Abstract: A bidirectional DC-AC inverter is disclosed. The DC-AC inverter includes an H bridge circuit, a connecting portion connected to the H bridge circuit, a smoothing filter that connects the connecting portion to the H bridge circuit, and a control section. The H bridge circuit has four switching elements. The four switching elements include two first switching elements first ends of which are connected to each other and two second switching elements second ends of which are connected to each other. The smoothing filter has a capacitor and two coils connected to the capacitor. The control section controls the first switching elements in such a manner that the two coils function as booster coils when an alternating voltage input from a system power supply is converted to a direct current voltage.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and system to mount a filter bag to a wet/dry vacuum cleaner by providing an adapter for mounting the filter bag to a drain opening in the wet/dry vacuum cleaner drum and restricting the typical vacuum port, forcing the vacuum materials to enter through the drain opening and into the bag. The lid of the wet/dry vacuum cleaner can be removed independently of the bag to avoid rupturing the bag. Further, the bag can rest on the bottom of the drum for support.

Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to at least one of their respective plastic content, densities, color and degree of contamination, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having properties predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.

Abstract: A method for mapping a property of a subsurface reservoir includes determining a value of at least one reservoir property from measurements obtained from a well drilled through the reservoir. A relationship is determined between the at least one property of the reservoir and at least one seismic attribute and at least one electromagnetic survey attribute at a geodetic position of the well. A value of the at least one reservoir property is determined at at least one other geodetic position from a value of the at least one seismic attribute, a value of the at least one electromagnetic survey attribute at the at least one other geodetic position, and from the determined relationship.

Abstract: An IV catheter introducer having an elastomeric grommet disposed between the housing and the IV catheter assembly that helps avoid unintentional separation of IV catheter assembly from the housing during shipping and handling prior to use, that acts as a needle guide, that helps align the housing and IV catheter assembly coaxially, that indicates that top side of the catheter introducer, that provides proper rotational alignment between the grommet and housing, that wipes blood off the needle during withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly and grommet, that impedes blood flow out of the catheter hub after needle withdrawal, and that assists the user in separating the housing from the IV catheter assembly following insertion of the catheter and withdrawal of the needle.

Abstract: A method for producing carbon-silica products from silica-containing plant matter such as rice hulls or straw by leaching with sulfuric acid to remove non-silica minerals and metal while adjusting the mole ratio of fixed carbon to silica in the resultant product. The carbon and silica are intimately mixed on a micron or submicron scale and are characterized by high purity and reactivity, small particle size, high porosity, and contain volatile carbon that can be used as a source of energy for the production of silicon-containing products from the carbon-silica products. High purity silicon-containing products made from the carbon-silica products of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus 1 includes a switch valve 11, an adjustment valve 12, and a valve control device 13. The adjustment valve 12 has a fluid chamber 15, a valve body 14, and a back pressure chamber 17. A restrictor is formed between the valve body 14 and a wall defining the fluid chamber 15 and connects the cylinder line 32 to the switch valve line 33. The opening degree of the restrictor changes in correspondence with movement of the valve body 14. When the switch valve 11 is located at a neutral position or a supply position, the valve control device 13 applies the fluid pressure in the cylinder line 32 to the back pressure chamber 17. When the switch valve 11 is located at a drainage position, the valve control device 13 applies a pilot pressure lower than the fluid pressure in the cylinder line 32 to the back pressure chamber 17.

Abstract: The thickness of an intermediate plate portion (31b) is smaller than the thickness of a stopper portion (31a). The thickness of a portion of a cylinder head gasket (20) having the stopper portion (31a) is set to be greater than the thickness of other portions of the cylinder head gasket (20). Before the cylinder head gasket (20) is provided between contact surfaces (12a, 13a), a space (S) is formed between the stopper portion (31a) and an adjustment stopper portion (32a), and the intermediate plate portion (31b) partially contacts the adjustment plate portion, and a bead (33a) contacts the adjustment plate portion (32b).

Abstract: By rotating a regulating bolt about an axis thereof to move forward/backward with respect to a protrusion portion, a lever is rotated about a shaft portion of an adjusting member. Therefore, the shaft portion of an adjusting member is rotated together with the lever to adjust a gap formed between a disk and a piston. After the gap is adjusted, the regulating bolt is fastened owing to a lock nut and a screw hole of the protrusion portion to thereby fix an forward/backward position of the regulating bolt with respect to the protrusion portion. In addition, a fixing bolt is screwed into a screw hole of a second housing portion to thereby fix a rotational position of the lever. Accordingly, the rotational position of the lever is double-locked.

Abstract: A failure diagnosis apparatus for a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine having combustion modes switchable between HCCI combustion, performed together with internal EGR, and SI combustion. The engine includes an intake variable valve mechanism and an exhaust variable valve mechanism. The apparatus includes an airflow meter detecting an intake amount of mixture drawn into a combustion chamber of the engine and a control computer determining whether a failure has occurred in the intake variable valve mechanism and the exhaust variable valve mechanism from intake amount change information.

Abstract: An expandable reamer apparatus for drilling a subterranean formation may include a tubular body, one or more blades, each blade positionally coupled to a sloped track of the tubular body, a push sleeve and a drilling fluid flow path extending through an inner bore of the tubular body for conducting drilling fluid therethrough. Each of the one or more blades may be configured to ream a subterranean formation. The push sleeve may be disposed in the inner bore of the tubular body and coupled to each of the one or more blades so as effect axial movement thereof along the track to an extended position responsive to exposure to a force or pressure of drilling fluid in the flow path of the inner bore. Each blade may include one or more roller elements for reaming a wellbore.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor device, a cooler of a forced cooling type, and a heat mass. Heat generated in the semiconductor device is conducted to the cooler. The heat mass comes into junction with the semiconductor device with solder so as to be thermally combined with the semiconductor device. The heat mass functions also as an electrode.

Abstract: A ceramic component element is provided. The ceramic component element includes: an insulating ceramic base with pores formed on its surface and previously fired; and a functional ceramic sheet bonded to the insulating ceramic base and having electrical characteristics. The functional ceramic sheet is physically bonded to the insulating ceramic base by forming pressing a green sheet for the functional ceramic sheet on the insulating ceramic base at constant temperature and pressure so that parts of the green sheet are forced to put into the pores and anchored, and the functional ceramic sheet is chemically bonded to the insulating ceramic base by firing the anchored green sheet in such a manner that functional oxides of the green sheet penetrate the insulating ceramic base by solid diffusion to form a diffusion bonding layer.