Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel supported in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis with an annular inlet passageway defined between a radial face of a nozzle ring and a facing wall of the housing. The nozzle ring is movable along the turbine axis to vary the width of the inlet passageway and of vanes that are received in corresponding slots in the facing wall. Each vane major surface such that at a predetermined axial position of the nozzle ring relative to the facing wall the recess is in axial alignment with the slot and affords an exhaust gas leakage path through the inlet passageway. The recess is configured to reduce the efficiency of the turbine at small inlet gaps appropriate to engine braking or exhaust gas heating modes.

Abstract: A dye sensitized solar cell, comprising a-heteroleptic polypyridil complex of Ru, Os or Fe. The donating ligand has an extended conjugated n-system increasing the light absorbance and keeing the LUMO energy level higher than that of the anchoring ligand. A compacting compound whose molecular structure comprises a terminal group, a hydrophobic part and an anchoring? group may be co-adsorbed together with the dye on the semi-conductive metal oxide layer of the photoanode, forming a dense mixed self-assembled monolayer.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the supply of oil to a turbocharger fitted to an internal combustion comprises an oil supply valve (21) controlled by a controller (20) and at least one sensor (23-28) for monitoring a parameter associated with the existence or potential occurrence of a leak in the turbocharger oil supply, or of a condition potentially resulting in such a leak. The controller (20) is operable to determine the existence or possible occurrence of an oil leak in the turbocharger oil supply in response to a signal received from the sensor (23-28) and to close the oil supply control valve (21) in the event of said determination to cut off the oil supply to the turbocharger.

Abstract: One embodiment of a testing device is disclosed having an expansible element that expands radially outwardly upon the application of an axial force. In one form the testing device includes two bellows forming a deflection surface that expands radially outward upon the application of axial force to the testing device.

Abstract: One nonlimiting variation of a detection arrangement includes one or more sensors each structured to detect at least one biochemical substance indicative of biochemistry of one or more target insect species and provide a corresponding sensor signal, a controller responsive to the sensor signal of each of the one or more sensors to determine if the one or more insect species are present and generate a corresponding output signal, and an indicator responsive to the output signal to indicate the presence of the one or more insect species.

Abstract: The invention provides a NOx adsorber aftertreatment system for internal combustion engines which utilizes at least one precat operatively coupled to at least one NOx adsorber to aid in the regeneration of the NOx adsorber. Fuel is injected into a precat located upstream of a NOx absorber producing heat, H2O, and reductants such as CO, HC, and volatile hydrocarbons, which are input into the NOx absorber. The combination of heat, water, and reductants help to efficiently regenerate the NOx Adsorber which in turn releases exhausts products such as CO2 and N2. Regeneration of a NOx adsorber can be performed during periods of reduced exhaust gas flow lowering the fuel penalty associated with NOx adsorber regeneration. The pre-cat, NOx adsorber regenerating aftertreatment system of the present invention may be used with any suitable control system.

Abstract: There are provided methods and processes that employ a mercury-adsorbing granular material as a sorbent to remove mercury from fluids. The fluids can be waste fluids that result from manufacturing, processing, or other treatment processes or systems. The fluids can also be fluids that are treated in their natural state. The fluids to be treated may include water, air, sludge, slurries, gases from processing or furnaces flues, gaseous flows, liquid flows, and other gases and liquids. In one excellent form of the invention, the mercury-adsorbing material includes taconite tailings.

Abstract: The machining of drills (1) includes an operation for chamfering the cutting edges (8) performed in two steps. In the first step the rotating grindstone (15) is directed to various locations of the cutting edge (8) and the point of contact is detected by an electronic appliance (17) whereof the electronic module (19) controls the stoppage of the grindstone, its return to the starting position and the recording of the position of the grindstone at the time of contact. In the second step the grindstone (15) is controlled to follow the left line obtained by connecting the points registered during the first step.

Abstract: One system of the present application includes an electronic assembly with a heat dissipating device, printed wiring board with electronic circuitry, bus bar, insulative grommet, and fastener. The board defines a bus with an interconnection pad and a board opening. The bus bar connects with the interconnection pad and defines a bar opening with a beveled shoulder portion that align with the board opening to define a passage to a fastening site of the heat dissipating device. The grommet defines a distal end portion opposite a proximal end portion shaped with a flange. The distal end portion is inserted into the passage with the flange abutting the beveled shoulder portion. The fastener extends through the grommet to provide a mechanical connection of the board and bar to the site and maintain thermal coupling between the board and device while the grommet electrically insulates the fastener from the bar.

