All The Claims

1. A method for brazing a metallic honeycomb body for exhaust gas treatment, the method comprising the following steps carried out in a continuous-flow process:
a) pretreating a honeycomb body at a temperature above 400\xb0 C. in a first furnace to remove water and grease from the honeycomb body in a cleaning step;
b) cooling the honeycomb body;
c) brazing the honeycomb body in a second furnace at a temperature in a range of from 1050\xb0 C. to 1100\xb0 C. under atmospheric pressure;
d) cooling the honeycomb body; and
carrying out permanent process gas scavenging at least during steps a) and c).
2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises carrying out a temperature increase predominantly during step c).
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process gas has a purity of at least 99.999% during step c).
4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises forming the honeycomb body of an iron material having chrome and aluminum as main alloying elements, and a chrome fraction being greater than an aluminum fraction by at least a factor of 3.
5. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises carrying out the brazing step with a nickel-based brazing material having chrome, phosphorus and silicon as main additives.
6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises oxidizing the honeycomb body after step c) in a step e).
7. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises monitoring an oxygen content during step c).
8. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises forming the honeycomb body with aluminum as an alloying material.
9. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises forming the honeycomb body with aluminum as an alloying element having an aluminum fraction lying in a range of 3 to 6% by weight.
10. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises:
e) exposing the honeycomb body to an oxidative environment with temperatures above 600 \xb0 C. after step c).
11. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises, during step e), providing surfaces of the honeycomb body with an aluminum oxide layer serving for corrosion protection.
12. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises, during step e), providing surfaces of the honeycomb body with an aluminum oxide layer preventing diffusion bonds at foil contact points not being brazed to one another but bearing one against the other.
13. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises maintaining step e) for 20 to 60 minutes.
14. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises carrying out step e) directly following step c).
15. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises carrying out cooling and then step e) following step c).
16. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises carrying out steps c) and e) in one common furnace having different ambient conditions separated from one another by separation devices.
17. The method according to claim 16, which further comprises selecting the different ambient conditions as a presence of oxygen and a protective gas.
18. The method according to claim 16, which further comprises selecting the separation devices as slides or intermediate walls.
19. The method according to claim 10, which further comprises carrying out step e) at temperatures below a melting temperature of brazing material, permitting steps e) and c) to be carried out in direct spatial proximity.
20. The method according to claim 19, which further comprises carrying out step e) at 50\xb0 C. below the melting temperature of the brazing material or lower.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method for facilitating generation of a template comprising:
retrieving a set of template types from a computer-readable memory-;
outputting the set of template types;
receiving a selected template type from the set of template types;
retrieving attributes from the computer-readable memory, the attributes defining a format of a template of the selected template type but including less than all information required to completely define the template of the selected template type; and
instructing a computer-executable document generating application to generate the template of the selected template type in accordance with the attributes.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
outputting configurable attributes, the configurable attributes comprising at least a portion of the retrieved attributes and being capable of configuration; and
receiving information specifying how the configurable attributes are to be configured.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the retrieved attributes is a paper size attribute, a paper orientation attribute, a font type attribute, a font size attribute, a color attribute, a chart attribute, a diagram attribute, a table attribute, an image attribute, or a line attribute.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein at least one of the retrieved attributes is a paper size attribute, a paper orientation attribute, a font type attribute, a font size attribute, a color attribute, a chart attribute, a diagram attribute, a table attribute, an image attribute, or a line attribute.
5. A computer-readable memory encoded with data, comprising:
a plurality of categories of data, each category associated with data pertaining to a template type; and
a plurality of sets of attributes, each set belonging to one of said categories, defining a format of templates associated with its template type, but including less than all information required to completely define templates associated with its template type.
6. The computer-readable memory of claim 5, further comprising:
a set of attributes that defines a format of templates associated with at least two template types.
7. A computer-readable memory encoded with data, comprising:
a plurality of attribute repositories each comprising:
(a) a plurality of categories of data, each category associated with data pertaining to a template type; and
(b) a plurality of sets of attributes, each set belonging to one of said categories, defining a format of templates associated with its template type, but including less than all information required to completely define templates associated with its template type; and

an information repository comprising data identifying portions of a computer network to which the attribute repositories apply.
