Showing papers on "Pipeline (computing) published in 1974"

Pipe line high speed signal processor

Abstract: Control for overlapping instruction execution in an arithmetic unit is provided by stepping a sequence of instructions through a plurality of registers connected in cascade and separately decoding each instruction in a register for control of a corresponding stage in one or more data processing paths, each comprising stages through which data being processed is stepped, each stage corresponding to only one register of the control pipeline. The output of the decoder of each instruction register controls the required operations in the corresponding stage of the data pipeline. Automatically indexed indirect addressing is provided by use of pointers for data sources and destinations as required in the execution of every instruction in order to facilitate highly iterative and structured operations on blocks or arrays of data.

A Generalized Pipeline Array

Abstract: A generalized pipeline cellular array has been proposed which can perform all the basic operations such as multiplication, division, squaring, and square rooting. The different modes of operation are controlled by a single control line. An expression for time delay has been obtained. Further, it has been shown that these arithmetic operations can be overlapped in the pipe in any desired sequence, and thus significant speed improvement can be achieved. The array is fully iterative and hence is suitable for large-scale integration (LSI).

A multiminiprocessor system implemented through pipelining

Abstract: Several recent and proposed computer systems have employed parallel and pipelined architectures to increase instruction execution rate, or throughput. These vary from the giant ILLIAC IV1 with its large number of processing elements constrained to perform nearly identical computations in unison (single instruction stream-multiple data stream9) to the Carnegie-Mellon C. mmp system2 employing a number of independent minicomputers with shared memory (multiple instruction stream-multiple data stream). On the other hand, pipelining has been used in numerous' large computers, such as the Control Data 6600, 7600, and STAR, the IBM System 360/91 and 360/195, and the Texas Instruments ASC, to improve throughput. These systems generally employ single instruction stream-single data stream processing, although some machines in this category also have “vector” instructions that operate on multiple data streams.

Preinsulated pipe assembly and pipeline

Abstract: A preinsulated pipe assembly and pipeline formed from a plurality of such assemblies. Each pipe assembly includes a pipe with a heater housing mounted thereon to form a cavity along the exterior of the pipe and a preformed insulation layer for insulating the pipe and the heater housing. A connecting assembly is used to join the pipe assemblies and form a pipeline. Pull means detachably connected to a heating element facilitates placement of the heating element in the heater housing cavities, and a pulling assembly attached to the heater element permits removal of the heater element after installation of the pipeline.

Method and apparatus for measuring curvature and curvature variations in pipelines and the like

Abstract: Pipeline curvature is detected, measured and recorded by an instrumented pig carrying an array of sensing wheels down a length of pipeline with the sensing wheels engaging the inner wall of the pipeline in a symmetrical configuration about the axis of the pipeline. The rotation of the sensing wheels is encoded as a function of the distance travelled by each wheel over predetermined increments of axial travel of the array down the pipeline to provide periodic readout of curvature parameters between known positions (over known increments of length) of the run of pipeline traversed by the pig. A magnetic tape recorder in the pig records the curvature readout for each incremental length of pipeline traversed to provide a recorded profile of curvature correlated to position along the run to establish initial acceptable curvature conditions therefor. A succeeding run of the pig through the same run of pipeline results in a second profile which can be compared with the first profile in a computer to determine variations in curvature from the initial conditions together with the location of such variations along the run.

Earthquake fault zone pipeline construction method and arrangement

Abstract: Where a pipeline is to cross an earthquake fault zone, a trench is dug in the earth substantially wider and deeper than the diameter of the pipeline. The pipeline is installed in the trench in a bed of spherical bodies, which thereafter function during an earthquake to partially absorb compression and shear waves, and to disperse forces acting on the pipeline, whereby the effect of such forces on the pipeline is minimized with the result that rupture does not occur.

Two's complement pipeline multiplier

Abstract: The present invention includes a substantially modular pipeline multiplier for directly forming the correct final product of a 2's complement data word and a sign and magnitude coefficient word. In particular, the present invention includes circuitry for inserting logic 1 signals into the computations as sign extensions during multiplication whenever the data word is a negative 2's complement number.

