Abstract: A gate valve is provided with a flapper mechanism that is disposed in the main body of the valve and automatically works to seal and isolate the main body of the valve from a bonnet. The bonnet is isolated without any manual function or operation. When the flapper valve is in a closed position, the bonnet, gate and gate actuating mechanism can be removed from the gate valve body without isolating the gate valve. This enables the bonnet and associated components to be repaired or replaced while water or fluid under pressure continues to flow through the main body of the gate valve.

Abstract: Processing data includes: receiving units of work that each include one or more work elements, and processing a first unit of work using a first compiled dataflow graph (160) loaded into a data processing system (100) in response to receiving the first unit of work. The processing includes: analysis to determine a characteristic of the first unit of work; identifying one or more compiled dataflow graphs from graphs stored in a data storage system (107) that include at least some that were compiled for processing a unit of work having the determined characteristic; loading one of the identified compiled dataflow graphs into the data processing system (100) as the first compiled dataflow graph (160); and generating one or more output work elements from at least one work element in the first unit of work.

Abstract: Managing data by: receiving a group of individually accessible data units, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values determined such that the key value identifying a first data unit received before a second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system. The processing includes: storing blocks of data, the blocks being generated by combining a plurality of the data units; providing an index with entries that enable location, based on a provided key value, of a block that includes a data unit corresponding to the provided key value; and generating one or more screening data structures associated with the blocks for determining, based on a given key value, whether to search the stored blocks for a data unit corresponding to the given key value.

Abstract: Processing data includes: receiving units of work that each include one or more work elements, and processing a first unit of work using a first compiled dataflow graph (160) loaded into a data processing system (100) in response to receiving the first unit of work. The processing includes: analysis to determine a characteristic of the first unit of work; identifying one or more compiled dataflow graphs from graphs stored in a data storage system (107) that include at least some that were compiled for processing a unit of work having the determined characteristic; loading one of the identified compiled dataflow graphs into the data processing system (100) as the first compiled dataflow graph (160); and generating one or more output work elements from at least one work element in the first unit of work.

Abstract: Managing data by: receiving a group of individually accessible data units, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values determined such that the key value identifying a first data unit received before a second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system. The processing includes: storing blocks of data, the blocks being generated by combining a plurality of the data units; providing an index with entries that enable location, based on a provided key value, of a block that includes a data unit corresponding to the provided key value; and generating one or more screening data structures associated with the blocks for determining, based on a given key value, whether to search the stored blocks for a data unit corresponding to the given key value.

Abstract: Managing data by: receiving a group of individually accessible data units, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values determined such that the key value identifying a first data unit received before a second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system. The processing includes: storing blocks of data, the blocks being generated by combining a plurality of the data units; providing an index with entries that enable location, based on a provided key value, of a block that includes a data unit corresponding to the provided key value; and generating one or more screening data structures associated with the blocks for determining, based on a given key value, whether to search the stored blocks for a data unit corresponding to the given key value.

Abstract: Managing data by: receiving a group of individually accessible data units, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values determined such that the key value identifying a first data unit received before a second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system. The processing includes: storing blocks of data, the blocks being generated by combining a plurality of the data units; providing an index with entries that enable location, based on a provided key value, of a block that includes a data unit corresponding to the provided key value; and generating one or more screening data structures associated with the blocks for determining, based on a given key value, whether to search the stored blocks for a data unit corresponding to the given key value.

Abstract: Managing data includes: receiving at least one group of individually accessible data units over an input device or port, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values of the received data units being sorted such that the key value identifying a given first data unit that is received before a given second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the given second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system.

Abstract: Processing data includes: receiving units of work that each include one or more work elements, and processing a first unit of work using a first compiled dataflow graph (160) loaded into a data processing system (100) in response to receiving the first unit of work. The processing includes: analysis to determine a characteristic of the first unit of work; identifying one or more compiled dataflow graphs from graphs stored in a data storage system (107) that include at least some that were compiled for processing a unit of work having the determined characteristic; loading one of the identified compiled dataflow graphs into the data processing system (100) as the first compiled dataflow graph (160); and generating one or more output work elements from at least one work element in the first unit of work.

Abstract: Managing data includes: receiving at least one group of individually accessible data units over an input device or port, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values of the received data units being sorted such that the key value identifying a given first data unit that is received before a given second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the given second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system.

Abstract: Managing data includes: receiving at least one group of individually accessible data units over an input device or port, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values of the received data units being sorted such that the key value identifying a given first data unit that is received before a given second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the given second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system.

