Abstract: An air boost system for a two-cycle engine, such as an EMD engine, which operates with one or more roots blowers, or for similar engines that use gear-driven roots blowers or centrifugal blowers. At least one of the roots blowers is equipped with a variable transmission, which allows airflow into the engine to be varied in accordance with load or other engine operating conditions.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a waveguide antenna for microwave enhanced combustion of a previously ignited fuel-air mixture. The waveguide antenna has a thermal conductivity of at least 150 W/m?k and can be formed from a metallic shell with a ceramic core.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a thermite bag, which may be used for the disposal of hazardous material. The thermite bag includes a sealable exterior pouch, a sealable interior pouch receivable within the exterior pouch, a thermite charge receivable within the sealable interior pouch and an igniter wire contacting thermite within the thermite charge. The thermite bag also includes a power supply electrically coupled to the ignitor wire and a trigger electrically coupled to the ignitor wire and power supply. In addition, the thermite bag includes a vent including a filter, wherein the vent is coupled to the sealable exterior pouch.

Abstract: A balloon reflector antenna for a satellite, including a spherical balloon with a surface transparent to electromagnetic waves and a reflective surface opposite the transparent surface. The balloon reflector antenna may further include a feed system extending from the center of the balloon that receives electromagnetic waves reflected off the reflective surface and/or outputs electromagnetic waves that are reflected off the reflective surface.

Abstract: One embodiment provides an azimuthal pointing system for scientific ballooning. An apparatus, method and/or system are configured to drive a motor to twist a torsion member of a torsion pendulum and to utilize a restoring force of the torsion member to adjust a pointing direction (i.e., pointing angle) of a payload. The torsion pendulum includes the torsion member, the payload and the motor. The payload is coupled to the torsion member by the motor.

Abstract: A dynamic testing system for sealing devices includes a shaft that is reciprocated in a bore through a body. The shaft includes a first seal assembly and a second seal assembly disposed a distance apart on the shaft. When the shaft is inserted into the bore, the first seal assembly and the second seal assembly form a fluid-tight seal between the external surface of the shaft and the internal surface of the bore—this forms a fluid-tight cavity between the seal assemblies. Sealing devices in each of the first seal assembly and the second seal assembly experience chemical attack and mechanical wear. One or more axial force measurement sensors measure the force applied by a prime mover to reciprocate the shaft within the bore. Data acquisition circuitry collects the force information and generates a graphical output that plots friction force against reciprocating cycle count.

Abstract: A method of training a learning machine to detect spills of hydrocarbon liquids from pipelines. A neural network is trained by collecting samples of a number of different ground materials as well as a number of liquid hydrocarbons. For each hydrocarbon, a spill is simulated on each ground material. For each of these spills, a thermal camera and a visible light camera are used to capture images. The images from the two cameras are fused, and input to the neural network for classification training. Once the neural network is trained, a system having the two cameras and the neural network can be used to detect actual hydrocarbon spills.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new route to bis-quaternary pyridinium oximes which can be utilized to restore activity of acetylcholinesterase inhibited by combination with organophosphates.

Abstract: Methods of testing the material of a metal object made by additive manufacturing. An electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) is used to transmit long duration acoustic signals into the object, and to receive response signals representing resonance of acoustic waves within the material. At least one resonance peak is identified and used to determine attenuation and/or wave velocity. These values can then be used to determine material properties, such as porosity, Shear Modulus, Young's Modulus, or Poisson's Ratio.

