Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is free of added oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.

Abstract: A reclosable multi-zone isolation tool including a mandrel assembly with a pull-force lock feature. The tool includes an outer and inner tubular having an annular flow path defined there between, and a central flow path defined by the inner tubular. The annular flow path is in fluid communication with the first zone, while the central flow path is in fluid communication with the second zone. A sleeve is positioned in the annular flow path and moveable between an open and closed position. A mandrel assembly is slidingly positioned within the inner tubular and coupled to the sleeve to actuate the sleeve between the open and closed position only when a push force is applied. If a pull force is applied, the mandrel assembly “locks out,” thereby preventing movement of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus according to which a flow control device includes a housing and a flapper valve. The housing defines an internal passage in which the flapper valve extends. The flapper valve includes a seat and a flapper pivotably coupled to the seat. The seat includes an internal passage and an external surface. The internal passage of the seat extends along a longitudinal central axis that is offset from a longitudinal central axis along which the external surface of the seat extends and a longitudinal central axis along which the internal passage of the housing extends. This offset allows an internal annular recess of the housing to accommodate the flapper pivoting away from the longitudinal central axis of the internal passage of the seat by a distance of equal to or greater than a radius of the internal passage of the seat.

Abstract: A process for producing a polymer includes polymerizing a monomer system containing a compound of formula: Ar—O—Ar—C(?O)—X—C(?O)—Ar—O—Ar in a reaction medium containing a Lewis acid. In the formula, X is an aliphatic moiety, and Ar is an aromatic moiety. The reaction medium further includes a dielectrophile. The dielectrophile is a compound of formula: L-(O?)C—Ar—C(?O)-L, in which L is a leaving group.

Abstract: A setting tool for setting a packer in a wellbore includes a housing defining a hydraulic chamber, a piston disposed in the chamber, a pump coupled to the chamber via a flowline, and a setting sleeve directly or indirectly coupled to the piston. The pump may be used to pump pressurized fluid into the hydraulic chamber for pushing the piston in a direction, and the setting sleeve may be used to apply a compressive force to a packer element of the packer in response to the piston being pushed in that direction. The setting tool may include a sensor used to collect a measurement relating to a force on the workstring, in addition to a controller designed to receive a signal from the sensor and to provide a control signal to the pump based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: A method of retaining a packing element including utilizing a back-up ring assembly in contact with at least one packing element, the assembly comprising: at least one wedge shaped spiral ring comprising: at least one outer circumferential face configured to contact a wellbore casing or liner; at least one conical, inner circumferential face configured to contact a portion of a retainer with a conical face; and an axial end face configured to contact the at least one packing element. A back-up ring assembly including at least one wedge shaped spiral ring comprising: at least one outer circumferential face configured to contact a wellbore casing or liner; at least one conical, inner circumferential face configured to contact a portion of a retainer with a conical face; and an axial end face configured to contact a packing element.

Abstract: A two-axis angular pointing device includes a pivot bearing configured to support a payload. A first actuator is positioned to contact the payload at a first drive point. A second actuator is positioned to contact the payload at a second drive point. The first actuator is configured to generate a first movement of the payload in a direction substantially orthogonal to a plane defined by a center of the pivot bearing, the first drive point, and the second drive point to cause the payload to rotate around a first rotation axis. The second actuator is configured to generate a second movement of the payload at the second drive point in the direction substantially orthogonal to the plane to cause the payload to rotate around a second rotation axis. A method of making a two-axis angular pointing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is substantially free of oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.