8. The computer-readable memory of claim 7, wherein the information repository further comprises data identifying the template types associated with each attribute repository.
9. The computer-readable memory of claim 7, wherein the information repository further comprises data identifying current version information associated with the attribute repositories.
10. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the information repository further comprises data identifying addresses of computers to which the attribute repositories and the information repository are to be distributed.
11. A method for managing document templates comprising:
storing attributes in a first computer-readable attribute repository, the attributes defining a format of a template but including less than all information required to completely define the template;
receiving from a computer information regarding a second computer-readable attribute repository, the second attribute repository including information that is or was included in the first attribute repository;
determining whether the second attribute repository is less current than the first attribute repository using at least the received information regarding the second attribute repository; and
transmitting the first attribute repository to the computer if it is determined that the second attribute repository is less current than the first attribute repository.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
storing system information in a first computer-readable system information repository, the system information identifying a current version of the first attribute repository,
wherein the determining whether the second attribute repository is less current than the first attribute repository also uses at least the current version of the first attribute repository.
13. A system for managing document templates comprising:
a first computer-readable memory storing a first attribute repository, the attribute repository including information defining a format of a template but including less than all information required to completely define the template;
a first computer communicatively connected to the first computer-readable memory;
a second computer-readable memory storing a second attribute repository, the second attribute repository including information that is or was included in the first attribute repository;
a second computer communicatively connected to the second computer-readable memory and the first computer, the second computer being instructed to receive the first attribute repository from the first computer and overwrite the second attribute repository with the first attribute repository upon receipt.
14. The system of claim 13,
wherein the first memory further stores a plurality of first attribute repositories, each including information defining a format of a template associated with a portion of an organization but including less than all information required to completely define the template associated with its portion of the organization,
wherein the second memory further stores a plurality of second attribute repositories, each being associated with one of the first attribute repositories and including information that is or was included in its associated first attribute repository, and
wherein the second computer is instructed to receive the plurality of first attribute repositories from the first computer and overwrite the plurality of second attribute repositories with the first attribute repositories upon receipt.
15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:
a plurality of second computer-readable memories; and
a plurality of second computers each communicatively connected to one of the second computer-readable memories.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first computer is a server and the plurality of second computers are user workstations.
17. The system of claim 15 wherein the first computer is an organization-wide server that services at least a portion of an organization, and the plurality of second computers are regional servers that service a sub-portion of the portion of the organization.
18. The system of claim 13,
wherein the second computer-readable memory further stores a system information repository including information identifying an address of the first computer, and
wherein the second computer communicates with the first computer using the address of the first computer.

1. A subsea wellhead assembly including:
a wellhead body having a generally cylindrical wall defining an axial bore, the body being disposed to support within the bore a casing hanger for the support of a first casing string within a second casing string whereby to form an annulus between the casing strings, the body including a communication passageway which is in communication with said annulus near a lower end of the body and extends upwardly in said wall towards an upper end of the body; and
a valve which is accommodated near the upper end of said body and is disposed for control from a production tree to control fluid passage through said communication passageway.
2. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 1 in which said valve is controllable from the production tree by way of an isolation sleeve.
3. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 2, in which said valve is moveable between open and closed positions in response to fluid pressure applicable to the valve by way of said isolation sleeve.
4. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 3 and including passages for the application of said fluid pressure, these passages extending within the body of said isolation sleeve.
5. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 2, in which said valve controls a port in communication with a passage in said isolation sleeve.
6. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 5, in which said valve is moveable between a open position connecting said passageway and said port and a closed position blocking communication between said passageway and said port.
7. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 6, and including at least one biasing spring for urging said valve to said closed position.
8. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 5, in which said passage in said isolation sleeve communicates with a gallery in said production tree.
9. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 5, in which said valve has a gallery for providing communication between said communication passageway and said port.
10. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 1, in which said valve controls a port in said bore.
11. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 1, in which said valve is a slide valve and the assembly includes a valve sleeve fitting within said bore and defining therewith a chamber in which said valve is disposed.
12. A subsea wellhead assembly including:
a wellhead body which is disposed to support an isolation sleeve for a production tree and includes a passageway in communication near a lower end of the body with an annulus between casing strings and extending upwardly within said body to an upper end of the body whereby to provide communication between the isolation sleeve and said annulus between casing strings; and
a valve which controls communication through said passageway and is operable by means of fluid pressure applied to the valve by way of said isolation sleeve.
13. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 12, in which said isolation sleeve has passages for the application of said fluid pressure, these passages extending within the body of the isolation sleeve.
14. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 12 wherein said valve is accommodated in said body below said isolation sleeve and provides controlled communication between said passageway and a passage in said isolation sleeve.
15. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 11, in which said body supports a hanger for a production casing string defining an inner periphery of the annulus.
16. A subsea wellhead assembly including:
a wellhead body having a generally cylindrical wall defining an axial bore, the body being disposed to support within the bore a casing hanger for the support of a first casing string within a second casing string whereby to form an annulus between the casing strings, wherein:
said body includes a communication passageway which is in communication with said annulus near a lower end of the body and extends upwardly and entirely within said wall to an upper end of the body;
said body includes a port in said bore; and
a valve is accommodated near the upper end of said body and is disposed to control fluid communication between said passageway and said port.
17. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 16 in which said valve comprises a slide valve which is moveable between an open position connecting said passageway and said isolation sleeve and a closed position blocking communication between said passageway and said isolation sleeve.
18. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 18 and including a spring bias for urging said valve to said closed position.
19. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 16, and further comprising an isolation sleeve for a production tree, said isolation sleeve being disposed in said bore at the upper end thereof,
wherein said isolation sleeve includes a passageway for fluid communication between said port and said production tree.
20. The subsea wellhead assembly of claim 19, in which said isolation sleeve is disposed to communicate fluid pressure from said tree to operate said valve.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A device-implemented method comprising:
retrieving a first canonical rule set for an agent;
constructing the agent in an execution environment embodied on a device utilizing the first canonical rule set, the constructing causing a request for a second canonical rule set for the agent from the execution environment; and
causing the agent to merge the first and second canonical rule sets in response to receiving the second canonical rule set.
2. The device-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first canonical rule set is passed to or retrieved by the agent.
3. The device-implemented method of claim 2 further comprising requesting the first canonical rule set from a rule repository.
4. The device-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first canonical rule set comprises agent goal specific canonical rules.
5. The device-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the agent is configured to retrieve the second canonical rule set.
6. The device-implemented method of claim 5 wherein the agent is further configured to retrieve the second canonical rule set from a rule repository in the execution environment.
7. The device-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the second canonical rule set comprises domain and environment specific canonical rules.
8. A tangible computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to implement a method comprising:
requesting a first set of canonical rules for an agent;
retrieving a second set of canonical rules from an environment;
causing the agent to merge the first and second canonical rule sets;
compiling the merged canonical rule set;
creating a rule engine; and
passing the compiled, merged canonical rule set to the rule engine.
9. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises retrieving the second set of canonical rules from a rule repository.
10. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the rule repository is in the execution environment in which the agent is being constructed.
11. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the second canonical rule set is retrieved by supplying the agent’s domain.
12. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the agent is configured to construct the merged canonical rule set by taking a union of the first canonical rule set and the second canonical rule set.
13. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises compiling the merged canonical rule set with a rule compiler.
14. The tangible computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the method further comprises supplying the compiled, merged canonical rule set to a resident rule engine.
15. A system comprising:
a first memory; and
a first processor configured to be communicably coupled to the first memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
construct an agent with two sets of canonical rules, by at least:
retrieving a first canonical rule set for the agent;
retrieving a second canonical rule set from an execution environment;
causing the agent to merge the first and the second canonical rule sets into a merged canonical rule set;
requesting compilation of the merged canonical rule set;
locating a rule engine;
supplying the rule engine with the compiled, merged canonical rule set; and
requesting a working memory from the rule engine.
16. The system of claim 15 wherein the first memory is configured to:
store the canonical merged rule set;
store the compiled, merged canonical rule set; and
store the working memory from the rule engine.
17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a second memory configured to store a rule repository that contains canonical rules for achieving goals; and
a second processor configured to be communicably coupled to the second memory, wherein the second processor is configured to:
attempt to retrieve, responsive to receiving a rule set query that includes agent goals, an appropriate canonical rule set from the rule repository based on the goals; and
transmit a response containing the retrieved rule set, transmission of a response being caused by the receipt of the rule set query.