Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine being configured to actively control at least the low-pressure valves of the working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the working chambers, responsive to a demand signal.

Abstract: Pallet adapters configured to attach to a selected pallet type in order to render it compatible with a cargo restraint system that is configured for a larger pallet type. The pallet adapters may include two side rails and two end rails, each rail having a slotted inner face to receive the flanges at the sides and ends of the selected pallet type. Each end of the side rails has a connector that can be coupled by a single fastener to a connector on each end of the end rails so that when connected, the side rails and end rails form a rectangular-shaped pallet adapter with inner slots that secure the flanged side edges of the selected pallet type.

Abstract: Pallet adapters configured to attach to a selected pallet type in order to render it compatible with a cargo restraint system that is configured for a larger pallet type. The pallet adapters may include two side rails and two end rails, each rail having a slotted inner face to receive the flanges at the sides and ends of the selected pallet type. Each end of the side rails has a connector that can be coupled by a single fastener to a connector on each end of the end rails so that when connected, the side rails and end rails form a rectangular-shaped pallet adapter with inner slots that secure the flanged side edges of the selected pallet type.

Abstract: A resonant tank includes a first capacitor formed on a semiconductor substrate, a first inductor formed on the semiconductor substrate, a second capacitor formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a second inductor formed on the semiconductor substrate. The first capacitor, the first inductor, the second capacitor, and the second inductor are connected in a ring configuration, with each capacitor connected between a pair of the inductors and with each inductor connected between a pair of the capacitors. An amplifier circuit is coupled to the resonant tank and configured to amplify a signal in the resonant tank.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product are provided for managing tasks of employees within a blockchain-based workflow system. A workflow transaction associated with a workflow stage is received from an employee. The workflow system records the workflow transaction in a workflow blockchain. Based on a smart contract recorded within the blockchain, the workflow system determining a role for the employee is authorized to perform the transaction. If authorized, the workflow system executes a set of resulting transactions indicated by the smart contract and updates at least one condition for completion of the workflow stage. When the workflow system determines that all conditions indicated in the smart contract have been completed, the workflow system finalizes the workflow stage and advances the workflow to a subsequent stage.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and computer program product are provided for controlling access to a licensed software application. A blockchain-based version control system receives an access request from a user that requests access to the licensed software application. The version control system determines whether a user has accepted license terms for a current version of the licensed software application by querying a version control blockchain. Responsive To determining that the user has not accepted the license terms for the current version of the licensed software application, the version control system presents the user with a clickwrap agreement requiring the user to accept license terms for the current version of the licensed software application. Responsive to receiving acceptance of the license terms from the user, the user's acceptance of the license terms for the current version of the licensed software application is recorded in the version control blockchain.

Abstract: A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets, each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads. A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets connected to one or more of the loads is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.

Abstract: A multi-rotor aerial vehicle comprises at least two rotors, a controller, a power supply having an output shaft, a shaft-driven hydraulic machine coupled to the output shaft and at least two rotor-driving hydraulic machines coupled to respective rotors. At least one of the hydraulic machines is an electronically commutated hydraulic machine in which displacement of hydraulic fluid through each working chamber is regulated by electronically controllable valves, during each cycle of working chamber volume, in phased relationship to cycles of working chamber volume. The controller controls the electronically controllable valves of the electronically commutated hydraulic machines to independently control the rotation of the rotors. The shaft-driven hydraulic machine may be an electronically commutated machine with a plurality of independent outputs, which independently drive the rotor-driving hydraulic machines.

Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g., cylinders, of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold and a low-pressure fluid manifold, at least one valve linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber, wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and the electronic sequencing means is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine.

Abstract: An injection molding system, water jet cutting machine or other industrial system has a synthetically controlled variable displacement fluid working machine which outputs hydraulic fluid to one or more fluid consumers, such as rams or hydraulic motors, through hydraulically stiff fluid retaining volumes and receives hydraulic fluid back from one or more fluid consumers through the same or other said hydraulically stiff fluid retaining volumes. Individual piston cylinder assemblies can be allocated to different outputs. There may be no valve between the machine and the consumers. A working chamber of the machine can be caused to undergo a motoring cycle to enable the machine to output more power than is received from a motor driving the machine. An accumulator can be used to provide a source of hydraulic compliance. The machine can be controlled using pressure control, flow control, feed forward control or variable power/variable power limit control.

