Abstract: A drone for delivering plural repeaters in a hostile environment and method of delivering plural repeaters from the drone. The drone is controllable from a remote base station and carries a payload of repeaters on a round tray. The tray has a dispensing hole, complementary to the geometry of the repeater for dispensing the repeaters as needed. Repeaters are consecutively dispensed at stations as determined by an operator. A central radial arm sweeps each repeater around the tray, in turn, until the hole is encountered and the repeater gravity drops to a surface below. The drone may have two or more vertically stacked trays to increase payload without increasing footprint.

Abstract: Polymer composite materials are disclosed containing one or more chemical scavengers. The polymer composites are porous and are configured to be contacted with a liquid for removing trace amounts of metals, proteins, polypeptides, polyphenols, other organic compounds, and the like. In order to produce the porous composite polymer product, one or more chemical scavengers are combined with high density polyethylene particles and sintered into a shape. The polyethylene resin acts as a binder trapping or encasing the one or more chemical scavengers in the porous structure.

Abstract: Polymer composite materials are disclosed containing one or more chemical scavengers. The polymer composites are porous and are configured to be contacted with a liquid for removing trace amounts of metals, proteins, polypeptides, polyphenols, other organic compounds, and the like. In order to produce the porous composite polymer product, one or more chemical scavengers are combined with high density polyethylene particles and sintered into a shape. The polyethylene resin acts as a binder trapping or encasing the one or more chemical scavengers in the porous structure.

Abstract: Polymer composite materials are disclosed containing one or more chemical scavengers. The polymer composites are porous and are configured to be contacted with a liquid for removing trace amounts of metals, proteins, polypeptides, polyphenols, other organic compounds, and the like. In order to produce the porous composite polymer product, one or more chemical scavengers are combined with high density polyethylene particles and sintered into a shape. The polyethylene resin acts as a binder trapping or encasing the one or more chemical scavengers in the porous structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments of a smokeless tobacco system include one or more preformed smokeless tobacco products configured to generally retain their shape during processing, shipping, and consumer handling. In particular embodiments, each smokeless tobacco product can comprise a moist smokeless tobacco in combination with a selected binder such that the final product is configured to have material properties providing improved handling, an improved mouth feel, and a satisfying flavor profile.

Abstract: A melt-blown fabric for pouching smokeless tobacco or a smokeless tobacco substitute can include melt-blown polymer fibers. The fabric can have a basis weight of less than 30 gsm and a tensile strength of at least 4mJ in at least one predetermined direction. Method of making the fabric can include melt-blowing a polymeric material against a support surface and bonding the fibers or arranging them in a predetermined orientation. Pouched smokeless tobacco or tobacco substitute products including the fabrics provided herein can provide desirable flavor and tactile experience.

Abstract: A data visualization tool and a method of using the tool for managing resources in a set of server clusters is disclosed. The visualization tool displays the allotment of computational resources among various categories, including currently allocated resources, resources reserved for pending requests and available resources. The resources include CPUs, memory, and storage. The visualization tool is configured to visually indicate the difference between server clusters where new resources can be allocated and other clusters where one or more resources are capped and prevent any new allocations. The visualization tool is also configured to show current utilization of each resource for comparison with the amount allocated.

Abstract: A system includes an air chamber and an oil capture cavity. The air chamber includes an inlet to receive pressurized air from a gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity is positioned between the air chamber and an oil sump supplying lubricating oil to the gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity includes an auxiliary vent formed in a base of the oil capture cavity. A seal may separate the oil capture cavity from fluid communication with the oil sump. A nozzle provides fluid communication between the oil capture cavity and the air chamber. The nozzle is configured and positioned to direct a stream of the pressurized air into the oil capture cavity against an opposite wall of the oil capture cavity to create a quiescent zone at the base of the oil capture cavity. The quiescent zone includes the auxiliary vent.

Abstract: A system includes an air chamber and an oil capture cavity. The air chamber includes an inlet to receive pressurized air from a gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity is positioned between the air chamber and an oil sump supplying lubricating oil to the gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity includes an auxiliary vent formed in a base of the oil capture cavity. A seal may separate the oil capture cavity from fluid communication with the oil sump. A nozzle provides fluid communication between the oil capture cavity and the air chamber. The nozzle is configured and positioned to direct a stream of the pressurized air into the oil capture cavity against an opposite wall of the oil capture cavity to create a quiescent zone at the base of the oil capture cavity. The quiescent zone includes the auxiliary vent.

Abstract: A data visualization tool and a method of using the tool for managing resources in a set of server clusters is disclosed. The visualization tool displays the allotment of computational resources among various categories, including currently allocated resources, resources reserved for pending requests and available resources. The resources include CPUs, memory, and storage. The visualization tool is configured to visually indicate the difference between server clusters where new resources can be allocated and other clusters where one or more resources are capped and prevent any new allocations. The visualization tool is also configured to show current utilization of each resource for comparison with the amount allocated.

Abstract: A system includes an air chamber and an oil capture cavity. The air chamber includes an inlet to receive pressurized air from a gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity is positioned between the air chamber and an oil sump supplying lubricating oil to the gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity includes an auxiliary vent formed in a base of the oil capture cavity. A seal may separate the oil capture cavity from fluid communication with the oil sump. A nozzle provides fluid communication between the oil capture cavity and the air chamber. The nozzle is configured and positioned to direct a stream of the pressurized air into the oil capture cavity against an opposite wall of the oil capture cavity to create a quiescent zone at the base of the oil capture cavity. The quiescent zone includes the auxiliary vent.