Apparatus for controlling computer pipelines for arithmetic operations on vectors

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling the arithmetic units of a computer pipeline to accomplish arithmetic operations on operands of a plurality of operand vectors to derive resultants. The apparatus includes a plurality of gates connected to the pipeline, at least one gate being provided for each operand vector being inputted to the pipeline and at least one gate being provided at the output of the pipeline. The gates are selectively operated to selectively channel data to the computer pipeline, the data being channelled being either the pipeline outputs, or operands from the operand vector, or data representative of machine zero. One form of the disclosure resides in the provision of a plurality of similar pipelines each having input and output gates with the output gate from one pipeline being connected to at least one input gate of another pipeline.

A Multiple-Stream Registerless Shared-Resource Processor

Abstract: A novel high-performance processor architecture for processing a large number of independent instruction streams is proposed and its operating behavior studied. The proposed processor operates on instruction words in a two-address format (thereby eliminating the "operating registers"), and is organized in a fashion which permits as high degree of internal buffering and pipelining. The processor has the following properties: 1) The hardware cost grows only slightly more than linearly with the overall implementation cost; 2) The overall performance is primarily dependent on the processor wordtime and is only secondarily dependent on the supporting memory cycle time; 3) All instruction stream interfaces with memory occur at special queuing (buffer) units which are used to "unscramble" the instruction streams and continually provide work for subsequent processing elements.

The control data STAR-100: performance measurements

Abstract: The CONTROL DATA STAR-100 (STring-ARray) Computer is a very large, general purpose, high speed computing system. The STAR-100 computer utilizes integrated circuitry, ferrite core memory, 400 hz power and freon cooling in the hardware implementation. The logical design of the computer combines stream processing, virtual addressing, hardware macro instructions, segmented (pipeline) arithmetic units and a 256-word high speed register file to perform arithmetic and logical operation on discrete or structured data elements (Figure 1).

A Weather Model for Simulating Offshore Construction Alternatives

Abstract: The time and cost required for offshore construction operations are often dominated by the influence of weather, particularly wave heights. Historical wave height data can be summarized in a simple probabilistic model that can be used in a Monte Carlo simulation of the construction operations. Such a simulation has been used effectively to evaluate alternative bids on pipeline projects in the Gulf of Mexico. This paper describes the Markovian wave height model we have incorporated in the simulation.

Method and apparatus for boosting pressure in a coal pipeline

Abstract: A method and apparatus to boost the fluid pressure of a solids-transporting liquid in a pipeline, without applying any forces directly to the solid particles. A method and apparatus are shown to remove the solids from the liquid, boost the pressure of the strained liquid, and then to re-inject the solids into the liquid at its higher pressure, all without damaging even fragile solids.

Offshore pipeline laying

Abstract: A pipeline assembly is laid from a vessel into a body of water by passing the pipeline through the water in a substantially vertical path for a substantial portion of its descending travel. Near the end of its descent, as it approaches contact with the bed of the body of water, the pipeline assumes a curved transition profile. The pipeline is formed initially on the vessel by connecting a plurality of rigid pipe sections in endto-end fashion, for relative pivotal movement. The pivotal connection between the pipe sections allows the pipeline to pass from a fore-to-aft feed path on the vessel into its substantially vertical descent path, and from the substantially vertical descent path into a curved transition profile, without the generation of unduly high stresses in the pipeline.

Device for steplessly detecting the ovalizations and the projections on two orthogonal planes of the curved geometrical configuration of a submerged pipeline

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for use in steplessly detecting the presence and the precise position of ovalizations, squashings or swellings into a submerged pipeline as well as the projections on a vertical plane and on a horizontal plane respectively of the curved geometrical configuration of said pipeline.

