Abstract: It is common to store decayed radioactive waste in waste packages, lowered into vertical concrete cylindrical storage containers called tile holes. These containers of these packages decay over time and may become fragile, making it difficult to remove them using conventional methods. A retrieval tool has been developed, comprising a cylinder that fits between the tile hole internal diameter and the outside diameter of the waste package inside the tile hole. Inflatable air wedges are equally spaced inside the cylinder. The air wedges are inflated to a low pressure (2.1 psig) to provide uniform grip to the outside of the packages, minimizing the risk of damage to the decayed containers. A back-up system uses horizontal safety bars at the bottom of the cylinder, which may be rotated to form a partial platform under the waste package, preventing the package from falling in the event of a failure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and system for providing takeoff pitch guidance for an aircraft. Takeoff pitch guidance for the aircraft is provided in a pitch target mode at a time of takeoff. The pitch target mode corresponds to determining pitch as a function of a target pitch based on aircraft operating parameters. A transition event is detected while in the pitch target mode. The takeoff pitch guidance for the aircraft is transitioned from the pitch target mode to an airspeed error mode after the transition event is detected and the takeoff pitch guidance is provided in the airspeed error mode. The airspeed error mode corresponds to determining pitch based on a difference between an actual speed and a target speed of the aircraft.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and system for managing gust loading in an aircraft. A deflection angle of one or more spoilers of the aircraft is monitored. When the spoiler deflection angle is above a first threshold value, one or more aileron control signals are sent to the ailerons. The aileron control signals cause the ailerons to deflect based on the spoiler deflection angle.

Abstract: A holder for mounting a communication device to a grease gun, which has a housing and a control disposed within the housing, includes a bracket connected with the grease gun. The bracket has a first end coupled with the grease gun housing and a second end coupleable with the communication device so as to secure the device to the grease gun. Preferably, the holder further includes a frame coupled with the bracket second member for receiving the communication device to removably couple the communication device with the grease gun. The communication device may be a smartphone, a portable media player, a portable computing device or any similar device and wirelessly communicates with a control within the grease gun housing.

Abstract: The mobile platform cabin (20) disclosed herein comprises a passenger portion (22), a first cargo portion (24) disposed aft of the passenger portion (22), a partition (36) separating the passenger portion (22) from the first cargo portion (24), a second cargo portion (26) disposed aft of the first cargo portion (24) and a barrier net (38) separating the first cargo portion (24) from the second cargo portion (26). The first cargo portion (24) comprises a cargo-receiving zone (40) and a stay-out zone (44) in which cargo is not permitted. The barrier net (38) is configured to distend into the first cargo portion (24) when restraining forward movement of cargo (48) in the second cargo portion due to the cargo (48) in the second cargo portion being subjected to an acceleration relative to the cabin. At least part of the distension of the barrier net (38) is accommodated by the stay-out zone (44) of the first cargo portion (24).

Abstract: A hydrogen storage assembly includes at least one wafer formed of a substrate material that produces metal hydride when exposed to a hydrogen-rich carrier fluid. The wafer can be supported by a housing and arranged so that the hydrogen-rich carrier fluid can flow over a reaction surface of the wafer. At least one heating element can be arranged to transfer heat to the wafer to attain an operating temperature suitable for hydrogen charging on the reaction surface. A de-activation material may be provided on the reaction surface for inhibiting formation of surface oxide that impedes hydrogen absorption during charging and hydrogen desorption during discharging. The at least one wafer can include a plurality of monolithic plate wafers spaced apart about a central axis of the assembly. The at least one wafer can include a plurality of monolithic disc wafers in at least one stacked arrangement.

Abstract: A nuclear reactor can include a pressure vessel for containing a pressurized moderator at a first pressure. The nuclear reactor can also include a plurality of fuel channels for a coolant fluid at a second pressure. The plurality of fuel channels are fluidly connected at inlet ends thereof to a coolant supply conduit and are adapted to receive nuclear fuel bundles and to be mounted within the pressure vessel and surrounded by the moderator. The outlet ends of the fuel channels are fluidly connected to a coolant outlet conduit to enable the coolant fluid to circulate from the coolant supply conduit through the fuel channels to the coolant outlet conduit. The plurality of fuel channels maintain separation between the coolant fluid circulating within the fuel channels and the moderator.

