Abstract: A multi-disc brake includes an annular brake coil holder with a wound brake coil, an armature plate with a disc support to which a multiplicity of armature plate discs is fastened. A compression spring brings about a linear spacing of the brake coil holder from the armature plate made of a ferromagnetic material in a braking position of the multi-disc brake and, when current is applied to the brake coil, a released position of the multi-disc brake can be created by attracting the armature plate in the direction of the brake coil holder. The braking effect results from the interaction of the armature plate discs with drive shaft discs on a drive shaft. The brake coil holder area of the brake coil holder and the cross-sectional area of the brake coil are substantially of rectangular single-legged design, and when installing the multi-disc brake, part of the wall of the drive support surrounds the brake coil on two sides and the brake coil holder on one side.

Abstract: A system and method for installing a section of heat shrink tubing on a wire is disclosed. The system includes an infeed guide that receives the continuous length of tubing and initially opens the tubing from a compressed condition. The continuous length of tubing is received in a cutting guide and cut to a desired length. After cutting, a pair of spaced support jaws move together to open the cut section of tubing. A funnel having a first opening and a second opening is moved into engagement with the section of tubing such that the second opening is received within the section of tubing. A wire is inserted into the funnel which guides the wire into the cut section of tubing. Once the wire is received within the cut section of tubing, the funnel and support jaws are removed and the wire is removed with the section of support tubing installed thereon.

Abstract: A radiation detector module including a scintillator element configured to generate optical signals in response to incident radiation. A photodetector is coupled to at least a first surface of the scintillator element, the photodetector configured to convert the optical signals into output characterizing the radiation. An acoustic array is coupled to at least a second surface of the scintillator element, the acoustic array configured to convert acoustic signals generated in the scintillator element into output characterizing acoustic energy deposited therein.

Abstract: A method for forming a multilayer thin film having a crystalline metal oxide layer, the method including: encapsulating at least one encapsulated layer of the multilayer thin film in a wet chemical composition by wet chemical methods; and crystallizing the wet chemical composition by microwave hydrothermal treatment to form a crystalline metal oxide layer encapsulating the at least one encapsulated layer of the multilayer thin film.

Abstract: A saw blade stabilizer is provided. The saw blade stabilizer includes a housing and a shaft at least partially within a cavity of the housing. A piston is connected to one end of the shaft. A mechanical wedge is connected to a second end of the shaft in the housing. A stabilizer contact element slideably receives a portion of the mechanical wedge. Movement of the piston slides the portion of the mechanical wedge within the stabilizer contact element and moves the stabilizer contact element in a first direction not in line with the movement of the piston.

Abstract: A method for allocating a service request from a mobile object is provided. The method includes receiving the service request and a route of the mobile object, determining estimated arrival times of the mobile object in a plurality of regions based on the route, the plurality of regions being associated with a plurality of regional servers, respectively, determining a region among the plurality of regions based on the estimated arrival times of the mobile object in the plurality of regions and an estimated time for fulfilling the service request, and transmitting the service request to a regional server corresponding to the determined region.

Abstract: For method of utilizing a nondestructive evaluation method to inspect a steel material comprising at least one hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or at least one nonhysteretic material to identify one or more material conditions and/or one or more inhomogeneities in steel material, the method can comprise the steps of: interrogating the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material with an input time varying magnetic field; scanning the steel material and detecting a magnetic response and/or acoustic response over time from the hysteretic ferromagnetic material and/or the nonhysteretic material; determining a time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response; and correlating the time dependent nonlinear characteristic of the received magnetic response and/or acoustic response to the one or more material conditions and/or one or more inhomogeneities in steel material.

Abstract: A device and method in a vehicle control unit for providing electronic commerce transaction authentication are provided. Upon receiving an electronic commerce transaction request relating to a transaction source, the vehicle control unit authenticates the transaction source against a vehicle travel route parameter by comparing the source location data with the vehicle travel route parameter. When the source location data compares favorably with the vehicle travel route parameter, an electronic commerce authentication is generated in response to the request, and transmitted.

Abstract: A multilayer composite bonding material for transient liquid phase bonding a semiconductor device to a metal substrate includes thermal stress compensation layers sandwiched between a pair of bonding layers. The thermal stress compensation layers may include a core layer with a first stiffness sandwiched between a pair of outer layers with a second stiffness that is different than the first stiffness such that a graded stiffness extends across a thickness of the thermal stress compensation layers. The thermal stress compensation layers have a melting point above a sintering temperature and the bonding layers have a melting point below the sintering temperature. The graded stiffness across the thickness of the thermal stress compensation layers compensates for thermal contraction mismatch between the semiconductor device and the metal substrate during cooling from the sintering temperature to ambient temperature.

