Abstract: A releasable pet leash includes an elongated cord or strap having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end includes a foam-encapsulated loop that a user grasps when walking a pet. The distal end includes a metallic bobbin removably coupled with a linkage assembly that is adapted to fasten to a pet collar. The linkage assembly includes a mechanism that automatically releases the bobbin if the leash is trapped between closed elevator doors allowing a pet to escape unharmed.

Abstract: System and method for monitoring the security of computing resources. A server agent and client agents can be deployed to provide a method and a means for monitoring security-related settings for a plurality of computing systems deployed throughout an enterprise. The status of each setting can be recorded, and these results can be used to produce a compliance report for the computing system, as well as reports for groups of computing system or the entire enterprise. The reports or portions of a report or reports can be provide to users of the system via a Web site, Email alerts, or any other suitable mechanism. A compliance score for a system or collection of systems can be calculated and used and/or displayed as part of the reports that are generated.

Abstract: Often in diesel engines, there are two or more fuel filters that provide intense filtration of the fuel prior to injection of the fuel into the engine. However, the two or more fuel filters consume a considerable amount of space within the vehicle which may prevent all of the fuel filters from being attached to the engine. The present invention is a multiple fuel filter pump module that includes a module housing. The module housing is formed to include a pump housing and a dual fuel filter head portion. A fuel pump is positioned within the pump housing, and more than one detachable fuel filter assemblies are attached to the multiple fuel filter head portion. The module housing can be attached to an engine housing.

Abstract: In order to change a fuel filter within a fuel system, a fuel filter assembly in which the fuel filter is positioned is generally detached from the fuel system, allowing fuel to drain from and debris to enter the fuel system. The present invention reduces the draining of fuel from and the entering of debris in a fuel system by blocking, at least in part, fluid communication between the fuel system and the environment when the fuel filter assembly is detached from the fuel system. A valve is positioned within a fuel passage of the fuel system, and a valve engaging member is attached to a fuel filter assembly. The valve is closed, at least in part, by detaching the fuel filter assembly from the fuel system. When the fuel filter assembly is detached from the fuel system, the valve engaging member is out of contact with the valve. The valve is opened, at least in part, by attaching the fuel filter assembly to the fuel system.

Abstract: Often, within a fuel system, water is separated from fuel and collected in a water collection housing that includes a water sensor. The water sensor senses and alerts an operator when the water level rises to a point where it should be drained from the water collection housing. Installation of the water sensor may require drilling holes in the water collection housing. In the present invention, a water sensor is installed in a fuel system by positioning a first portion of the water sensor inside a water collection housing, exposing a second portion of the water sensor outside the water collection housing, and connecting the first portion and the second portion of the water sensor, at least in part, by positioning a third portion of the water sensor in a water drain assembly. The water drain assembly is positioned within a drain opening included within the water collection housing.

Abstract: Over aeration of fuel has been identified as a problem in some fuel injection systems. For instance, engineers have learned that it is desirable to reduce the amount of air in the fuel circulation plumbing of a pump and line fuel injection system in order to reduce timing retardation of the fuel injection and avoid engine power loss. A fuel conditioning module addresses this problem by separating out the air from the fuel before reaching the fuel injectors. The fuel conditioning module includes an inlet cavity separated from an outlet cavity by a baffle. An inlet passage opens to the inlet cavity, and an outlet passage opens to the outlet cavity at locations elevationally below the top of the baffle. A vent passage opens to the outlet cavity at a location elevationally above the top of the outlet passage. When the fuel air mixture flows over the baffle, the air is directed into the vent passage and the relatively pure fuel is directed to the outlet passage for delivery to the fuel injectors.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly includes a filter assembly housing with an annular outer surface and a fuel filter positioned within the filter assembly housing. A heater element is positioned between the annular outer surface of the filter assembly housing and the fuel filter. The fuel filter assembly is part of a fuel system attached to an engine. The filter assembly housing has an inlet and outlet. Fuel traveling through the fuel filter is heated by the heater element when the fuel temperature is below a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature preferably corresponds to a temperature below which paraffins form in the fuel. The invention assists in a cold start by avoiding a clogged fuel filter due to paraffin formation.

Abstract: Over aeration of fuel has been identified as a problem in some fuel injection systems. For instance, engineers have learned that it is desirable to reduce the amount of air in the fuel circulation plumbing of a pump and line fuel injection system in order to reduce timing retardation of the fuel injection and avoid engine power loss. A fuel conditioning module addresses this problem by separating out the air from the fuel before reaching the fuel injectors. The fuel conditioning module includes an inlet cavity separated from an outlet cavity by a baffle. An inlet passage opens to the inlet cavity, and an outlet passage opens to the outlet cavity at locations elevationally below the top of the baffle. A vent passage opens to the outlet cavity at a location elevationally above the top of the outlet passage. When the fuel air mixture flows over the baffle, the air is directed into the vent passage and the relatively pure fuel is directed to the outlet passage for delivery to the fuel injectors.

Abstract: A pump end cap preferably includes a plastic molding that is shaped to include an external electrical socket and is internally shaped to include electric motor brush placement holders. Electric motor brushes are mounted on the holders. The electric motor portion of the electronic pump assembly is completed when the end cap is mated to an appropriate housing. By integrating a portion of the electric motor into the pump end cap, the need for wires extending from an electric motor terminal to the outside of the pump housing is eliminated. The present invention preferably finds application in fuel pump and filter assemblies used in conjunction with diesel type internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly includes a filter element positioned within a hollow cylindrical filter housing and attached to the filter housing such that the filter element and filter housing rotate in unison. The filter housing includes an integral gripping surface, such as longitudinal ribs.

