Abstract: A dock leveler for an edge of a loading dock which includes a frame, a two-piece lip, a lift assist spring, an assist bar and an integral safety barrier. The lift assist spring is connected on a first end to the bottom side of the lip at the pivot point and connected on a second end to the frame. The assist bar is used to move the lip between the extended/engaged and retracted/disengaged positions. The dock leveler includes a bracket with a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, the horizontal portion is secured to the frame on a frame-end and secured to the vertical portion on free-end. The lip can rotate above and over the bracket when in an extended/engaged position; the lip contacts the horizontal portion when in the retracted/disengaged position acting as a safety barrier.

Abstract: A process for converting paraffins, especially light paraffins, e.g. C3-C8 paraffins, to higher boiling range paraffinic liquid hydrocarbons comprises endothermically dehydrogenating the light paraffin combined with a thermally coupled, exothermic reaction such as olefin oligomerization to supply heat for the endothermic conversion.

Abstract: A jack assembly including a telescopic column driven via a gear box, wherein: the gear box is coupled to a rotary input of a drive mechanism that extends and retracts the column; the gear box has only a single input gear and a single output gear that is coupled to the drive mechanism; and the input gear has a connector adapted to be engaged and driven by a portable, hand-held power tool. A jack assembly with a gear box for use as a jockey wheel for attachment to a towed vehicle, to raise and lower a draw bar of the vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatuses and processes for converting an oxygenate feedstock, such as methanol and dimethyl ether, in a fluidized bed containing a catalyst to hydrocarbons, such as gasoline boiling components, olefins and aromatics are provided herein.

Abstract: A pipe clamp includes a first jaw pivotally connected to a second jaw, each jaw having a connection flange at each of its ends, in which the flanges at the pivoting end of the jaws are provided with a first locking mechanism and the flanges of the jaws distal from the pivoting end provided with second and third locking mechanisms. The second and third locking mechanisms are shaped such that, when they are in place, the combined width of the second and third locking mechanisms is less than twice the width of their widest crossways section in the same plane when not in place.

Abstract: A spur cancelling, electromechanical filter includes a first resonator having a first resonant frequency and one or more first spurious responses, and it also includes, electrically connected to the first resonator, a second resonator having a second resonant frequency and one or more second spurious responses. The first and second resonant frequencies are approximately identical, but the first resonator is physically non-identical to the second resonator. The difference between the resonators makes the respective spurious responses different. This allows for filters constructed from a cascade of these resonators to exhibit reduced spurious responses.

Abstract: A metal-air battery comprising an emulsified or dispersed aqueous/ionic liquid two phase electrolyte system is provided. The two phase electrolyte system contains an aqueous phase and an ionic liquid phase wherein an amount of water exceeds the aqueous solubility of the ionic liquid. In one embodiment the metal-air battery is a lithium-air battery.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to providing prognosis and health management (PHM) of a photovoltaic (PV) system. A PV PHM system can eliminate long-standing issues associated with detecting performance reduction in PV systems. The PV PHM system can utilize an ANN model with meteorological and power input data to facilitate alert generation in the event of a performance reduction without the need for information about the PV PHM system components and design. Comparisons between system data and the PHM model can provide scheduling of maintenance on an as-needed basis. The PHM can also provide an approach for monitoring system/component degradation over the lifetime of the PV system.

Abstract: A cutting tool cover set to a cutting tool which includes a hollow shaft body and at least one insert attached to an end face of the shaft body and cuts by bringing the insert into contact with a work while rotating the shaft body. The cutting tool cover includes: a body portion fixed to a top end portion of the shaft body; and an extension portion extended outward from the circumferential edge of the body portion in the entire circumference of the top end portion of the body portion to cover the surface of the work.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for producing an improved product slate during hydrocracking of a feedstock for production of naphtha and distillate fuels. The methods can include use of stacked beds and/or sequential reactors so that a feedstock is exposed to a suitable catalyst under aromatic saturation conditions prior to exposing the feedstock to the hydrocracking catalyst. The catalyst for performing the aromatic saturation process can be a catalyst including a Group VIII noble metal, such as Pt, Pd, or a combination thereof, while the hydrocracking catalyst can include Group VIB and Group VIII non-noble metals.

