Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for an air filter cleaning wand for flushing contaminants from an intake air filter of an automobile engine. The air filter cleaning wand comprises a proximal flange, a conduit, and a distal end portion. The proximal flange is configured to receive a nozzle of a water hose. An interior of the conduit is in fluid communication with the proximal flange. The distal end portion comprises a plurality of longitudinally aligned vents in fluid communication with the interior of the conduit. Upon passing water through the water hose and into the conduit, pressurized water streams exit the vents along the distal end portion so as to flush contaminants from the air filter. The air filter cleaning wand advantageously is comprised of a material which is sufficiently durable and temperature resistant to retain its configuration during operation when coupled to pressurized water sources.

Abstract: A method of assembling a substrate with a part is provided. The method includes a step of structuring the substrate by a pulsed laser. In one example, the substrate is metallic and the part is polymer-based. The structuring step engraves grooves into the substrate in a pattern determined by the relative motion of the beam and the substrate. The pattern is configured to provide improved adhesion between the structured substrate and a part after assembling the substrate and the part by laser welding. The method of assembling may further include a pre-treatment step of the structured surface to allow improve laser absorption during the welding assembling.

Abstract: Detection of which generators are connected using a common, isolated sub-grid using information from intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) in communication with each generator is disclosed herein. Each IED receives rotor position information from a rotor position detection device of the generator. Each IED may then calculate rotor speed, information of the generator and transmit such information to a central IED. The central IED uses the rotor speed information to determine which generators are connected to a common, isolated sub-grid. The central IED may further use rotor position, rotor speed, and rate-of-change-of-speed information either calculated at the central IED or transmitted from the IEDs.

Abstract: A heavy cabling counterbalance device includes a base portion having a plurality of legs where a battery charger having a charging cable is configured on the base portion. A charging stand having a charging arm and counterweight operates where the charging arm can be easily raised or lowered about a center of gravity such that the charging cable can be connected to a forklift positioned adjacent the base portion for charging its battery.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for intelligently detecting pipeline small leaks and thefts. In the Energy Flow Line Method, measured changes in flow data at both ends of the pipeline are monitored and analyzed to detect a leak or a theft. The energy wave front speed and the unsteady flow mathematical model of the subject pipeline is used to calculate leak details. In the Filtered Pressure Waves Method, the measured pressure data at both ends of the pipeline is monitored and analyzed. Pressure waves that do not originate at the ends of the pipeline are selected. Two travelling time windows are applied to those candidates, and the candidates are processed within each window. Leaks, thefts and their details are obtained if the detected leak locations meet the criteria. The Enhanced Filtered Pressure Waves Method, provides the leaked amount and verifies the leak and the leak location to avoid false alarms.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for selectively synchronizing one or more power conversion units of one or more distributed energy resources with a common time source when in an islanded state and with a measured phase angle of a grid when in a grid-connected state. In various embodiments, detecting whether the distributed energy resource is in a grid-connected state or an islanded state comprises microprocessor based analysis of measurement and monitoring data collected by intelligent electronic devices associated with the grid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to detection of faults in an electric power system. In one embodiment, a time-domain traveling wave differential subsystem is configured to determine at a first terminal a first index between an arrival maximum of a traveling wave generated by a fault at the first terminal and an exit maximum of the traveling wave. The traveling wave subsystem also determines a second index between an arrival maximum of the traveling wave at the second terminal and an exit maximum of the traveling wave. An operating quantity and a restraint quantity may be determined based on a magnitude of the representations of electrical conditions in the first index and the second index. A fault may be declared based on a comparison of the operating quantity and the restraint quantity. A protective action subsystem may be configured to implement a protective action based on the declaration of the fault.

Abstract: A chemical injection mandrel for injecting chemicals into a Lower Tertiary well includes a chemical injector disposed on an exterior surface of a mandrel. The chemical injection mandrel connects to the production tubing such that the chemical injector portion of the chemical injection mandrel is disposed in the annulus between the production tubing and wellbore at or near the bottom of the hole. A floating production storage and offloading unit on the surface of the water may include a chemical injection pump that injects chemicals downhole via a chemical fluid line that runs in the annulus between the production tubing and the wellbore. The chemical fluid line connects to the chemical injector portion of the chemical injection mandrel and delivers chemicals to the interior passageway of the mandrel of the chemical injection mandrel where the chemicals mix with the production flow directed to the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for estimating a period and frequency of a waveform. In one embodiment, a system may comprise an input configured to receive a representation of the input waveform. A period determination subsystem may perform an iterative process to determine the variable period of the input waveform. The iterative process may comprise selection of an estimated window length, determination of an autocorrelation value based on the estimated window length, determination of an adjustment value to the window length to identify a maximum of the autocorrelation value; and determination of the variable period based on the window length associated with the maximum of the autocorrelation value. The period determination subsystem may perform the iterative process to track changes in the variable period of the input waveform. A control action subsystem may implement a control action based on the variable period of the input waveform.