Abstract: Managing data includes: receiving at least one group of individually accessible data units over an input device or port, each data unit identified by a key value, with key values of the received data units being sorted such that the key value identifying a given first data unit that is received before a given second data unit occurs earlier in a sort order than the key value identifying the given second data unit; and processing the data units for storage in a data storage system.

Abstract: A nanopowder synthesis system having an autofuser device which obviates the need for external power switches, and which accommodates repeated discharges (of the order of 107) between ablating electrodes of precursor material at a high repetition rate (?1 Hz).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to maintaining an acceptable level of relative humidity inside of a disk drive. According to one embodiment, clean dry air is blow over a cover of the disk drive. The cover includes an unsealed servo write slot. The amount of clean dry air blown over the cover is regulated while a servo write process is performed so that a portion of the clean dry air is introduced into the disk drive.

Abstract: A sidewalk grader provided for grading a sidewalk base disposed along a curb of an existing road structure. The sidewalk grader comprises a tracking assembly fixable to a vertically adjustable backfill blade of a compact excavator positioned to move forward over an existing road structure to advance the sidewalk grader. The tracking assembly comprises a vertically adjustable tracking means disposed for engagement with the top surface of the curb, to provide a reference point. A grading assembly is mounted to the tracking assembly. The grading assembly comprises a frame, and a grading blade rotatingly mounted to the frame to permit adjustment of slope of the blade. An adjustable link connects the grading blade to the frame to adjustable fix their relative position.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for uniformly pulling a base fabric taut for rug hooking. The apparatus includes an open rectangular frame having spaced parallel upper and lower members and spaced parallel side members having upper surfaces in a common plane. Grippers are pivotally supported on each of the frame members, wherein each of the grippers has a hinged outer edge and an upper surface adapted to grip the base fabric. Each gripper is independently pivotal between a relaxed position wherein the upper surface is parallel to the frame common plane and a raised position in which its upper surface is inclined outwardly. The apparatus further includes gripper actuators each having a gripper engagement end and a hand engagement end. The actuators are pivotal between a relaxed position and an engaged position, whereby the actuator moves the gripper to its raised position when the actuator is moved to the engaged position.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing corrugated boards are disclosed. The method may include the steps of supplying a first web of medium having a first and second sides, wherein each side of the first web having a plurality of flutes, and wherein each flute having a crest, applying a wetting agent and an adhesive composition in a sequential fashion to the plurality of flutes on the first side of the first web, and securing a second web of medium is to the plurality of crests on the first side of the first web to form a single-faced corrugated board.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for uniformly pulling a base fabric taut for rug hooking. The apparatus includes an open rectangular frame having spaced parallel upper and lower members and spaced parallel side members having upper surfaces in a common plane. Grippers are pivotally supported on each of the frame members, wherein each of the grippers has a hinged outer edge and an upper surface adapted to grip the base fabric. Each gripper is independently pivotal between a relaxed position wherein the upper surface is parallel to the frame common plane and a raised position in which its upper surface is inclined outwardly. The apparatus further includes gripper actuators each having a gripper engagement end and a hand engagement end. The actuators are pivotal between a relaxed position and an engaged position, whereby the actuator moves the gripper to its raised position when the actuator is moved to the engaged position.

Abstract: A sidewalk grader provided for grading a sidewalk base disposed along a curb of an existing road structure. The sidewalk grader comprises a tracking assembly fixable to a vertically adjustable backfill blade of a compact excavator positioned to move forward over an existing road structure to advance the sidewalk grader. The tracking assembly comprises a vertically adjustable tracking means disposed for engagement with the top surface of the curb, to provide a reference point. A grading assembly is mounted to the tracking assembly. The grading assembly comprises a frame, and a grading blade rotatingly mounted to the frame to permit adjustment of slope of the blade. An adjustable link connects the grading blade to the frame to adjustable fix their relative position.

Abstract: A sidewalk grader provided for grading a sidewalk base disposed along a curb of an existing road structure. The sidewalk grader comprises a tracking assembly fixable to a vertically adjustable backfill blade of a compact excavator positioned to move forward over an existing road structure to advance the sidewalk grader. The tracking assembly comprises a vertically adjustable tracking means disposed for engagement with the top surface of the curb, to provide a reference point. A grading assembly is mounted to the tracking assembly. The grading assembly comprises a frame, and a grading blade rotatingly mounted to the frame to permit adjustment of slope of the blade. An adjustable link connects the grading blade to the frame to adjustable fix their relative position.