Abstract: A method consistent with the present disclosure may include: (a) equalizing pressure between a nozzle inner void and a receptacle main inner void by pressing a nozzle check against a receptacle check to open the nozzle check and the receptacle check; (b) extending the nozzle into the receptacle such that a receptacle main body surrounds at least a portion of the nozzle probe; (c) flowing fluid from the nozzle inner void into the receptacle main inner void.

Abstract: Viscous aqueous injections fluids including polymers having hydrophilic moieties and hydrophobic groups and at least one of crude oil emulsions and amphiphilic diblock copolymers are provided herein. Methods of making the aqueous injection fluids, and methods of using the aqueous injection fluids for oil recovery are also provided.

Abstract: A first device in a network issues a proof-of-work challenge to a second device in the network. The second device computes a cryptographic function result to satisfy a criterion indicated in the challenge. The second device returns a challenge response comprising inputs to the cryptographic function that the second device used to compute the cryptographic function result satisfying the criterion. The first device, upon receiving the challenge response, verifies that the inputs to the cryptographic function yield a result satisfying the criterion. Responsive to verifying the challenge response, the first device updates a blockchain based upon the challenge response.

Abstract: A hybrid switched capacitor power converter for high-power applications is provided. The converter has a transistor-switched input-stage boost converter followed by a capacitor-and-diode ladder circuit. The converter is adapted to produce an output voltage of at least 5 kV at a power level of at least 0.5 kW. The ladder circuit includes one or more multi-stage rails.

Abstract: A method for selective extraction of naphthenic acids from an acidic crude oil, including: providing an acidic crude oil including naphthenic acids and having a total acid number (TAN) greater than 0.4; mixing the acidic crude oil with a first aqueous solution including water and a weak base to extract a portion of naphthenic acids from the acidic crude oil thereby creating a second aqueous solution containing a mixture of the portion of naphthenic acids, the water and the weak base in an emulsion; separating the second aqueous solution from the emulsion; wherein the second aqueous solution contains an additional portion of the acidic crude oil; adding a salt to the second aqueous solution, thereby causing the additional portion of the acidic crude oil to separate from the second aqueous solution; removing the additional portion of the acidic crude oil from the second aqueous solution; and extracting the portion of the naphthenic acids from the second aqueous solution.

Abstract: A crimping device includes a hammer and a crimp socket that includes an aperture, a socket face, and a sloped key that projects radially into the crimp socket and extends at least a portion of the depth of the aperture. A height of the radial projection of the sloped key increases along a depth of the aperture.

Abstract: A barrier film substrate includes a first layer including a polymer and a transition metal having chemical sequestering properties such that, upon exposure of the barrier film substrate to one or more chemical vapors, a reaction occurs between the transition metal and the one or more chemical vapors. A second layer is aligned with the first layer. The second layer includes a polymer having impeding properties such that, upon the exposure of the barrier film substrate to the one or more of the chemical vapors, the second layer substantially blocks passage of the one or more of the chemical vapors through the barrier film substrate. One or more additional layers is aligned with at least one of the first layer or the second layer to provide structural support for the first layer and the second layer.

Abstract: Viscous aqueous injections fluids including polymers having hydrophilic moieties and hydrophobic groups and at least one of crude oil emulsions and amphiphilic diblock copolymers are provided herein. Methods of making the aqueous injection fluids, and methods of using the aqueous injection fluids for oil recovery are also provided.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments for determining whether a vehicle is capable of navigating an intersection in an autonomous driving mode are disclosed. One embodiment detects that a vehicle traveling on a first roadway is approaching an intersection of the first roadway with a second roadway; detects, during one or more layer drives, one or more moving objects traveling on the second roadway; estimates the profile of each of one or more sensor obstructions situated in a non-roadway region abutting the intersection based on the detected one or more moving objects; combines, for each sensor obstruction, the profile estimates obtained from one or more layer drives to produce a composite estimate of the profile of that sensor obstruction; and determines, based at least in part on one or more composite profile estimates, whether navigating the intersection in an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle is achievable.

Abstract: Oxygenases and methods of biologically upgrading hydrocarbon streams, such as crude oil, using oxygenases are provided herein. The oxygenases can be used to remove impurities such as metals, heteroatoms, or asphaltenes from a hydrocarbon stream. In some cases, the oxygenases can be chemically or genetically modified and can be used in different locations such as petroleum wells, pipes, reservoirs, tanks and/or reactors.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for an air cleaner to be mounted onto an air inlet of an internal combustion engine. The air cleaner comprises an air filter that includes a filter medium disposed between a curved base and a cover. The curved base provides an interface between the air filter and the air inlet, and comprises a shape that provides clearance between the curved base and an electric choke installed onto a carburetor comprising the air inlet. The cover secures the air filter and the curved base to the air inlet such that an airstream is drawn through the filter medium and is conducted into the air inlet. A raised portion of the cover is configured to cooperate with the curved base to ensure a desired volume of the airstream is available to the air inlet at substantially all engine speeds.