Abstract: A stick-slip stage device includes a carriage assembly configured to support a payload, the carriage assembly comprising at least three piezoelectric stick-slip actuators each having one or more contact points. At least two rails are positioned on opposing sides of the carriage assembly and configured to interact with one or more of the contact points to form a guideway for movement of the carriage assembly. A fixed structure connects the at least two rails and is configured to generate a friction force between the at least two rails and one or more of the contact points of the at least three piezoelectric stick-slip actuators. A method of making a stick-slip stage device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A reclosable multi-zone isolation tool including a piston assembly with a lock out feature. The tool has an outer and inner tubular having an annular flow path defined there between, and a central flow path defined by the inner tubular. The annular flow path is in fluid communication with the first zone, while the central flow path is in fluid communication with the second zone. A sleeve is positioned in the annular flow path and axially moveable between an open and closed position. A mandrel is positioned within the inner tubular and coupled to the sleeve to actuate the sleeve between the open and closed position. A pressure responsive piston assembly is coupled to the mandrel in order to actuate the sleeve to the open position. Once in the open position, the piston assembly is “locked out,” thereby allowing the mandrel and sleeve to move relative to the piston between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A reclosable multi-zone isolation tool including a mandrel assembly with a pull-force lock feature. The tool includes an outer and inner tubular having an annular flow path defined there between, and a central flow path defined by the inner tubular. The annular flow path is in fluid communication with the first zone, while the central flow path is in fluid communication with the second zone. A sleeve is positioned in the annular flow path and moveable between an open and closed position. A mandrel assembly is slidingly positioned within the inner tubular and coupled to the sleeve to actuate the sleeve between the open and closed position only when a push force is applied. If a pull force is applied, the mandrel assembly “locks out,” thereby preventing movement of the sleeve.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a testable isolation packer that sets and provides the ability to test upper and lower packer elements. In one aspect, the testable isolation packer includes at least two packer elements, a packer element setting system, a bypass system, and a testing subassembly. The testing subassembly generally includes a moveable element with an outer port and a sealing element, an inner mandrel with an inner port, and a shear mechanism to cause travel of the moveable element close the bypass system and to open the testing subassembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing an amine-functionalized (e.g. amine-terminated) polyaryletherketone polymer, or imide- or sulphone-copolymer thereof and amine-protected analogs thereof, said method comprising the step of polymerizing a monomer system in a reaction medium comprising a capping agent comprising —NR2, —NRH or a protected amine group.

Abstract: A testing system includes a vacuum pump, testing equipment and a vibration device. A vacuum tray is configured to provide relative movement between a DUT and the vacuum pump, testing equipment and the vibration device. The vacuum tray includes a vacuum chamber configured to define a sealed vacuum environment around the DUT, and a DUT support carried by the vacuum chamber and configured to support the DUT within the chamber during testing thereof. The DUT support includes a pedestal configured to hold the DUT within the chamber during vibration testing, and an extension that extends outside the vacuum chamber and is configured to connect to the vibration device. An electrical test interface unit is carried by the vacuum chamber and configured to connect between the DUST and the test equipment, and a vacuum interface is carried by the vacuum chamber and configured to connect to the vacuum pump.

Abstract: A semi-resonant actuator assembly includes a resonating body comprising a piezoelectric plate having a first length, a first width, and a first thickness, and an inactive plate having a second length substantially equal the first length, a second width substantially equal to the first width, and second thickness. A thickness of the resonating body is provided by a sum of the first thickness of the active piezoelectric plate and the second thickness of the inactive plate.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a testable isolation packer that sets and provides the ability to test upper and lower packer elements. In one aspect, the testable isolation packer includes at least two packer elements, a packer element setting system, a bypass system, and a testing subassembly. The testing subassembly generally includes a moveable element with an outer port and a sealing element, an inner mandrel with an inner port, and a shear mechanism to cause travel of the moveable element close the bypass system and to open the testing subassembly.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a testable isolation packer that sets and provides the ability to test upper and lower packer elements. In one aspect, the testable isolation packer includes at least two packer elements, a packer element setting system, a bypass system, and a testing subassembly. The testing subassembly generally includes a moveable element with an outer port and a sealing element, an inner mandrel with an inner port, and a shear mechanism to cause travel of the moveable element close the bypass system and to open the testing subassembly.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder that combines molten reducing metal and metal halide in a space that is substantially free of oxygen and water, wherein the molten reducing metal is sodium and/or potassium, or aluminum (or magnesium or titanium) and is present in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide which is a solid or liquid, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, optionally removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder, is described. A method for producing a metal masterbatch wherein the molten reducing metal is aluminum, magnesium, and/or titanium and after combining molten aluminum (or magnesium or titanium) and metal halide in the reaction space, substantially removing the produced metal salt to obtain the metal masterbatch which comprises at least a portion of the molten aluminum (or magnesium or titanium) and at least one metal also is described.

Abstract: A luminaire comprising a light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a combination heat spreader and heat sink disposed in thermal communication with the light source such that the combination heat spreader and heat sink facilitates transfer of heat away from the LEDs. The combination heat spreader and heat sink have an outer dimension that is larger than an opening defined by a nominally sized can light fixture and an opening defined by a nominally sized electrical junction box. A back surface of the combination heat spreader and heat sink is configured to permit the luminaire to be flush mounted on the mounting surface.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for producing a polymer, said process comprising polymerising a monomer system comprising a compound of formula: Ar—O—Ar—C(?O)—X—C(?O)—Ar—O—Ar in a reaction medium comprising a Lewis acid where: X is an aliphatic moiety and Ar is an aromatic moiety.