Abstract: A blow off cap and nozzle apparatus includes a nozzle having a tip with an aperture covered with a sealing membrane held in position over the nozzle aperture by a retaining device, so that a seal is provided for preventing ingress of contaminants into the nozzle when not in use, and the sealing membrane becomes dislodged from the nozzle when use of the nozzle commences.

Abstract: A train test platform for testing actual train components of a multiple car railway train and a method to test such actual train components includes a supervisor unit and several car units linked by a reflective memory system. The actual components to be tested are installed in instrumentation units of the respective car units. The instrumentation units provide break-out interfaces for connecting the actual train components to a train communication system having the wiring, bus systems, or power supplies Further the instrumentation units simulate those components not being present physically in the respective cars. Testing is performed by monitoring and manipulating signals at the break-out interfaces in real-time. All testing is controlled by the supervisor unit using the reflective memory to exchange information with the platform components in the respective car units.

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: Systems and methods for providing a dynamic application menu are provided herein. One embodiment of a method includes receiving a first arrangement of application icons, determining usage data regarding an application that is associated with the application icons, and determining a plurality of different criteria for arranging the application icons based on the usage data. Some embodiments include determining a preferred criterion from the plurality of different criteria, providing a second arrangement of the application icons for a dynamic application menu based on the usage data and the preferred criterion, and providing an option to send a signal to rearrange the application icons on a mobile device to substantially match the second arrangement of the application icons.

Abstract: A motorized home storage system can be mounted to any type of ceiling for storing items off the ground. The motorized home storage system is designed to make use of unused ceiling space, allowing homeowners to store their items overhead and out of the way and create additional storage in homes. The system is designed for large and heavy items that can be easily stored due to the two tube motors. Tube motors can allow a storage platform to be lowered for easy access, loading, and unloading. Additionally, tube motors can allow the storage platform to be raised to the ceiling in order to be completely out of the way and off the ground. The system can include legs attached to the platform which can unsnap to turn the platform into a table.

Abstract: A system/method for controlling a battery temperature of a vehicle over a known route. The method may include providing a route having a starting and ending location, iteratively sensing a battery temperature of the battery when the vehicle is travelling along the route, and dividing the route into a plurality of route segments. The method may also include storing a known route having a plurality of segments where each segment has a corresponding battery temperature of the vehicle when the vehicle previously travelled along the segment. The method may also include providing a cooling device associated with a battery of the vehicle, initiating the cooling device during a previous time segment when the battery temperature for a particular time segment of the known route exceeds a high temperature threshold, and reducing an amount of battery power draw from the battery during the previous time segment.

Abstract: A method/system for optimizing vehicle operations for a predicted route and/or a route set. The method/system may record location data and time data for a route. Two or more routes can be linked to form a route set by analyzing the location data and time data of the routes using a linking threshold. The linking threshold may be based on a relationship between locations and/or times of different routes. The vehicle may predict that a particular route segment or route will likely be driven. An operation of a unit or a device of the vehicle over the predicted route and/or route set may be adjusted based on information stored regarding the predicted route and/or route set in order to enhance the energy efficiency of the vehicle. The links may be categorized as having different types in order to apply a different control strategy to different types of links.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing Group II/III lubricant base oil products where at least a portion of the feedstock for forming the lubricant base oil product is a solvent extract fraction from a Group I lubricant production facility. This can increase the overall volume of feedstock available for production of Group II/III lubricant base oils by using a lower value stream (Group I solvent extract) as a portion of the feedstock. The solvent extract fraction can be added to a full range lubricant feedstock or to a portion of a lubricant feedstock, such as adding an extract fraction to a higher viscosity portion (such as a heavy neutral portion) of a feedstock for lubricant production, while a lower viscosity portion (such as a light neutral portion) is processed without addition of an extract fraction.

Abstract: A system and a method for recreating an operation of a crashed vehicle during and/or before the accident An accident data recorder collects vehicle operation data related to the operation of the crashed vehicle prior to and/or during the accident. A processor may analyze the prior vehicle operation data that may include prior acceleration input data, prior braking input data, and/or prior steering input data and may output vehicle control data to at least one electronic controller based on the prior vehicle operation data. The at least one electronic controller automatically operates the test vehicle on a test surface to recreate an operation of the crashed vehicle during and/or before the accident. At least one electronic controller unit automatically and accurately recreates a response of the crashed vehicle to the prior acceleration input, the prior steering input, and the prior braking input can be automatically and accurately recreated.

Abstract: A fire protection system comprising at least one sprinkler, a source of pressurized water, a piping network connecting at least one sprinkler to the source of pressurized water, and a nitrogen generator coupled to the sprinkler system. The nitrogen generator may be a nitrogen membrane system or a nitrogen pressure swing adsorption system. The present systems and methods reduce or nearly eliminate corrosion that typically affects conventional fire protection systems, such as caused by oxygen and microbial systems, which can deteriorate or compromise function. Initial, repeated, or continuous displacement of oxygen with nitrogen in the fire protection system significantly reduces or eliminates corrosion.

Abstract: An energy generation system comprises: (i) a first system comprising an electrical generator for converting at least a portion of solar energy into electrical energy; and (ii) a second system, in thermal contact with said first system by means of a device for transferring heat energy from said first system to said second system. The second system comprises a device for converting at least a portion of heat energy from said second system, into electrical energy.

