Abstract: A transferable value or rights token where the value or rights can be passed from entity to entity as required in a secure fashion. The value or rights passed in the tokens is held by the users in pockets directed by means of a controller device. The tokens are anonymous but the users need to be authenticated in order to gain access to their pockets. The tokens can be stored off-line and passed between users as required at which point the final receiver can go on-line to load or verify the token.

Abstract: An exemplary method of controlling fluid flow in a ram air turbine assembly, includes redirecting flow moving in an axial direction against the surface of a drive shaft to flow moving in a radial direction away from the drive shaft to limit flow of the fluid from a hydraulic pump to a generator.

Abstract: A ram air turbine system includes an actuator having a threaded portion, a rod having a threaded region at or near one end and an eyelet at an opposite end, and a bushing. The bushing has a first thread engaged with the threaded portion of the actuator, and a second thread engaged with the threaded region of the rod, such that an actuation force can be transmitted between the actuator and the rod through the bushing. The first and second threads of the bushing have different pitches.

Abstract: A driveshaft for an aircraft ram air turbine, the driveshaft including a cylindrical body having an outer surface, an inner surface, a longitudinal axis, a first end section, a second end section opposite the first end section, and an elongated intermediate section connecting the first end section and the second end section. The outer surfaces of the elongated intermediate section includes at least three separate grooves initiating at a location proximate to the first end section and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis across the outer surface to a location proximate to the second end section, the grooves being separated equidistantly around a circumference of the outer surface. The grooves provide a high lateral bending stiffness and low torsional stiffness such that a drivetrain operates at a frequency below an operating range frequency and the driveshaft at a critical speed above an operating speed.

Abstract: Provided is a fault isolation apparatus for an inverter configured for coupling to an external power supply. The apparatus includes a plurality of fault detection devices, each configured to (i) complete an electrical path between the inverter and the external power supply and (ii) detect a fault along its respective electrical path. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to instruct the fault detection device to complete its respective electrical path only when the path is devoid of the detected fault.

Abstract: A wirelessly operable slow cooker for cooking food products includes a wireless communication device. A computing device, such as a smartphone, can wirelessly communicate with the slow cooker to control and monitor the slow cooker.

Abstract: A splined muff is provided for use with a ram air turbine (RAT). The splined muff includes a body formed of plastic material that acts as an insulator during a lightning strike. The body is formed to define an aperture and includes an interior facing spline for engagement with a complementary exterior facing spline; and an exterior facing spline for engagement with a complementary interior facing spline.

Abstract: A ram air turbine (RAT) mounting system includes a frame with a forward end having a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side disposed opposite the third side. The frame also includes an aft end. A first mounting element is connected to the forward end of the frame proximate the first side and the third side. A second mounting element is connected to the forward end of the frame proximate the first side and the fourth side. A first rod is connected to the forward end of the frame proximate the second side and the third side. A second rod is connected to the aft end of the frame.

Abstract: A mounting frame for a ram air turbine includes a front support block having a top side opposite a bottom side. A rear support block is disposed opposite the front support block, the rear support block also having a top side, and a bottom side. A top plate extends between the front support block and the rear support block, the top plate having a forward end connected to the front support block proximate the top side of the front support block, an aft end connected to the rear support block proximate the top side of the rear support block. A bottom plate extends between the front support and the rear support opposite the top plate.

Abstract: Various implementations of a bite block allow a user safer access to an animal's teeth by holding the animal's jaw open and allowing the user to stabilize the bite block and the animal's jaw simultaneously with one hand. For example, the bite block may include a thumb receiving portion and a bite receiving portion. The thumb receiving portion defines a hole that is configured for receiving a thumb of a user. The bite receiving portion includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The upper surface defines an upper trough configured for receiving one or more maxillary teeth of an animal, and the lower surface defines a lower trough configured for receiving one or more mandibular teeth of the animal.

Abstract: A system and method for determining optimal query plans within distributed database system employing table operators for performing analytic operations for storing and processing multi-structured data. The optimization of a query plan proceeds through a collaborative exchange between a database system optimizer, or planner, and a table operator, wherein multiple communications between said optimizer and said table operator are conducted to exchange input and output information relevant to optimizing execution of the query and table operator.

Abstract: An assembly includes an actuator assembly having a housing, a piston positioned at least partially within the housing and movable relative to the housing for an overall actuation stroke, a first spring operatively engaged between the piston and the housing to provide actuation biasing force therebetween, a second spring operatively engaged with the piston, and a spring guide. The spring guide is operatively engaged with the first spring and operatively engaged with the piston via a sliding connection. The spring guide is further configured to limit a stroke of the first spring such that the first spring contributes actuation biasing force between the piston and the housing for only a fractional portion of the overall actuation stroke of the piston.

Abstract: A data mashup system having information extraction capabilities for receiving multiple streams of textual data, at least one of which contains unstructured textual data. A repository stores annotators that describe how to analyze the streams of textual data for specified unstructured data components. The annotators are applied to the data streams to identify and extract the specified data components according to the annotators. The extracted data components are tagged to generate structured data components and the specified unstructured data components in the input data streams are replaced with the tagged data components. The system then combines the tagged data from the multiple streams to form a mashup output data stream.

Abstract: What is defined is a stow lock pin for use in preventing deployment of a ram air turbine of an aircraft, the aircraft having a first distance from the ram air turbine to an access window. The stow lock pin includes a tip configured to be received by a slot of the ram air turbine. The stow lock pin also includes a rod coupled to the tip and having an axial distance that is larger than the first distance.

Abstract: A ram air turbine with a turbine assembly and a power train, the turbine assembly only coupling to the entire power train upon reaching a desired rotational speed of the turbine assembly, the ram air turbine having a clutch mechanism, the engagement of which couples the turbine assembly to at least a portion of the power train, and a speed control mechanism that engages the clutch mechanism only when the turbine assembly attains at least the desired rotational speed.

Abstract: An exemplary method of controlling fluid flow in a ram air turbine assembly, includes redirecting flow moving in an axial direction against the surface of a drive shaft to flow moving in a radial direction away from the drive shaft to limit flow of the fluid from a hydraulic pump to a generator.

Abstract: An example ram air turbine drive shaft assembly includes a drive shaft that rotates about an axis to drive a hydraulic pump and a generator. The drive shaft has an interruption that redirects a fluid flowing from the hydraulic pump to the generator when the drive shaft is rotated.

Abstract: An example ram air turbine biasing assembly includes a support member that holds a biasing member. The biasing member biases a component of a ram air turbine. The support member includes a step that limits movement of the component toward the biasing member.

Abstract: A cloud based system includes a data network, a cloud host and a data center. A context database stores respective contexts of multiple virtual stores. A log database records transfers of content into and out of each virtual store. At least a portion of the context and log databases is encrypted by the data center. A transfer application executes on the cloud host and responds to a transfer request to transfer content from a virtual store by: retrieving the context of the virtual store from the context database; and forwarding the transfer request and context to the data center. The transfer application also responds to a load request to load content to a virtual store by: retrieving the context of the virtual store, and a log of transfers affecting the virtual store from the log database; and forwarding the load request, context and log to the data center.

Abstract: A keep-alive system and method for cloud-based database systems. A plurality of fields of the database are monitored to track a predetermined pattern of changes with respect to time. A departure from the predetermined pattern of change indicates an unexpected action of the database such as, for example, a roll-back of the state of the database.