitted by the beam source to create a discretely varying polarization orientation thereby defining first and at least second temporally spaced beam portions. The temporally spaced beam portions are incident on the polarizer device and the beam sensor and have substantially identical profiles and at least an initial common propagation axis toward the polarizer device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutically acceptable polymeric compositions suitable for injection molding of single or multi-component pharmaceutical dosage forms comprising a plurality of drug substance containing sub-units, being capsule compartments and/or solid sub-units comprising a solid matrix of a polymer which contains a drug substance, the sub-units being connected together in the assembled dosage form by a weld between parts of the assembled dosage form.

Abstract: A clipper seam for joining the ends of a belt, are connected by interdigitated staples which are looped about a pintle and provide barbs on their remote ends to penetrate into the material of the belt. Each end is covered by an edge strip of vinyl by radio frequency welding, and a flap is attached to one end on the low pressure side of the belt by a portion, and folded over to cover the seam on the low pressure side by means of a flap which extends beyond the seam area of the other end. A central area to each side of the seam is impregnated with polyurethane to resist abrasion which tends to concentrate in this area.

Abstract: A reservation system for managing access to access controlled locations by issuing an access code that is valid at a particular lock for a particular time. The reservation system includes a standalone lock that has a processor, clock and memory. The processor of the lock checks an access code entered at a given time against the access codes stored in the memory to determine if they are valid for the given time provided by the clock. The reservation system also include a management module that receives a booking and issues an access code. A user interface is provided for a user to interact with the functions of the management module. The invention also includes a method of booking an access controlled location, a method of monitoring an access controlled location, an a standalone lock for an access controlled location.

Abstract: A turbine unit (11) comprising a passage (23) through which a fluid may pass. Located within the passage (23) is a driving turbine blade set (25) upstream from a pumping turbine blade set (27) wherein the diameter of the pumping turbine blade is larger than the diameter of the driving turbine blade set. The driving turbine blade set and pumping turbine blade set are mounted in opposed relation whereby the turbine blade sets are in reversed orientation with respect to each other such that in simultaneous operation a region between the two turbine blade sets has a lower pressure than the fluid pressure at an opening of the passage. This induces a greater mass flow rate through the turbine unit than would otherwise be created by a pumping turbine blade set equal to or smaller in diameter than the driving turbine blade set.

Abstract: A rotation detection kit, comprising a source for generating at least a first polarized beam emitted along a propagation axis, a receiver comprising at least a first beam intensity sensor and an analyzer. The analyzer comprises a first polarizer device for location in the at least first polarized beam between the source and at least first beam intensity sensor. The first polarizer device is configured such that the receiver can measure rotation between the source and the analyzer about a first axis that is non-parallel to the propagation axis based on the at least first beam intensity sensor's output.

Abstract: A method for determining integrity of annular seals in wellbores. In an embodiment, two wellbores are selected that extend through a common geological formation which is capable of sealing against casing sections located in the wellbores. A pressure test is typically carried out in a first of the wellbores to check that the formation provides an effective seal, and a logging tool is typically run to obtain well log data from which can be derived a characteristic response that is associated with the formation providing an effective annular seal around the casing section in the first wellbore. A logging tool may then be run in the second of the wellbores to obtain a second set of well log data, which are comparable with the characteristic response to determine whether the formation provides an effective annular seal in the second wellbore.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for regenerating an exhaust gas recirculation cooler. One example method includes, initiating an EGR cooler regeneration mode, wherein the EGR cooler regeneration mode comprises changing a fuel distribution of a donor cylinder group relative to a non-donor cylinder group of an engine, and increasing at least one of engine speed or load of the engine.

Abstract: A containment case comprises a composite core, with an inner surface, and at least one ceramic layer integrated with the composite core. The at least one ceramic layer is bonded to the inner surface of the composite core with a resin. In another embodiment, a containment case comprises a composite core, with an inner surface, and a hybrid material comprising at least one ceramic material and at least one non-ceramic material. The hybrid material is disposed on the inner surface of the composite core. The hybrid material is bonded to the inner surface of the composite core with a resin. A method of fabricating a containment case includes the steps of disposing one or more layers of ceramic fabric on an inner surface of a composite core, infusing the composite core and the one or more layers of ceramic fabric with resin, and curing the resin.