Abstract: A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets (11, 12, 13, 14), each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads (15, 16, 18, 20). A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets (11, 12, 13, 14) connected to one or more of the loads (15, 16, 18, 20) is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.

Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g., cylinders, of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold and a low-pressure fluid manifold, at least one valve linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber, wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and the electronic sequencing means is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine.

Abstract: A method of operating a hydraulic apparatus comprising a hydraulic circuit region and hydraulic machine which is controlled to displace pulses of fluid of known volume into or out of the hydraulic circuit region, generating pulses of pressure in the hydraulic circuit region and torque in the hydraulic machine shaft. The response of parts of the hydraulic apparatus to these pulses is measured and used to determine properties of the hydraulic apparatus. The response of the pressure in the hydraulic circuit region to pulses at different pressures can be used to measure the hydraulic stiffness of parts of the hydraulic circuit region. It is possible to detect faults and to make measurements useful in subsequent operation of the hydraulic apparatus.

Abstract: A method of measuring a property of entrained gas in a hydraulic liquid received by a working chamber of a fluid working motor, wherein the said property is determined from the period of time elapsing between the closure of a first valve to isolate the working chamber and the passive opening of a second valve to bring the working chamber into fluid communication with a manifold. The property may, for example, be related to the concentration of entrained gas in the received hydraulic liquid or the compressibility or bulk modulus of the received hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume.

Abstract: A fluid-working machine has a plurality of working chambers, e.g., cylinders, of cyclically changing volume, a high-pressure fluid manifold and a low-pressure fluid manifold, at least one valve linking each working chamber to each manifold, and electronic sequencing means for operating said valves in timed relationship with the changing volume of each chamber, wherein the electronic sequencing means is arranged to operate the valves of each chamber in one of an idling mode, a partial mode in which only part of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and a full mode in which all of the usable volume of the chamber is used, and the electronic sequencing means is arranged to select the mode of each chamber on successive cycles so as to infinitely vary the time averaged effective flow rate of fluid through the machine.

Abstract: An injection moulding system, water jet cutting machine or other industrial system has a synthetically controlled variable displacement fluid working machine which outputs hydraulic fluid to one or more fluid consumers, such as rams or hydraulic motors, through hydraulically stiff fluid retaining volumes and receives hydraulic fluid back from one or more fluid consumers through the same or other said hydraulically stiff fluid retaining volumes. Individual piston cylinder assemblies can be allocated to different outputs. There may be no valve between the machine and the consumers. A working chamber of the machine can be caused to undergo a motoring cycle to enable the machine to output more power than is received from a motor driving the machine. An accumulator can be used to provide a source of hydraulic compliance. The machine can be controlled using pressure control, flow control, feed forward control or variable power/variable power limit control.

Abstract: A identity management system is provided for managing documents within an computer system. The computer system receives a document within an authentication context of a user. The computer system determines a chain of custody for the document. The computer system stores the document. The computer system sets document privileges for the document based on the authentication context and the chain of custody.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating a fluid-working machine wherein the volume of working fluid displaced each cycle is selectable and wherein the volume of working fluid displaced by a first working chamber takes into account the suitability of the working chamber to displace fluid. The invention extends in further aspects to power absorbing structures such as renewable energy devices comprising such fluid working machines. The invention allows the operation of fluid working machines and power absorbing structures which are more long lived.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically capturing event occurrence data associated with a broadcast channel. A baseline schedule for the broadcast channel is imported that includes an identification of events scheduled to appear on the broadcast channel and scheduled times for those events. A prompt is provided via a graphical user interface for a user to enter a time of actual occurrence of event appearances on the broadcast channel. Indications of times of an appearance and that events did not air on the broadcast channel are received via the prompt. The indications are stored in a computer-readable medium, and a report is provided that identifies events that did appear on the broadcast channel and their time of appearance and events that did not appear on the broadcast channel.