Abstract: An adapter for delivering an atomized spray from a syringe. The adapter includes an adapter guide including a side wall, an interior surface of the side wall defining a through-bore and a shoulder in the through-bore. A pin guide is located in the through-bore. The pin guide includes a seat and a sleeve extending from the seat. A spring positioned around the pin guide sleeve and between the pin guide seat and the shoulder, wherein the spring and the sleeve provide a passageway there between. A pin extends from the pin guide seat and through the passageway. Affixing the adapter onto a syringe provides an atomizing delivery device. A method of dispensing an atomized spray from a syringe is provided by affixing the adapter to the syringe.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide a vehicular force absorption system that includes an interference damper that couples a vehicle external hull with a vehicle floor that is spaced apart from the vehicle external hull. The interference damper includes a common member having a first breakaway member coupled or connected to a second breakaway member. The coupling or connection between the first breakaway member and the second breakaway member may have a defined yield point at which the first breakaway member separates from the second breakaway member when subjected to a tensile force. The interference damper further includes a plurality of curved members that provide a resistive force against the separation of the first breakaway member and the second breakaway member. The resistive force provided by the interference damper beneficially reduces the force exerted on personnel and/or cargo in contact with the vehicle floor.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein beneficially provide an exit gas having a third, relatively low, NO/NO2 ratio that closely approximates the NO/NO2 ratio found in the exhaust of various internal combustion engines. The systems and methods described herein receive a feed gas having a first, relatively high NO/NO2 ratio. The feed gas is apportioned into a first feed gas portion that is passed through a non-thermal plasma generation system to provide an intermediate gas having a second, relatively very low, NO/NO2 ratio and a second feed gas portion having the first NO/NO2 ratio. The intermediate gas and the second feed gas portion are combined to provide the exist gas having the third, relatively low, NO/NO2 ratio. The systems and methods described herein beneficially provide an exit gas having a variable NO/NO2 ratio to simulate exhaust from a variety of internal combustion engines.

Abstract: An engine and a method of operating the engine wherein fuel, intake air, and recirculated exhaust gas provides a first mixture, which is inducted into a first combustion cylinder. The first mixture is combusted in the combustion cylinder to generate a first exhaust gas that applies pressure to a piston within the combustion cylinder, reciprocating the piston and rotating a primary crankshaft coupled to the piston. Fuel and intake air, which provides a second mixture, are inducted into a rotary combustion chamber. The second mixture is combusted in the rotary combustion chamber, wherein the combustion generates a recirculated exhaust gas that applies pressure to the rotor and rotates the rotor and a secondary crankshaft coupled to the rotor. The secondary crankshaft is coupled to the primary crankshaft by a gear mechanism. The recirculated exhaust gas is exhausted into an exhaust gas recirculation loop and recirculated.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the preparation of polymorphic mixtures of Cepharanthine.2HCl. Mixtures of at least two polymorphic forms can be formed into a mobile liquid phase in organic/aqueous solvent mixtures along with enteric polymer that can be spray dried to produce solid particulate enteric formulations for medicinal drug-treatment applications.

Abstract: A numerically stable and computationally efficient method for updating and downdating during MVDR (minimum variance distortionless response) adaptive beamforming. The method involves downdating and updating of the triangular (Cholesky) factor of the covariance matrix. The covariance matrix is never explicitly formed, but rather is partitioned and expanded after substituting in the Cholesky factors.

Abstract: A method of implementing start-stop in an internal combustion engine, the engine having exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) from at least one dedicated EGR (D-EGR) cylinder. For stopping the engine, the camshaft is locked, and a hydraulic cam phaser is used to cushion the engine inertia. The engine is stopped such that one of the D-EGR cylinders is in top-dead center position. For starting the engine, that D-EGR cylinder is fuel-injected, and exhaust bleed-off performed if necessary.

Abstract: An omnidirectional movement system includes a frame with a central axis extending from a first end to a second end; a support extending from the first end to the second end; a first set of Mecanum wheels connected through a first axle and connected to the frame; a second set of Mecanum wheels connected through a second axle and connected to the frame; and a flexible suspension system connecting the frame to the support.

Abstract: A robotic surface treatment system includes an omnidirectional base vehicle; a mast extending from the base vehicle; an arm extending from the mast and moveable in relation to the mast; a wrist connected to a distal end of the arm; and a surface treatment system extending from the base to the wrist through an inside of the mast, arm and wrist.

Abstract: A method of determining the position and orientation of a moveable object includes a) connecting a plurality of targets to the object at known points on the object such that the targets will move with the object; b) scanning the surface of the object and at least some of the plurality of targets to obtain target data; c) comparing the scanned target data to at least one known dimension of one of the plurality of targets; and d) if scanned target data matches the at least one known dimension of one of the plurality of targets, mapping known object model data according to the target data to determine the position and orientation of the object.

Abstract: A laser beam alignment system includes at least one mirror with a surface pattern configured to receive and reflect a laser beam, at least one detector configured to detect a deflected portion of a laser beam from the mirror, and at least one controller configured to communicate with the at least one mirror and the at least one detector and to control the mirror position on the basis of the deflected portion of the laser beam.