Abstract: A rounding device and method of rounding that provides improved rounding of semi solid material portions by introducing changes or variations in the contours or profiles of rounding bars to produce one or more changes in the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion along the working length of the one or more contoured rounding bars and round the surfaces of the semi solid material portion with greater uniformity and consistency. By changing the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion in the working length of the variable contour rounding bar one can improve the rounding and avoid blemishes and deformities that occur to the surface of the semi solid material portion in existing devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protection layer which is used as anticorrosion layer on corrosion-prone substrates, especially corroding metals, alloys and other materials, especially on steel, and as a basecoat for the application of further porous layer systems or as a topcoat, and to the process for production thereof and to use on a coated substrate for protection against corrosion and specifically for use against microbially induced corrosion (MIC), wherein the anticorrosion layer comprises a high-density protection layer on a corrosion-prone substrate, containing pre-condensed layer-forming alkoxysilane precursors, wherein the molecules of the pre-condensed layer-forming alkoxysilane precursors are formed from monomer units selected from the group of the triethoxysilane precursors, wherein the molecules of the pre-condensed layer-forming alkoxysilane precursors are crosslinked with one another, and wherein the high-density protection layer has a layer thickness of at least 50 ?m.

Abstract: A floating downwind turbine comprising: a floating foundation; a tower which is rotationally fixed on the floating foundation; an energy conversion unit which is mounted on the tower, comprises a rotor and is rotationally fixedly connected to the tower; and at least one tensioning element which connects the tower or the energy conversion unit to the foundation in the upwind direction, the foundation having three legs, one leg of which is longer than the other two legs, the legs being interconnected in a Y shape and the tower, being arranged on the foundation in the connecting region of the legs, and the longest leg extending in the upwind direction and being connected to the tower or to the energy conversion unit by the tensioning element.

Abstract: A shooting simulation system and method for training personnel in targeting visual and non-line-of-sight targets. The firearm simulation system has a plurality of participants each having a firearm and each being equipped to transmit their location to a remote computer server for storage and use with other transmitted data to determine which participant was a Shooter and which participant was the Shooter's target and for determining a simulated hit or miss of the target and assessing the simulated damage to the target.

Abstract: A high flow downhole lock assembly includes a mandrel with a plurality of external collet finger detents disposed about an exterior surface and an unobstructed inner diameter configured for flow, an external collet with a plurality of collet fingers disposed about an interior surface, and a dog housing with a plurality of extendable retaining dogs. When transitioning to a set configuration, a portion of the mandrel travels within the external collet, the plurality of collet fingers come to rest in one or more of the external collet finger detents, and the plurality of extendable retaining dogs are extended.

Abstract: A panel assembly can include a first panel having a peripheral side located between an upper and a lower surface of the first panel and a first opening. The panel assembly can also include a second panel having a second opening. An elongated insert can be coupled to the first panel, the elongated insert having a coupling side, where the first opening of the first panel can be sized and shaped to coupleably receive the elongated insert such that the coupling side is positioned proximal to the peripheral side. The panel assembly can also include a fastening insert, where the second opening of the second panel can be sized and shaped to receive the fastening insert. A fastener can be received by the fastening insert and the elongated insert, the fastener coupling the first panel to the second panel via the fastening insert and the elongated insert. Related methods for assembling the panel assembly are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a self-extending/retracting gate for a platform. In one embodiment, safety gate includes a housing that extends laterally from a back support attached to the platform. The gate includes a sliding member that is operable to retract at least partially into the housing toward the back support to substantially conceal the sliding member within the housing and provide an opening beyond the housing for users to access the platform and to extend from an opening of the housing away from the back support to block access to the platform while the housing supports the sliding member. The gate includes a gate movement assembly within the housing between a rear portion of the sliding member and the back support. The gate movement assembly is operable to cause the sliding member to extend from the housing and retract into the housing according to a height of the platform.

Abstract: A vehicle service system configured to acquire images of a three-dimensional region of a vehicle wheel assembly tire tread surface. The vehicle service system is configured to process the acquired images to produce a collection of data points corresponding to the spatial position of surface points in the region from which tire tread wear characteristics are identified. The acquired images are further utilized to provide both a graphical and a numerical display to an operator, with the numerical display linked to specifically annotated or indexed points or windows within the graphical display, thereby enabling an operator to quickly identify specific focus points or regions on the tire surface which have been measured at the numerically identified tread depths.

Abstract: A fluid-moving rotary device that has a drive mechanism whose rotational axis is aligned with a rotational axis of a driven component and another component that rotates about an axis offset from rotational axis of the driven component. The drive mechanism is located on a fluid inlet side of the components and is cooled by the fluid entering the device.