Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices, systems, and methods for cooling and/or heating a medium as well as cooling and/or heating an environment containing the medium. More specifically, at least one embodiment includes a heat pump that may heat and/or cool a medium and, in some instances, may transfer heat from one location to another location.

Abstract: The present application provides a method for treating a black and odorous water body comprising the following steps: pre-treating the black and odorous water body; passing the pre-treated water body through a biomimetic intestine tubular purification system which imitates a digestion of small intestine; passing the tubular purification system-treated water body into a microbial fuel cell which imitates a digestion of large intestine to treat the water body; and pumping the microbial fuel cell-treated water body into an upward flow inclined tube sedimentation tank to treat the water body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in situ testing system, which includes a wear tester and an enclosure. The wear tester is configured to apply a normal load, by way of a tip, to a surface of the test sample. Use of an enclosure allows such wear testing to be conducted in a controlled environment.

Abstract: Materials and structures for absorbing energy. The materials and structures are well suited for arresting aircraft and other vehicles, although their purposes need not be so limited. Also detailed are packaging and other solutions for maintaining system integrity, especially (but not exclusively) when foam glass or other aggregate is employed and stabilizing the location of the aggregate is desired.

Abstract: A planetary carrier subassembly for a transmission is provided that is sintered using braze preforms. The carrier subassembly may include a powder metal carrier member having a plurality of carrier legs extending a distance therefrom, and a powder metal cover member having a plurality of cover legs extending a distance therefrom. The carrier member and cover member are positioned such that respective ends of the carrier legs and ends of the cover legs are aligned with one another. The subassembly is provided with at least one braze preform including a braze material and a sacrificial binder, such as a wax. The braze preform is placed between a respective pair of the aligned carrier legs and the cover legs. The braze preform is provided with a geometry configured to direct a flow of braze material during a subsequent sintering process.

Abstract: A minicomputer has a processor and a display unit and a communication unit and a haptic operating device. The haptic operating device has a rotatable rotating unit with a rotational resistance which can be changed by way of a control device. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit and a menu item is selected by rotating the rotating unit. A rotational resistance of the rotating unit is dynamically changed during a rotation of the rotating unit and the rotating unit is latched at a plurality of haptically perceptible latching points during the rotation of the rotating unit.

Abstract: A split idle station assembly, a transfer press assembly including a split idle station assembly and a method of operating an idle station for a transfer press assembly. The split idle station includes numerous workpiece mounting brackets that are insertable into corresponding parts of a multi-component movable base assembly such that upon moving from a split configuration into a support configuration, a locking mechanism cooperates with base assembly parts and mounting brackets to form a locking interference fit or engagement for each mounting bracket in order to securely support a workpiece on the brackets. Likewise, the cooperative movement of the first and second base assembly sections away from one another causes a release the interference fit from the notch to effect disengagement of the locking mechanism. The construction of the locking mechanism is such that both the engagement and disengagement may be performed as part of a one-handed operation.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to a transistor having a variable-conductance channel with a non-volatile tunable conductance are described herein. The transistor comprises source and drain electrodes separated by a conducting channel layer. The conducting channel layer is separated from an electrochemical gate (ECG) layer by an electrolyte layer that prevents migration of electrons between the channel and the ECG but allows ion migration. When a voltage is applied between the channel and the ECG, electrons flow from one to the other, which causes a migration of ions from the channel to the ECG or vice versa. As ions move into or out of the channel layer, the conductance of the channel changes. When the voltage is removed, the channel maintains its conductance state.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle door including a door body portion, a door frame portion and a door window that is retractable from the door frame portion and extendable into the door frame portion. The door frame portion includes an upper portion including a glass run channel that receives an upper edge of the door window with the door window in a closed configuration. A glass run sealing member is located in the glass run channel. The glass run sealing member includes an exterior side including an interior face that faces toward the glass run channel. The glass run sealing member includes a hinged sealing projection structure including an inboard sealing member that extends from the interior face into the glass run channel and an inboard sealing sub-member connected to the inboard sealing member. The inboard sealing sub-member rotates into contact with an exterior side of the door window as the inboard sealing member moves with an upper edge of the door window as the door window enters the glass run channel.

Abstract: A sound baffle device for use with an acoustic sensor deployed in a housing by a deployment line comprises a radially extending baffle plate and an affixing mechanism for affixing the baffle plate to the deployment line. The baffle plate is configured to reduce acoustic transmission between a first zone of the housing on one side of the baffle plate and a second zone of the housing on an opposite side of the baffle plate.

