Abstract: Material flow amplifiers as disclosed herein overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions (e.g., surface erosion and head losses) that arise from flow of certain types of materials (e.g., fluids, slurries, particulates, flowable aggregate, and the like) through a material flow conduit. Such material flow amplifiers provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile (e.g., increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated slugging and the like).

Abstract: This disclosure provides various embodiments of systems and methods for secure communications. In one aspect, the system includes a secure payment module (SPM) in a fuel dispenser and a point-of-sate (POS) system. The POS system stores a public key certificate uniquely identifying the SPM and is configured to dynamically generate a first session key. The POS system encrypts the first session key with a public key associated with the public key certificate, and transmits the encrypted first session key to the SPM. The SPM, which stores a private key associated with the public key certificate, is configured to receive and decrypt the first session key. The SPM is further configured to receive a set of magnetic card data from a card reader, encrypt the set of magnetic card data with the first session key, and transmit the encrypted set of magnetic card data to the POS system.

Abstract: An ergonomically designed seating apparatus having a seat and a backrest. The seat having a seat frame securable to a chassis, a seat support pivotally connected to the seat frame, and at least one first resilient member positioned between the seat frame and the seat support permitting resilient relative pivotal tilting between them. The backrest having a back frame securable to the chassis, a lumbar support connected to the back frame, a back support pivotally connected to the lumbar support, at least one second resilient member positioned along surfaces of the lumbar support and the back support permitting resilient relative pivotal tilting between them, at least one pivot arm connected to the back support configured to limit the pivotal range of motion of the back support, and at least one pivot block connected to the lumbar support configured to interact with the at least one pivot arm.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bandwidth-limited video transport are configured to receive (or otherwise discern) a selection of video parameter limits that correspond to a bandwidth limit and apply the video parameter limits to an input video stream to enforce the bandwidth limit while preserving video quality. Methods may include adjusting the video stream one parameter at a time until the adjusted video stream meets the bandwidth limit. Parameters to be adjusted may include image resolution, frame rate, image compression, color depth, bits per pixel, and/or color encoding. In some embodiments, the image resolution is reduced first, the frame rate is reduced next, and the image compression is increased last. The extent and/or order of the adjustments of the parameters may be selected by the user, based on the content of the video stream, and/or based on the bandwidth limit.

Abstract: Systems and methods monitor driver behavior for vehicular fleet management in a fleet of vehicles using driver-facing imaging device. The systems and methods herein relate generally to vehicular fleet management for enhancing safety of the fleet and improving the performance of the fleet drivers, and further relate to monitoring the operation of fleet vehicles using one or more driver-facing imaging devices disposed in the fleet vehicles for recording activities of the fleet drivers and their passengers, storing information relating to the monitored activities, selectively generating warnings related to the monitored activities, and reporting the monitored activities to a central fleet management system for use in enhancing the safety of the vehicles of the fleet and for helping to improve the performance of the fleet drivers.

Abstract: Various aspects of this disclosure relate to methods to lower the activation energy of the cannabinoid decarboxylation reaction by performing the decarboxylation reaction in the gas phase.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a frame. An imaging sensor is seated in the frame. A shutter is pivotally mounted to the frame along a pivot axis. The shutter is positioned to pivot between a first position that is clear of the imaging sensor and a second position that occludes the imaging sensor. A linear actuator is pivotally connected to the shutter at a linkage axis that is offset from the pivot axis for actuating the shutter between the first and second positions.

Abstract: Zero tension system conveyor. A conveyor belt is driven by at least a portion of the conveyor belt being in continuous contact with a block chain within at least a portion of an overall conveyor belt system. Such a conveyor belt system may be implemented in a spiral configuration such that a relatively small portion of the overall width of the conveyor belt is in contact with the block chain above and/or below the conveyor belt. The static force/weight of the conveyor belt in conjunction with the continuous contact between at least a portion of the conveyor belt and the block chain effectuates the driving of the conveyor belt through the overall conveyor belt system. The block chain is composed of a number of links, at least some of which include a respective hook/protrusion on one side thereof, for being directly engaged by drum bars implemented within a drum assembly.