Abstract: Some people suffer from pains in the abdomen that are due to excessive H2 gas produced in the intestine. In this invention, microbes that metabolize H2 are introduced into the intestine in order to accelerate the removal of the H2. The microbes are selected from species that are native to the large intestine of humans or other mammals, and are non-toxic. The end products are either non-gaseous, or significantly smaller volumes of gas than the original H2. The delivery of the microbes is accomplished by any one of several means, with packaging of the microbes in enteric coatings for oral ingestion as a preferred means.

Abstract: A fuel vapor vent valve for a motor vehicle is connected to an upper wall of a fuel tank in vertically depending relationship. The valve has a cover with a vapor exit passage connected to a fuel vapor storage canister and a body depending from the cover. One embodiment has a vapor exit port that communicates with the fuel tank interior adjacent the upper wall of the fuel tank. A vent tube has one end connected to the vapor exit passage and an opposite end that communicates with the vent exit port and defines a valve seat. The vapor exit port is located with respect to the valve seat so as to separate liquid fuel particles from vapor flow during fuel fill. The valve seat is closed by a valve element attached to a float when the fuel tank is full. Several further embodiments of the valve have the body connected to the cover to accommodate side impacts to the fuel tank.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for decreasing the production of methane in ruminant animals, thereby increasing feed utilization efficiency, are disclosed. The methods employ HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors to selectively inhibit the growth of methane-producing bacteria without significantly inhibiting the growth of non-methanogens.

Abstract: A refueling valve for a motor vehicle includes a body connected to the upper wall of a fuel tank in vertical depending relationship thereon and the body has a body top or cover with a vapor exit passage adapted to be connected to a fuel vapor storage canister, the body includes a portion depending from the cover that has a vapor exit port formed therein communicating with the fuel tank interior adjacent the upper wall of the fuel tank and a vent tube has one end connected to the vapor exit passage and an opposite end communicating with the vent exit port and defining a valve seat closed by a float valve during vehicle fill and wherein the vapor exit port remains open until the float valve is completely closed and wherein the vapor exit port is spaced higher than the valve seat to separate liquid fuel particles from vapor flow. In one embodiment a baffle is located on the body between the valve seat and the vapor exit port to form a liquid trap.

Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system has a control valve that is solenoid operated by a fuel filler pipe access door to control fluid communication between a fuel tank and a fuel vapor storage canister. The fuel tank includes a refueling valve that is open when the fuel tank is being refueled to provide a large unrestricted flow passage to the canister via the control valve. The refueling valve closes or restricts gas vapor flow at a predetermined fuel fill level in the tank to create a dome pressure, that is, a pressurized volume of gas in the space at the top of the tank above the fuel. This dome pressure causes the fuel level to rise in the filler pipe and automatically shut off the fuel filler nozzle in a well known manner. The fuel tank also has vent valves that provide restricted flow passages to the canister via the control valve for ordinary emissions of fuel vapors from the fuel tank.

Abstract: A backyard carousel for small children is constructed from tubing and fittings which are attached into a lightweight unitary superstructure. The tubing and fittings are preferably plastic, with the joints preferably being permanently bonded with a plastic cement. The superstructure is freely rotatable on standard steel pipe, one section of which is firmly anchored in a base surface such as concrete and has its upper end flush with the ground surface, while the other section of which fits inside the one section and extends upwardly to form an internal post for journaling a hub of the tubing superstructure. A thrust bearing between the hub and post facilitates free rotation of the superstructure. Seating is arranged around the periphery of the superstructure with sufficient space between the inner edges of the seats and the hub for children to dangle their legs and rotate the superstructure by foot contact witch the ground.

Abstract: The fast response control valve employs two diaphragms (24, 26) joined to a common valve body (28) in a configuration which employs pressure acting on the larger diaphragm to ensure valve seating. The smaller diaphragm isolates the larger diaphragm from the fluid pressure reservoir. An electrical solenoid valve (40) toggles between a first state which supplies pressure to the larger diaphragm causing the valve to seat and a second state which vents the pressure acting on the large diaphragm allowing the valve body to unseat. If desired, the solenoid may be operated using a variable duty cycle drive signal (52) to control the response characteristics of the diaphragm valve.

Abstract: An electromechanical valve assembly is provided for regulation of hydraulic or pneumatic flow. The coil assembly of the solenoid portion of the valve is spring biased against the valve assembly. The coil assembly can be rotated through a full 360 degrees about the valve assembly to allow connection to an electrical wiring harness.

Abstract: A boat built up entirely from polyvinyl chloride pipe sections and pipe fittings including a pair of pontoons joined together by transverse members and a deck frame adhesively joined to the pontoons and having cross members for receiving a deck.

Abstract: A ceramic filled fluoropolymer composite coaxial cable insulation and the coaxial cable made therefrom is presented. In accordance with the present invention, the coaxial cable insulation is comprised of 60-25% fluoropolymer that is fibrillatable, 40-75% ceramic filler and a void content which is effective to provide a dielectric constant of approximately less than 2.30. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coaxial cable insulative composite comprises approximately 40 weight percent PTFE, 60 weight percent fused amorphus silica and a void volume percent of between 30 and 60. Also in certain preferred embodiemnts, the composite may include 1-4% by weight of microfiberglass filler and the ceramic filler may be coated with a silane coating. The provision of the void volume is an important feature of the present invention and acts to substantially lower the overall dielectric constant of the insulative composite.