Abstract: Adjustment of the angle of a bent sub or other steering feature in a drill string relative to a reference angle of a downhole sensor is facilitated by a rotatable coupling between the bent sub and the sensor. The rotatable coupling may be rotated to align the high side with a reference indicium and locked at the set angle. Rows of ceramic balls retained in circumferential channels may be provided to permit rotation while carrying tensile and compressional forces. Calibration of the sensor is facilitated and opportunities for certain measurement errors are eliminated. An embodiment provides a mechanism for locking the rotatable coupling at a desired angle. The embodiment comprises a ring with teeth that engage a downhole portion of the coupling and depressions that engage an uphole portion of the coupling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a hydroprocessing catalyst including a supporting step of allowing a catalyst support having a content of a carbonaceous substance containing carbon atoms of 0.5% by mass or less in terms of carbon atoms to support an active metal component containing at least one active metal element selected from metals belonging to Group 6, Group 8, Group 9 and Group 10 in the periodic table, to obtain a catalyst precursor, and a calcining step of calcining the catalyst precursor obtained in the supporting step to obtain the hydroprocessing catalyst.

Abstract: A method for generating production code from a block diagram in a technical computing environment on a host computer. A first block receives a first input signal that has a plurality of elements. A size of a first required signal of the external function is determined and compared to a size of the first input signal. When the size of the first required signal corresponds to the size of an element in the first input signal a production code is generated enclosing a call of the external function by a loop consecutively addressing each of the plurality of elements in the first input signal. When the size of the first required signal corresponds to the size of the first input signal a production code is generated having a call of the external function without enclosing loop over the elements in the first input signal.

Abstract: Vehicle seat assemblies may be foldable in a plurality of configurations. The seats may be foldable so as to provide a space between a seat bottom and a seat back. Seats may be foldable so as to provide a space in front of the seat bottom and the seat back. A moveable table may be a component of the seat assembly in the vehicle, with the table operable to provide a relatively flat surface when in an operative position. The table may utilize the space provided between the seat bottom and the seat back and/or the space provided in front of the seat bottom and the seat back when in the operative position. Additionally, the table may be stowed under the seat when not in use.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating simultaneously the effects of multiple, interdependent heat-exchanger degradation modes for a heat exchanger of a power plant in the context of a series of alternative heat-exchanger remediation strategies. The method includes calculating time-varying predicted future progressions of heat exchanger performance metrics for a plurality of alternative heat-exchanger remediation strategies, and calculating time-varying predicted future progressions of financial metrics describing the accumulated financial benefit of each of the strategies. The calculations may be provided in probabilistic terms. A strategy may then be chosen based, at least in part, on the calculated results.

Abstract: A method for operating an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, in which via a rotating magnetic pole wheel a voltage signal with a number of positive and negative half-waves is produced in at least one coil arrangement that is located on a core leg of an iron core during each rotation of the magnetic pole wheel, wherein the voltage signal is used to determine the gap width of the air gap between the magnetic pole wheel and the core leg.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a failure of a fluid film bearing is disclosed. The system and method use one or more non-laser based strain transducers to detect changes in the frequency spectrum of the pressure of the fluid film at one or more locations in the bearing to identify failure or the risk of failure of the bearing. The system and can use metallic film, piezoelectric, and piezoresistive strain sensors to generate alarms when particular frequency bands become present in the strain frequency spectrum. The system and method can also generate strain orbit plots and perform waveform analysis of the time varying strains in the bearing housing caused by time-varying changes in the pressure of the fluid film.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a fuel-cell system, which is attached to at least one further component via a cooling and/or lubricating circuit. A water-based, oil-free coolant and lubricant is used, and a flushing procedure for the fuel cell is initiated when a contamination of the fuel cell by the water-based, oil-free coolant and lubricant is detected.

Abstract: A method of thawing an object (21) in a frozen state placed in an interior of a container (10), in which an AC voltage which is 10V or higher and 5 kV or lower is applied to the object (21) in the frozen state to flow a current which is 1 ?A or higher and 1000 mA or lower, through the object (21) in the frozen state, includes the steps of: partially thawing the object (21) in the frozen state in such a manner that a temperature in the interior of the container (10) is controlled to cause the object (21) in the frozen state to be partially thawed while applying the AC voltage to the object (21) in the frozen state; and stopping application of the AC voltage to the object (21) and preserving the object (21) while maintaining a state in which the object (21) partially thawed.

