Abstract: Provided is A displacement control valve which includes a valve housing, a valve element constituting a main valve that contacts and separates from a main valve seat, for opening and closing communication between discharge ports and control ports by driving force of a solenoid, a pressure-sensitive valve that opens and closes according to ambient pressure, and a pressure-sensitive valve member constituting the pressure-sensitive valve together with a pressure-sensitive element. The valve element and the pressure-sensitive valve member are formed with an intermediate communicating passage which allows communication between the control ports and the suction ports by opening and closing of the pressure-sensitive valve.

Abstract: A subsea processor may be located near the seabed of a drilling site and used to coordinate operations of underwater drilling components. The subsea processor may be enclosed in a single interchangeable unit that fits a receptor on an underwater drilling component, such as a blow-out preventer (BOP). The subsea processor may issue commands to control the BOP and receive measurements from sensors located throughout the BOP. The subsea processor may relay information to the surface for recording or monitoring. The subsea processor may also be programmed with a model from which to base operation of the BOP, such as in emergency conditions.

Abstract: A wearable apparatus for the treatment or prevention of osteopenia or osteoporosis, stimulating bone growth, preserving or improving bone mineral density, and inhibiting adipogenesis is disclosed where the apparatus may generally comprise one or more vibrating elements configured for imparting repeated mechanical loads to the hip, femur, and/or spine of an individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect. These vibrating elements may be secured to the upper body of an individual via one or more respective securing mechanisms, where the securing mechanisms are configured to position the one or more vibrating elements in a direction lateral to the individual, and the position, tension, and efficacy of these vibrating elements may be monitored and/or regulated by one or more accelerometers.

Abstract: A wearable apparatus for the treatment or prevention of osteopenia or osteoporosis, stimulating bone growth, preserving or improving bone mineral density, and inhibiting adipogenesis is disclosed where the apparatus may generally comprise one or more vibrating elements configured for imparting repeated mechanical loads to the hip, femur, and/or spine of an individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect. These vibrating elements may be secured to the upper body of an individual via one or more respective securing mechanisms, where the securing mechanisms are configured to position the one or more vibrating elements in a direction lateral to the individual, and the position, tension, and efficacy of these vibrating elements may be monitored and/or regulated by one or more accelerometers.

Abstract: An external part of an aircraft (such as a fairing) comprising a skin made with flexible materials attached to rigid supporting elements (such as longerons and frames) arranged in, at least, two directions. The skin comprises inner inflatable panels in all bays delimited by the rigid supporting elements and/or an external inflatable panel. The skin is joined to the supporting elements so that its external surface complies with aerodynamic requirements.

Abstract: A transformer includes a magnetic core, a first winding assembly inductively coupled to the magnetic core, and a second winding assembly inductively coupled to the first winding assembly. The magnetic core includes a winding leg. The first winding assembly includes a plurality of first layers, and the second winding assembly includes a plurality of second layers. The first and second winding assemblies are concentrically wound around the winding leg in an interleaved configuration, where at least one of the plurality of second layers is disposed between two of the plurality of first layers, and at least one of the plurality of first layers is disposed between two of the plurality of second layers.

Abstract: A display system configured to provide projection mapped augmentation of mechanically animated objects. These mechanically animated objects may take the form of a screen assembly with a projection surface, and a screen actuator may be included in the display system that is operated by a controller to move, to expand, or other otherwise operate the screen assembly so as to modify or morph the projection surface to move and/or change its shape and/or size. Hence, the screen assembly is animated. The display system further includes a projector operated by the controller, in a synchronized manner with the screen actuator, to project content onto the projection surface as it is moved and/or has its shape and/or size changed over time. The projected content is mapped to the various states and movement of the projection surface to avoid blow-by and to suit the changes of the projection surface.

Abstract: A display system configured to provide projection mapped augmentation of mechanically animated objects. These mechanically animated objects may take the form of a screen assembly with a projection surface, and a screen actuator may be included in the display system that is operated by a controller to move, to expand, or other otherwise operate the screen assembly so as to modify or morph the projection surface to move and/or change its shape and/or size. Hence, the screen assembly is animated. The display system further includes a projector operated by the controller, in a synchronized manner with the screen actuator, to project content onto the projection surface as it is moved and/or has its shape and/or size changed over time. The projected content is mapped to the various states and movement of the projection surface to avoid blow-by and to suit the changes of the projection surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to plants and the fields of agriculture and horticulture, with particular relevance to the area of plant improvement and plant breeding. More particularly, the invention concerns epigenetic variation in plants, and methods of capturing and stabilizing such variation in plants to be able to provide ranges of novel plant varieties and lines useful in plant improvement or in breeding programmes.

Abstract: A system including a mineral extraction system, including a tubular with a fluid passage, a hydraulic connector system configured to couple to the tubular, the hydraulic connector system, including a hydraulic block configured to couple to one or more fluid lines, and a sleeve coupled to the hydraulic block and configured to move axially with respect to the hydraulic block to couple and uncouple the hydraulic connector system with the tubular.

