Abstract: A hydraulic spool valve assembly comprising a housing defining a bore having a longitudinal axis (L), a hydraulic spool valve, a sleeve disposed within the bore and a temperature compensation device disposed between the sleeve and the housing. The hydraulic spool valve having a first end for connection to a drive arm, and an opposing second end disposed within the bore. The sleeve disposed between the hydraulic spool valve and the housing. The temperature compensation device configured to expand in a first longitudinal direction in response to a temperature increase, to oppose movement of the sleeve in an opposing second longitudinal direction caused by the temperature increase.

Abstract: A drive lever comprising a first end for insertion into a slot of the hydraulic spool valve. The first end comprises at least two resilient members which resist radial compression (R1, R2) such that they exert a radially outward force (F1, F2) on one or more inner surfaces of the slot when inserted therein. This radially outward force (F1, F2) can account for any backlash that would otherwise be present between the drive lever and the slot due to manufacturing tolerances or wear.

Abstract: A spool for a hydraulic spool valve, comprising: a pressure chamber for connecting a pressure line to a hydraulic cylinder; at least one return chamber for connecting the hydraulic cylinder to a reservoir; and an actuator slot for receiving a drive lever; wherein the spool further comprises a fluid path connecting said pressure chamber to said actuator slot and a pressure plate movably mounted in the slot such that in use it is disposed between the fluid path and the drive lever.

Abstract: A gurney flap arrangement includes: an airfoil 2 with a trailing edge 6 and an opening 14 in a surface 8 of the airfoil 2; a gurney flap 1 having a first position in which at least a portion of the gurney flap 1 extends through the opening 14 and projects outwardly from the airfoil surface 8, and a second position in which the gurney flap 1 does not project from the airfoil surface 8 or projects outwardly from the airfoil surface 8 to a lesser extent; and a gurney flap actuator 3 for moving the gurney flap 1 between at least the first position and the second position.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an adjustment system a method for compensating for temperature variations in a spool valve. The spool valve and adjustment system may be parts in a duplex hydraulic actuator. The adjustment device comprises a spring, a pivot point, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) device. The spring and SMA device are disposed on either side of the pivot point to hold the pivot point in a first position. The SMA device is configured to change size in response to a temperature change so as move the pivot point to a second location. This may eliminate force fight in the duplex hydraulic actuator by preventing asynchronous activation of the spool valves due to thermal expansion within the spool valves.

Abstract: A gurney flap arrangement comprises: an airfoil with an opening in a surface of the airfoil; a gurney flap having a first position in which at least a portion of the gurney flap extends through the opening and projects outwardly from the airfoil surface, and a second position in which the gurney flap does not project from the airfoil surface or projects outwardly from the airfoil surface to a lesser extent; and a seal disposed about the opening to seal a gap in the opening between the gurney flap and the airfoil.

Abstract: A load bearing assembly comprises: a lug body; an outer race disposed within and supported by the lug body; an inner race disposed within and supported by the outer race; and a relief slot defined between the adjacent surfaces of the outer race and the lug body, wherein the relief slot is formed in the surface of the outer race.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices may automatically determine splice points within a song to alter a length of the song. Possible splice points may be obtained by comparing different portions of the song with each other. After obtaining possible splice points, the song may be shortened by deleting/skipping portions of the song between two paired splice points. Alternatively the song may be lengthened. The altered song may be used with an audio-visual presentation, such as a slide show or commercial, or as a ringtone.

Abstract: A seal comprising: a seal cap that provides a sealing surface; an elastomeric energizer; and a shape memory alloy structure; wherein the combination of the shape memory alloy structure and the elastomeric energizer is arranged to provide a sealing force to the seal cap; and wherein the shape memory alloy is arranged to change shape with temperature such that for a predetermined temperature range it compensates for changes in the elasticity of the elastomeric energizer so as to maintain the preload force on the seal cap.

Abstract: A spool for a hydraulic spool valve, comprising: a pressure chamber for connecting a pressure line to a hydraulic cylinder; at least one return chamber for connecting the hydraulic cylinder to a reservoir; and an actuator slot for receiving a drive lever; wherein the spool further comprises a fluid path connecting said pressure chamber to said actuator slot and a pressure plate movably mounted in the slot such that in use it is disposed between the fluid path and the drive lever.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are certain embodiments of systems and methods for inventory management of digital gift cards purchased from a variety of merchants, stored on a server database and resold indirectly to customers. A server would obtain an economic order quantity of gift cards from assorted merchants to generate a digital inventory. These codes may remain entirely private between the server and the merchant from which they were bought. The server would additionally sell merchant credits to customers using a web application. The digital inventory would be used to fulfill sales of merchant credit to customers.

