All The Claims

1. A lift cart comprising:
a frame,
a wheel on said frame permitting the cart to be moved over a surface,
brake means on said frame and adapted to act against said wheel to prevent movement of the cart over the surface,
a lift platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement thereon,
an actuating system for effecting movement of said platform,
a tank for containing compressed air mounted on said frame, and
air conduit means for directing compressed air from said tank to said brake means and said actuating system, said actuating system comprising
a reservoir containing hydraulic fluid,
a lift cylinder,
a hydraulic fluid conduit connecting said reservoir and said lift cylinder, and
a pneumatically actuated shut-off valve in said hydraulic fluid conduit,

a manually actuated valve in said air conduit means for controlling the flow of compressed air to said reservoir,
whereby compressed air from the tank may controllably be admitted to the reservoir containing hydraulic fluid for actuating the lift cylinder and effecting movement of the platform.
2. The lift cart of claim 1 wherein:
the air conduit means between said tank and said brake means includes a valve adapted to be actuated by movement of said platform.
3. The lift cart of claim 2 further including:
a second valve in the air conduit means between said tank and said brake means, said second valve being manually actuatable to override the valve actuated by movement of said platform.
4. The lift cart of claim 3 further including
a hand grip on said frame and
said second valve is positioned in close proximity to said handgrip.
5. A lift cart comprising:
a frame,
a lift platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement thereon,
an actuating system for effecting movement of said platform,
a tank for containing compressed air mounted on said frame,
air conduit means for directing compressed air to said actuating system,
said actuating system comprising
a reservoir containing hydraulic fluid,
a lift cylinder,
a hydraulic fluid conduit connecting said reservoir and said cylinder, and
a pneumatically actuated shut-off valve in said hydraulic fluid conduit,

a first manually actuated valve in said air conduit means for controlling the flow of compressed air to said reservoir, and
a second manually actuated valve in said air conduit means for controlling the flow of compressed air to said shut-off valve
whereby compressed air from the tank may controllably be admitted to the reservoir containing hydraulic fluid for actuating the lift cylinder and effecting movement of the platform.

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 performing data replication in a computer network, the method comprising:
storing log entries in a first-in first-out memory wherein each of the log entries represents a data management operation generated by an application on a source computer for data stored on a first storage device, and wherein each of the log entries has a unique identification associated therewith;
deleting in the first-in first-out memory one or more least recently received log entries based on a storage threshold;
transmitting copies of log entries in the first-in first-out to at least one destination computer;
replaying the copies of the log entries received by the at least one destination computer to replicate the data management operations on data on a second storage device to create replicated data that replicates the data stored on the first storage device; and
using the unique identification of the most recently processed log entry on the destination computer to locate a log entry in the first-in first-out memory that occurs after the most recently processed log entry; and
performing a mirror operation to synchronize the data stored on the source computer with the data stored on the destination computer when the cache memory no longer has a copy of the log entry that occurs after the most recently processed log entry.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting is performed without waiting for an acknowledgement from the at least one destination computer.
3. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising detecting a network failure.
4. The method of claim 3, additionally comprising, following the network failure, querying the at least one destination computer for the unique identification of the most recently replayed log entry.
5. The method of claim 4, additionally comprising:
receiving from the at least one destination computer the unique identification of the most recently replayed log entry;
locating a copy of the most recently replayed log entry in the first-in first-out memory; and
forwarding copies of log entries following the most recently replayed log entry to the at least one destination computer.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said deleting comprises deleting from the first-in first-out memory one or more of the oldest log entries when receiving new log entries.
7. A system for facilitating data synchronization following a network failure in a data replication environment, the system comprising:
a plurality of log entries representing data management operations generated by an application on a source computer for data stored on a first storage device, each of the plurality of log entries having a unique identifier associated therewith;
a cache memory that stores the log entries, wherein one or more least recently received log entries are deleted from the cache memory based on a storage threshold;
at least one destination computer that receives the log entries stored in the cache memory, wherein the destination computer processes the plurality of log entries to replicate data to a second storage device; and
at least one replication routine configured to sequentially retrieve each of the plurality of log entries from the cache memory based on a most recently processed log entry by the destination computer and wherein the replication routine performs a mirror operation to synchronize the data stored on the source computer with the data stored on the destination computer when the cache memory no longer has a copy of the log entry that occurs after the most recently processed log entry.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the unique identifier comprises a sequence number.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the cache memory comprises a permanent disk cache.
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one replication routine comprises a plurality of replication threads.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of replication threads communicates with one of the plurality of destination computers.
12. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one replication routine does not store a copy of transmitted log entries.
13. The system of claim 7, wherein, following a network failure, the at least one replication routine is configured to:
receive from the at least one destination computer the unique identifier of the most recently processed log entry;
locate a copy of the most recently processed log entry in the cache memory; and
forward copies of log entries following the most recently processed log entry to the at least one destination computer.
14. A system for facilitating data synchronization following a network failure in a data replication environment, the system comprising:
means for representing data management operations generated by an application on a source computer for data stored on a first storage device, each of said means for representing including a log entry with a unique identifier;
means for storing a portion of said means for representing such that when a size of the portion of said means for representing reaches a storage threshold of said means for storing, said means for storing deletes one or more of the oldest said means for representing until the size is less than the storage threshold;
means for processing said log entries to replicate data to a second storage device, wherein the means for processing the log entries creates replicated data that replicates the data stored on the first storage device; and
means for using the unique identifier of a most recently processed log entry on the second storage device, to locate a log entry in the means for storing that occurs after the most recently processed log entry; and
means for performing a mirror operation to synchronize the data stored on the first computer with the data stored on the second computer when the means for storing no longer has a copy of the log entry that occurs after the most recently processed log entry.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said means for processing comprises a plurality of routines.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein said second storage device comprises a plurality of volumes.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of routines communicates with one of the plurality of volumes.

