Abstract: An electrical isolator comprising: a first fluid-carrying member and a second fluid-carrying member spaced apart from said first fluid-carrying member; wherein said first fluid-carrying member has a first toothed surface and said second fluid-carrying member has a second toothed surface; wherein the electrical isolator further comprises: a fibre-reinforced polymer tube that overlaps both the first fluid-carrying member and the second fluid-carrying member and which contacts the first toothed surface in a first interface region of the fibre-reinforced polymer tube and which contacts the second toothed surface in a second interface region of the fibre-reinforced polymer tube; and a compression fitting arranged to bias the first interface region and the first toothed surface together.

Abstract: A storage device comprises a storage medium, storage controller, a host interface, and a bridge slot. The storage controller is configured to control read and write operations to the storage medium and operates according to a firmware written by a storage device manufacturer. The bridge slot is configured to receive a removable bridge storing software written by a third-party different from the storage device manufacturer. The removable bridge is configured to intercept a first command sent from the host system to the storage controller, modify the first command according to the software stored on removable bridge, and transmit the first command to the storage controller.

Abstract: A fibre-reinforced polymer component is provided which comprises a main portion comprising fibre-reinforced polymer and at least one surface and at least one raised feature extending from said surface. The at least one raised feature consists of non-reinforced polymer and is shaped to incur visually perceptible damage when the component is subject to an impact with an energy above a predetermined impact energy threshold and to resist an impact with an energy below the predetermined impact energy threshold. The at least one raised feature thus provides a clear visual aid as to when a component has experienced an impact with an energy above the impact energy threshold. Because the raised feature consists of polymer without fibre reinforcement, it is more fragile than the fibre-reinforced polymer main portion 204 and thus reduces the energy at which impacts may be detected.

Abstract: An actuator includes: a cylinder, formed of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), that extends along an actuator axis between a cylinder first end and a cylinder second end, and defines a cylinder inner diameter surface; a screw shaft that extends along the actuator axis between a screw shaft first end and a screw shaft second end, that is at least partially within the cylinder, and that is operationally connected, intermediate of the screw shaft first and second ends, to the cylinder second end; a screw shaft head affixed to the screw shaft first end, that in operation rotates relative to the cylinder, and that defines a screw shaft head outer diameter surface that faces the cylinder inner diameter surface with a slip fit therebetween; and a bearing ring affixed to the screw shaft head outer diameter surface, that is formed of polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

Abstract: A fibre-reinforced polymer composite shaft for transmitting loads along a central axis is provided. The composite shaft comprises a first interface surface extending along the central axis and comprising at least one helical groove and/or a plurality of circumferential grooves for engaging with at least one corresponding helical ridge and/or a plurality of corresponding circumferential ridges of a second interface surface of an end fitting. The at least one helical groove and/or the plurality of circumferential grooves comprises at least one flank with a flank angle of between 32° and 51°. In such an assembly, a preload structure is arranged to provide a radial biasing force to bias the first interference surface against the second interference surface.

Abstract: A composite shaft with an end fitting mounted on one end of said shaft and a preload structure arranged to provide a biasing force to bias the composite shaft against the end fitting. The end fitting has a first interface surface, the first interface surface being tapered at an angle to the shaft axis and the shaft has a second interface surface for engagement with the first interface surface and is tapered at an angle to the shaft axis, the second interface surface extending axially from a first end to a second end, the shaft being thicker at the second end than at the first end. The shaft has a third interface surface and the preload structure has a fourth interface surface and the contact pressure of the third interface against the fourth interface increases from the first end of the shaft to the second end of the shaft.