Abstract: A ferroelectric opening switch is enabled by controlled polarization switching via nucleation in a ferroelectric material, such as BaTiO3, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, LiNbO3, LiTaO3, or variants thereof. For example, nucleation sites can be provided by mechanical seeding, grain boundaries, or optical illumination. The invention can be used as an opening switch in large scale pulsed-power systems. However, the switch can also be used in compact pulsed-power systems (e.g., as drivers for high power microwave systems), as passive fault limiters for high voltage dc (HVDC) systems, and/or in other high power applications.

Abstract: A high-damping rubber isolation bearing, an intelligent bearing and a bearing monitoring system are disclosed. The high-damping rubber isolation bearing comprises a top bearing plate, a bottom bearing plate, a high-damping rubber bearing body and a base plate, wherein at least one pressure sensing unit is arranged between the top bearing plate and the base plate, or between the bottom bearing plate and the base plate. The intelligent bearing includes a data acquisition unit, a data output unit and the high-damping rubber isolation bearing. The data acquisition unit transmits the bearing pressure measured by the at least one pressure sensing unit to the data output unit. The bearing monitoring system includes a data acquisition unit, a data output unit, a monitoring center and the high-damping rubber isolation bearing.

Abstract: A connection device for connecting a multicore branch line to a flat cable has a connection device housing that allows the flat cable to pass through, and penetration contacts for contacting the flat cable without stripping of the insulation. The penetration contacts are situated in the connection device housing. The connection device also has an electrical disconnection point between the branch line and the flat cable, and at least one seal in the area of at least one opening of the connection device housing for protection from penetration of dust and/or water. The connection device housing is made, at least partially, of plastic, and on its outer side or inner side is coated with a diffusion barrier layer, wherein the diffusion barrier layer includes one or more layers, one of which is a metallic layer.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for an ice-making machine comprises a generally cylindrical, tubular body defining a generally cylindrical, internal heat exchange surface, and at least one refrigerant circuit comprising at least one refrigerant passage disposed about the outer surface of the tubular body, at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit being brazed to the outer surface of the tubular body.

Abstract: An adjustable airbag system for a vehicle. The system includes an airbag assembly having an inflatable airbag within a housing, and an airbag housing orientation mechanism operatively coupled to the airbag housing. The airbag housing orientation mechanism is structured to enable control of an orientation of the airbag housing so as to enable deployment of the airbag to cushion an occupant positioned in either one of a driver side or a front passenger side of the vehicle.

Abstract: Regenerative burner for non-symmetrical combustion and a method of firing the burner. The burner includes a burner housing enclosing a burner plenum; a fuel conduit extending longitudinally within the housing and positioned coaxial with a line spaced from a central axis of the burner, with the fuel conduit defining a fuel exit opening; and a baffle positioned at least partially around the fuel conduit and defining an air conduit extending into the housing and defining an air opening on an opposite side of the burner central axis from the fuel exit opening. The baffle also defines a cavity adjacent the fuel exit opening and in communication with the fuel conduit through the fuel exit opening. The sidewall of the cavity converges from a central axis of the fuel conduit to provide further jet penetration into the furnace and achieve greater levels of products of combustion entrainment prior to combustion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thick material pump having a first delivery cylinder, a second delivery cylinder and an additional cylinder. The additional cylinder serves for bridging a transition between the first delivery cylinder and the second delivery cylinder. The thick material pump comprises a movable tube portion which forms a connection between the first delivery cylinder and an outlet of the thick material pump in a first state and which forms a connection between the second delivery cylinder and the outlet of the thick material pump in a second state. The movable tube portion comprises a switchable closure which is arranged between an inlet end of the movable tube portion and the additional cylinder. The thick material pump according to the invention makes it possible for a uniform material flow to be delivered in the direction of the pump outlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides for novel protic ionic liquids (PIL) or phosphate-based ionic liquid (PBIL) useful for lignocellulosic processing described herein. The novel protic ionic liquids are capable of pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass over a wide range of pH.

Abstract: A semiconductor package may include a substrate; a microelectromechanical device disposed on the substrate; an interconnection structure connecting the substrate to the microelectromechanical device; and a metallic sealing structure surrounding the interconnection structure.