Abstract: A method for manipulating the bus communication of an electronic control device is provided, wherein the bus communication includes a bus hardware-independent first communication layer and a bus hardware-dependent second communication layer. The first communication layer encodes at least one piece of information in a first protocol data unit and transmits it to the second communication layer and/or the first communication layer receives the first protocol data unit from the second communication layer and decodes the first information from the first protocol data unit. The second communication layer generates bus hardware-dependent bus information from the first protocol data unit or from an additional protocol data unit derived from the first protocol data unit for transmission via the bus and/or the second communication layer generates the first protocol data unit or an additional protocol data unit, from which the first protocol data unit can be derived.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for enclosed recycling of oil-water-sludge in an oil shale dry distillation system, comprising: scrubbing and condensing oil shale dry distillation gas at a gathering pipe section, a gas tower section, an air tower section, and a cooling tower section respectively to recycle shale oil section by section; using a separator at an outlet of each section to purify and collect the shale oil, while purifying and recycling scrubbing/cooling water; using multistage dedusters to remove oil sludge entrained in an oil-water product; using an oil sludge collecting tank and a filter after the deduster to concentrate and recycle an oil sludge; and using cyclones before and after the gas tower section to remove aerosol particles and water drops entrained in circulatory gas.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for capturing CO2 from a combustion source using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). At least a portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as a fuel for the combustion source. Optionally, a second portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as part of an anode input stream. This can allow for a reduction in the amount of fuel cell area required for separating CO2 from the combustion source exhaust and/or modifications in how the fuel cells can be operated.

Abstract: A distributor apparatus 10 for distributing a plurality of portions or streams of a flowable material. The apparatus 10 comprises an enclosure 16 which locates rotors 48, 50. An inlet port 66 is provided in an upper part of the enclosure, which connects to a manifold 34 with five spaced inlets 36 through which material can pass to drive the rotors 48, 50. Material can pass round the rotors 48, 50 to a plurality of spaced outlets 38 for discharging to and from the apparatus 10.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a system and method that automatically communicate data using a nonlinear, time-varying voice channel. The system may include one or more sensors, a controller, and a radio transmitter. The one or more sensors may be operable to detect a condition. The controller may be configured to receive an indication of the detected condition from the at least one sensor. The controller may be configured to generate a message including information of the detected condition based on the received indication of the detected condition. The radio transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit the generated message on the voice channel.

Abstract: Vehicles and vehicle systems for restricting rotation of vehicle steering systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle including a front wheel, a steering column assembly coupled to the front wheel, a steering wheel coupled to the steering column assembly, a steering rack assembly that includes a rack coupled to the front wheel, where the rack extends in a vehicle lateral direction and is translatable with respect to a body of the vehicle in the vehicle lateral direction, and a resistance device including a damper coupled to at least one of the steering rack assembly and the steering column assembly that limits a rotation of the steering column assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for injecting fuel into an engine is provided where a low-pressure fuel pump is connected in fluid communication with at least one port fuel injector and a high-pressure fuel pump is connected in fluid communication with at least one direct fuel injector. The port fuel injector is disposed along an intake path of the engine and the direct fuel injector is disposed adjacent a cylinder of the engine. A lost motion lifter selectively couples the high-pressure fuel pump and the engine. A pump deactivation module switches the lost motion lifter to selectively deactivate the high-pressure fuel pump from the engine in response to partial load operation of the engine. The pump deactivation module may additionally switch the port fuel injector to an activated state and the direct fuel injector to a deactivated state.

Abstract: A CO sensor includes a solid electrolyte substrate, a sensing electrode, and a reference electrode, and outputs electromotive forces in accordance with CO concentrations. The sensing electrode and the reference electrode are provided on the same surface of the solid electrolyte substrate. The sensing electrode contains a metal oxide such as Bi2O3 that generates a positive electromotive force response when coming into contact with CO. The reference electrode contains a metal oxide such as CeO2 that generates a negative electromotive force response when coming into contact with CO.

Abstract: A front grille assembly for a vehicle includes a grille deflector that allows air to flow therethrough into an engine compartment of the vehicle. A grille frame supports the grille deflector at a front of the vehicle. An air flow director fin is located on the grille frame and rearward of the grille deflector. The air flow director fin modifies a flow direction of air entering the engine compartment from an unmodified flow direction without the air flow director fin to a modified flow direction toward a region of a transmission cooler of the vehicle.

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.