Abstract: A pipe handling apparatus has a boom pivotally movable between a first position and a second position, a riser assembly pivotally connected to the boom, an arm pivotally connected at one end to the first portion of the riser assembly and extending outwardly therefrom, a gripper affixed to an opposite end of the arm suitable for gripping a diameter of the pipe, a link pivotally connected to the riser assembly and pivotable so as to move relative to the movement of the boom between the first and second positions, and a brace having a one end pivotally connected to the boom and an opposite end pivotally connected to the arm between the ends of the arm. The riser assembly has a first portion extending outwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the second portion.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a rapid-connect coupler including a coupler body configured to convey a fluid; a coupling head at a first end of and communicating with the coupler body, the coupling head configured to transition between a coupled configuration and a de-coupled configuration. The coupler may further include a stop apparatus configured to allow the coupling head to transition from the de-coupled configuration to the coupled configuration without obstruction, and the stop apparatus may be configured to provide a hard-stop as the coupling head transitions from the coupled configuration to the de-coupled configuration.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a semiconductor bonding structure and process and a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor bonding structure includes a first pillar, a first interface, an intermediate area, a second interface and a second pillar in sequence. The first pillar, the second pillar and the intermediate area include a first metal. The first interface and the second interface include the first metal and an oxide of a second metal. The content percentage of the first metal in the first interface and the second interface is less than that of the first metal in the intermediate area.

Abstract: A method of user-selecting a custom wiping rate using a windshield wiper control system is provided. The method includes activating a wiper motor connected to a windshield wiper by moving control stalk to a first switching position providing the windshield wiper with a first wiping rate. The control stalk is moved repeatedly to a second switching position, wherein successive movements of the control stalk to the second switching position define one or more tap intervals. The one or more tap intervals are determined using an analyzing and control system. Speed of the wiper motor is changed to set a second wiping rate different from the first wiping rate using the analyzing and control system based on the one or more tap intervals.

Abstract: Protein-polymer composite materials are provided according to embodiments of the present invention that include an admixture of a polymer resin, a surfactant and a non-aqueous organic solvent. An aqueous solution containing bioactive proteins is mixed with the admixture. The emulsion is mixed with a crosslinker to produce a curable composition. The curable composition is cured, thereby producing the protein-polymer composite material that is useful for facilitating removal of bioorganic stains.

Abstract: A burner shield (100) for use in a horizontal flammability test chamber (102) is a planar member (120) that contains a stop (126) and a bend (128). A first area (120A) is defined as the area of the planar member (120) between the proximate end (124) and the stop (126), limited to the area of planar member 120 inside chamber 102 by stop 126. The first area (120A) of planar member (120) is inserted through an aperture on chamber (102) so that a substantial portion of first area (120A) covers burner (104) within chamber (102) so that the top surface of first area (120A) accumulates any byproduct (130) and/or prevents it from entering burner (104). The bend (128) is angled downward relative to the horizontal axis of the first area (120A) such that a distal end (122) is substantially aligned with the stop (126) and the distal end (122) abuts or rests against the outside portion of test chamber (102) to stabilize and support burner shield (100) during testing.

Abstract: A method for converting carbon dioxide in flue gas into natural gas using dump energy. The method includes: 1) transforming and rectifying a voltage of dump energy generated from a renewable energy plant, introducing the voltage-transformed and rectified dump energy into an electrolyte solution to electrolyze water therein to yield H2 and O2; 2) purifying industrial flue gas to separate CO2 therein and purifying CO2; 3) transporting H2 generated and CO2 to a synthesis equipment, allowing a methanation reaction between H2 and CO2 to happen to yield a high-temperature mixed gas with main ingredients of CH4 and water vapor; 4) employing the high-temperature mixed gas to conduct indirect heat exchange with process water to yield superheated water vapor; 5) delivering the superheated water vapor to a turbine to generate electric energy, and returning the electric energy to step 1); and 6) condensing and drying the mixed gas.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for processing an analog signal into a digital signal includes an input current buffer circuit, a signal charge integration node, a dual function comparator, a step charge subtractor, a state latch, a coarse N-bit counter, an optional residue signal buffer and a residue signal M-bit time-to-digital (TDC) converter. The circuitry is free running, meaning that it is never reset. Instead, what is tracked for each frame is how much additional charge has been accumulated since the end of the previous integration period. Between each frame, the state of the counter and the amount of charge residing in the integration node are recorded. This information from the beginning and end of a given frame is differenced and to this is added the amount of charge indicated by the number of times the counter overflowed during the integration period.