What is claimed is:

1. A candle comprising:
(a) a container having a bottom and a side wall defining a cavity and a top rim delimited by the side wall,
(b) a first region comprising a material that is opaque at room temperature, which material is disposed within the cavity of the container,
(c) a second region comprising a polymer-oil blend that is substantially transparent at room temperature, which is disposed within the cavity of the container and adjacent to the first region, and
(d) a wick disposed within the container, which passes through both the first and second regions.
2. A candle according to claim 1 wherein the material of the first region is selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, stearic acid, and mixtures thereof.
3. A candle according to claim 2 wherein the material of the first region comprises a mixture of from about 20% (wt) to about 98% (wt) of a paraffin wax and from about 80% (wt) to about 2% (wt) of stearic acid.
4. A candle according to claim 3 wherein the material of the first region comprises a mixture of from about 60% (wt) to about 80% (wt) of a paraffin wax and from about 40% (wt) to about 20% (wt) of stearic acid.
5. A candle according to claim 1 wherein the polymer of the polymer-oil blend in the second region is selected from the group consisting of di-block copolymers, tri-block copolymers, radial copolymers, multi-block polymers, ester terminated polyamides resins, and mixtures thereof.
6. A candle according to claim 1 wherein the oil of the polymer-oil blend in the second region is selected from the group consisting of white mineral oil, paraffin oil, unsaturated fatty alcohols, saturated fatty alcohols, unsaturated fatty acids, and esters of fatty acids with dihydric alcohols and glycerol.
7. A candle according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of polymer:oil in the polymer-oil blend is from about 5:95.
8. A candle according to claim 7 wherein the ratio of polymer:oil in the polymer-oil blend is from about 10:90.
9. A candle according to claim 6 wherein the unsaturated fatty alcohols contain 10 to 22 carbon atoms.
10. A candle according to claim 9 wherein the unsaturated fatty alcohols are selected from the group consisting of oleyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, palmitoleyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, ricinoleyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
11. A candle according to claim 6 wherein the saturated fatty alcohols contain 6 to 14 carbon atoms.
12. A candle according to claim 11 wherein the saturated fatty alcohols are selected from the group consisting of decanol, dodecanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, nonanol, tetradecyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.
13. A candle according to claim 6 wherein the unsaturated fatty acids have 10 to 22 carbon atoms.
14. A candle according to claim 13 wherein the unsaturated fatty acids are selected from the group consisting of ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, linolenic acid, erucic acid, decylenic acid, dodecylenic acid, palmitoleic acid, and mixtures thereof.
15. A candle according to claim 6 wherein the fatty acid used in the ester is a C6-C18 fatty acid and the alcohol is ethylene or propylene glycol.
16. A candle according to claim 6 wherein the oil is a glyceride derived from a naturally occurring oil.
17. A candle according to claim 6 wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of castor oil, fatty acid glycerides derived from coconut oil, propylene glycol monolaurate, propylene glycol stearate, propylene glycol myristate, propylene glycol esters derived from oil, and mixtures thereof.
18. A candle according to claim 1 wherein a barrier layer is disposed between the first region and the second region.
19. A candle according to claim 18 wherein the barrier layer is a wax with a melting point greater than 60 C.
20. A candle according to claim 19 wherein the wax has a melting point greater than 70 C.
21. A candle according to claim 1 wherein one or more of the regions contains a fragrance.
22. A candle according to claim 21 wherein the fragrance is incorporated into at least one of the regions at about 0.1% (wt) to about 20% (wt).
23. A candle according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the regions contains an auxiliary agent.
24. A candle according to claim 23 wherein the auxiliary agent is selected from the group consisting of antiflaring agents, malodor counteractants, antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, colorants, surfactants, emulsifiers, binders, flow agents, insect repellents, insecticides, and mixtures thereof.
25. A candle according to claim 24 wherein the antiflaring agent is selected from the group consisting of stearic acid and the esters thereof.
26. A candle according to claim 24 wherein the antiflaring agent is selected from the group consisting of isopropyl isostearate, butyl stearate, hexadecyl stearate, isostearyl stearate, and mixtures thereof.
