1. A method for determining a free capacity of at least one container in a plurality of containers competing for a total capacity of a larger container, said method comprising:
obtaining a current utilization by each of said plurality of competing containers;
determining a first individual equilibrium capacity value for each of said plurality of competing containers by summing a minimum resource allocation amount corresponding to the given container and a portion of remaining available resource allocation, wherein said portion is pro-rated based on a relative resource weight of the given container;
determining an updated individual equilibrium capacity value for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is less than the first individual equilibrium capacity value by summing the minimum resource allocation amount corresponding to the given container and a portion of remaining available resource allocation among (i) each of said plurality of competing containers having a current utilization that is greater than the first individual equilibrium capacity value and (ii) the given container, wherein said portion is pro-rated based on a relative resource weight of the given container;
determining an individual free capacity for each of said plurality of competing containers associated with each container, wherein said determining an individual free capacity for a given container comprises:
for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is less than the first individual equilibrium capacity value, subtracting the current utilization associated with the given container from the updated equilibrium capacity associated with the given container; and
for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is greater than the first individual equilibrium capacity value, subtracting the current utilization associated with the given container from the difference of the total capacity less the current utilization of each of said plurality of competing containers excluding the given container; and
allocating resources to the plurality of the competing containers based on the determined free capacity for each of the plurality containers;
wherein said obtaining, said determining the individual equilibrium capacity, said determining the individual free capacity, and said allocating are carried out by a computing device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining step further comprises the step of obtaining a minimum capacity for each of said plurality of containers.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein capacity above said minimum capacity is apportioned according to said relative weight.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said obtaining step further comprises the step of obtaining a maximum capacity.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said larger containers within a second larger parent container.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of separating said plurality of containers into at least two groups, wherein an overutilized group comprises containers having a utilization that exceeds a global equilibrium capacity.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of moving members of said overutilized group having a utilization below a threshold to said underutilized group.
8. An apparatus for determining a free capacity of at least one container in a plurality of containers competing for a total capacity of a larger container, said apparatus comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to:
obtain a current utilization by each of said plurality of competing containers;
determine a first individual equilibrium capacity value for each of said plurality of competing containers by summing a minimum resource allocation amount corresponding to the given container and a portion of remaining available resource allocation, wherein said portion is pro-rated based on a relative resource weight of the given container;
determine an updated individual equilibrium capacity value for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is less than the first individual equilibrium capacity value by summing the minimum resource allocation amount corresponding to the given container and a portion of remaining available resource allocation among (i) each of said plurality of competing containers having a current utilization that is greater than the first individual equilibrium capacity value and (ii) the given container, wherein said portion is pro-rated based on a relative resource weight of the given container;
determine an individual free capacity for each of said plurality of competing containers associated with each container, wherein said determining an individual free capacity for a given container comprises:
for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is less than the first individual equilibrium capacity value, subtracting the current utilization associated with the given container from the updated equilibrium capacity associated with the given container; and
for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is greater than the first individual equilibrium capacity value, subtracting the current utilization associated with the given container from the difference of the total capacity less the current utilization of each of said plurality of competing containers excluding the given container; and
allocate resources to the plurality of the competing containers based on the determined free capacity for each of the plurality containers.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said wherein said processor is further configured to obtain a minimum capacity for each of said plurality of containers.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein capacity above said minimum capacity is apportioned according to said relative weight.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of said larger containers within a second larger parent container.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said processor is further configured to separate said plurality of containers into at least two groups, wherein an overutilized group comprises containers having a utilization that exceeds a global equilibrium capacity.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said processor is further configured to move members of said overutilized group having a utilization below a threshold to said underutilized group.