Abstract: An electromechanical rotary actuator including a housing including first end that extends to a second end through an intermediate portion that defines a longitudinal axis, and an internal cavity. An electric motor is arranged within the internal cavity. The electric motor includes a shaft having first shaft end and a second shaft end. A drive member is arranged within the housing along the longitudinal axis. The drive member includes an input shaft operatively coupled to the first shaft end and an output shaft. An output shaft member is coupled to the output shaft of the drive member. At least one bearing assembly supports one of the output shaft member and the first shaft end, and a preload member is arranged within the housing and configured to apply a compressive axial force to the at least one bearing, the drive member and the electric motor.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments generally contemplate computer-implemented systems and methods for selecting an electronic or virtual gift card from among a plurality of possible gift cards or gift card issuers. Various of the embodiments may match and rank the gift cards according to a gift card recipient's characteristics, and possibly to the electronic or virtual gift card itself. Certain embodiments also contemplate the selection of physical gift cards selection, matching, and ranking aspects of the invention. Various methods for operating a gift card business using certain of the embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments generally contemplate computer-implemented systems and methods for selecting an electronic or virtual gift card from among a plurality of possible gift cards or gift card issuers. Various of the embodiments may match and rank the gift cards according to a gift card recipient's characteristics, and possibly to the electronic or virtual gift card itself. Certain embodiments also contemplate the selection of physical gift cards selection, matching, and ranking aspects of the invention. Various methods for operating a gift card business using certain of the embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices may automatically determine splice points within a song to alter a length of the song. Possible splice points may be obtained by comparing different portions of the song with each other. After obtaining possible splice points, the song may be shortened by deleting/skipping portions of the song between two paired splice points. Alternatively the song may be lengthened. The altered song may be used with an audio-visual presentation, such as a slide show or commercial, or as a ringtone.

Abstract: Various of the disclosed embodiments generally contemplate computer-implemented systems and methods for selecting an electronic or virtual gift card from among a plurality of possible gift cards or gift card issuers. Various of the embodiments may match and rank the gift cards according to a gift card recipient's characteristics, and possibly to the electronic or virtual gift card itself. Certain embodiments also contemplate the selection of physical gift cards selection, matching, and ranking aspects of the invention. Various methods for operating a gift card business using certain of the embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electromechanical rotary actuator including a housing including first end that extends to a second end through an intermediate portion that defines a longitudinal axis, and an internal cavity. An electric motor is arranged within the internal cavity. The electric motor includes a shaft having first shaft end and a second shaft end. A drive member is arranged within the housing along the longitudinal axis. The drive member includes an input shaft operatively coupled to the first shaft end and an output shaft. An output shaft member is coupled to the output shaft of the drive member. At least one bearing assembly supports one of the output shaft member and the first shaft end, and a preload member is arranged within the housing and configured to apply a compressive axial force to the at least one bearing, the drive member and the electric motor.

Abstract: An interface module for use in a process monitoring and control system has an Ethernet port, a controller, and at least one segment I/O module. The Ethernet port is adapted to send and receive signals in an Ethernet protocol over a cable comprising a plurality of wires and to receive a voltage potential from at least one pair of the plurality of wires. The controller is coupled to the Ethernet port and powered from the received voltage potential. The at least one segment I/O module is coupled to the controller and is adapted to couple to an associated field device segment with at least one attached field device. The at least one segment I/O module is adapted to interact with the at least one attached field device on the associated field device segment.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium contains software that, when read by a computer, causes the computer to perform a method for wide-area site-based surveillance.

Abstract: A system for video monitoring a retail business process includes a video analytics engine to process video obtained by a video camera and generate video primitives regarding the video, A user interface is used to define at least one activity of interest regarding an area being viewed, each activity of interest identifying at least one of a rule or a query regarding the area being viewed. An activity inference engine processes the generated video primitives based on each defined activity of interest to determine if an activity of interest occurred in the video.