Abstract: The present concepts include a zero-porosity structure having a plurality of structural elements arranged to provide a negative Poisson's ratio and, further, a new mechanism to generate negative Poisson's ratio is single material, zero-porosity structure.

Abstract: An assembly and method for deploying, retrieving, and storing a cable having a minimum bend radius onto a drum. The assembly may comprise a frame, a rotatable drum carried by the frame, a levelwind carried by the frame, and a powertrain. The levelwind may comprise a rail spanning at least the width of the drum, and a traversable carriage carried by the rail. The levelwind may also comprise a cable guide carried by the carriage, where the cable guide comprises an elongated chute having contoured walls. The contoured walls of the chute include no bends having a radius less than the minimum bend radius of the cable. The powertrain may be operatively connected to rotate the drum about the drum axis and traverse the carriage along the rail. In some examples, the contoured walls of the chute are coated with a supplmentary coating.

Abstract: An adjustment and temperature limit assembly for a mixing cartridge includes a first piece and a second piece selectively moveable relative to the first piece. The first piece is configured to be attached to a mixing cartridge housing and includes an abutment defining a maximum temperature limit for water exiting the mixing cartridge. The second piece is configured for attachment to a rotating stem extending outwardly of the housing. The second piece is selectively movable relative to the first piece between a plurality of temperature limits that are less than or equal to the maximum temperature limit. A fixing element is configured to be selectively attached to at least one of the first and second pieces to fix an operating temperature at one of the plurality of temperature limits or to set a reduced maximum temperature limit that is less than the maximum temperature limit.

Abstract: A system for retaining an optical member about a vehicle is disclosed. The system can comprise a mount, an optical member having a first end and a second end, and a primary retention system operable to secure the second end of the optical member of the mount. The system can further comprise a secondary retention system. The secondary retention system can comprise a retaining clip coupled to one of the optical member and the mount, adjacent the second end of the mount. The retaining clip can comprise at least one aperture therethrough. The secondary retention system can further comprise a pin coupled to the other of the optical member and the mount. The pin can extend through the aperture of the retaining clip. The secondary retention system can activate to cause the pin to engage the retaining clip upon movement of the optical member relative to the mount and at least partial failure of the primary retention system.

Abstract: A portable detection apparatus can include a housing, a first detector for detecting ionizing radiation from a first subject and a second detector within the housing for the detecting the background radiation. A shield within the housing can surround the first and second detectors and define a shield aperture around the first and second detectors for radiation from the subject to enter the housing. A radiation blocking member can substantially block at least a portion of the ionizing radiation from reaching the second detector, whereby radiation detected by the second detector comprises substantially only the background radiation. A processor module can be connected to the first and second detectors for determining the amount of ionizing radiation detected by the first detector attributable to secondary radiation.

Abstract: A faucet includes a housing defining hot and cold inlets and an outlet and hot and cold fluid conduits in communication with the hot and cold inlets. A mixer within the housing receives fluids from the fluid conduits and outputs one of the fluids or a mixture thereof. The mixer includes a valve and an actuator configured to move the valve to different positions establishing various ratios of fluids output by the mixer. A temperature actuated flow reducing device within the housing downstream of the mixer restricts a flow of fluid to the outlet when a temperature of the fluid exceeds a predetermined temperature. A first pressure compensating flow regulator upstream of the mixer controls a flow of fluid from the hot fluid conduit to the mixer while a second pressure compensating flow regulator downstream of the mixer controls a flow of fluid through the outlet.