Abstract: A heat exchange, which includes a casing having a cylinder; two connectors respectively attached to one end of the cylinder through the small opening; two convex heads respectively connected through the opening end to the large opening of a connector; a core disposed inside the casing; and two heat transfer medium passages. In this way, the space at the ends of the casing of the heat exchanger may be enlarged, thereby providing a space large enough to accommodate the construction personal and better working environment for two-side welding and future maintenance and wider selection range of material of the casing of the heat exchanger; a buffer area is provided for the flow of the heat transfer medium, and the auxiliary like baffles may be mounted inside the convex heads as required to further improve the heat exchange efficiency and reduce the cost.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting clandestine fissile or radioactive material on the basis of emitted radiation and particles (such as neutrons and alpha particles) arising from within the material. Emission by the fissile or radioactive material is detected in conjunction with a conventional x-ray imaging system that includes an external source of illuminating penetrating radiation, at least one detector configured to detect at least the penetrating radiation and to generate a detector signal, and a processor configured as a detector signal discriminator to generate an output indicating whether the detector signal is triggered by an origin other than illuminating penetrating radiation. Active and passive modes of detection are described by some embodiments. Other embodiments are directed toward neutron detection, gamma ray detection with energy resolution, and designs of detectors to enhance the detection of clandestine nuclear material.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for monitoring a plurality of analog-to-digital converters. In one embodiment, a plurality of input channels may each be in communication with a different phase of a three-phase electric power delivery system. The input channels may be configured to receive analog signals from the different phases. A composite signal subsystem may be configured to generate a composite signal based on the plurality of input channels. An analog-to-digital converter subsystem may be configured to produce a digitized representation of each of the plurality of input channels and a digitized representation of the composite signal. An analog-to-digital converter monitor subsystem may identify an error in the analog-to-digital conversion based on the digitized representation of the composite signal and the digitized representations of the plurality of input channels.

Abstract: A fluid pressure pulse generator for a downhole telemetry tool comprising a stator and a rotor. The stator has a stator body and a plurality of radially extending stator projections spaced around the stator body, with adjacently spaced stator projections defining stator flow channels extending therebetween. The rotor has a rotor body and a plurality of radially extending rotor projections spaced around the rotor body, with adjacently spaced rotor projections defining rotor flow channels extending therebetween. The rotor projections are axially adjacent the stator projections. The rotor is rotatable relative to the stator and is configured to oscillate from an open flow position an equal span of clockwise and counter clockwise rotation to first and second restricted flow positions.

Abstract: A flow bypass sleeve for a fluid pressure pulse generator of a downhole telemetry tool. The fluid pressure pulse generator comprising a stator having one or more flow channels or orifices through which drilling fluid flows and a rotor which rotates relative to the stator to move in and out of fluid communication with the flow channels or orifices to create fluid pressure pulses in the drilling fluid flowing through the fluid pressure pulse generator. The flow bypass sleeve is configured to attach to a drill collar which housing the telemetry tool and comprises a body with a bore therethrough which receives the fluid pressure pulse generator. The body includes at least one longitudinally extending bypass channel comprising a groove longitudinally extending along an internal surface of the body or an aperture longitudinally extending through the body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method of inhibiting precipitation of biodiesel fuel components. The method includes providing a biodiesel fuel composition; providing a copolymer comprising at least first and second polymer units, said first polymer units derived from a carboxylic acid anhydride and said second polymer units derived from an olefin; and blending said copolymer with the biodiesel fuel to form a treated fuel composition. Alternatively, instead of the copolymer, a dialkylene glycol additive can be provided. Embodiments of the invention provide a method of reducing the cold soak filter blocking tendency of a biodiesel fuel composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for storing gas hydrate pellets that includes: a storage tank having an inlet formed at a top portion thereof for having gas hydrate pellets injected therein; a transfer part formed at a lower portion of the storage tank so as to transfer the injected gas hydrate pellets to an outside of the storage tank; a rotating shaft vertically formed in the storage tank; a plurality of division plates coupled to the rotating shaft to partition an internal space of the storage tank, each having a bottom portion thereof formed above a top portion of the transfer part; an extension plate coupled to a lower portion of each of the division plates in such a way that the extension plate is movable up and down; and a guide formed at an upper portion of the transfer part and configured to guide the extension plate so as to allow the extension plate to be revolved by rotation of the rotating shaft without an interruption with the transfer part.

Abstract: Vehicle seats are described herein that include removable portions and fixed portions. The removable portions can be configured to be selectively removable from a vehicle, while the fixed portions can be configured to remain in the vehicle. The removable portions can include a seat base and portions of a seat back. The fixed portion can include an exterior side bolster of the seat. Further, the fixed portion can include one or more inflatable restraints. For example, the fixed portion can include a seat side airbag located within the exterior side bolster. Arrangements described herein can allow portions of the seat to be removed from the vehicle, while the inflatable restraints, such as airbags, remain in the fixed portion of the seat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus couples quality control data generated during the manufacture of a subassembly of components with at least a unique main product assembly identification number and the quality control data of the main product at the time of installation of a subassembly to the main product assembly. The subassembly quality control data and the main product assembly quality control data and unique product identification are stored.

Abstract: A pilot valve arrangement including a first and second pilot valve parts. The second pilot valve part including a second pilot valve body including a compartment, a low pressure fluid inlet for receiving fluid from the first pilot valve part, and a high pressure fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet for receiving fluid from the low pressure and high pressure inlets via said compartment and providing fluid to a piloted valve. In a first state, the second pilot valve of the pilot valve arrangement provides for a first fluid flow path within the compartment to enable the low pressure fluid inlet to be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet via the first fluid flow path. In a second state, a second fluid flow path within the compartment to enable the high pressure fluid inlet to be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet via the second fluid flow path.