Abstract: An x-ray inspection system using backscatter of an x-ray beam emitted through a scan panel contiguous with, but of a material distinct from, an enclosure that contains an x-ray source by which the x-ray beam is generated. The scan panel is contoured in such a manner as to be visibly blended with a shape characterizing the enclosure. In some embodiments, the beam traverses multiple scan panels, where one or more of the scan panels may be selected for beam filtration properties. The scan panel may be disposed interior to a sliding door, and may be structured to serve as a scatter shield.

Abstract: An arc flash hazard assessment method includes storing electrical equipment data in memory, defining an arc flash model function based on the data, and estimating the model function based on a weighted average of interpolated and extrapolated values. The electrical equipment data may include an operating voltage, a fault current, and a clearing time. The model function is defined for at least three reference voltages V1, V2 and V3, with the interpolated value at operating voltage V, between voltages V1 and V2, and the extrapolated value from reference voltages V2 and V3. At the arc flash protection boundary, the estimated model function has a predefined incident energy value of 1.2 cal/cm2 (or about 5.02 J/cm2), or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the securing of a garnish in a vehicle. The garnish is disposed over the airbag and secures to one or more apertures in the vehicle. The garnish includes a cover, which hides the airbag before it is deployed. A tether is attached to the cover. The tether extends from the cover, and includes a flexible securing portion which is received in the vehicle aperture. When the airbag deploys, the garnish is displaced. Displacement of the garnish, and deployment of the airbag, is enabled by the flexible securing portion, which deforms in response to the airbag, thereby allowing deployment while maintaining attachment of the cover to the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for accessing data of a cloud database via transparent technology, and the system includes at least one channel server and at least one cloud database end. When a connection notice is outputted from an application end, the user channel unit detects a first server address and a first database address in a HTTP data format, and connects to a corresponding channel server via the HTTP tunnel to send a database request, so that the channel server can convert the first database address in the HTTP data format into a TCP/IP data format and then connect to a corresponding database end. Therefore, the application end can access data from the database behind the firewall via the Internet without modifying any program code.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is disclosed. The RF power amplifier includes a bias circuit, an output stage circuit and dynamic bias controlling circuit. The bias circuit receives a first system voltage and provides a working voltage accordingly. The output stage circuit receives the working voltage so as to work at an operation bias point. The dynamic bias controlling circuit detects a RF input signal and outputs a compensation voltage to the bias circuit according to variation of the RF input signal, wherein the dynamic bias controlling circuit is an open loop configuration. When an input power of the RF input signal increases and makes the working voltage decreases so as to shift the operation bias point, the bias circuit adjusts the working voltage upward so as to recover or enhance the operation bias point according to the compensation voltage received.

Abstract: The RF stacked power amplifier comprises a voltage-dividing circuit, a negative feedback bias circuit, a current source circuit and a stacked amplifying circuit. The voltage-dividing circuit receives a system voltage and divides the system voltage for outputting a first reference partial voltage and a second reference partial voltage. The negative feedback bias circuit receives a negative feedback reference voltage and correspondingly outputs a second bias reference voltage according to a result of comparing the second reference partial voltage and the negative feedback reference voltage. The current source circuit determines a bias reference current according to the first reference partial voltage. The stacked amplifying circuit outputs the negative feedback reference voltage and determines an operation bias point according to a first bias reference voltage and the bias reference current.

Abstract: A bidirectional AC series voltage regulator that regulates an output AC voltage level regardless of the varying AC input voltage utilizing high frequency series inductors that only process a proportion of the total output power. The AC series voltage regulator detects the power inductor current direction data signal and can generate power inductor current direction data signals for its control to determine the AC input voltage polarity at all time; wherein the determination of the AC input voltage polarity is unambiguous during the AC input voltage zero crossover and near zero points; and wherein the determination of the AC input voltage polarity allows normal switching sequence of the AC bidirectional switches during the AC input voltage zero crossover and near zero points to prevent power “shoot-through.

Abstract: A center column drive for a spiral conveyor is used to rotate a drive tower to move a conveyor belt in a helical pattern. The drive tower is driven by the center column drive to cause rotation about a vertical axis. The center column drive includes a base having a platform and a plurality of support legs that support the platform. The center column drive also includes a slew ring that is secured to the platform at one end and to a center column of the drive tower and a second end. Rotation of an electric gear motor causes rotation of a portion of the slew ring, which, in turn, rotates the drive tower.

Abstract: A vehicle (2) comprising a vehicle body (6) is disclosed. First struts (16) are mounted to the vehicle body for supporting transport wheels (12) for supporting the vehicle body in a first mode of operation of the vehicle, and second struts (26) are mounted to the vehicle body for supporting roller assemblies (14) for supporting the vehicle body and applying pressure to the ground to detonate explosive devices in a second mode of operation of the vehicle. The transport wheels engage the ground and the rollers are out of engagement with the ground in the first mode, and the rollers engage the ground and the transport wheels are out of engagement with the ground in the second mode. Rollers of one roller assembly partly protrude into gaps between rollers of the other roller assembly.