Abstract: In a composite brake disc such as a carbon composite brake disc having reinforcement provided by layers of carbon fibre material, the drive region is provided with additional reinforcement to that of the friction region by laying or otherwise providing additional fibre reinforcement material substantially uniformly in the drive region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting data in an application which is not a currently active context. The method comprises a user selecting information within a window under control of a first application program and moving the information to a second window under control of an active application program. This operation is performed providing a simple select, drag-and-drop operation. The active application program can arbitrate and communicate with a handler installed for the first application program to cause data from the first application program to be provided without activating the first application program.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for remotely determining the phase of a single phase load on a multi-phase power distribution system, including powerline communications and repeaters. The phase determination being based upon comparison of message receipt times.

Abstract: A mobile base for moving on a surface is provided having a driving and steering unit and a plurality of wheel assemblies. The driving and steering unit provides a drive force and a steering force. Each wheel assembly has a wheel assembly axis, and also has a steering column, concentric drive shafts, and two wheels. The concentric drive shafts respond to the drive shaft force, and provide a concentric drive shaft force. The steering column responds to the steering force, and provides a steering column force. The two wheels respond to the steering column force and rotate in the same direction for pivoting the steering column means about the wheel assembly axis. The two wheels respond to the concentric drive shaft force and rotate in the opposite directions to move the mobile base forwards or backwards along the surface.

Abstract: A gamma ray spectral tool is provided that can be used in slick line systems. The tool includes a battery, a controller, and a memory. In operation, the tool compresses data from the spectral detector for storage in the memory, allowing for long runs without the memory overflowing. Further, a controller latches the self-adjusting stabilization feature of the spectral detector when gamma ray intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold, preventing erroneous "stabilization" by the stabilization feature of the spectral detector.

Abstract: An inflatable mattress comprising a pair of exterior tubes longitudinally disposed in parallel on opposite sides of the mattress in combination with a plurality of parallel connected interior tubes smaller in diameter then the exterior tubes and in sufficient number and dimension to partially enwrap a human user reclining on the inflated mattress.

Abstract: A process for forming a profiled element from a generally longitudinally extending extruded sheet-form member having a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extended ribs upstanding therefrom is provided. The process includes the step of removing longitudinally spaced apart portions from some of the ribs by means of a transversely acting punching means.

Abstract: A blood filtration device encapsulates a filter pad assembly Within a flexible housing. The filter pad assembly includes first and second filter media layers. A first heat and pressure sealed region integrally bonds the peripheries of the first and second media layers together. The flexible housing comprises a peripheral rim aligned with the first heat and pressure sealed region of the first media layer. A second heat and pressure sealed region, formed after the first heat and pressure sealed region, joins the rim of the flexible housing to the first heat and pressure sealed region, thereby forming a composite seal that encapsulates the filter pad assembly within the housing.

Abstract: An electric connector (1) comprises, an insulating housing (3), and contacts (7) in respective contact receiving cavities (8). The contacts (7) have respective marker surfaces (18) that align with respect to marker surfaces (21, 23) located in the staggered positions on the housing (3) to position at least one of the contacts (7) farther from a mating end (2) of the housing (3) than another of the contacts (7 ). The contacts (7) are to be inserted by engaging a straight surface of an insertion tool against their marker surfaces (18) and then impelling them along the cavities (8) until the marker surfaces (18) are aligned with respect to selected one or the other of the marker surfaces (21,23). The marker surfaces (21,23) can also serve to limit travel of the insertion tool. The contacts after such insertion are positioned in staggered rows and are retained by engagement of barbs (17) with walls of the cavities.

Abstract: A process for forming a profiled element from a generally longitudinally extending extruded sheet-form member having a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinally extended ribs upstanding therefrom is provided. The process includes the step of removing longitudinally spaced apart portions from some of said ribs by means of a transversely acting punching means.

Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system employing a double column and two auxiliary reboilers associated with one or two auxiliary columns wherein both lower purity oxygen and higher purity oxygen is produced.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing system (24) supports a shaft (20). The bearing system (24) includes a magnetic rotor (34) and a stator element (36) positioned in proximity to the rotor (34). A plurality of first electromagnets (40, 41, 42) are mounted in the stator element (36). The first electromagnets (40, 41, 42) are of relatively large size to provide high load bearing capacity. A plurality of second electromagnets (44, 45, 46) are mounted in the shator element (36) in spaced relation with the first electromagnets (40, 41, 42), the second electromagnets (44, 45, 46) being of relatively small size to provide high frequency response. Displacement sensors (56, 57, 58) sense position of the shaft (20) relative to the stator element (36). A controller (60) is coupled to the displacement sensors (56, 57, 58) and the electromagnets (40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46) for controlling current thereto.

Abstract: Error-free or rapid protection switching between two basestations, one main and one standby, or two transmitters (1,2) etc. of one basestation (8) is achieved using a downstream marshalling scheme involving the transmission of a sequence from the standby basestation to an outstation (9,10,11) at levels below the noise sensitivity of a receiver (7) at the outstation and alignment of the phases of the transmitted sequence and a reference main basestation sequence by, for example, a correlation process. If a similar upstream marshalling process is employed for marshalling additional outstations into the system the same circuitry can be used for phase alignment for both marshalling processes. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) comprises, a housing (4), a mating face (6) on the housing (4), multiple electrical contacts (7) in the housing (4), terminals (8) on the contacts (7) projecting from the housing (4) for connection with a circuit board, and an insulating alignment member (28) biasing the terminals (8), and a base portion (26) on the housing (4) adapting the connector (1) for vertical mounting and, alternatively, for right angle mounting to a circuit board.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring control between application programs. A messaging means is provided which allows a first application program to indicate to the messaging means that a second application program should assume control. The messaging means receives the message and performs an orderly shutdown of the first application program and messages the second application program that it should commence operation. Upon valid and proper operation of the second application program, the first application program is caused to be suspended, and the second application program is invoked.

Abstract: A method for marshalling an additional outstation (3) of a time division multiple access (TDMA) telecommunications system including a basestation (4) and a plurality of outstations (1, 2), such as a passive optical network (PON). A sequence is transmitted from the additional outstation (3) to the basestation (4) at a level below the noise sensitivity of a receiver (49) of the basestation (4), detected at the basestation and its phase discrimated. From the discriminated phase the loop delay to the additional outstation is determined and the outstation instructed to realign its transmission accordingly. The sequence and its phases are detected by a correlation process. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A port is formed in a thermoplastic container wall by slitting the wall, inserting a thermoplastic tube through the slit, placing a mandrel in the tube, placing opposed dies defining a bore over the sheet and tube, and dielectrically heating the thermoplastic to fuse the tube and sheet. Preferably the bore defined by the dies is of a diameter slightly less than that of the tube, and has an enlarged central area which forms a thickened section of material over the slit.

Abstract: A tube coupling locking assembly for preventing undesired loosening of a make-up coupling includes a cooperating pair of rigid lock members that encircle about a coupling nut with one of the lock members having an end connected to a second cooperating coupling nut or the body of an associated fluid device. The cooperating lock members are arranged to prevent relative rotation between the encircled coupling nut and the cooperating coupling nut or associated fluid device.

Abstract: An optical component fabricated from a semi-conductor wafer in which the epilayers are in the InCaAsP system comprises a pair of ridge waveguides. The ridge waveguides are proximate and parallel to each other in a first region, and diverge from each other in a second region. Each waveguide has a continuous electric contact over its upper surface to provide a first light amplification zone through or beneath at least a portion of both first and second light guiding paths and a second light amplification zone through or beneath at least a portion of both the first and a third light guiding path. The component can be used as a low loss 1.times.2 switch, or as a low loss 2.times.1 combiner.