Abstract: A compressible rod for an aerosol-generating device includes a first layer and a wrapper circumscribing the first layer. The first layer includes a first material. The first material may include tobacco. The compressible rod has a circular cross-sectional shape and a hollow center. The compressible rod is configured to be compressed, such that the compressible rod has a non-circular cross-sectional shape after compression.

Abstract: A proxy card used at an ATM, or at any vendor store, that has a legacy point of sale unit or at a store with the smart point of sale. In general, it can be used with any vendor and otherwise as any credit or debit card might be used. The point-of sale unit interacts with a multi-source processing system (MSPS) that, instead of servicing a single money source, interacts with more than one of a plurality of monetary sources that may be associated with the proxy card. The money transferred from credit or debit accounts of the user may be either transferred directly or indirectly via a proxy central account associated with the MSPS that a user maintains.

Abstract: A rail fastener sealing system comprises a dowel having a substantially cylindrical elongated body and a dowel passage configured to receive a fastener that secures a rail to a rail tie. The sealing system further includes a seal positioned on an end of the dowel. The seal includes a flexible body having a central passage extending through the flexible body and a lip extending circumferentially around an opening of the central passage. The lip of the seal is disposed adjacent the end of the dowel and at least a portion of the flexible body of the seal is positioned within the dowel passage.

Abstract: Form pressure concrete monitor systems and processes are disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention enhance the form pressure monitoring of concrete by using a load cell, a custom-designed load cell assembly, a data processing and transmission module, and a user-friendly interface for real-time monitoring, data analysis and retention, record keeping, and decision-making.

Abstract: An example counterbalance valve includes: a first port, a second port, and a pilot port configured to receive a pilot pressure fluid signal; a poppet configured to move axially to allow fluid flow from the first port to the second port via a main flow region, wherein the poppet comprises a sensing port that is exposed to fluid at a sensing flow region, wherein the sensing flow region is fluidly coupled to the second port and is shifted axially from the main flow region such that the sensing flow region is separated from turbulent flow in the main flow region; and a pressure setting spring disposed in a spring chamber and applying a biasing force on the poppet in a distal direction.

Abstract: A cementing operation cements casing in a borehole. A bottom plug pumped down the casing ahead of cement lands at a float valve. Circulation of the cement is established through the bottom plug to a shoe track downhole from the float valve. A top plug pumped down the casing behind the cement lands on the bottom plug. An internal component of the float valve is released by building-up pressure in the casing behind the internal component up to a release threshold. The internal component can latch at the shoe. At least some of the cement in the shoe track is displaced from the casing's shoe to the borehole by pumping the plugs and the internal component to the shoe. With the cement displaced out of the shoe track, the time required to drill out the assembly can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A surface wiper device which includes a carrier which supports a blade. The carrier attaches to a wiper arm which urges the blade against and moves the blade across the surface of a windshield. The carrier further provides a plurality of outlets each of which communicate between a hollow passage inside the carrier and a location on the external surface of the carrier. A fluid can be delivered from a fluid source fluidicly coupled to the hollow passage of the carrier under sufficient pressure to be dispersed from the plurality of outlets onto the windshield during movement of the blade. A fluid heater can be thermally coupled with the fluid delivered from the fluid source to the plurality of outlets to increase the temperature of the fluid dispersed onto the windshield. The fluid can be sufficiently heated to generate a heated gas.

Abstract: A system for generating an image for passengers in a vehicle includes a display adapted to project an image, a polarization rotator actuatable to rotate the polarization of an image to one of S-polarization and P-polarization, a reflector unit adapted to reflect S-polarized images to a first beam splitter, and to reflect P-polarized images to a second beam splitter, each of the first and second beam splitters adapted to receive an image and to reflect the image to an associated passenger, and a controller in communication with the display and the polarization rotator, the controller adapted to simultaneously actuate the display to alternate between projecting a first image and a second image, actuate the polarization rotator to alternate between rotating the polarization of an image to S-polarization and P-polarization, and synchronize the display and the polarization rotator.

Abstract: A soybean cultivar designated 14030941 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 14030941, to the plants of soybean cultivar 14030941, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 14030941, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 14030941. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 14030941. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 14030941, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 14030941 with another soybean cultivar.