Abstract: In the present invention, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. In a preferred embodiment, an enhanced evapoporometry (EP) technique is provided to determine pore size distribution of continuous pores of a porous structure. In this enhanced EP technique, a volatile liquid, such as isopropoyl alcohol or water, is supplied to one side of a porous structure in order to enable the volatile liquid to penetrate and saturate the porous structure through capillary force. Thereafter, an immiscible non-volatile liquid, such as glycerol, mineral oils, silicon oils or hydrophilic ionic liquid, is supplied to the one side of the porous structure. As the volatile liquid evaporates progressively from the filled pores, the emptied pores may be immediately filled by the non-volatile liquid drawn upwards by capillary action. This prevents formation of a t-layer formed from the adsorption of vapour emanating from the volatile liquid that is used to saturate the pores.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for determining at least one pore-related parameter of a porous structure is provided. The method includes supplying a volatile liquid into a chamber. The method also includes coating a first surface of the porous structure with an evaporation preventing substance. The method further includes placing the coated porous structure within the chamber. The method additionally includes determining an effective mass of the chamber over a period of time. The method also includes determining the at least one pore-related parameter of an uncoated second surface of the coated porous structure based on the effective mass determined. The second surface of the porous structure is opposite the first surface of the porous structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite connector for a fluid transfer conduit is provided which comprises applying continuous fibre reinforcement, oriented at least partially circumferentially and pre-impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer to a tubular mould portion which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C; applying at least one further mould portion to form a complete mould in which the continuous fibre reinforcement is enclosed and injecting a thermoplastic polymer into the mould to form a connector with a tubular hub portion and a flange portion which extends from the hub portion at an angle to the central axis C. The tubular hub portion comprises a tubular seal section with an inner layer and an outer wherein the inner layer comprises the continuous fibre reinforcement and the outer layer comprises the injected thermoplastic polymer.

Abstract: An electrical isolator comprising: a first fluid-carrying member and a second fluid-carrying member spaced apart from said first fluid-carrying member; wherein said first fluid-carrying member has a first toothed surface and said second fluid-carrying member has a second toothed surface; wherein the electrical isolator further comprises: a fibre-reinforced polymer tube that overlaps both the first fluid-carrying member and the second fluid-carrying member and which contacts the first toothed surface in a first interface region of the fibre-reinforced polymer tube and which contacts the second toothed surface in a second interface region of the fibre-reinforced polymer tube; and a compression fitting arranged to bias the first interface region and the first toothed surface together.

Abstract: An electrical isolator comprising: a first fluid-carrying member and a second fluid-carrying member spaced apart from said first fluid-carrying member; a resistive, semi-conductive or non-conductive component located between said first and second fluid-carrying member, wherein said resistive, semi-conductive or non-conductive component is adapted to convey fluid flowing from said first fluid-carrying member to said second fluid-carrying member; wherein said first fluid-carrying member comprises a first annular projection extending radially outwardly, and said second fluid-carrying member comprises a second annular projection extending radially outwardly such that an annular cavity is formed between the first and second annular projections; wherein the electrical isolator further comprises: a layer of circumferentially wound fiber-reinforced polymer in the annular cavity; and a layer of helical wound fiber-reinforced polymer extending over the first annular projection, the annular cavity and the second annular

Abstract: An isolator includes a first fluid-carrying member and a second fluid-carrying member spaced apart from the first fluid-carrying member; and a resistive, semi-conductive or non-conductive component located between the first and the second fluid-carrying member. The component is adapted to convey fluid flowing from the first fluid-carrying member to the second fluid-carrying member. The isolator further comprises a reinforcing composite encircling the first fluid-carrying member, the second fluid-carrying member and the component.

Abstract: A storage device comprises a storage medium, storage controller, a host interface, and a bridge slot. The storage controller is configured to control read and write operations to the storage medium and operates according to a firmware written by a storage device manufacturer. The bridge slot is configured to receive a removable bridge storing software written by a third-party different from the storage device manufacturer. The removable bridge is configured to intercept a first command sent from the host system to the storage controller, modify the first command according to the software stored on removable bridge, and transmit the first command to the storage controller.

