Abstract: An improved boiler apparatus having a removably couplable heating element that can have resistive heating elements are provided with fixed resistances that can be rewired to allow variable wattage usage of the heating element. Some heating element assemblies can include more than one heating coils or heating element. The heating elements can be wired in series, or parallel thereby creating a low watt density but high wattage heater.

Abstract: Bismuth-based alloys comprising at least about 50% by weight bismuth, about 30 to about 35% by weight tin, and about 1.8 to about 2.8% by weight antimony; and an alloy of bismuth and silver comprising about 90 to about 97% by weight bismuth and about 3 to about 9% by weight silver. A plug comprising an alloy of bismuth, tin, and antimony; and a plug comprising an alloy of bismuth and silver. A method of using a plug made from a bismuth-based alloy to seal a well, wherein a length of a well is filled with the molten alloy and the molten alloy is allowed to solidify.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device includes an artificial muscle, a first plate coupled to a second plate, and a shape memory alloy wire. The artificial muscle includes a housing, a first electrode and a second electrode, and a dielectric fluid. The housing includes a first film layer, a second film layer, an electrode region, and an expandable fluid region. The first electrode and the second electrode are each disposed in the electrode region of the housing. The dielectric fluid is disposed within the housing. The first plate and the second plate are positioned within the housing, the first plate positioned between the first film layer and the first electrode, and the second plate positioned between the second film layer and the second electrode. The shape memory alloy wire extends from the first plate to the second plate and through the dielectric fluid.

Abstract: An auto injector is provided by which a fixed dose of a medicament can be injected as self-treatment, and by which needle exposure to an accessible position, injection of the medicament and retraction of the needle to an inaccessible position is automatically performed as a continuous sequence, after the auto injector is triggered. Solutions to improve the functionality of the retraction of the needle and the general experience of the use, are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle bumper beam for attachment to a vehicle body, which bumper beam is extending generally horizontally when attached to a vehicle body, said bumper beam having a generally U-shaped section, providing a central portion and side walls; wherein at least one local area of at least one side wall is provided with reduced tensile strength in comparison to major portions of said bumper beam, and wherein said at least one local area with reduced tensile strength is placed adjacent attachment points for the bumper beam to the vehicle body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for loading and transporting all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and utility terrain vehicles (UTV). In examples, a vehicle, which may include but is not limited to a pickup, car/truck with a flatbed, or other vehicle such as a van having a cargo space, may provide for loading and transporting an ATV or a UTV. A rail assembly may be used to load an ATV/UTV and place the ATV/UTV into the space of the pickup truck bed. In further accordance with examples, the rail assembly may include a plurality of ramps configured to accommodate one or more wheels or tires of the ATV/UTV.

Abstract: An electrolytic dye reduction method comprises preparing a catholyte by dispersing a dye in a leucodye comprising electrolyte. In a preferred method the leucodye like leucoindigo is the sole dispersing aid.

Abstract: An inductively heated mold system enables rapid heating of the mold and rapid cooling to reduce thermal cycling times by employing an inductive coil in a heater module that inductively heats a ferromagnetic layer configured on the mold body, such as around the outside perimeter of the mold body. A cooling channel may be configured between the inductive coil and the ferromagnetic layer on the mold body to allow a fluid to be passed between the mold body and the heater module to rapidly cool the mold body for removal of the molded part. A plurality of heater modules may be employed that can be coupled together such that the cooling fluid passes through the coupled cooling channels from one module to a second module. In this way heater modules can be combined to provide an inductively heated mold system for a variety of mold body sizes, or lengths.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a high-strength concrete and a preparation method thereof. The high-strength concrete includes lignin, recycled fine powder, cement, water, sand, gravels and a water reducing agent. The recycled fine powder is recycled fine powder of discarded concrete, and is prepared by separating solid waste of discarded buildings, then performing impurity removal and crushing processing, and grinding same by a ball mill into dust with a particle size of less than 0.16 mm. The lignin is discarded wood lignin, which is prepared by crushing the wood, stirring and extracting a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution with a mass concentration of 5% for 1 to 2 hours at the temperature of 80 DEG C. to obtain a black lignin alkali solution, adding a hydrochloric acid solution with a mass concentration of 30% into the alkali solution for stirring, and making the pH reduced to 7.0 for standing and layering.

