Abstract: A system and method for controlling the collisions between elements of an automotive rack and pinion steering apparatus and an end-of-travel stop is presented. The system comprises a sensor for sensing a set of dynamic variables of the rack and pinion steering apparatus and operative thereby to generate as output therefrom a first set of signals indicative of the set of dynamic variables; a controller responsive to the first set of signals and operative thereby to provide as output therefrom a modified torque assist command; and a motor drive assembly drive assembly responsive to the modified torque assist command and operative thereby to provide modified torque assistance to the rack and pinion steering apparatus. In another embodiment, the dynamic data is used to calculate a torque limit to be imposed upon the torque assist command whenever the steering system is close to end-of-stop. The two embodiments may also be superimposed.

Abstract: An optical circulator type device comprising: first, second, third and fourth input/output waveguides; a series of optical elements including polarisation rotation elements; wherein input light omitted from the first input/output waveguide traverses the series of optical elements which spatially separate the light into orthogonal polarisation states, projecting them towards the second and third input/output waveguides respectively; and polarised input light emitted from the second and third input/output waveguides traverse the series of optical elements and is combined at the fourth input/output waveguide.

Abstract: An optical device for producing a polarisation rotation of an optical signal, the device comprising: a birefringent material for, in use, splitting the optical signal into two orthogonal polarisation component signals; a polarisation rotating means for, in use, rotating each polarisation component signal by a predetermined amount, and wherein the device is arranged in a manner such that, in use, the two rotated polarisation component signals are being combined by way of the birefringent material for providing the predetermined polarisation rotated optical signal.

Abstract: A method to design a bi-center drill bit designed to drill out the cement and other material in the casing and then proceed to drill out the full gauge drilling diameter borehole with a diameter greater than the inside of the casing. The bi-center drill bit has a pilot section on the end of the bit body, an eccentric reamer section and a plurality of cutting elements on the pilot section. The design method comprises the steps of: defining a first center of rotation of the pilot section about the longitudinal axis, defining a radius of rotation R1 of the drill bit about the first center of rotation, defining a second center of rotation of the pilot section spaced apart from the first center of rotation by a distance D, defining a radius of rotation R2 of the drill bit about the second center of rotation, and setting the relationship between D, R1 and R2 such that R1 is less than the sum of R2 and D.

Abstract: The present invention is a bi-center drill bit designed to drill out the cement and other material in the casing and then proceed to drill out the full gauge drilling diameter borehole with a diameter greater than the inside of the casing. The bi-center drill bit is configured with non-drilling bearing elements that contact with the casing when the bit is drilling the cement without allowing the gauge cutting elements of the bi-center drill bit to contact the casing. The bi-center drill bit also has a cutting element configuration which prevents reverse scraping of the cutting elements when drilling both the cement and the formation.

Abstract: An applicator article and method are disclosed for inserting a substance into a body cavity. The applicator article and method are especially useful for inserting a catamenial tampon into a woman's vagina. The applicator article includes a tubular member formed from at least one layer of paper which has an exterior surface. The tubular member is capable of holding the substance to be inserted into the body cavity. An exterior surface coating of the tubular member includes a compostable coating composed of at least 85 percent by weight of a polymeric blend material of polylactide and a water-soluble polyethylene oxide, a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol, or a combination of polyethylene oxide and polyvinyl alcohol. In one embodiment, three layers form the exterior surface coating. In one embodiment, the exterior surface coating has a thickness varying in dimension from the insertion end to the opposite external base end.

Abstract: A burner nozzle assembly for the production of synthesis gas in a synthesis gas generation chamber has a cooling water jacket face that is protected from hot gas corrosion by an annular shield fabricated from a high melting point material. The heat shield is affixed to the cooling water jacket face by means of a threaded retaining member that engages in one of the surfaces an aligned channel having correspondingly mating threads.

Abstract: A drillout bi-center bit includes first and second axes of rotation separated by a distance D, a first region of radius D centered on one of the axes of rotation, a second region of radius D centered on the other of the axes of rotation, and a third region defined by the overlap between the first and second regions, wherein the cutters provided within the third region are designed to withstand cutting in opposing cutting directions. This may be achieved by providing each cutter with two cutting faces, or by providing two groups of cutters, one group arranged to cut in one direction, the other group being designed to cut upon rotation in the other direction, one of the groups protruding from the bit body of the bit to a greater depth than the other group.

Abstract: A lubricant composition containing an anti-deposition component having an anti-deposition effect which is especially useful for the lubrication of refrigeration compressors and in reducing or removal of unwanted deposits in constricted areas in a refrigeration system.

Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a spatial light modulator. An integrator rod is positioned in the light path between an arc lamp and the spatial light modulator. At the input surface of the integrated rod, there is positioned a field lens for defocusing areas of turbulence within the arc lamp. In the output surface of the integrated rod there is positioned a plate effective to prevent dust from being attracted to the output surface of the integrator rod. The integrator rod is effective to combine light from two separate light sources.

Abstract: A flushing composition containing a lubricant and a deposit removal component having a deposit removal effect which is especially useful for cleaning refrigeration systems by reducing or removing unwanted deposits in constricted areas in the refrigeration system.

Abstract: This invention relates to lubricant compositions comprising a polyalkylene glycol and an ester wherein the polyalkylene glycol has the formula:

Abstract: An electronic system which facilitates active signs for car park management systems. There is a light sensitive sensor in each car space allowing a very simple circuit to distinguish whether a group of car spaces is full or has one or more vacant spaces available. There is not necessarily a need for a computer or even a microprocessor to ascertain the vacant or full state of a group of car spaces. This electronic system may directly switch devices accordingly.

Abstract: A system an method for determining the Dose Area Product (DAP) in an X-ray imaging system is provided. The present system constructs a pre-determined parameter space describing the DAP contour over ranges of typical imaging parameters. Later, when the employed in clinical imaging, a DAP processor on board the imaging system received a set of the imaging parameters being employed. The DAP applies the set of parameters to the parameter space to interpolate the DAP being delivered by the clinical imaging system. The present system may be individually calibrated to a specific X-ray imaging system to provide more optimal DAP values. Additionally, in imaging system employing an asymmetric shutter, such as a one-leaf shutter, the present system may determine a rotational scale factor for the DAP based on the rotation of the shutter. The rotational scale factor may also be calibrated to an individual X-ray imaging system.

Abstract: A Coriolis flowmeter sensor having a reduced flag dimension. In order to have a reduced flag dimension, the entire length of the flow tubes must vibrate to make the flowmeter sensor more sensitive to Coriolis effects. When the entire length of the flow tubes vibrate, a first set of brace bars connected to the flow tube separates the frequencies of vibration in the flow tubes. A second set of brace bars connected to the flow tubes enhances the zero stability of the flowmeter.

Abstract: A non-reciprocal optical device mapping a series of optical input/output signal waveguides to a corresponding series of optical input/output signal waveguides, the device comprising: a series of spaced apart input/output waveguides; a reflective imaging system for reflecting and focussing light emitted from the input/output waveguides; a plurality of crystal elements between the input/output waveguides and the reflective imaging means; at least one non-reciprocal polarization rotation element; wherein light emitted from a first input/output waveguide is transmitted to a second input/output waveguide in a polarization independent manner and light emitted from the second input/output waveguide is transmitted away from the first input/output waveguide.

Abstract: Sealed packages of foodstuffs which are biological materials, particularly fruit, are vented by a temperature-sensitive control unit. The control unit covers an aperture in a wall of the package. The control unit includes a barrier member which is secured over the aperture by a layer of temperature sensitive adhesive, and a force member which lifts the barrier member away from the aperture when an increase in temperature weakens the adhesive. The force member is preferably elastically deformed.

Abstract: An electric motor actuator used in an environment of varying loads for varying time periods is efficiently designed to a predetermined specification in terms of both motor load and time and operated up to but not exceeding this specification over the full expected operating range. A motor load signal is low pass filtered with a plurality of time constants spanning a range of expected motor operation to generate a plurality of filtered motor load signals each associated with one of the time constants. Each of these filtered motor load signals is compared with a predetermined reference value corresponding to the associated time constant. If one or more of the filtered motor load signals exceeds the predetermined reference value with which it is compared, the one that so exceeds by the greatest margin is selected. A command current limit factor is derived from the selected filtered motor load signal and used to limit the commanded motor current.

Abstract: The present invention is a fully functioning two-wheel drive bicycle (78). The drive train which supplies power to the front wheel (17) is incorporated into a modified frame (91) and comprises a rear wheel (90) driven by the traditional chain or shaft mechanism (23) and the front wheel driven (17) by a series of rigid shafts transferring power from the driven rear wheel (90) to the front wheel (17).

Abstract: A network shelf is disclosed for connecting a number of devices together. The shelf includes a backplane having multiple device slots. It also includes multiple links connected to each device slot. Each of the device slots is normally connected to at least one of the other device slots through at least one of the links. The limit on the number of devices being connected together in a full mesh configuration is one more than the number of links on a given device slot.