Abstract: A seal arrangement includes a seal assembly and a seal subassembly in operable contact with the seal assembly. The seal subassembly is configured to impart energy to the seal assembly to promote sealing of the seal assembly with a mating surface. A non-sealing feature of the seal subassembly depends from the seal subassembly and is interactive with a load shoulder of a structure adjacent the seal subassembly. The seal arrangement redirects a mechanical load path through the seal subassembly to the non-sealing feature, during use. A method of protecting a seal subassembly from reverse loading is by redirecting a load path through a seal subassembly to a non-sealing feature, while also permitting pressure energizing of the seal assembly by the seal subassembly in a sealing direction. A downhole system includes a borehole in a formation, a string in the borehole, and a seal.

Abstract: An insert safety valve, including a housing, a flow tube in the housing, a flapper responsive to positions of the flow tube, an atmospheric chamber in the housing, an element upon the housing, a selectively openable arrangement to prevent or allow pressure communication between the chamber and an environment outside the housing, the arrangement including an opener responsive to movement of the element to selectively open the openable arrangement. A borehole system, including a preexisting downhole structure having a control line, an insert safety valve, in the preexisting downhole structure, the insert safety valve operable with the control line. A method for controlling a wellbore, including running an insert safety valve while preventing fluid communication with an atmospheric chamber of the safety valve, moving the opener, and enabling fluid communication with the atmospheric chamber.

Abstract: A seal arrangement includes a seal assembly and a seal subassembly in operable contact with the seal assembly. The seal subassembly is configured to impart energy to the seal assembly to promote sealing of the seal assembly with a mating surface. A non-sealing feature of the seal subassembly depends from the seal subassembly and is interactive with a load shoulder of a structure adjacent the seal subassembly. The seal arrangement redirects a mechanical load path through the seal subassembly to the non-sealing feature, during use. A method of protecting a seal subassembly from reverse loading is by redirecting a load path through a seal subassembly to a non-sealing feature, while also permitting pressure energizing of the seal assembly by the seal subassembly in a sealing direction. A downhole system includes a borehole in a formation, a string in the borehole, and a seal.

Abstract: A seal assembly including a seal subassembly disposed upon a seal subassembly configured to hold pressure, a first load member having a first side disposed adjacent a first side of the seal subassembly, the first load member configured to engage the seal subassembly such that the first load member independently has a limited axial movement capability in both longitudinal directions along the seal assembly, and a first energizer adjacent a second side of the first load member, the first load member isolating the first energizer from mechanical loading in a direction opposite a direction of bias of the first energizer. A downhole tool including a housing, and an actuator disposed in the housing, the actuator including a seal assembly. A wellbore system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string disposed in the borehole, a downhole tool disposed within or as part of the string and including the seal.

Abstract: A method implemented by a node in a network utilizing Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) includes performing a convergence procedure to discover the topology of a network in which multiple nodes are arranged; and upon determining that the topology of the network is a ring topology whereby the node is connected to two neighboring nodes by a respective link, creating a first table for a first link, the first table including labels representing at least a portion of a label stack for allowing the node to transmit packets to another node in the network in a clockwise (CW) direction around the ring; and creating a second table for a second link, the second table including labels representing at least a portion of a label stack for allowing the node to transmit packets to another node in the network in an anti-clockwise (ACW) direction around the ring.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for paving a surface with an asphalt paving material, comprising the steps of laying asphalt paving material on a surface to be paved; and combining an asphalt rejuvenator and the asphalt paving material; wherein the asphalt rejuvenator and the asphalt paving material are combined immediately before, concurrently with, or immediately after the asphalt paving material is laid on the surface to be paved. The asphalt paving material may be virgin asphalt, or it may comprise reclaimed asphalt pavement and/or recycled asphalt shingles.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for paving a surface with an asphalt paving material, comprising the steps of laying asphalt paving material on a surface to be paved; and combining an asphalt rejuvenator and the asphalt paving material; wherein the asphalt rejuvenator and the asphalt paving material are combined immediately before, concurrently with, or immediately after the asphalt paving material is laid on the surface to be paved. The asphalt paving material may be virgin asphalt, or it may comprise reclaimed asphalt pavement and/or recycled asphalt shingles.

Abstract: A tubing pressure insensitive failsafe wireline retrievable safety valve, borehole system having the valve and method of operation of the valve. The valve includes a tool housing, a flow tube disposed within the tool housing, an actuation piston disposed in the tool housing and operably connected to the flow tube, the actuation piston having an actuation side and a pressure side, and a fluid pathway between a potential leak site for the valve and the pressure side of the piston. A temporary sealing member is in the fluid pathway between the potential leak site and the pressure side of the piston. The method includes disposing the valve at a selected location and removing at least a portion of the temporary sealing member from the fluid pathway after landing the wireline retrievable safety valve at the selected location.