14. An article of manufacture for determining a free capacity of at least one container in a plurality of containers competing for a total capacity of a larger container, said article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory machine readable recordable storage medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:
obtaining a current utilization by each of said plurality of competing containers;
determining a first individual equilibrium capacity value for each of said plurality of competing containers by summing a minimum resource allocation amount corresponding to the given container and a portion of remaining available resource allocation, wherein said portion is pro-rated based on a relative resource weight of the given container;
determining an updated individual equilibrium capacity value for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is less than the first individual equilibrium capacity value by summing the minimum resource allocation amount corresponding to the given container and a portion of remaining available resource allocation among (i) each of said plurality of competing containers having a current utilization that is greater than the first individual equilibrium capacity value and (ii) the given container, wherein said portion is pro-rated based on a relative resource weight of the given container;
determining an individual free capacity for each of said plurality of competing containers associated with each container, wherein said determining an individual free capacity for a given container comprises:
for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is less than the first individual equilibrium capacity value, subtracting the current utilization associated with the given container from the updated equilibrium capacity associated with the given container; and
for each of said plurality of competing containers with a current utilization that is greater than the first individual equilibrium capacity value, subtracting the current utilization associated with the given container from the difference of the total capacity less the current utilization of each of said plurality of competing containers excluding the given container; and
allocating resources to the plurality of the competing containers based on the determined free capacity for each of the plurality containers.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
I therefore claim:
1. A raker bit for taking mortar from a joint, such as a joint between courses of brick or blocks or between tiles, said raker bit being constructed for use with a tool or handle and comprising:
a longitudinally extending supporting arm section adapted to extend in a substantially rear to front direction relative to said tool or handle in which said raker bit is mounted during use of said raker bit;
a raker tooth having a top thereof attached to a front end portion of said supporting arm section and projecting substantially downwardly in a first transverse direction relative to the length of said arm section, said front end portion extending outwardly from the top of the raker tooth in a second transverse direction relative to said length of said arm section; and
a connecting section attached to a rear end of said arm section, said connecting section being adapted for detachable connection to said tool or handle in such a manner that the arm section extends in a substantially rear to front direction;
wherein, during use of said raker bit, said arm section acts to limit an amount said raker tooth can be inserted into said joint.
2. A raker bit according to claim 1 wherein said supporting arm section comprises two longitudinally extending arm parts each of which is integrally connected at its front end to said raker tooth and at least one of which is rigidly attached to said connecting section.
3. A raker bit according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the entire bit is formed from a single steel wire piece.
4. A raker bit for taking mortar from a joint, such as a joint between courses of brick or blocks, said raker bit being constructed for use with a masonry tool or handle and comprising:
two longitudinally extending, supporting arm portions each of which extends in a substantially rear to front direction relative to said tool or handle during use of the raker bit;
a raker tooth integrally attached to front end portions of both supporting arm portions and projecting in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lengths of said supporting arm portions, said front end portions extending outwardly from a top of said raker tooth in a transverse direction relative to said lengths of the supporting arm portions; and
at least one rear end connecting portion attached to a rear end of at least one of said supporting arm portions and projecting at a substantial angle to said at least one supporting arm portion in a direction generally opposite to the direction in which said raker tooth projects, wherein said substantial angle is substantially less than 180 degrees.
5. A raker bit according to claim 4 wherein said at least one rear end connecting portion is a straight wire section integrally joined to one of said supporting arm portions.
6. A raker bit according to claim 4 wherein said at least one rear end connecting portion is flattened for a portion of its length so as to allow said at least one rear end portion to be securely clamped in said masonry tool.
7. A tool for taking unhardened building material, such as mortar, from a joint, such as a joint between courses of brick or blocks, said tool comprising:
an elongate handle having a front end and a rear end;
a raking device having a longitudinal arm portion that extends substantially in a rear to front direction during use of said tool, a raker tooth attached to and projecting substantially downwardly from a front end portion of said longitudinal arm portion, and an upstanding connecting section attached to a rear end of said longitudinal arm portion, said front end portion of the arm portion extending outwardly from the top of the raker tooth in a transverse direction relative to the length of the arm portion; and
a carriage portion rigidly attached to said handle at said front end of the handle, said carriage portion including a pair of rotatable wheels spaced from one another in a transverse direction relative to said handle and located on opposite sides of said carriage portion, and a supporting arrangement for said raking device for detachably holding the raking device so that said raker tooth can project into said joint as said wheels roll across an exposed face of adjacent bricks or blocks to enable said raker tooth to remove undesired excess building material from the joint,
wherein, during use of said tool, said arm portion acts to limit an amount said raker tooth can be inserted into said joint between adjacent bricks or blocks.
