Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a magnetically conductive conduit having a fluid entry port, a fluid impervious boundary wall and a fluid discharge port defining a fluid impervious flow path through the magnetically conductive conduit, at least one end of the conduit having a taper forming a planar surface extending from an outer to an inner surface; an electrical conductor comprising a length of an electrical conducting material having a first and second conductor lead, the electrical conductor coiled with at least one turn to form an uninterrupted coil of electrical conductor encircling a section of the outer surface of the magnetically conductive conduit; and an electrical power supply operably connected to at least one of the first and second conductor leads, wherein the at least one coiled electrical conductor is thereby energized to provide a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along a longitudinal axis of the magnetically conductive conduit.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems are provided for approving a transaction through an exchange of presented user contextual approval information and approval decryption. The user contextual approval information is generated by a user during a transaction, cryptographically signed, and provided to a transaction server. The user contextual data uniquely describes the transaction to the user and can be employed to aid a user in approving or validating the transaction in a subsequent approval action. In particular, a transaction may present the contextual approval information to a user in the form of an approval challenge message. The approval challenge message may be sent to a known user device via the transaction server in the form of a text or multi-media message. The user may respond to the message with an approval or denial response.

Abstract: A method for providing magnetic fluid treatment in which at least one electrical conductor comprising at least one length of an electrical conducting material having a first conductor lead and a second conductor lead is energized. The electrical conductor is coiled with at least one turn to form at least one uninterrupted coil of electrical conductor encircling at least a section of an outer surface of a conduit. Energizing the at least one electrical conductor establishes a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along a flow path formed by the conduit and concentrated in a non-magnetically conductive region located between two magnetically conductive regions. A fluid is directed through the conduit past the non-magnetically conductive region to provide magnetic fluid treatment to the fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for minimizing closing force of a door. The apparatus comprises a housing adapted to be disposed in the hinged edge of the door. A piston is slidably mounted in the bore. A button having an inner end and an outer end is disposed in the bore with the inner end of the button engaging the piston for urging the button toward a first extended position where the button extends from the edge of the door. The button is slidable in the bore relative to the housing for reciprocal movement between the extended position and a second position where the button is depressed into the bore against the force of the piston. The button is disposed so that the outer end of the button engages the door frame for slowing movement of the door in a closing direction as the button is moved into the bore to the depressed second position.

Abstract: A method for providing magnetic fluid treatment in which at least one electrical conductor comprising at least one length of an electrical conducting material having a first conductor lead and a second conductor lead is energized. The electrical conductor is coiled with at least one turn to form at least one uninterrupted coil of electrical conductor encircling at least a section of an outer surface of a conduit. Energizing the at least one electrical conductor establishes a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along the flow path and concentrated in a non-magnetically conductive region located between two magnetically conductive regions. A fluid is directed through the conduit past the non-magnetically conductive region to provide magnetic fluid treatment to the fluid.

Abstract: A damping system comprises a door panel operably connected to a rail for movement along the rail. An apparatus is mounted to the rail for damping movement of the door along the rail at an end position. The damping apparatus comprises a base defining a chamber having a closed end and an open end, the base configured for securing the damping apparatus to the rail. A piston is slidably mounted in the chamber and extends from the open end of the base in a first position. The piston includes a cylinder, a piston head moveable within said cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston head, and a compression spring disposed on the piston rod between the cylinder and closed end of the chamber. The damping apparatus is secured to the rail for engaging and slowing movement of the door panel in a direction along the rail at the position as the piston is moved in the direction from the first position to a second position.

Abstract: A slot motor apparatus for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The slot motor has first and second legs connected by a thin web, and an extending portion extending rearward from the rear faces of the legs. Slot motor-arc plate assemblies having an arc plate assembly received at least partially overtop of the extending portion are also disclosed, as are assemblies having the arc plate assembly received very close to the rear faces of the slot motor legs. Circuit breakers, slot motor-arc plate assemblies, slot motor covers, and methods of operating the slot motor-arc plate assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: Providing access to a protected resource includes obtaining a first authentication factor for a user that is accessing the resource using a computing device, prompting the user to provide a second authentication factor, accessing the second authentication factor using a pairing code, determining if the second authentication factor is bound to the computing device, and allowing the user to access the protected resource in response to the first and second authentication factors being valid and the second authentication factor being bound to the computing device. The user may be prompted to tap a card to provide the second authentication factor. The first authentication factor may be a login id and password combination. The login id and password may be cached in the computing device. The second authentication factor may be a security card. Information on the security card may be encrypted and may be accessible using a pairing code.

Abstract: Confirming user consent includes prompting the user to tap a card a card reader or a computing device and confirming consent in response to the user taping the card. The user may be prompted for a response in a plurality of possible responses and only a particular one of the possible responses may require taping the card. The user may consent to installation of software on the computing device. The user may be logged in to the computing device. A login ID for the user may be cached and/or may be accessed in connection with the user tapping the card. Confirming user consent may also include obtaining a pairing code for accessing the card and confirming consent in response to the user taping the card and the pairing code allowing access to the card. The pairing code may be cached in the card reader or the computing device.

