Abstract: In various implementations, a heat pump may include heating operations and defrost operations. The heat pump may monitor cycle time(s) for one or more of the operations. Defrost operation(s) in the heat pump may be automatically adjusted based at least partially on cycle times.

Abstract: A bypass system for a transmission is disclosed. A transmission casing defines a first aperture and a second aperture. A valve assembly includes a housing defining a first port and a second port. The housing defines an inlet in fluid communication with the first port for guiding a fluid into the transmission casing and an outlet in fluid communication with the second port for guiding the fluid out of the transmission casing. The valve assembly further includes an actuation device disposed in the housing. The housing is mounted to the transmission casing such that the first port and the first aperture cooperate with each other for routing the fluid into the transmission casing directly from the valve assembly, and the second port and the second aperture cooperate with each other for routing the fluid out of the transmission casing directly into the valve assembly.

Abstract: Frost may accumulate on a heat pump. In various implementations, a primary defrost operation and/or a secondary defrost operation may be utilized to remove at least a portion of the frost from the heat pump.

Abstract: An improved method for providing a remote shipping cost estimate of goods is disclosed, the method including remotely receiving image data of a transferee's goods, obtaining a shipping cost estimate of the transferee's goods that is based on the remotely received image data, and making the shipping cost estimate available to the transferee. In preferred embodiments, image data is digital data that can be uploaded by a transferee through a user interface and received by an estimator over a computer network such as the Internet. In some preferred embodiments, the method can be computer-based, and in some embodiments it can be implemented by a software system stored on computer-readable media. This improved method adds a new level of convenience for both estimators and transferees, while also improving the efficiency of providing shipping cost estimates in general.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for creating a manifest for tracking a shipment. The invention can involve obtaining information pertinent to an intended shipment, storing the information in a memory of an electronic device, creating a work order record containing the information pertinent to the intended shipment and storing the work order in the memory. The invention can further involve storing a manifest number in the work order record, generating an electronic manifest record comprising the manifest number and the information pertinent to the intended shipment, and providing a final copy of the manifest, in which the manifest is in an electronic format.

Abstract: A floating, semi-submersible offshore drilling vessel has a blowout preventer located on the semi-submersible instead of on the seabed. The mud return housing is attached directly to the blowout preventer without the use of a slip joint. This configuration allows for a significantly reduced drill floor height and, consequently, a lower vertical center of gravity for the rig.

Abstract: A system and method of tracking a shipment using a manifest is presented. The method includes composing and producing a uniquely numbered manifest containing a description of the materials that make up the content of the shipment. The method further includes creating a work order, responsive to obtaining information about materials intended to be shipped, and associating the work order with a manifest record comprising a unique number and information to be supplied for the header of the manifest. The method further includes adding to the manifest record lines of information describing the material to be shipped. At a subsequent time, for instance when a transporting vehicle arrives to pick up the material, information in the manifest record can be further edited. The method further includes producing a manifest based on the manifest record.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure provides an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system, in this embodiment, includes an exterior housing, and a motor having fan blades rotatably coupled thereto located within the exterior housing. The air conditioning system, in this embodiment, further includes a controller coupled to the motor and configured to rotate the fan blades based upon climate conditions proximate the exterior housing.

Abstract: A seat cushion employing the benefit of a foam cushion and alternating pressure air cushion. An air bladder reservoir with vertically extending fingers is located beneath a foam core with vertical holes. The vertically extending fingers are aligned with the vertical holes of the foam core. The air bladder reservoir and vertically extending fingers are inflated and deflated by a compressor system which provides alternating timed pressure. When inflated, the fingers protrude through the holes in the foam core beyond the top surface of the foam core. A method for fabricating the vertically extending fingers includes a cloth material coated in silicon.

Abstract: Antibodies and polypeptides that bind to and/or modulate the activity of receptors in the epidermal growth factor family are provided herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of selecting proteins, out of large libraries, having desirable characteristics. Exemplified are methods of expressing enzymes and antibodies on the surface of host cells and selecting for desired activities. These methods have the advantage of speed and ease of operation when compared with current methods. They also provide, without additional cloning, a source of significant quantities of the protein of interest.

Abstract: Antibodies and polypeptides that bind to and/or modulate the activity of receptors in the epidermal growth factor family are provided herein.

Abstract: A jet aircraft with integrated, rotary sonobuoy launch system has storage racks for a number of sonobuoys in sonobuoy launch containers; and one or more launcher units in its cabin. Each launcher unit has a pressure shell with a door allowing loading of sonobuoys in sonobuoy launch containers from the storage racks. With the door closed, the inside of the shell can be depressurized for launching a sonobuoy by opening a gate valve that connects the interior of the shell to the exterior of the aircraft. With the gate valve closed, the shell can pressurized so that the door can be opened and sonobuoys reloaded. A control system can be used to rotate a rotary launcher inside each pressure shell so that a selected sonobuoy is moved to a launch position above the gate valve and a launch tube, and a pneumatic system can be used to launch the sonobuoy.

Abstract: A jet aircraft with integrated, rotary sonobuoy launch system has storage racks for a number of sonobuoys in sonobuoy launch containers; and one or more launcher units in its cabin. Each launcher unit has a pressure shell with a door allowing loading of sonobuoys in sonobuoy launch containers from the storage racks. With the door closed, the inside of the shell can be depressurized for launching a sonobuoy by opening a gate valve that connects the interior of the shell to the exterior of the aircraft. With the gate valve closed, the shell can pressurized so that the door can be opened and sonobuoys reloaded. A control system can be used to rotate a rotary launcher inside each pressure shell so that a selected sonobuoy is moved to a launch position above the gate valve and a launch tube, and a pneumatic system can be used to launch the sonobuoy.

Abstract: An apparatus for checking conditioning mode of a heat pump system includes: (a) a temperature sensing device coupled with the heat pump system at a sensing locus; (b) a comparing device coupled with the temperature sensing device and configured for comparing a first temperature sensed by the temperature sensing device at a first time with a second temperature sensed by the temperature sensing device at a second time to determine an extant conditioning mode; the extant conditioning mode being a first conditioning mode when the second temperature is greater than the first temperature; the extant conditioning mode being a second conditioning mode when the second temperature is less than the first temperature.

Abstract: A method for evaluating operation of a compression cooling system includes the steps of: (a) in no particular order: (1) measuring a first temperature of the refrigerant in a saturated state; and (2) measuring a second temperature of the refrigerant in a liquid state; and (b) calculating a difference between the first temperature and the second temperature to determine the extant amount of subcooling to which the refrigerant is subjected.

Abstract: A modular analyzer system consists of a control device and one or more functional analyzer modules linked to the control device. The analyzer modules include FID, NDIR, chemiluminescence and paramagnetic analyzers. Each analyzer module includes a microprocessor having all menus necessary for the operation of the analyzer. Menus are coded and transmitted in real time by providing the control device with a dictionary of menu phrases which are coded and the codes maintained in a code index at each analyzer module and at the control device. Since menus are maintained at the analyzer module and not transmitted until called for, there is no need to store specific menus at the control device. New modules can be easily added to the system and any phrases not already included in the phrase dictionary are downloaded to a supplemental dictionary when the new module is added. Data is displayed in the form called for by the analyzer menu and data from several analyzer modules can be displayed simultaneously.