Abstract: Methods to separate certain valuable elements and/or minerals that utilize wet screens, hydro-cyclones, low intensity magnetic separators and/or Mag Wheel™ separators, including a specially designed magnetic field amplifying matrix. The methods are applicable to mining, manufacturing, mineral processing, or other treatment processes or systems.

Abstract: In one technique of the present invention, DC electric power from a DC bus is inverted to provide AC electricity to one or more electrical loads, and AC power from a variable speed generator is rectified to provide a first variable amount of electric power to the DC bus. This technique also includes determining power applied to the electrical loads, and dynamically controlling the amount of power supplied from the generator and an electrical energy storage device in response to the power applied to the loads.

Abstract: A battery pack for powering a portable electronic device is disclosed. The battery pack includes means for connecting the battery pack to the portable electronic device such that a main power terminal of the battery pack engages a main power input port of the portable electronic device. An auxiliary power output terminal is located on an outer surface of the portable electronic device that is capable of receiving a power cord for powering the portable electronic device through an auxiliary power input port located on the portable electronic device. A charger input terminal is also included on the outer surface of the battery pack for receiving the power cord for recharging the battery pack.

Abstract: A centrifuge includes a housing that defines a fluid inlet port to supply fluid to the centrifuge and an axle cavity fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet port. A bearing is received in the axle cavity. A check valve is disposed in the axle cavity to minimize tampering, and the check valve is configured to control flow of the fluid from the inlet port. A rotor is configured to separate particulate matter from the fluid. The rotor includes an axle rotatably received in the bearing, and the axle defines a fluid passage to supply the fluid to the rotor. The check valve is normally biased towards a closed position where the flow of the fluid is shutoff. The axle is configured to open the check valve when the axle is received in the bearing.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present application is a gas turbine engine with a compressor that includes a variable geometry mechanism to vary working fluid flow area. A desired state of this mechanism is selected different than a current state to change the amount of flow area. The mechanism has a hysteresis band corresponding to a difference between increasing the flow area to reach the desired state and decreasing the flow area to reach the desired state. To control operation of the mechanism within this hysteresis band, a determination is made whether the desired state corresponds to a greater flow area or a lesser flow area relative to the current state.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes an internal combustion engine system designed to increase exhaust temperature when operating with a low mechanical load—such as idle operation. This increased exhaust temperature is provided to operate aftertreatment equipment. Exhaust temperature is raised by operating a portion of the engine pistons in a brake mode to increase loading on a remainder of the pistons operating in a combustion mode to drive the engine. Fuel provided to pistons operating in the combustion mode is regulated to maintain speed of the engine within a desired idle speed range.

Abstract: An electric power system includes a variable speed generator driven by an engine and an electrical energy storage device. The generator and the storage device are coupled to a variable voltage DC bus. An inverter converts DC electricity from the DC bus to AC electricity for one or more electrical loads. A detector is included to monitor electric current provided to the DC bus by the storage device and provide a corresponding signal. Control circuitry is responsive to this signal to regulate power output from the storage device to the DC bus.

Abstract: One embodiment is an apparatus including an air-exhaust mixing passageway, a first lip extending into the passageway, a second lip extending into the passageway, a valley intermediate the first lip and the second lip, and an exhaust inlet aperture in flow communication with the flow channel.

Abstract: A fluid filter centerpost assembly in combination with a fluid filter cartridge for creating a “no filter-no run” design according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an oval-shaped design for the centerpost assembly and an oval-shaped design for a seal that is positioned between the centerpost assembly and the fluid filter cartridge. The centerpost assembly includes a main body having an oval shape in lateral cross section in unitary construction with a radial flange and interior shelf. The interior shelf defines a flow opening and a movable valve ball is positioned on the interior shelf and is able to move in the direction of the flow opening due to incoming fluid pressure. The fluid filter cartridge includes a closed endcap with a blocking pin such that when the fluid filter cartridge is installed, the blocking pin is positioned to prevent the valve ball from closing off the flow opening.