Abstract: A method of preheating a hybrid vehicle including storing reserve coolant in an insulated reservoir fluidly coupled to a coolant circuit of an engine of the hybrid vehicle; powering a fluid pump fluidly coupled to the coolant circuit with a power source external to the hybrid vehicle; pumping line coolant through the coolant circuit with the fluid pump; powering a heater thermally coupled to the coolant circuit with the power source external to the hybrid vehicle; heating the line coolant with the heater as the line coolant is pumped through the coolant circuit to increase a temperature of the line coolant; and mixing the line coolant with the reserve coolant to accelerate preheating of at least the engine of the hybrid vehicle.

Abstract: Provided is a damper structure for an enclosed derrick, which can constantly compensate and maintain a pressure of an inner space of an enclosed derrick structure. The damper structure for the enclosed derrick includes: one or more communication ducts installed in a side of the enclosed derrick; and one or more open/close dampers coupled to the communication ducts to open or close the communication ducts, whereby air is selectively supplied to or exhausted from the enclosed derrick.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for the processing of plastics, with a container with a rotatable mixing and/or comminution implement, where, in a side wall, an aperture is formed, and a conveyor being provided, with a screw rotating in a housing, where the imaginary continuation of the longitudinal axis of the conveyor in a direction opposite to the direction of conveying passes the axis of rotation, and wherein the radial distance (mb) between the implement and the inner surface of the side wall of the container is in the range from 15 mm to 120 mm, and complies with the following relationship: mb=k*DB, where DB is the internal diameter of the container in mm and k is a constant in the range from 0.006 to 0.16.

Abstract: A conductive polymer composition which can be homogeneously dissolved in a solvent and can form a smooth film. The conductive polymer composition is a conductive polymer composition comprising a polymer compound (A) and a ?-conjugated polymer (?), wherein the polymer compound (A) is a polymer compound obtained by polymerizing 10 to 50% by mol of a monomer (a-1) having a sulfonic acid group or a sulfonate group, 10 to 90% by mol of a monomer (a-2) having chelating ability and 0 to 70% by mol of other monomer (a-3), and the ?-conjugated polymer (?) is a ?-conjugated polymer obtained by polymerizing at least one monomer selected from monomers represented by the following formulas (I) to (III).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dynamic sealing system device for a submerged pump comprising at least one feed line running in towards the dynamic sealing system, with a first valve device arranged in the feed line and a second valve device arranged such that in an open position it opens a first bypass line that runs from a point on the feed line between the first valve device and the pump and a low-pressure source at the pump to reduce the pressure in a barrier fluid in the sealing system. The invention also comprises a method for reducing the barrier fluid pressure for a submerged pump.

Abstract: Provided is an arctic drill ship an arctic drill ship which includes a weather tight structure protecting a drill floor from air, and a side strake supporting the weather tight structure around a drilling work area. It is possible to economically and easily manufacture the weather tight structure which minimizes the influence of outside air on the drilling operation in the polar regions, and it is possible to efficiently support the hull longitudinal strength and the weather tight structure with the use of the side strake structure solely. Therefore, a structure which may cause a disturbance in the drilling work area is minimized, and it is unnecessary to install a separate structural reinforcement member for a drilling workspace in the polar regions. In addition, the drilling workspace in the polar regions can be effectively ensured, and a spatial limitation in an upper portion of a moonpool can be solved.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to umbilical buckling testing are described. For example, some embodiments may contain two damps, a plurality of test fittings, one or more pressure gages, a hydraulic cylinder, and a testing platform, and may be used for testing the umbilical buckling behavior and capacity of an umbilical testing sample.

Abstract: Provided is a fishing reel with a fishhook hanger. The fishing reel includes: a reel body with a reception part formed in the reel body; and a fishhook hanger which has a hanging part to which a fishhook is hung, and a connection part coupled to the reception part. The fishhook can be stably hung on the hanging part of the fishhook hanger so that the fishhook can be prevented from damaging the fishing reel or injuring a user, and handling of the fishing rod with the fishing reel can be facilitated. Particularly, the fishhook hanger is configured such that it can be retractably extracted from the reel body. Therefore, the fishhook hanger can be retracted into the reel body as needed while the fishing rod is used. Furthermore, the fishhook hanger can be easily extracted from and retracted into the reel body in a simple manner.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to catenary riser testing are described. For example, some embodiments may contain a ground platform, elevated deck, a catenary-shaped testing sample, a fixed clamp on one end of the testing sample and a rotatable clamp on the other end of the testing sample, and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders for controlling the vertical and horizontal positions and motions of the elevated deck and the positions and rotations of the rotatable clamp, for analyzing the characteristics of the testing sample, such as its touchdown point dynamic motions and stresses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing foreign material from an upwardly oriented surface of a body-in-white are provided. The apparatus includes a vacuum member mounted to a frame for removing foreign material from the associated upwardly oriented surface and a soft-material brush mounted to the frame rearward of the vacuum member as defined by the direction of forward travel of the body-in-white. The apparatus may also include a vertical adjustment device(s) configured to adjust and maintain vertical distance between the apparatus relative to the associated vehicle. Also disclosed herein is a method for removing foreign material from an upwardly oriented surface of a body-in-white that comprises bringing the apparatus defined herein in proximate contact with at least one surface of a body-in-white as it progresses down a vehicle assembly line.

Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a network communication switch that facilitates reliable communication of high priority traffic over lower priority traffic across all ingress and egress ports. The network communication switch may monitor the frame storage buffer regardless of egress port, and when the frame storage buffer reaches a predetermined level, the switch may discard lower priority frames from the most congested port. When the frame storage buffer reaches a second predetermined level, the switch may discard lower priority frames before they are stored according to egress port. The network communication switch may further monitor ingress frames for priority, and assign priority to frames according to pre-assigned priority, ingress port, and/or frame contents.

Abstract: A system, device, and methods for autonomous navigation using geographic feature-based localization. An example method includes identifying one or more geographic features based on information received from one or more sensors disposed on a vehicle as the vehicle traverses a route and associating one of a horizontal space and a vertical space with each of the one or more geographic features. The example method further includes comparing the one or more geographic features to a geographic feature map and generating a localized vehicle position based on the comparison between the one or more geographic features and the geographic feature map. Comparing the one or more geographic features to the geographic feature map can include applying weights to the one or more geographic features based in part on the space association for each of the one or more geographic features.

Abstract: A catalyst for F-T synthesis which exhibits high activity, long life, and high water resistance without deteriorating strength and attrition resistance is disclosed. A method for producing such a catalyst, a method for regenerating such a catalyst, and a method for producing a hydrocarbon by using such as catalyst are also disclosed. Specifically, a catalyst for producing a hydrocarbon from a syngas, wherein cobalt metal, or cobalt metal and cobalt oxides; and zirconium oxides are supported by a catalyst support mainly composed of silica, is disclosed. This catalyst is characterized in that the content of impurities of the catalyst 0.01 mass % to 0.15 mass %. Specifically, a method for producing such a catalyst, a method for regenerating such a catalyst, and a method for producing a hydrocarbon by using such a catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: Vehicle structures for dissipating energy associated with a collision are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a side support that extends between a front suspension mount and a rear suspension mount of the vehicle. The side support includes a targeted energy absorption portion that defines a high-strength region of the side support. The vehicle also includes a cab mounting bracket coupled to the side support and extending outward from the side support. The cab mounting bracket includes a rearward attachment position on the side support and the rearward attachment position of the cab mounting bracket is positioned proximate to the high-strength region of the side support. The vehicle further includes a wheel assembly that is coupled to the front suspension mount and is positioned forward of the cab mounting bracket in a vehicle longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An air valve connecting device includes a housing having an inlet mouth, a sliding member engaged in the housing and having a pathway for receiving the pressurized air from the inlet mouth, a rotary member rotatably engaged with the housing and having two or more compartments each for receiving a gasket and an inflation valve, the rotary member is rotatable relative to the housing for selectively aligning either of the compartments of the rotary member with the chamber of the housing and the sliding member, and a hand grip includes a cam member attached to the housing with a pivot shaft and engaged with the sliding member for forcing the sliding member to force the gaskets to engage with the inflation valves respectively.

Abstract: A powder supply device includes a controller configured to receive an output from a load cell and an output from a pressure indicator, wherein the controller obtains a powder weight or a rate of change in the powder weight in a feed tank on the basis of a value obtained by subtracting a value proportional to the output from the pressure indicator from the output from the load cell and controls the flow rate of the powder to be supplied to outside of the feed tank on the basis of the powder weight or the rate of change in powder weight in the state in which a closing valve is closed.

Abstract: With the invention, a method and device for explosive forming of work pieces, in which at least one work piece is arranged in at least one die and deformed by means of an explosive to be ignited, is to be improved, in that an ignition mechanism that is technically simple to handle, is produced with the shortest possible setup time, which permits the most precise possible ignition of the explosive with time-repeatable accuracy. This task is solved by a method and device, in which at least one work piece is arranged in at least one die and deformed by means of an explosive to be ignited, in which the explosive is ignited by means of induction.

Abstract: An ink fountain apparatus, method of method of adjusting printing characteristics in flexographic printing and a printing press system are disclosed. The apparatus may include a side plate, a roller disposed adjacent a first end of the plate, a back plate disposed adjacent a second opposing end of the side plate and a throttle disposed between the roller and the back plate. The throttle is mounted to the side plate and includes a back surface facing towards the back plate and a front surface facing towards the roller. The front surface includes a curved portion forming a tapering gap between the roller and the front surface of the throttle. A position controller is coupled to the throttle to selectively move the curved portion towards and away from the roller to adjust the volume of ink being transferred to the outer surface of the roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of gelatin and a cross-linking agent to provide a medical glue which forms a cross-linked gelatin gel in an area of application of the human or animal body. According to the invention, (i) the gelatin and the cross-linking agent are mixed with each other to form the cross-linking medical glue which is then administered to the area of application; or (ii) the gelatin and the cross-linking agent are made available in separate form and are administered, simultaneously or one after the other, to the area of application while forming the cross-linking medical glue.