Abstract: A method providing fluid treatment along a flow path extending through a conduit having a serial coupling of conduit segments including a non-magnetically conductive segment positioned between two non-magnetically conductive segments utilizing magnetic energy concentrated adjacent to the non-magnetically conductive conduit segment and at least one region of pulsed fluid treatment within a treatment vessel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed including a method of neutralizing charges of solid contaminants and weakening cell walls and membranes of biological contaminants in a fluid, comprising the steps of: establishing a flow of a fluid through a fluid treatment chamber surrounded by a sidewall of a fluid treatment vessel shaped as a conduit having a fluid input port, and a fluid output port, the sidewall constructed of a shielding material; and energizing a coil of at least one antenna within the fluid treatment chamber with at least one electrical energizing unit to produce pulsed radiation within the fluid treatment chamber to treat the flow of the fluid therein, wherein the sidewall of the fluid treatment vessel establishes a chamber having a capacity to restrict propagation of the pulsed radiation out of the fluid treatment vessel.

Abstract: A method for providing fluid treatment at a plurality of distinct points utilizing magnetic energy concentrated in a plurality of distinct areas along a fluid flow path. The instant invention prevents the formation and accumulation of contaminants within conduits and on equipment utilized in the transportation, delivery and processing of fluid columns. It may also be utilized to accelerate the separation of oil and water and increase the efficiency of oil/water separation equipment.

Abstract: An electrical contact is disclosed. The electrical contact includes a first element of a first material having one or more aperture, and a second element of a second material, the second element being positioned in at least one aperture of the one or more aperture of the first element, wherein the second material is different from the first material. Electrical contact devices, assemblies, and methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method of increasing the rate by which a dissimilar material separates in a fluid mixture is disclosed. The method includes the step of passing a first fluid mixture containing at least one polar substance and at least one dissimilar material through a magnetically conductive conduit having magnetic energy directed along the longitudinal axis of the magnetically conductive conduit and extending through at least a portion of the first fluid mixture thereby providing a conditioned fluid medium. The conditioned fluid medium is separated into at least two distinct phases in a separation apparatus downstream of the magnetically conductive conduit, wherein the at least one dissimilar material separates from the conditioned fluid medium at an increased rate as compared to a rate of separation of the at least one dissimilar material from the first fluid mixture.

Abstract: A method for providing magnetic fluid treatment in which at least one electrical conductor comprising at least one length of an electrical conducting material having a first conductor lead and a second conductor lead is energized. The electrical conductor is coiled with at least one turn to form at least one uninterrupted coil of electrical conductor encircling at least a section of an outer surface of a conduit. Energizing the at least one electrical conductor establishes a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along the flow path and concentrated in a non-magnetically conductive region located between two magnetically conductive regions. A fluid is directed through the conduit past the non-magnetically conductive region to provide magnetic fluid treatment to the fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing magnetic fluid treatment is described. The apparatus includes a serial coupling of conduit segments forming a conduit. At least two of the conduit segments are constructed of a magnetically conductive material and at least one of the conduit segments is constructed of a non-magnetically conductive material and positioned in between the conduit segments constructed of the magnetically conductive material to establish a non-magnetically conductive region. At least one electrical conductor encircles at least a section of the outer surface of the serial coupling of conduit segments. Energizing the electrical conductor establishes a magnetic field having lines of flux directed along a flow path of the conduit and concentrated in the non-magnetically conductive region of the conduit.

Abstract: A method providing fluid treatment along a flow path extending through a conduit having a serial coupling of conduit segments including a non-magnetically conductive segment positioned between two non-magnetically conductive segments utilizing magnetic energy concentrated adjacent to the non-magnetically conductive conduit segment and at least one region of pulsed fluid treatment within a treatment vessel.

Abstract: An electrical contact is disclosed. The electrical contact includes a first element of a first material having one or more aperture, and a second element of a second material, the second element being positioned in at least one aperture of the one or more aperture of the first element, wherein the second material is different from the first material. Electrical contact devices, assemblies, and methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A slot motor apparatus for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The slot motor has first and second legs connected by a thin web, and an extending portion extending rearward from the rear faces of the legs. Slot motor-arc plate assemblies having an arc plate assembly received at least partially overtop of the extending portion are also disclosed, as are assemblies having the arc plate assembly received very close to the rear faces of the slot motor legs. Circuit breakers, slot motor-arc plate assemblies, slot motor covers, and methods of operating the slot motor-arc plate assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide pulsed fluid treatment at a plurality of distinct points utilizing pulsed magnetic energy concentrated in a plurality of distinct areas along a fluid flow path. The instant invention prevents the formation and accumulation of contaminants within conduits and on equipment utilized in the transportation, delivery and processing of fluid columns. It may also be utilized to accelerate the separation of oil and water and increase the efficiency of oil/water separation equipment.