Abstract: A concurrent desalination and boron removal (CDBR) process and a system thereof are provided. The system includes: a plurality of single-stage reverse osmosis (SSRO) stages connected in series, and a countercurrent membrane cascade with recycle (CMCR). The process includes the following steps: introducing a retentate from one SSRO stage or a series of SSRO stages optimally as a feed to a CMCR; countercurrent a retentate flow and a permeate flow in the CMCR; permeate recycling to a retentate side in the CMCR; retentate self-recycling in at least one of membrane stages in the CMCR; introducing a permeate from the SSRO stage(s) as a feed to an LPMS; and blending permeate streams from the CMCR and LPMS to achieve concentrations in a water product.

Abstract: A data storage system may include one or more storage arrays. Each storage array may include a first set of solid-state drives and a first set of striped hard disk drives. Each solid-state drive of the first set of solid-state drives has a first data throughput and the set of stripe hard disk drives has a second data throughput. The second data throughput of the first set of striped hard disk drives is within a threshold throughput of the first data throughput. The data storage system also includes a processing device configured to receive an access request to write first data to the storage array and determine a read access frequency of the first data. The processing device may also be configured to determine a write access frequency of the first data and write the first data to the first set of solid-state drives or the first set of striped hard disk drives, based on the read access frequency and the write access frequency.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a connector for a fluid transfer conduit comprises: providing a first mould section comprising a hub-moulding portion which extends substantially parallel to a central axis C and a flange-moulding portion which extends from the hub-moulding portion at an angle to the central axis C; introducing fiber-reinforcement to the first mould section such that continuous circumferentially-oriented fiber-reinforcement lies in the hub-moulding portion, and continuous longitudinally-oriented fiber reinforcement extends from the hub-moulding portion into the flange-moulding portion; applying a second mould section over the first mould section to form a complete mould in which the fiber-reinforcement is confined; and introducing a polymer to the complete mould such that it permeates through the fiber-reinforcement to form a fiber-reinforced polymer connector; and extracting the connector from the mould.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a liquid matrix to a fiber tow includes a belt press arranged to receive the fiber tow and compress it between two moving belts and a matrix application roller arranged to receive liquid matrix and transfer it to the fiber. The apparatus also includes a second matrix application component arranged adjacent to the matrix application roller so as to form a first gap between the component and the matrix application roller. The matrix application roller is positioned adjacent to the belt press so as to form a second gap between the matrix application roller and a belt of the belt press; and wherein the second gap is larger than the first gap.

Abstract: A fibre-reinforced polymer component is provided which comprises a main portion comprising fibre-reinforced polymer and at least one surface and at least one raised feature extending from said surface. The at least one raised feature consists of non-reinforced polymer and is shaped to incur visually perceptible damage when the component is subject to an impact with an energy above a predetermined impact energy threshold and to resist an impact with an energy below the predetermined impact energy threshold. The at least one raised feature thus provides a clear visual aid as to when a component has experienced an impact with an energy above the impact energy threshold. Because the raised feature consists of polymer without fibre reinforcement, it is more fragile than the fibre-reinforced polymer main portion 204 and thus reduces the energy at which impacts may be detected.

Abstract: A cross-flow membrane filtration channel defined by at least one membrane, wherein at least one surface of the channel is inclined at an angle away from a centreline of the channel in a direction of feed flow in the channel.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a ladder assembly configured to be used with a vertically-extending wall assembly of a building having a window assembly installed to the vertically-extending wall assembly. The ladder assembly includes a housing assembly configured to be fixedly received (at least in part) in the vertically-extending wall assembly, to be mounted to the vertically-extending wall assembly, and to extend (at least in part) into the vertically-extending wall assembly of the building. A support assembly is configured to be fixedly attached to the housing assembly, and to extend (at least in part) into the housing assembly in such a way that the support assembly bisects the housing assembly. The support assembly, in use, provides any one of a handhold and a foothold configured for usage by a user.