Efficiency in generalized pipeline networks

Abstract: A common architecture of most of today's super machines revolves around parallel or pipeline processing. Typical examples of such machines are the CDC STAR-100, TI-ASC, PEPE, IBM 360/91, 360/195, and CDC 6600, 7600, etc. They all have distinct pipeline processing capabilities, either in the form of internally pipelined arithmetic functional units or in the form of a pipeline of special purpose functional units. The principal idea behind pipelining is to create as much overlap as possible in the operations of the different facilities, for example, memory fetch unit, decoding units, adders, and multipliers. Concurrency of different operations increases the system utilization. As an important consequence of concurrency, the execution speed of most jobs are accelerated considerably as is evidenced in systems like 360/195 and TI-ASC. Ideally, in a pipelined machine, instead of obtaining one output per major cycle from the system, a rate of one output per minor cycle may be achievable. A typical linear pipeline is as drawn in Figure 1(a).

Methods of fitting fluid pressure operated devices into pipelines

Abstract: The method of fitting a fluid pressure operated device in a pipeline comprises the steps of removing a straight section of the pipeline of length less than the fluid pressure device to afford spaced coaxial pipeline ends, mounting union couplings on the pipeline ends, mounting annular sealing means inwardly of the couplings, substantially tilting the axis of the device relatively to the pipeline and passing an inlet or outlet connection of the device on to the pipeline to an extent to enable the device connections to be brought into a position coaxial with the pipeline, moving the device into the coaxial position with the device connections extending over the respective ends of the pipeline, and, tightening the union couplings on to the inlet and outlet connections of the device thereby to clamp the sealing means between each coupling and the device to provide a seal between each device connection and the pipeline.

The economic selection of a slurry pipeline

Abstract: A technique is presented for the economic selection of a slurry pipeline with the aid of a computer. Mathematical models for the flow of homogeneous slurries are utilized. Only the pipeline and its prime movers are considered. Slurry flow properties are first obtained from rheology and/or pipeline data measurements. A rheological model is then selected for the slurry. It must be emphasized that the accuracy of the method is affected by the accuracy of the slurry flow-property data. Approximate cost parameters may be selected from data for plain and lined pipes, centrifugal and positive displacement pumps, motors and engines. Cost data for the purchase, operation and maintenance of slurry pipelines are also included. A total cost equation for the ownership and operation of a slurry pipeline system is then established. The complexity of the equation is a function of the rheological model selected to describe the slurry. The equation is solved with the aid of a computer for several combinations of pipeline diameters and throughputs to yield minimum total annual cost for the system. A mean velocity is then computed to give the required throughput. The velocity is constrained by an upper and lower bound. A high velocity is undesirable from an energy consumption viewpoint and if pipeline wear is possible. On the other hand, the velocity must exceed the deposition velocity for a heterogeneous suspension or the critical velocity for a homogeneous suspension. There is no guarantee that the velocity developed by this method will lie within the constraints applied, nor that the constraints are even known. This is particularly true for heterogeneous slurries. An important feature of the method is the ease with which the variables can be adjusted to measure the sensitivity of the total cost to the variables.

