Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating subterranean regions having multi-scale fracture geometries. Non-intrusive embedded discrete fracture modeling formulations are applied to two-dimensional and three-dimensional unstructured grids, with mixed elements, using an element-based finite-volume method in conjunction with commercial simulators to model subsurface characteristics in regions having complex hydraulic fractures, complex natural fractures, or a combination of both.

Abstract: The present relates to a sling system, and more specifically, to a sling system which may be used for shoulder mounted sling requirements, such as for rifles, archery bows, crossbows, weed eaters and metal detectors, to name a few. The sling system includes a shoulder portion with a plurality of columns of slot apertures with each column offset from the adjacent column, an adjustable position handle and couplers on each end of the sling system to couple it to the desired implement or object.

Abstract: Provided are a substrate used for an LED encapsulation, a three-dimensional LED encapsulation comprising the substrate, a bulb comprising the three-dimensional LED encapsulation and a manufacturing method therefor. The substrate is spiral lines in shape, at least one of the ends of the substrate is provided with an electrode lead wire, the electrode lead wire is connected with the substrate by a connective component and/or connective materials, the spiral lines of the substrate comprise gaps between each other, and a smooth curve and/or a plurality of polylines end to end is formed at least partly at the edge of the substrate. The three-dimensional LED encapsulation and the bulb comprising the three-dimensional LED encapsulation comprise the substrate, multiple LED chips in series and/or parallel are arranged on the substrate, the multiple LED chips are let out by the electrode lead wire of one end of the substrate and the other end of the substrate as the other electrode lead wire.

Abstract: An adaptable wheel has a central hub, radial segments connected to the central hub at a proximal end and extending radially from the central hub, each radial segment having a linear actuator configured to change a length of the radial segment; a shoe connected to a distal end of the radial segment for contacting a surface being traversed by the wheel; and a locking mechanism for selectively preventing linear motion of the linear actuator. A control system for an adaptable wheel includes a distance sensor on a vehicle for determining distance to a surface in the path of the vehicle and a computer for receiving distance information from the distance sensor and, responsive to the distance information, determine a desired length of a segment of an adaptable wheel for maintaining a hub of a wheel level, and provide control signals to a linear actuator of the segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating subterranean regions having multi-scale, complex fracture geometries. Non-intrusive embedded discrete fracture modeling formulations are applied in conjunction with commercial simulators to efficiently and accurately model subsurface characteristics in regions having complex hydraulic fractures, complex natural fractures, or a combination of both.

Abstract: Devices that transfer and communicate tap dial position changes to a remote location are bulky, cost prohibitive, and electronically noisy. A method and device for providing real-time readings of data from remote utility substation equipment, digitizing respective real-time information, and transmitting said digitized data over a utility provider's secure network to an operations control center, thus making said critical field data immediately available to a utility Operations Control Center and significantly reducing field manpower resources required to monitor critical operational data.

Abstract: A lifting insert, particularly for embedment in the edges of thin concrete elements is disclosed. The insert has a head at one end which has a through aperture for the connection of a co-operating lifting link and another end for embedment within the concrete. The head of the insert has an interior region bounded on each side by an exterior region which extends to the longitudinal edges of the insert. The exterior region is thicker than the interior region and the boundary between the two regions defines an abutment surface. The thickness and width of the interior region is dimensioned to allow the lifting link to be connected to the head of the insert and the thickness of the outer region is dimensioned so as to restrict the rotation of the lifting link when a load is applied normal to the axis of the insert, and to effectively transfer the load by a couple developed across the full cross-section of the insert e.g. when tilting the concrete element from a horizontal position to a vertical position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a connector which is sometimes referred to as a pitless unit in industry for use in a pumping system including a pump, well casing, a discharge pipe to guide liquid horizontally away from the pump, and a drop pipe to guide the liquid up from the pump towards the discharge pipe. The connector acts to connect the drop pipe and discharge pipe in fluidic communication while allowing the pump there beneath to be accessed from the surface of the ground. The connector features an outer housing and internal spool which is locatable in the housing in a seated position. An interior surface of the housing and surfaces of the spool which collectively define a chamber through which the liquid flows, when the spool is in the seated position, are weld cladded with a metallic cladding material so as to resist corrosion and erosion of these wetted surfaces of the connector.