Abstract: A refuse container has a bin defining a cavity and a lid selectively inhibiting access to the cavity. A pair of opposing brackets is located below the lid. The brackets are in laterally spaced relationship such that a space is located between portions of the brackets. Each bracket has opposing inner and outer face portions with an interior gap formed between therebetween. The interior gap is fluidly isolated from the cavity. A rib is located within the interior gaps such that each rib extends inwardly relative to the space between the brackets. A retention bar is coupled to each bracket and spans the space from one bracket to the other bracket wherein opposing ends of the retention bar extend into the interior gap of each bracket, and an exposed portion of the retention bar spans the space between the brackets. The end portions of the retention bar abut the ribs.

Abstract: An elongate battery pack for use in MWD drilling apparatus having torsion damping means at one or both ends thereof to reduce or eliminate “high g” rotational accelerations and decelerations being transmitted from the drill string to the battery pack within the MWD apparatus. In one embodiment the torsion damping means comprises torsion limiting means in the form of an electrical connector which allows electrical communication between the battery pack and remaining components of the MWD apparatus, but which allows relative rotational movement between (i) the MWD apparatus and its associated electrical leads connected to the battery pack, and (ii) the electrical leads in the battery pack connected to the battery therein.

Abstract: In at least some aspects, an auxetic structure includes a first sheet defining therein a plurality of a plurality of structural elements projecting from the first sheet, the plurality of structural elements being arranged to provide a negative Poisson's ratio, and a second sheet disposed adjacent the first sheet to define a first internal cavity between the first sheet and the second sheet. In yet other aspects, one or more additional sheets may be advantageously provided to provide a multi-layered structure having auxetic properties.

Abstract: Auxetic structures, low porosity auxetic sheets, systems and devices with auxetic structures, and methods of using and methods of making auxetic structures are disclosed. An auxetic structure is disclosed which includes an elastically rigid body with a plurality of apertures extending through the elastically rigid body and a plurality of protrusions projecting from the elastically rigid body. The apertures and protrusions are arranged in an engineered pattern, such as an array of rows and columns. The apertures are cooperatively configured with the protrusions to provide a predefined porosity while exhibiting stress reduction through negative Poisson's Ratio (NPR) behavior under macroscopic planar loading conditions. In some embodiments, the protrusions, which are elliptical or semispherical dimples, are interposed in square or hexagonal patterns with the apertures, which are S-shaped through slots or circular boreholes.

Abstract: A portable detection apparatus includes a fluid inlet to acquire a stream of fluid, a fluid outlet and a fluid flowpath therebetween. A pump circulates the fluid through the fluid flowpath. A gamma spectrometer and a mercury analyzer engage the fluid flowpath to analyze and detect radiation emitted by the fluid. A filter trap is in the fluid flowpath downstream from the gamma spectrometer and the mercury analyzer. The filter trap includes a valve assembly and at least a first and second filter for collecting gaseous constituents from the fluid. Each filter is removably connected to the first valve assembly. The valve assembly has a first configuration, in which the first filter is fluidly connected to the fluid flowpath and the second filter is fluidly isolated from the fluid flowpath, and a second configuration, in which the second filter is fluidly connected to the fluid flowpath and the first filter is fluidly isolated from the fluid flowpath.

Abstract: A system and method for non-destructive analysis of a structure. A probe acquires a transient time based reference signal and at least one test signal. The reference signal and test signals are transformed to the frequency domain. The frequency domain test signal can be normalized using the frequency domain reference signal. Parameters of interest are evaluated at each test location by iteratively determining estimated parameter values, generating an estimated frequency domain test signal using the estimated parameter values and determining the convergence between the estimated frequency domain test signal and the normalized frequency domain test signal. The parameters values are determined as the estimated parameter values resulting in a maximized convergence between the estimated signal and the normalized test signal. The parameter values can be used to visualize and model various features of the structure.

Abstract: A wireless parking meter with an improved antenna location is described. The antenna may be located within a covering protruding from the top of the parking meter, allowing radio frequency (RF) signals to be transmitted through a portion of the parking meter with high permittivity to the RF signals. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna may be located within the parking meter housing above a lower parking meter mechanism housing so that RF signals can be transmitted through the dome covering of the parking meter, which may have a high permittivity to the RF signals.