Abstract: A seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a higher pressure fluid cavity from a lower pressure fluid cavity. The seal assembly comprises a ceramic seal runner and a mounting assembly. The ceramic seal runner extends around an axial portion of a shaft. The mounting assembly is affixed to and carries the seal runner in axial and radial alignment with the shaft. The mounting assembly comprises an annular base member, a plurality of flexible members, and an annular sleeve member. The plurality of flexible members are circumferentially spaced about the base member and each extend radially outward from one end affixed to the base member in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the shaft to a distal end. The annular sleeve member is positioned to engage the distal ends of the flexible members and a radially inner surface of the seal runner.

Abstract: A seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a higher pressure fluid cavity from a lower pressure fluid cavity. The seal assembly comprises a mounting assembly, a circumferential ceramic runner carried by the mount assembly, and a carbon seal ring sealingly engaged to the runner. The runner comprises an axially-extending sealing portion and a radially-inward-extending step portion. The mounting assembly comprises a retaining member, a forward member, and a middle member. The step portion of the runner is axially retained between the retaining member and the middle member.

Abstract: A seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a higher pressure fluid cavity from a lower pressure fluid cavity. The seal assembly comprises a ceramic seal runner and a mounting assembly. The ceramic seal runner extends around an axial portion of a shaft. The mounting assembly is affixed to and carries the seal runner in axial and radial alignment with the shaft. The mounting assembly comprises an annular base member, a plurality of flexible members, and an annular sleeve member. The plurality of flexible members are circumferentially spaced about the base member and each extend radially outward from one end affixed to the base member in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the shaft to a distal end. The annular sleeve member is positioned to engage the distal ends of the flexible members and a radially inner surface of the seal runner.

Abstract: A seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a higher pressure fluid cavity from a lower pressure fluid cavity. The seal assembly comprises a runner mounting assembly, a circumferential ceramic runner carried by the runner mount assembly, and a carbon seal ring sealingly engaged to the runner. The runner mount assembly comprises a pair of axial retainers each having a base portion and a retaining portion, and a mounting member positioned axially intermediate the axial retainers. The mounting member comprises a circumferential base and a pair of spring retainers extending axially and radially from the base. The runner is axially positioned between the retaining portions of the axial retainers and radially positioned between the spring retainers and the carbon seal ring.

Abstract: A seal assembly is disclosed for sealing a higher pressure fluid cavity from a lower pressure fluid cavity. The seal assembly comprises a mounting assembly, a circumferential ceramic runner carried by the mount assembly, and a carbon seal ring sealingly engaged to the runner. The runner comprises an axially-extending sealing portion and a radially-inward-extending step portion. The mounting assembly comprises a retaining member, a forward member, and a middle member. The step portion of the runner is axially retained between the retaining member and the middle member.

Abstract: A system includes an air chamber and an oil capture cavity. The air chamber includes an inlet to receive pressurized air from a gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity is positioned between the air chamber and an oil sump supplying lubricating oil to the gas turbine engine. The oil capture cavity includes an auxiliary vent formed in a base of the oil capture cavity. A seal may separate the oil capture cavity from fluid communication with the oil sump. A nozzle provides fluid communication between the oil capture cavity and the air chamber. The nozzle is configured and positioned to direct a stream of the pressurized air into the oil capture cavity against an opposite wall of the oil capture cavity to create a quiescent zone at the base of the oil capture cavity. The quiescent zone includes the auxiliary vent.

Abstract: The present application provides a handheld plant trimming apparatus. The handheld plant trimming apparatus, in one aspect, includes a wand having a longitudinal axis. The wand includes a wand inlet tube defining a void and an elongate slot, an outlet port having a through bore parallel to the wand longitudinal axis and an outlet bore where the outlet bore is in fluid communication with the void, and a handle. A cutting element is contained in the wand inlet tube and coupled to a motor to provide rotative force to the cutting element. A drum is in fluid communication with the wand and a vacuum pulls plant parts that are cut by the cutting element from the wand to the drum.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting fluids from plant parts is provided. Plant parts are placed into a filter bag that is placed within a fluid impermeable holder, which is generally a non-stick holder such as wax paper or parchment. The fluid impermeable holder is placed into a press that is operable at an elevated temperature. The press applies pressure at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to the fluid impermeable holder and filter bag to compress the plant parts and squeeze or extrude the fluid from the plant parts. After a predetermined time, the press is opened and the fluid impermeable holder is removed. The filter bag, with residual plant parts, is removed from the fluid impermeable holder. The fluid impermeable holder is manipulated to collect the fluids, which manipulation may include freezing the fluids and peeling the fluids from the inner surface of the bag.

Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly comprises an annular seal ring disposed between a pair of annular runners connected to a co-axial inner rotating shaft and a surface of a hollow outer rotating shaft. The centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the co-axial inner rotating shaft effects engagement of the annular seal ring with the surface of the hollow outer rotating shaft. The surface may be a radially-inward-facing surface of a retaining arm connected to the hollow outer rotating shaft. A lubricious coating is applied to one or more of the interfaces between the seal ring and adjacent components such as the runners and the retaining arm. The lubricious coating may maintain the coefficient of friction between the interfaces between the seal ring and adjacent components below 0.4 at the maximum rotational speed of the seal ring.