Abstract: An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.

Abstract: A system, method and storage medium for providing an emergency vehicle (EV) alert includes generating a geofence by varying a size or shape of the geofence according to a working mode of an EV and transmitting the generated geofence to another vehicle.

Abstract: A method of detecting and mitigating flow instabilities, such as slugging, in hydrocarbon production wells. Real-time production data pertaining to each well is are retrieved. Using the production data, patterns of flow instability are identified therein. A numerical model of transient and thermal multiphase flow in each well is generated. Well test data is are retrieved from a database. The numerical model is calibrated using the well test data. Using the calibrated numerical model, a parametric study is performed to determine how input parameters affect at least one of stability and performance of the wells. Results of the parametric study are queried to determine a type of flow instability and to determine operating conditions to improve performance of the wells. An advisory is provided to a user to change operating conditions of one or more of the wells, to improve stability and/or performance of one or more of the wells.

Abstract: There are described methods, systems, and computer-readable media for detecting events in a conduit. Multiple lengths of optical fiber positioned alongside a conduit are used to detect a signal. For each length of optical fiber, interferometric data is obtained from the detected signal. The interferometric data obtained for one length of optical fiber is compared to the interferometric data obtained for one or more other lengths of optical fiber. Based on the comparison, it is determined whether the signal originated from the conduit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reinforcing structure and method for reinforcing valve towers, mainly aiming at valve towers with three or more layers, wherein the four corners of the side face of each layer of a valve section of the valve tower are provided with connecting flanges, and connecting rods are used for connecting the corresponding connecting flanges of adjacent valve towers of the same bridge arm to realize lateral reinforcing. The connection modes of lateral reinforcing mainly include horizontal connection, interleaving connection and cross-layer connection. The invention provides various reinforcing solutions for flexible DC valve towers in the environment of long-term turbulence and strong vibrations, the reinforcing structure is simple and effective, high in reliability and operability, and easy to disassemble, and the stability and safety of the valve towers during transportation and operation are enhanced.

Abstract: A method for increasing a speed and efficiency of a computer when performing machine learning using spiking neural networks. The method includes computer-implemented operations; that is, operations that are solely executed on a computer. The method includes receiving, in a spiking neural network, a plurality of input values upon which a machine learning algorithm is based. The method also includes correlating, for each input value, a corresponding response speed of a corresponding neuron to a corresponding equivalence relationship between the input value to a corresponding latency of the corresponding neuron. Neurons that trigger faster than other neurons represent close relationships between input values and neuron latencies. Latencies of the neurons represent data points used in performing the machine learning. A plurality of equivalence relationships are formed as a result of correlating. The method includes performing the machine learning using the plurality of equivalence relationships.

Abstract: A semiconductor device package includes a substrate, a reflector, a radiator and a first director. The reflector is disposed on a surface of the substrate. The radiator is disposed over the reflector. The first director is disposed over the radiator. The reflector, the radiator and the first director have different elevations with respect to the surface of the substrate. The radiator and the first director define an antenna.

Abstract: Solar trackers that may be advantageously employed on sloped and/or variable terrain to rotate solar panels to track motion of the sun across the sky include bearing assemblies and other mechanical features configured to address mechanical challenges posed by the sloped and/or variable terrain that might otherwise prevent or complicate use of solar trackers on such terrain.

Abstract: A series tee splitter comprises a primary electromagnetic transmission line and a secondary electromagnetic transmission line that is placed in a series path with the primary electromagnetic transmission line, wherein a load is attached to the end of the secondary electromagnetic transmission line and a network analyzer is connected to opposite ends of the primary electromagnetic transmission line to measure a load impedance. This configuration increases the high impedance measurement limit of the network analyzer normally seen for reflection measurements. The series tee splitter can be electrically small to provide broadband impedance information.

Abstract: A semiconductor package structure is provided. The semiconductor package structure includes a carrier, a first electronic component, a second electronic component, a third electronic component, a fourth electronic component, and a connection element. The first electronic component is disposed over a surface of the carrier. The second electronic component is disposed over the first electronic component. The third electronic component is spaced apart from the first electronic component and disposed over the surface of the carrier. The fourth electronic component is disposed over the third electronic component. The connection element is electrically connecting the second electronic component to the fourth electronic component.