Abstract: An aircraft (10) is described as including a reference axis extending along at least a portion of the aircraft, and a propulsion system having a thrust vector feature (43) defining generally a direction of thrust of the turbofan engine (18), the thrust vector feature (43) extending relative to a thrust vector axis, where the turbofan engine (18) is disposed on the aircraft with the thrust vector feature (43) oriented with respect to the reference axis of the aircraft.

Abstract: A direct view optical sighting system. In certain examples the system includes an eyepiece, an objective that directs scene light to the eyepiece, a laser rangefinder, and a laser rangefinder coupling prism that directs a laser transmit beam from the laser rangefinder to the objective and a laser return beam from the objective to the laser rangefinder. Examples of the system further include a display assembly including a reticle prism and a display coupling prism, the reticle prism being positioned along the optical path between the laser rangefinder coupling prism and the display coupling prism and having a hard reticle formed on a surface thereof. The objective can be configured to produce a first focal plane of the optical sighting system coincident with the first surface of the reticle prism. The display coupling prism is configured to direct display light toward the eyepiece.

Abstract: A method is provided for the creation of an addendum for use in the design and production of sheet metal formed components, which method uses a sectionless approach. In a preferred approach, elevation curve (EC) lines are established relating to the component (ECc) and binder (ECb), and it is these lines which are used to design the addendum. Additional EC lines (EC1, EC2, EC3, etc.) can be added to modify or optimize the addendum design. The spaces between the EC lines are filled using various parameterized filling techniques so as to provide the addendum design. Optimization of the addendum can be achieved by modification of the various EC lines, so as to modify or control the various design parameters, in accordance with various quality or design criteria. A more rapid, and less complicated approach to addendum design is provided.

Abstract: A battery, a battery container, and a battery pack, for use downhole in MWD operations, one or more of which incorporates lateral vibration damping. In a preferred embodiment each comprise specialized lateral vibration damping in the form of a plurality of longitudinally-extending resiliently-deformable ridges extending substantially a length of each and circumferentially spaced about an outer periphery. The resiliently-deformable ridges on the battery may be integrally formed and extend radially outwardly from a hollow resiliently-deformable sleeve, and formed of the same resiliently-deformable material of which the sleeve is comprised. The resiliently-deformable ridges on the battery container may extend radially inwardly or outwardly from a periphery thereof. Advantageously, the battery container can thus be free of potting material and thus be reusable when the batteries thereof need be replaced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and system for controlling the operation of a fly-by-wire aircraft. One or more yaw commands are received from an operator control, and one or more actual induced rolls rates are determined based on the yaw commands. A yaw signal and a roll-countering command are sent to flight control components of the aircraft, the yaw signal to cause a yaw motion in the aircraft, and the roll-countering command to counter the actual induced rolls. A standardized roll rate command is determined based on the yaw command, and the standardized roll rate command is sent to the flight control components to cause a roll motion in the aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filters used to remove debris from water being sucked into a piping system. It has particular application use in nuclear power plants, which, after a loss of coolant accident, must pump cooling water back into the reactor core from a collection sump. This water may contain various types of debris that must be removed before the water is sent back into the reactor cooling system. There are restrictions on the allowable pressure drop across the strainer and the space available for installing this equipment. The finned strainer of the present invention addresses these issues while maximizing the quantity of debris filtered from the water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to filters used to remove debris from water being sucked into a piping system. It has particular application use in nuclear power plants, which, after a loss of coolant accident, must pump cooling water back into the reactor core from a collection sump. This water may contain various types of debris that must be removed before the water is sent back into the reactor cooling system. There are restrictions on the allowable pressure drop across the strainer and the space available for installing this equipment. The finned strainer of the present invention addresses these issues while maximizing the quantity of debris filtered from the water.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing natural gas to meet gas pipeline specifications and/or recovering natural gas liquids (NGL). The natural gas is cooled and distilled such that propane and heavier components are produced as a bottoms NGL product, and inerts, methane, ethane, and other lighter portions are produced as a fuel gas grade/quality residue gas product stream. The gas can optionally be treated to remove hydrogen-sulfide and/or carbon dioxide. The NGL product can be split into a marketable propane and butane liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) liquid product and a natural gas condensate product.

Abstract: An adaptive radio frequency module including a switching circuit to switch receipt of a voltage, an assembly including the adaptive RF module, a system comprising a base unit with one or more radio frequency modules, and a method of operation of the system are provide.

Abstract: A reservoir production assembly for disposition within a wellbore that extends into a subterranean formation is disclosed. The reservoir production assembly includes a flow diverter including a cavity. The flow diverter defines a reservoir fluid receiver, a reservoir fluid-conducting space, a reservoir fluid discharge communicator, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid receiver, a gas-depleted reservoir fluid-conducting space, and a gas-depleted reservoir fluid discharge communicator. The reservoir production assembly includes a downhole-disposed reservoir fluid-supplying conductor for receiving the reservoir fluid from a downhole wellbore space and conducting the received reservoir fluid to the reservoir fluid receiver, and an on-off tool effecting releasable coupling of the reservoir fluid receiver of the flow diverter to the downhole-disposed reservoir fluid-supplying conductor with effect that fluid coupling of the flow diverter to the downhole-disposed reservoir fluid-supplying conductor is effected.