Abstract: A method for a hitless handover in a hitless handover of communications in a Radio Frequency (RF) network is disclosed.

Abstract: A spoken communication system includes a plurality of domestic devices and a server. Each of the devices is responsive to spoken communication to communicate that spoken communication to other devices, and to receive spoken communications received by other communication devices. The server is in digital communication with domestic devices to communicate that spoken communication among the registered devices.

Abstract: A system for validation of healthcare provider bills includes obtaining an image of the bill on a mobile device which uses optical character recognition to resolve the patient, provider and amount due as alphanumeric characters. This collection of data is cross-referenced against an explanation of benefits (EOB) generated by a third-party administrator which relays the portion of the healthcare provider bill covered by insurance versus what is the patient's responsibility. The EOB and provider bill are validated against each other so the patient can make payment in an accurate amount.

Abstract: A bone anchoring system having a flexible member with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A fastener provided at a first end of the flexible member for retaining the flexible member within a bone. A rigid member is provided to ensure movement or pull-through of the flexible member does not occur.

Abstract: A device, system, and method for loading empty and formed six-pack bottle carriers into a larger case (i.e. a multi-pack) is provided. The packaging device includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The six-pack carriers are formed by unfolding them in the upper portion. Various components are associated with the upper portion of the packaging device. The case receives a plurality of six-pack carriers therein. The larger cases is formed by unfolding them in the lower portion of the packaging device. Various components are associated with the lower portion of the packaging device. The upper portion and lower portion operate simultaneously to efficiently produce a case have empty six-pack carriers placed therein for later filling with bottles at a downstream destination. The system includes the machine, the cases, the six-pack carriers, and the bottles, operating collectively.

Abstract: A polygonal coupling couples torque source to a torque consumer such that input and output portions of the coupling may elastically rotate relative to one another during torque transfer to accommodate rotational speed variations in delivery of torque from the torque source. In an embodiment the torque source is an internal combustion engine with an integrated switchable coupling between the engine crankshaft and a torque transfer segment supporting a motor-generator. The polygonal coupling includes axially-overlapping polygonal-shaped male and female portions which cooperate to pass torque between the output of the integrated switchable coupling and an input of the torque transfer segment. At least one of the male and female portions includes recesses which form flexible arms adjacent to the lobes of the polygonal shape that allow the portions to rotate relative to one another over small angular displacements, and thereby improve damping of crankshaft rotational vibrations.

Abstract: In one aspect, a surgical driver is provided that includes a driver shaft, a handle rotatably connected to the driver shaft, and a resilient, elongate pin extending transverse to the driver shaft. The pin is operably engaged with the driver shaft and the handle so that torque applied to the handle causes turning of the driver shaft. The pin is configured to deflect to limit the torque applied to the driver shaft.

Abstract: A liquid dispenser comprise a nozzle comprising an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet to form a flow path, a thermistor in fluid communication with the inlet, an actuator rod comprising a gasket rod tip viton, at least one centering pin to center the actuator rod in at least a portion of the flow path, a flowmeter in fluid communication with the inlet, a double acting pneumatic cylinder comprising a first pneumatic inlet and a second pneumatic inlet operatively connected to the actuator rod, and a switch lever operatively coupled to a micro switch, wherein the nozzle opens when gas enters the first pneumatic inlet when the switch lever is activated by pressing on the micro switch and closes when gas enters the second pneumatic inlet when the switch lever is deactivated. Portable and non-portable liquid dispensing systems comprising the liquid dispenser are also described.

Abstract: A carton for packaging one or more articles includes a plurality of walls including a top wall, a base wall, a first side wall and a second side wall forming a tubular structure. One of the plurality of walls includes a handle structure defined in it. The handle structure includes a grip member struck from one of the plurality of walls and a handle strap. The grip member is mounted on the handle strap. A first aperture is struck from the one of the plurality of walls. The aperture is disposed adjacent to a first end of the grip member so as to define a first end edge of the grip member. The first aperture defines a portion of an opening in the one of the plurality of walls. In the opening, a portion of the handle strap may be received.