Abstract: A tubing pressure insensitive failsafe wireline retrievable safety valve, borehole system having the valve and method of operation of the valve. The valve includes a tool housing, a flow tube disposed within the tool housing, an actuation piston disposed in the tool housing and operably connected to the flow tube, the actuation piston having an actuation side and a pressure side, and a fluid pathway between a potential leak site for the valve and the pressure side of the piston. A temporary sealing member is in the fluid pathway between the potential leak site and the pressure side of the piston. The method includes disposing the valve at a selected location and removing at least a portion of the temporary sealing member from the fluid pathway after landing the wireline retrievable safety valve at the selected location.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a paving machine having a screed may include an input device configured to receive a first input from an operator of the paving machine, the first input being indicative of a height of the screed above a work surface, and a controller electronically connected to the input device. The controller may be configured to determine an amount of a material deposited by the paving machine based on the first input, receive a signal indicative of an amount of a material delivered to the paving machine, and determine a correction factor based on the amount of the material deposited by the paving machine and the amount of the material delivered to the paving machine.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a paving machine having a screed is disclosed. The monitoring system may include an input device configured to receive a first input from an operator of the paving machine, the first input being indicative of a height of the screed above a work surface, and a controller electronically connected to the input device. The controller may be configured to determine an amount of a material deposited by the paving machine based on the first input, receive a signal indicative of an amount of a material delivered to the paving machine, and determine a correction factor based on the amount of the material deposited by the paving machine and the amount of the material delivered to the paving machine.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating pellet-cladding interaction (PCI) in a nuclear core having a reactor protection system and a plurality of elongated fuel rods each having fuel surrounded by cladding with a gap therebetween. The method includes: selecting a number of core parameters to be analyzed; evaluating the selected parameters at a plurality of statepoints; generating a model of an operating space of the core based, at least in part, upon the statepoints; selecting a subset or loci of statepoints from the model wherein each of the statepoints of the loci of statepoints, when subjected to a predetermined transient, falls within the operational limits of the reactor protection system; and evaluating the loci of statepoints for PCI in response to the transient. In this manner, the potential for PCI can be accurately determined without requiring every statepoint for every fuel rod in the core to be individually analyzed.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating pellet-cladding interaction (PCI) in a nuclear core having a reactor protection system and a plurality of elongated fuel rods each having fuel surrounded by cladding with a gap therebetween. The method includes: selecting a number of core parameters to be analyzed; evaluating the selected parameters at a plurality of statepoints; generating a model of an operating space of the core based, at least in part, upon the statepoints; selecting a subset or loci of statepoints from the model wherein each of the statepoints of the loci of statepoints, when subjected to a predetermined transient, falls within the operational limits of the reactor protection system; and evaluating the loci of statepoints for PCI in response to the transient. In this manner, the potential for PCI can be accurately determined without requiring every statepoint for every fuel rod in the core to be individually analyzed.

Abstract: A method for monitoring compliance with recommended hand-washing practices is disclosed. The method involves detecting the occurrence of an event that is specified in a hand-washing rule. The method also involves determining whether a person who is involved in the event complies with the hand-washing rule. If the person does not comply with the hand-washing rule, the method may involve triggering a reminder alarm. The method may also involve determining whether the person washes his or her hands within a period of time subsequent to the reminder alarm. Compliance data that is related to compliance with the hand-washing rule may be updated.

Abstract: A method for monitoring compliance with recommended hand-washing practices is disclosed. The method involves detecting the occurrence of an event that is specified in a hand-washing rule. The method also involves determining whether a person who is involved in the event complies with the hand-washing rule. If the person does not comply with the hand-washing rule, the method may involve triggering a reminder alarm. The method may also involve determining whether the person washes his or her hands within a period of time subsequent to the reminder alarm. Compliance data that is related to compliance with the hand-washing rule may be updated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a line of clothing, such as, but not limited to, shirts, blouses, pants, shorts, or the like having at least one through-hole on the exterior surface of the garment. This will provide a final product which is designed and configured to adequately and efficiently receive and hold a plurality of items, including sunglasses, eyeglasses, pens and pencils and the like for ready access by the wearer. The interior of the garment is comprised of at least one additional piece of fabric in cooperation with the through-hole to receive and hold sunglasses, pens and the like. The piece of fabric can be permanently or removably secured to the article of clothing in various embodiments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a way of using a remote telephone (208a, 208b, 208c . . . ) to control a plurality of functions of the exchange (240) of a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system (201). The PBX system (201) includes a server computer (210) capable of controlling the functionality of the exchange (240). The method includes establishing a communication link (206a, 206b, 206c, . . . and 207) between the remote telephone (208a, 208b, 208c . . . ) and the server computer (210). Communications received from the remote telephone (208a, 208b, 208c . . . ) are processed to identify control commands. Control commands are associated with corresponding functions of the exchange (240) of the PBX system (201). The server computer (210) controls the corresponding functions of the exchange (240) based on the control commands. The control commands may be in the form of DTMF signals or voice signals that form words.

Abstract: A system and computer-based method for allowing a user to control the switching between a PSTN voice communication link between a user computer and a remote telephone and a VoIP voice communication link is disclosed. A soft-phone application running on a user computer allows a user to suspend a phone call at the switch port of a server computer connected to an exchange and switch from a PSTN connection to a VoIP connection or vice versa.