Abstract: Fuel bundles for a nuclear reactor are disclosed, and in some embodiments include a first fuel element including thorium dioxide; a second fuel element including uranium having a first fissile content; and a third fuel element including uranium having a second fissile content different from the first fissile content. Nuclear reactors using such fuel bundles are also disclosed, including pressurized heavy water nuclear reactors. The uranium having the different fissile contents can include combinations of natural uranium, depleted uranium, recycled uranium, slightly enriched uranium, and low enriched uranium.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated leaky feeder and mesh network system. The system includes a plurality of mesh nodes, each mesh node comprising a radio, at least one of the mesh nodes being powered by a power source. The system also includes a radiating coaxial cable connecting the plurality of mesh nodes to provide a leaky feeder signal between the nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dispensing lubricant, of which the systems include a grease gun including an outlet. The grease gun is configured to eject lubricant into a machine through the outlet. The grease gun also includes a sensor configured to sense an amount of the lubricant ejected through the outlet, and a communication module in communication with the sensor and configured to transmit first data representing the amount of lubricant ejected through the outlet. The systems further include an intermediary computing device in communication with the communication module, the intermediary computing device being configured to receive the first data from the communication module, transmit the first data to a remote server, and receive second data representing a maintenance action to take on the grease gun, the machine, or both from the remote server.

Abstract: A fuel assembly for a pressure-tube nuclear reactor includes a fuel channel assembly. The fuel channel assembly has an outer conduit and an inner conduit received within the outer conduit. The conduits define an annular fuel bundle chamber for receiving a flow of a coolant in one direction. The inner conduit includes a central flow passage for receiving a flow of the coolant in an opposite direction. A fuel bundle positioned within the fuel bundle chamber consists of fuel elements arranged to form an inner ring surrounding the inner conduit, and an outer ring surrounding the inner ring. The coolant may be light water, and geometries of the fuel assembly may be selected so moderation by the volume of coolant promotes generally uniform power distribution in the fuel elements.

Abstract: An aircraft cabin floor structure which makes it possible to avoid the appearance of blisters in the carpets covering the floor panels in an aircraft cabin is disclosed. The aircraft cabin floor structure comprises a rigid carpet that is impermeable to air having a top face and a bottom face, an adhesive layer having an adhesive top face and an adhesive bottom face, said top face adhering to the bottom face of the carpet, and a floor panel that is impermeable to air having a top face and a bottom face, the bottom face of the adhesive layer adhering to the top face of the floor panel. The bottom face of the carpet comprises grooves and at least one air evacuation channel over its periphery. The adhesive layer comprises a plurality of through holes.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in making localized passive measurements of electromagnetic radiation emitted from an object located in a radioactive environment includes a hollow elongate conduit having a first end, a second end, and a reflective inner surface. The first end of the conduit is positionable in the radioactive environment proximate the object, and the second end of the conduit is positionable outside the radioactive environment. The conduit has at least one bend between the first end and the second end, such that light entering the first end of the conduit is reflected by the inner surface of the conduit at least once as it travels through the conduit before reaching the second end. A detector in optical communication with the second end of the conduit is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation that reaches the second end.

Abstract: An aircraft has a fuselage, left and right wings, and left and right engine assemblies connected to the wings. Each engine assembly has a nacelle, an engine housed in the nacelle, the engine having a plurality of rotors defining an uncontained rotor impact area, a pylon connecting the nacelle to its wing, at least one hydraulic actuator connected to at least one of the engine and the nacelle, at least one directional control valve hydraulically connected to the at least one hydraulic actuator, and at least one isolation valve hydraulically connected to the at least one directional control valve for selectively cutting off a supply of hydraulic fluid to the at least one directional control valve, the at least one isolation valve being disposed rearward of the uncontained rotor impact area and forward of a trailing edge of its corresponding wing.

Abstract: A method for assaying a wall of a pressure tube for a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The wall has a matrix material and deuterium nuclei in the matrix material. The method includes: (a) transmitting gamma rays into the matrix material to induce photodisintegration of at least some of the deuterium nuclei, whereby reaction particles of the nuclei are emitted from the wall; (b) detecting at least some of the reaction particles emitted in step (a) using a particle detector; and (c) generating particle signals in response to detecting the particles in step (b).

Abstract: The invention relates to isotope separation methods, and methods for separating isotopes with low energy consumption, demonstrated using hydrogen isotopes. Also described are methods for enriching or depleting the isotope present in the hydrogen gas/vapour feed e.g. for tritium removal, tritium enrichment and deuterium enrichment, by arranging a series of cells in a cascaded configuration.

Abstract: A cross-over fluid coupling includes a first coupling end and a second coupling end. A plurality of first conduits have inner ends disposed toward the first coupling end and outer ends spaced apart from the inner end toward the second coupling end and being outboard of the inner end. A plurality of second conduits have outer ends that are disposed toward the first coupling end and positioned laterally outboard of the inner end of at least one of the first conduits, and inner ends that are spaced apart from the outer end toward the second coupling end in the axial direction and is laterally inboard of the outer end of the at least one of the first conduits.