Abstract: A cold drawing process for forming titanium blanks into titanium pieces in which the titanium blank is pre-treated with a wet lubricant prior to drawing. The wet lubricant lubricates the interfaces of the titanium blank and the punch to substantially reduce galling and hardening of the surface of the titanium blank from the drawing process, thereby eliminating the need to anneal the formed titanium pieces prior to additional drawing, stamping, punching or other forming processes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of evaluating stability of software code for a control system includes receiving a set of initial trajectories by a semidefinite programming solver module, and determining one or more candidate Lyapunov functions based on the set of initial trajectories. The method further includes performing a plurality of simulations using a model of the control system to create a set of discovered trajectories, and evaluating the set of discovered trajectories to determine one or more counterexample trajectories that violate one or more Lyapunov conditions. If one or more counterexample trajectories are discovered, then the method includes inputting the set of discovered trajectories including the one or more counterexample trajectories into the semidefinite programming solver module, and determining, by the semidefinite programming solver module, one or more additional candidate Lyapunov functions from the set of initial trajectories and the set of discovered trajectories.

Abstract: Seal assemblies and methods that include a seal lip that comprises an extended portion with generally constant cross-sectional width for low and generally constant friction during wear are described. The seal lip is loaded against a dynamic member by the aid of a spring energizer. The extended portion of the seal lip maintains constant torque resistance during movement of the dynamic member.

Abstract: A printed circuit assembly (PCA) that provides for a method of rebuilding an electrically operated automatic transmission solenoid module. The PCA allows for a repairable yet rugged interconnection of several solenoids that reside within the span of the module assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal nanoparticle-coating silicate luminescent material, which has a molecular formula of Li2Ca1?xSiO4:Tbx@My; where @ represents a coating, M is at least one among Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, and Cu nanoparticles, where 0<x?0.2, where y is the molar ratio between M and Si, and where 0<y?1×10?2. The composition of the silicate coated metal nanoparticle luminescent material is metal nanoparticles coated with Li2Ca1?xSiO4:Tbx, all of which are substances having great chemical stability and having great stability when bombarded by large electron beams. Also provided in the present invention is a method for preparing the metal nanoparticle coating silicate luminescent material.

Abstract: A hand pump includes a piston slidably engaged in a housing and coupled to a piston rod, a handle attached to the piston rod for moving the piston along the housing in the reciprocating action in order to pump and generate a pressurized air and to supply the pressurized air out through the outlet port of the housing, and an electric generator is engaged in the housing for being actuated and operated by the pressurized air to generate an electrical energy. The electric generator includes a fan device for being actuated and operated by the pressurized air, and includes a rotor engaged in a coil for generating the electrical energy when the rotor is rotated relative to the coil.

Abstract: This rack structure includes: a battery shelf (55) for accommodating a plurality of battery units (30); a rack (10) in which at least one battery shelf (55) is mounted; and a connector (180) which electrically connects the battery shelf and the rack with each other. The connector (180) has a first connector member (181) disposed on a rear surface of the battery shelf and a second connector member (191) disposed on the rack side, and is configured such that the first connector member (181) and the second connector member (191) are connected with each other while the battery shelf (55) is moved to a predetermined mounting position in the rack.

Abstract: An automated driving system is disclosed. The automated driving system includes an elevated perception system disposed above a vehicle and a computing device in communication with the elevated perception system. The computing device includes one or more processors for controlling the operations of the computing device and a memory for storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to detect, based on one or more images captured by the elevated perception system, a traffic condition proximate the vehicle. The one or more processors are further configured to send a command to one or more vehicle systems to implement one or more vehicle maneuvers based on the detected traffic condition. The time to detection of the traffic condition is shorter than is possible using a traditional perception system disposed on the vehicle.

Abstract: A seat cushion airbag system includes an inflatable airbag with a boundary that bounds an inflatable area, the boundary positioned with respect to an H-point of an occupant.

Abstract: A guiding assembly for a riser piping system (2) in an opening in the bottom (8) of a floating structure, said assembly permitting limited axial and angular displacement of the riser piping system (2) in said opening. The assembly comprises a prismatic anchor (1) surrounding a portion of the riser piping system (2) and being connected thereto, an outer prismatic guide tube (4) receiving the prismatic anchor (1), the outer prismatic guide tube (4) having inner surfaces that are parallel to and equally spaced from outer surfaces on the prismatic anchor (1), and rollers (3) arranged in at least two different levels and confined in spaces (2) formed between said inner and outer surfaces, the rollers (3) permitting relative axial movement between the prismatic anchor (1) and the outer prismatic tube (4).

Abstract: A delayed coking process in which shot coke and thermally cracked coker products are produced from a sponge coke- and/or transition coke-forming resid feed comprising sponge coke asphaltenes by mixing heteroatom (preferably nitrogen) containing asphaltenes from a shot coke-forming resid with a heated sponge coke-forming resid to form shot coke directing asphaltene aggregates in the resid. The mixture of resid with the added asphaltene is held at an elevated temperature to allow co-aggregates of sponge coke and shot coke asphaltenes to form which, upon delayed coking promote the production of a free-flowing shot coke product.