27. A candle according to claim 24 wherein the antimicrobial agents are selected from the group consisting of benzyl alcohol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, 2,4,4-trichloro-2-hydroxy-diphenyl ether, phenol, 2-methyl phenol, 4-ethyl phenol, rosemary oil, thyme oil, lavender oil, eugenol oil, geranium oil, tea tree oil, clove oil, lemon grass oil, peppermint oil, anethole, thymol, eucalyptol, farnesol, menthol, limonene, methyl salicylate, terpineol, nerolidol, geraniol, and mixtures thereof.
28. A candle according to claim 24 wherein the insect repellents are selected from the group consisting of DEET, citronella oil, lavender oil, and cedar oil.
29. A candle according to claim 1 wherein the container is a transparent, thermally stable container.
30. A candle according to claim 29 wherein the container is glass.
31. A candle according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises a transparent, thermally stable material, interspersed between an opaque, thermally stable material whereby the transparent material forms decorative shapes on the outer surface of the container and allows for the visualization of the opaque and transparent layers within the cavity of the container.
32. A candle according to claim 1 wherein the wick is not coated with wax.
33. A process for producing a candle comprising:
(a) providing a substantially transparent container having a bottom and a side wall defining a cavity and a top rim delimited by the side wall;
(b) dispersing into the cavity a first flowable material selected from the group consisting of a wax, a fatty acid, or a combination thereof that forms a solid, opaque layer at room temperature;
(c) allowing the flowable material to cool to below about 35 C.;
(d) dispersing into the cavity a second flowable material comprising a polymer-oil blend that forms a solid, substantially transparent layer at room temperature; and
(f) positioning a wick within the cavity wherein the wick is in contact with both the opaque and substantially transparent layers.
34. A process according to claim 33 wherein the wax is a paraffin wax.
35. A process according to claim 33 wherein the opaque layer is a mixture of paraffin wax and stearic acid.
36. A process according to claim 33 wherein the polymer in the polymer-oil blend is selected from the group consisting of di-block copolymers, tri-block copolymers, radial copolymers, multi-block polymers, ester terminated polyamide resins, and mixtures thereof.
37. A candle according to claim 33 wherein the oil in the polymer-oil blend is selected from the group consisting of white mineral oil, paraffin oil, unsaturated fatty alcohols, saturated fatty alcohols, unsaturated fatty acids, and esters of fatty acids with dihydric alcohols and glycerol.
38. A process according to claim 33 wherein the container is transparent and thermally stable.
39. A process according to claim 34 wherein the container is glass.
40. A process according to claim 33 wherein the flowable material, which is opaque at room temperature is dispersed into the cavity of the container before the flowable material, which is substantially transparent.
41. A process according to claim 33 wherein the flowable material, which is substantially transparent at room temperature is dispersed into the cavity of the container before the flowable material, which is opaque.
42. A process according to claim 40 wherein the flowable material, which is opaque at room temperature is brought to at least 5 C. below its melting point, prior to dispersing the flowable material, which is substantially transparent, into the cavity of the container.
43. A process according to claim 33 wherein the flowable material is allowed to cool to between about 25 C. to about 30 C.
44. A process according to claim 33 further comprising forming alternating layers of substantially transparent and opaque material within the cavity of the container.
45. A process according to claim 33 further comprising forming a decorative design within the cavity of the container with one of the substantially transparent and opaque materials followed by pouring the other material over the decorative design.
46. A process according to claim 33 further comprising dispersing a barrier layer between the opaque material and the substantially transparent material.
47. A process according to claim 33 wherein the barrier layer is formed by dispersing a barrier material at a temperature above its melting point onto a surface of the first flowable material dispersed into the cavity of the container, and allowing the barrier material to form a solid layer before dispersing the second flowable material into the cavity of the container.
48. A process according to claim 46 wherein the barrier material is poured onto a surface of the first flowable material dispersed into the cavity of the container.
49. A process according to claim 46 wherein the barrier material is sprayed onto a surface of the first flowable material dispersed into the cavity of the container.