Abstract: An electronic device for controlling switching timing is described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure a load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement. The electronic device also includes a processor coupled to the load voltage measuring circuitry. The processor is configured to determine whether a load voltage spike is indicated by the load voltage measurement. The processor is configured to control switching timing based on whether a load voltage spike is indicated.

Abstract: An air turbine starter for starting an engine includes a starter housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet. The air turbine starter includes a rotatable turbine member having a central hub defining a platform and a set of blades extending radially from the platform. The air turbine starter also includes a damping member.

Abstract: An automatic actuation of one or more vehicle closures may be based on object detection. A device may include at least one processor configured to detect an authorized user within a proximity of a vehicle, detect an object within a proximity of the authorized user, and cause an actuation associated with a closure of the vehicle based at least in part on the detected authorized user and the detected object.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping vibrations includes an inertial mass disposed in a cavity in a rotatable downhole component, the rotatable component configured to be disposed in a borehole in a subsurface formation, such as a resource bearing formation, the inertial mass coupled to a surface of the cavity by a damping fluid and configured to move within the cavity relative to the downhole component. The apparatus also includes a damping fluid disposed in the cavity between the inertial mass and an inner surface of the cavity, where rotational acceleration of the rotatable downhole component causes shear in the damping fluid to dissipate energy from rotational acceleration of the rotatable downhole component and causing the rotational acceleration to be reduced.

Abstract: A microwave antenna assembly and methods of using and/or assembling the same, which may mitigate problems related to tolerance and tolerance stackup. For example, the microwave antenna assembly may include a waveguide that includes a first waveguide component and a second waveguide component; and a mechanical connection configured to couple the first waveguide component and the second waveguide component and configured to force a first gap between the first waveguide component and the second waveguide component. A spanning distance of the first gap may be selected to reduce a size of a second gap due to tolerances within the microwave antenna assembly between the waveguide and radio equipment. The radio equipment may be configured to provide the waveguide with microwave radiofrequency (RF) signals.

Abstract: Generally, an enclosure and method for assembling an enclosure including a plurality of frame members connected or interconnectable to generate a framework and a plurality of panels fastened or fastenable to the framework. In particular embodiments, enclosure and a method of assembling an enclosure from a kit including prefabricated enclosure sides including interconnectable frameworks fastened to panels configured to overlap adjacent panel edges at the corners upon interconnecting the frameworks.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for protecting a door system from damage by a back electromotive force (EMF) voltage generated when a door coupled to a door actuator is manually closed. The door system may include a driver configured to drive the door actuator to move the door, and a back EMF protection circuit. The back EMF protection circuit detects a back EMF voltage generated by the door actuator when the door is moved, and determines whether the back EMF voltage exceeds an overvoltage threshold. In response to determining that the back EMF voltage exceeds the overvoltage threshold, the back EMF protection circuit causes the driver to transition to an enabled state to short the back EMF voltage to ground.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus can include a light assembly having a housing section and an attachment section. At least one light emitting device is contained within the housing section. The attachment assembly can include a substantially flat base section and an attachment member extending outwardly from the base section. The attachment section of the light assembly can define a recess having a size and shape that is complementary to the attachment member of the attachment assembly, such that the light assembly and the attachment assembly can be releasably attached to each other by complementary frictional engagement of the attachment member of the attachment assembly and the attachment section of the light assembly when the attachment member is positioned within the attachment section.

Abstract: A method for cross-bore risk management involves receiving at least one dataset comprising a plurality of assets and cross-bore data. A risk probability value is calculated, using a processor, based on the cross-bore data for each asset of the plurality of assets using machine learning techniques. The risk probability values are spatially distributed around each respective asset. A graphical output is produced that illustrates the risk probability for a specified geographical area based on the spatially distributed risk probability values.

Abstract: A method includes receiving planned path data, road data, and speed profile data, determining anticipatory constraints for each of the plurality of steps along a planned path using the planned path data, the road data, and the speed profile data, determining a plurality of control actions using a Model Predictive Control (MPC). The prediction model of the MPC is updated in real time with the plurality of anticipatory constraints for each of the plurality of steps along the planned path and the road data for each of the plurality of steps along the planned path. The method further includes controlling the vehicle using the plurality of control actions to cause the vehicle to autonomously follow the planned path.