Abstract: A transformer includes a magnetic core, a first winding assembly inductively coupled to the magnetic core, and a second winding assembly inductively coupled to the first winding assembly. The magnetic core includes a winding leg. The first winding assembly includes a plurality of first layers, and the second winding assembly includes a plurality of second layers. The first and second winding assemblies are concentrically wound around the winding leg in an interleaved configuration, where at least one of the plurality of second layers is disposed between two of the plurality of first layers, and at least one of the plurality of first layers is disposed between two of the plurality of second layers.

Abstract: A transformer includes a magnetic core, a first winding assembly, and a second winding assembly. The magnetic core includes a plurality of legs, including a first winding leg. The first winding assembly includes a first conductive conduit helically wound around the first winding leg a first number of turns. The first winding assembly has a first magnetic length. The second winding assembly includes a second conductive conduit wound around one of the plurality of legs a second number of turns. The second winding assembly is inductively coupled to the first winding assembly, and has a second magnetic length substantially equal to said first magnetic length.

Abstract: An external part of an aircraft (such as a fairing) comprising a skin made with flexible materials attached to rigid supporting elements (such as longerons and frames) arranged in, at least, two directions. The skin comprises inner inflatable panels in all bays delimited by the rigid supporting elements and/or an external inflatable panel. The skin is joined to the supporting elements so that its external surface complies with aerodynamic requirements.

Abstract: Cascaded buck boost DC to DC conversion systems, controllers and methods are presented, in which a buck converter stage is pulse width modulated in a first mode and a boost converter stage is pulse width modulated in a second mode, with the pulse width modulation using a first one of peak current control in valley current control in the first mode, and using the other of peak current control in valley current control in the second mode, and operation is switched between the first and second modes based on an on-time of a low side driver switch of the buck converter stage or the boost converter stage.

Abstract: A system including a mineral extraction system, including a tubular with a fluid passage, a hydraulic connector system configured to couple to the tubular, the hydraulic connector system, including a hydraulic block configured to couple to one or more fluid lines, and a sleeve coupled to the hydraulic block and configured to move axially with respect to the hydraulic block to couple and uncouple the hydraulic connector system with the tubular.

Abstract: A dual-mode router for conveying process communication packets across a plurality of distinct wireless process communication networks is provided. The router includes wireless communication circuitry and a controller coupled to the wireless communication circuitry. The wireless communication circuitry is configured to interact with signals from each of the plurality of distinct wireless process communication networks. The controller is configured to adapt process communication packets from a first distinct wireless process communication network for transmission over a second distinct wireless process communication network. Methods for configuring the distinct wireless process communication networks and relaying process packets over the distinct wireless process communication networks are also provided.

Abstract: A subsea processor may be located near the seabed of a drilling site and used to coordinate operations of underwater drilling components. The subsea processor may be enclosed in a single interchangeable unit that fits a receptor on an underwater drilling component, such as a blow-out preventer (BOP). The subsea processor may issue commands to control the BOP and receive measurements from sensors located throughout the BOP. A shared communications bus may interconnect the subsea processor and underwater components and the subsea processor and a surface or onshore network. The shared communications bus may be operated according to a time division multiple access (TDMA) scheme.

Abstract: Cascaded buck boost DC to DC conversion systems, controllers and methods are presented, in which a buck converter stage is pulse width modulated in a first mode and a boost converter stage is pulse width modulated in a second mode, with the pulse width modulation using a first one of peak current control in valley current control in the first mode, and using the other of peak current control in valley current control in the second mode, and operation is switched between the first and second modes based on an on-time of a low side driver switch of the buck converter stage or the boost converter stage.

Abstract: Described herein is an adhesive formulation comprising lignin, a cross-linker, and optionally a dispersant, or obtained by mixing a composition comprising lignin, a cross-linker, and optionally a dispersant. Preferably in the adhesive formulation, at least about 50 wt. % of the composition is waste lignin, extracted lignin, or synthetic lignin; the lignin is not pre-activated, pre-fractionated, or pre-functionalized; the cross-linker is glycerol diglycidyl ether or poly(ethylene glycol)diglycidyl ether; and the dispersant is gamma-valerolactone, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, or triacetin. Also described are methods for using the adhesive formulation for making plywood assemblies, lignin-fiber composites, and lignin-waste wood composites.

Abstract: A transformer includes a magnetic core, a first winding assembly, and a second winding assembly. The magnetic core includes a plurality of legs, including a first winding leg. The first winding assembly includes a first conductive conduit helically wound around the first winding leg a first number of turns. The first winding assembly has a first magnetic length. The second winding assembly includes a second conductive conduit wound around one of the plurality of legs a second number of turns. The second winding assembly is inductively coupled to the first winding assembly, and has a second magnetic length substantially equal to said first magnetic length.