Environmental impact analysis; the example of the proposed Trans-Alaska Pipeline

Abstract: The environmental impact analysis made as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 for the proposed trans-Alaska pipeline included consideration of the (1) technologically complex and geographically extensive proposed project, (2) extremely different physical environments across Alaska along the proposed route and elsewhere in Alaska and in Canada along alternative routes, (3) socioeconomic environment of the State of Alaska, and (4) a wide variety of alternatives. The analysis was designed specifically to fit the project and environment that would be affected. The environment was divided into two general parts-natural physical systems and superposed socioeconomic systems-and those parts were further divided into discipline-oriented systems or components that were studied and analyzed by scientists of the appropriate discipline. Particular attention was given to potential feedback loops in the impact network and to linkages between the project's impacting effects and the environment. The results of the analysis as reported in the final environmental impact statement were that both unavoidable and threatened environmental impacts would result from construction, operation, and maintenance ofthe proposed pipeline system and the developments related to it. The principal unavoidable effects would be (1) disturbances of terrain, fish and wildlife habitat, and human environs, (2) the results of the discharge of effluent from the tanker-ballast-treatment facility into Port Valdez and of some indeterminate amount of oil released into the ocean from tank-cleaning operations at sea, and (3) the results associated with increased human pressures of all kinds on the environment. Other unavoidable effects would be those related to increase of State and Native Corporation revenues, accelerated cultural change ofthe Native population, and extraction of the oil and gas resource. The main threatened environmental effects would all be related to unintentional oil loss from the pipeline, from tankers, or in the oil field. Oil losses from the pipeline could be caused by direct or indirect effects of earthquakes, destructive sea waves, slope failure caused by natural or artificial processes, thaw-plug instability (in permafrost), differential settlement of permafrost terrain, and bed scour and bank erosion at stream crossings. Oil loss from tankers could be caused by accidents during transfer operations at Valdez and at destination ports and by casualties involving tankers and other ships. Comparison of alternative routes and transportation systems and of their environmental impacts provided information which indicates to the author that one corridor containing both 1 oil and gas pipelines would have less environmental impact than would separate corridors. Considering also the threat to the marine environment that any tanker system would impose and the threat that zones of high earthquake frequency and magnitude would impose on pipelines, it is apparent to the author that environmental impact and cost would be least for a single-corridor on-land route that avoided earthquake zones. The alternative trans-Alaska-Canada routes would meet these criteria. The decisions ofthe U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Congress, and the President of the United States in favor of the proposed trans-Alaska pipeline system indicate the relative weight given by the decision makers in balancing the importance of potential environmental consequences against the advantages to be derived from rapid resource development. INTRODUCTION The precedents that have been and will be set by the proposed oil-pipeline system and soon-to-be proposed gas-pipeline system in Alaska will have far-reaching implications for petroleum development in the arctic parts of the Western and possibly the Eastern Hemisphere. Some of the most important precedents will concern the acquisition, analysis, and use of environmental data. The Alaskan example is of interest to all groups involved in arctic resource development because it provides information on predicted environmental impacts and on the methods used in arriving at the predictions. This paper represents an attempt on the part of the author to summarize pertinent elements of the experience derived from the preparation of a complex environmental analysis for the benefit of others concerned in similar endeavors. The purposes of this paper are (1) to describe the reasons for analyzing environmental impact and discuss (a) the implications of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of the United States and of similar laws in other countries to governmental and industrial decision-making processes, (b) the economic and public interest factors in the industrial decision-making process, and (c) the basic need to develop ways of minimizing the environmental costs that mankind must pay now and in the future; ( 2) to describe the general methodology needed to analyze environmental impact rigorously and objectively; (3) to describe in some detail how this methodology was applied to the proposed trans-Alaska pipeline and related systems; ( 4) to describe the main types of impact predicted from that analysis; (5) to examine the alternatives to the proposed pipeline; and (6) to analyze briefly from the author's viewpoint the approval of the proposed trans-Alaska oil-pipeline system as an example of the degree to which environmental considerations influenced the decision-making process. It is difficult to discuss these points disinterestedly, without advocating one view or another, because many of the issues and factors are politically sensitive and subject to opposing interpretations when differing value frameworks are used. Nevertheless, because the lessons to be learned from the Alaskan pipeline example are important, the author has attempted to examine the ramifications of the impact analysis and of the decision deliberately and objectively. This circular is modified from a paper prepared for presentation to the Fifth International Congress of the Fondation Francaise dtEtudes Nordiques (Brew and Gryc, 1974). The interested reader is referred to that paper for a more complete discussion of the analysis of the government's decision (point 6, above). PROPOSED TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE The Secretary of the Interior of the United States has granted a permit to the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company for a 48-inch oilpipeline right-of-way across Federal land in Alaska between a point south of Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope and Port Valdez, an arm of Prince William Sound, on the south coast (fig. 1). The company will design, construct, operate, and maintain the pipeline system. The pipeline will be about 789 miles (1,270 km) long, some 641 miles (1,030 km) of which will be across Federal land. The pipeline system will also include pump stations, campsites for use during construction, airfields for use during both construction and operation of the pipeline, a communication system, lateral access roads, and pits or quarries for construction materials. The marine terminal site on Port Valdez will consist of a tank farm, dock, and related facilities. Prior to con2 struction of the pipeline north ofthe Yukon River, a road will be built for access and the movement of equipment, materials, and personnel during construction. This road, which is proposed to become part of the State of Alaska highway system, will be about 361 miles (580 km) long. Construction of the proposed pipeline system will result in three additional significant developments not directly included in the pipeline application: (1) an oil field complex at Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope, (2) a probable gas transportation system, and (3) a marine tanker system operating between Port Valdez, Alaska, and various destination ports. The pipeline and its related developments will constitute a complex engineering system that will result in changes in the existing abiotic, biotic, and social and economic systems of Alaska and adjacent areas. In addition, the pipeline system will affect the economics of energy use and the strategy of energy supply in the United States. The phrase ((environmental impact" has gained general use in denoting changes that would occur in existing systems if a proposed course of action