Abstract: An encoding data processing apparatus generates a marked version of an audio signal. The marked copy is generated by embedding data representative of a payload data word into the audio signal. A code word generator that generates a water mark code word from the payload data word and reads data representing the water mark code word into a shuffle data store. A shuffle processor that generates pseudo randomly at least one address within an address space of the shuffle data store for each predetermined period and reads data representing the water mark code word out from the data store at locations identified by the randomly generated address. A data embedding processor that receives the audio signal and embeds the data representing the water mark code word read out from the shuffle data store into the audio signal for each predetermined period.

Abstract: A computer system and method for providing computer services to a user which comprises a plurality virtual computers with each virtual computer associated with a virtual operating system; a virtualization layer for establishing a communication between each virtual computer and a corresponding host computer; a virtual computer selector for allowing the user to establish on an unscheduled basis a network communication between a terminal device and a user virtual computer; and a storage system for making a virtual application program substantially instantaneously available to the user virtual computer and to the user operating the terminal device, whereby the user able to begin interacting with the at least one virtual application program.

Abstract: Various methods for and embodiments of an aftertreatment system which includes a catalyst disposed upstream of a particulate filter are provided. In one example, the method includes, conducting soot regeneration of the particulate filter under a selected operating condition, and determining whether a soot regeneration frequency of the particulate filter is greater than a threshold frequency. The method further includes initiating a sulfur regeneration of the aftertreatment system based on the soot regeneration frequency of the particulate filter being greater than the threshold frequency, determining whether the soot regeneration frequency of the particulate filter is less than the threshold frequency after the sulfur regeneration, and conducting non-regeneration operation of the aftertreatment system based on the soot regeneration frequency of the particulate filter being less than the threshold frequency after the sulfur regeneration of the aftertreatment system.

Abstract: An exhaust gas treatment device includes a first substrate coated with a low temperature catalyst configured to facilitate formation of an oxidizer when an exhaust gas temperature is below a threshold temperature. The device further includes a second substrate coated with a high temperature catalyst and positioned coaxially with the first substrate, the high temperature catalyst configured to facilitate formation of the oxidizer when the exhaust gas temperature is above the threshold temperature.

Abstract: A stator arrangement particularly suitable for use in an air-cooled generator or other such electric machine includes a stator with an outer stator surface, an opening therein defining an inner stator surface, and longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. Conductive coils are supported by the stator, and include end turns overlying the longitudinally opposed stator end surfaces. In order to block out environmental contaminants and prevent conductive coil shorting, protective barriers are mounted over the end turns and secured to the stator.

Abstract: An improved fluid cooling arrangement for an electric machine, such as an electric motor, a generator, or a motor/generator assembly, is provided. In its most general sense, the fluid-cooled electric machine includes a rotor disposed on a motor shaft, a stator surrounding the rotor, and a motor housing surrounding the stator, with the stator formed of a laminated stack of stator plates that is plated at its outer surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a linker of the type having an injection molded jacket radially confining a preformed tablet. The method includes grasping the tablet about the outer surface with a plurality of pincers and positioning the grasped tablet and the pincers with respect to a molding apparatus. The method also includes supporting the tablet via the pincers and injecting jacket material to cover the outer tablet surface and the pincers. The method further includes extracting the jacketed tablet from the molding apparatus and removing the pincers from the jacketed tablet. The method may also include supporting and longitudinally positioning the tablet within the mold via a plurality of additional pincers.

Abstract: A method of providing, over a network, an image for recreation in a device, the image containing a background and a foreground object and the method comprising: detecting the position of the foreground object in the image and generating position information on dependence thereon; removing the foreground object from the image; and transferring to the device i) the image with the foreground object removed, ii) the removed foreground object and iii) the position information.