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. Switchable valve-drive component (1) for variable transmission of a stroke generated by one or more cam projections to at least one gas-exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, comprising at least two transmission elements (3, 4), which can be connected with a positive fit by one or more coupling elements (8) in a transmission direction, wherein force transmission surface sections (16) of the coupling elements (8) can be clamped between force transmission surface sections (20) of the transmission elements (3, 4), at least one of the force transmission surface sections (16, 20) is provided with a wear protection layer (23), which comprises at least one metal-free amorphous hydrocarbon layer with sp2-hybridized and sp3-hybridized carbon.
2. Valve-drive component according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous hydrocarbon layer has a hydrogen content of a maximum of 16 Atom-% and process-specific contaminants of less than about 1 Atom-%.
3. Valve-drive component according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous hydrocarbon layer has a thickness of approximately 0.8 \u03bcm to 2.5 \u03bcm.
4. Valve-drive component according to claim 1, wherein at least one bonding promotion layer (24) andor at least one intermediate layer (25) is provided between the one or more force transmission surface sections (16, 20) and the wear protection layer (23).
5. Valve-drive component according to claim 4, wherein the at leas one bonding promotion layer (24) comprises metallic materials, borides, carbides, andor nitrides of the transition metals and has a thickness of approximately 0.1 \u03bcm to 0.5 \u03bcm.
6. Valve-drive component according to claim 4, wherein the at least one intermediate layer (25) is formed from metal-bearing hydrocarbon layers, whose metal components comprise W, Ti, Hf, Ge, or a combination thereof, and have a thickness of approximately 0.5 \u03bcm to 2.0 \u03bcm.
7. Valve-drive component according to claim 4, wherein the valve-drive component (1) is formed as a roller tappet (2) for switchable transmission of a cam projection to a tappet push-rod and includes:
the transmission elements (3, 4) comprise a hollow cylindrical outer part (5) and a cylindrical inner part (6), which is supported so that it can move in a longitudinal direction in the outer part (5) against a force of a lost-motion spring (7);
the coupling elements (8) are comprised of two partial cylindrical pistons (9), which are supported so that they can move in a longitudinal direction in a hollow cylindrical cross hole (10) in the inner part (6) and which each have a first axial end section (11) facing the outer part (5) with a flat contact surface (12) having a step-shaped formation (13);
the force transmission surface sections (16) of each of the pistons (9) are formed by the flat contact surface (12), by a first outer shell section (17) of the first axial end section (11), wherein the first shell section is radially opposite the contact surface (12), and also by a second outer shell section (18) of a second axial end section (19) of the piston (9), wherein the second shell section is radially opposite the first outer shell section (17); and
the wear protection layer (23) is provided exclusively on the piston (9), wherein at least the force transmission surface sections (16) are provided with the wear protection layer (23).
8. Valve-drive component according to claim 7, characterized in that 16MnCr5 or 10OCr6 is provided as the material for the pistons (9), wherein the bonding promotion layer (24) comprises at least almost completely Cr and the intermediate layer (25) contains a maximum of 20% W and also a maximum of 20% H.