Computers in the 1980s -- Trends in Hardware Technology,

Abstract: : The paper presents a technological forecast of computer hardware trends in the 1975 to 1990 time period. Projected are the improvements in switching speed, power consumption, cost and physical size of bipolar and metal-oxide semiconductor logic circuits. Based on these, the computing speed of processors for several computer architectures are forecast -- uniprocessors, pipeline processors, array processors, associative array processors, and for command-control, multiprocessors. The storage capacity and access memories, and summarized for other solid-state memory component technologies. The paper concludes with a discussion of innovations in computer system design and use which become feasible due to the expected hardware developments. (Author)

Strain equalizer for thermally stressed pipes

Abstract: An expansion compensator suitable for controlling the thermal expansion of a pipeline between fixedly disposed components, which comprises a linear pipeline extending between a pair of longitudinally spaced stress-susceptible pipeline components, a longitudinally spaced pair of linear strain equalizers interposed in the linear pipeline between and spaced inwardly from the components, and a pair of overlapping longitudinal anchors affixed to the linear pipeline, each of the anchors further overlapping one of the strain equalizers the combined distances between the outer end of each of the anchors and the adjacent component being substantially equal to the amount of overlap of the anchors.

Conflict and Work Force Stability in Pipeline Construction

Abstract: MORE THAN OTHER TECHNICALLY ADVANCED and rationalized industries, construction work seems to depend upon informal systems of personal relations to locate skilled workers where they are needed. Consequently, the purely technical requirements of a job may be markedly modified by particularistic criteria. Mohawks, for example, are prominent in the high steel construction of the Northeastern United States (Freilich, 1958: 473-483); various ethnic groups dominate particular building crafts in Detroit (Myers, 1946: 1-7); the pipeline construction industry seems to depend largely upon groups of friends and kinsmen to recruit its work crews (Graves, 1970: 72-81); and established building tradesmen have been notoriously successful in excluding blacks and other minorities from construction work.

Estimating Natural Gas Pipeline Friction Parameters

Abstract: In the design and operation of natural gas pipelines, modeling the pressure-flow relationship is of prime importance. There are certain key parameters which must be known before a simulator will accurately model a given pipeline system. These include length, diameter, and friction factor. The length and diameter can be determined easily. Obtaining friction factors or efficiency parameters is a more difficult problem. The simplest and most frequently used method to determine this parameter is to perform a flow test, measuring the pressures and flows. The measured data are then used in a steady-state equation to compute the friction parameter. The method suggested herein is to use a transient simulator in combination with a least-squares algorithm. The parameters are obtained without attempting to hold the pipeline at steady-state conditions.

A note on parallel and pipeline computation of fast unitary transforms

Abstract: The parallel and pipeline organization of fast unitary transform algorithms such as the Fast Fourier Transform are discussed. The efficiency is pointed out of a combined parallel-pipeline processor of a transform such as the Haar transform in which 2 to the n minus 1 power hardware butterflies generate a transform of order 2 to the n power every computation cycle.

SPEAC: special purpose electronic area correlator

Abstract: In the high data rate systems (> MHz) associated with signal processing, a standard stored program computer is not fast enough. At the present time, parallel (1, 2) and pipeline (3) architectures are being used to solve these computational problems.This paper describes a preprocessor which is optimized to perform sum-of-product operations with a "pipeline ripple through" architecture. A breadboard built to perform the "absolute difference" and "product" correlation functions using this architecture is described.