8. A tool according to claim 7 wherein said longitudinal arm portion of the raking device includes two wire sections of similar shape each of which is integrally connected to said raker tooth and at least one of which is connected to said upstanding connecting section.
9. A tool according to claim 7 or 8 wherein said connecting section is flattened for a portion of its length and notched so as to allow said upstanding connection section to be securely clamped and held by said supporting arrangement.
10. A tool according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said supporting arrangement includes a round passageway formed in said carriage portion and sized to snugly receive said upstanding connecting section and a threaded locking pin which can be turned until the pin extends into said passageway and clamps said upstanding connecting section.
11. A tool according to claim 7 or 9 wherein said raker tooth comprises a curved section of bent wire that is concavely curved in an upwardly facing direction.
12. A tool for taking unhardened mortar, concrete, or adhesive from between courses of brick, blocks, or tiles, said tool comprising an elongate handle having a first end and a second end; and a raking apparatus attached to the first end of said handle, said apparatus including a tooth supporting section and a raker tooth integrally attached to and projecting substantially downwardly from an outer end portion of said supporting section, said tooth supporting section and said raker tooth being formed from a single piece of metal wire, said outer end portion extending outwardly from a top of the raker tooth in a transverse direction relative to the length of said handle, wherein during use of said tool, said supporting section acts to limit an amount said raker tooth can be inserted into a joint between adjacent bricks, blocks or tiles.
13. A tool for taking unhardened mortar, adhesive or concrete from a joint or a surface formed with mortar, adhesive or concrete, said tool comprising an elongate handle having a first end and a second end; a raking device attached to the first end of said handle, said raking device including two tooth-supporting arm sections and a raker tooth integrally attached to an outer end portion of each of said arm sections and projecting from the outer end portions which extend transversely and in opposite directions from an inner end of the raker tooth, wherein during use of said tool, said arm sections can act to limit a maximum amount said raker tooth can be inserted into said joint or into said surface.
14. A tool according to claim 13 wherein said raking device is formed from a single thin metal strip which is bent to form both said arm sections and said raker tooth.
15. A tool according to claim 14 wherein said raker tooth comprises a U-shaped central section of said metal strip and two opposite end sections of said metal strip are rigidly connected to said handle.
16. A tool according to claim 13 wherein said raking device is formed from a single wire which is bent to form both said arm sections and said raker tooth.
17. A tool according to claim 13 or 16 wherein there is a second raking device attached to the second end of said handle, said second raking device comprising two tooth-supporting arm sections and a raker tooth integrally attached to an outer end portion of each of the arm sections of the second raking device.
18. A tool according to claim 17 wherein both of said raking devices are detachably connected to said handle by means of transversely extending holes or cavities formed at the opposite ends of said handle and two clamping devices mounted in said tool, and each raking device is formed with at least one inner end connecting portion that projects into a respective one of said holes or cavities, and is held therein by a respective one of said clamping devices.
19. A raker bit for use in a tool to remove unhardened mortar, concrete or adhesive material from a joint or surface formed from mortar, concrete or adhesive material, said raker bit comprising:
two longitudinally extending, supporting arm portions each of which extends in a substantially rear to front direction relative to said tool during use of the raker bit;
a raker tooth integrally attached to front end sections of both supporting arm portions and projecting from said front end sections, which extend transversely and in opposite directions from an inner end of said raker tooth; and
at least one rear end connecting portion attached to a rear end of at least one of said supporting arm portions and projecting at a substantial angle to said at least one supporting arm portion, wherein said substantial angle is substantially less than 180 degrees.
20. A raker bit according to claim 19 wherein said at least one rear end connecting portion is a straight wire section integrally joined to one of the said supporting arm portions.