Abstract: A control circuit for a switch mode power supply (SMPS) includes a power switch for coupling to a primary winding of the power supply and a startup resistor coupled to an external input voltage and to a control terminal of the power switch. The control circuit also includes a controller. During startup, the controller is configured to cause the power switch to amplify a startup current from an external input voltage through the startup resistor and provide a startup power to the controller. During normal operation, the controller is configured to provide a power switch control signal to turn on and off the power switch for controlling a current flow in the primary winding and regulating an output of the power supply. The controller is configured to provide a current signal for driving an NPN power switch and to provide a voltage signal for driving an NMOS power switch.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply (SMPS) has a primary-side controller configured to control a power switch for turning on and turning off a current flow in the primary winding. A secondary-side controller is coupled to the secondary winding for providing constant voltage (CV) and constant current (CC) control of the SMPS. The secondary-side controller is configured to receive an output selection signal and, based on the output selection signal, select a voltage reference signal from a plurality of voltage reference signals and select a current reference signal from a plurality of current reference signals. The secondary-side controller is configured to monitor an output voltage and an output current of the SMPS, and is configured to provide a turn-on signal to the primary-side controller for turning on the power switch upon determining that the output voltage is below the selected voltage reference signal and the output current is below the selected current reference signal.

Abstract: An adaptable wheel has a central hub, radial segments connected to the central hub at a proximal end and extending radially from the central hub, each radial segment having a linear actuator configured to change a length of the radial segment; a shoe connected to a distal end of the radial segment for contacting a surface being traversed by the wheel; and a locking mechanism for selectively preventing linear motion of the linear actuator. A control system for an adaptable wheel includes a distance sensor on a vehicle for determining distance to a surface in the path of the vehicle and a computer for receiving distance information from the distance sensor and, responsive to the distance information, determine a desired length of a segment of an adaptable wheel for maintaining a hub of a wheel level, and provide control signals to a linear actuator of the segment.

Abstract: A discharging circuit for a power supply includes a rectifying circuit for coupling to an input filter capacitor coupled to an AC input voltage for providing a rectified AC voltage. A discharge resistor is coupled to the rectifying circuit, and a power switch and a discharging current source are coupled in series with the discharging resistor. A discharge control circuit is coupled to the discharge resistor for providing a discharge signal to cause the power switch to turn on for discharging the capacitor using the discharging current source. The discharging control circuit includes an AC voltage sampling circuit for providing a sampled rectified voltage, a signal-shaping circuit for providing a time-varying signal derived from the sampled rectified voltage, a comparator circuit for comparing the sampled rectified voltage and the time-varying signal, and a counter circuit for providing the discharge signal in response to an output of the comparator circuit.

Abstract: A control circuit for a switch mode power supply (SMPS) includes a power switch for coupling to a primary winding of the power supply and a startup resistor coupled to an external input voltage and to a control terminal of the power switch. The control circuit also includes a controller. During startup, the controller is configured to cause the power switch to amplify a startup current from an external input voltage through the startup resistor and provide a startup power to the controller. During normal operation, the controller is configured to provide a power switch control signal to turn on and off the power switch for controlling a current flow in the primary winding and regulating an output of the power supply. The controller is configured to provide a current signal for driving an NPN power switch and to provide a voltage signal for driving an NMOS power switch.

Abstract: Devices that transfer and communicate tap dial position changes to a remote location are bulky, cost prohibitive, and electronically noisy. A method and device for providing real-time readings of data from remote utility substation equipment, digitizing respective real-time information, and transmitting said digitized data over a utility provider's secure network to an operations control center, thus making said critical field data immediately available to a utility Operations Control Center and significantly reducing field manpower resources required to monitor critical operational data.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply (SMPS) includes a buck converter circuit that includes a first inductor coupled to an output terminal and a switch device coupled the first inductor. A controller is configured for regulating the output current based at least in part on controlling a peak current in the first inductor according to a ratio between an instantaneous voltage to an average voltage at the negative output terminal. The controller is configured to cause the SMPS to operate in a boundary conduction mode (BCM). The controller is configured to maintain a constant average output current that is substantially independent of the input voltage and the output voltage, and also provide a high power factor.

Abstract: Vibration dampeners (DTM's) designed to surround a device in which unwanted vibrations (including shocks) are set up during use or a component of the device. The DTM significantly shortens the duration of those vibrations, reducing sound levels, making the device more comfortable to use in wielded instrument applications of the invention, and/or significantly reducing the possibility that the vibrations might damage the device. A representative, but significant, use of the subject DTM's is to dampen the vibrations generated when an arrow (or bolt) is shot from a crossbow.

Abstract: An SMPS received a rectified periodic input line voltage and is configure to provide a regulated output. A power switch has a constant turn-on time in a given cycle of the rectified periodic input line voltage. A maximum value of the envelope of peak currents through the power switch is determined and is compared with a reference value, and the power switch turn-on time in the next cycle is adjusted accordingly. The output of the power supply is regulated to a target output value, and the current is in phase with the periodic input line voltage, resulting in a high power factor. No sampling of the line voltage is needed to maintain the high power factor. A controller chip can have as few as five pins. Alternatively, a seven-pin controller chip can have two external resistors for selecting operations in either Boundary Conduction Mode (BCM) or Discontinuous Conduction Mode (DCM).