Abstract: A soft actuator includes an origami structure with an inflatable hollow body formed from at least one of Dyneema fabric or Kevlar fabric, and a plurality of TCPAs formed from at least one of polyethylene terephthalate, spandex, and nylon. The soft actuator also includes a plurality of heating wires disposed on the plurality of TCPAs and a controller configured to selectively heat the plurality of heating wires such that the plurality of TCPAs are selectively actuated by being heated by the plurality of heating wires.

Abstract: A method for controlling an exhaust-gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine having at least two SCR catalytic converters connected in series. The exhaust-gas aftertreatment system has a bypass including a bypass valve around the first SCR catalytic converter, and exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine are routed around the first SCR catalytic converter via the bypass. The method includes: ascertaining an activation of an exhaust brake operation; ascertaining a first actual temperature for the first SCR catalytic converter; ascertaining an actual NH3 storage level for the first SCR catalytic converter; ascertaining a modeled, maximally permitted NH3 storage level as a function of the actual NH3 storage level; ascertaining a future temperature for the first SCR catalytic converter; ascertaining a comparison as a function of the ascertained first actual and future temperatures; actuating the bypass valve as a function of the ascertained comparison, opening the bypass valve.

Abstract: A bearing system for a compressor including an unloader at least partially received within a recess of a driveshaft. The unloader includes an outer surface that is engaged with a bearing. An inner surface of the unloader is curved such that the unloader is pivotable relative to the driveshaft unload forces on bearing caused by deflection of the driveshaft.

Abstract: A vacuum pump and a washer which can reduce vibration of a rotor and the rotor which can reduce the vibration are provided. When an inertia moment ratio which is a ratio between the inertia moment around a z-axis and the inertia moment around an x-axis or a y-axis is larger than 1, a natural frequency ?2 does not match a rotational frequency ?z but goes away from that. When the natural frequency ?2 matches the rotational frequency ?z, the rotor vibrates and thus, a fatigue failure occurs in a rotor blade. When the rotor is to be made larger in a radial direction of a rotating shaft, a value of the inertia moment ratio is set to a value larger than 1.

Abstract: A compressor wheel for a compressor of a turbocharger has a hub and a multiplicity of blades on the hub. In intermediate spaces of the multiplicity of blades, a channel is in each case formed between a suction side and a pressure side. The channel guides fluid that flows in axially in relation to a rotation axis radially or radially-axially outward. The hub in relation to the rotation axis is contoured such that the hub has a rotationally symmetrical portion and a non-rotationally symmetrical portion. On the non-rotationally symmetrical portion, a transition between the hub and each of the blades is embodied with a radiused connection and facing the suction side has a region of modified thickness. A region formed by control rays is generated in at least one channel between the suction side and the pressure side on the hub. A method produces the compressor wheel.

Abstract: A vacuum pump for supplying a machine assembly with negative pressure, the vacuum pump including a housing featuring a delivery chamber which includes a chamber inlet opening and a chamber outlet opening for a gaseous fluid; a suction port for establishing a fluid connection to the machine assembly; a suction channel which connects the delivery chamber to the suction port; and a relief channel which connects the delivery chamber to a relief opening of the housing; a delivery member which can rotate in the delivery chamber in a forward rotational direction and a reverse rotational direction. The fluid is suctioned into the delivery chamber through the chamber inlet opening and discharged through the chamber outlet opening by rotating the delivery member in the forward rotational direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for starting and rapidly decelerating a turbomachine in a power generation system that utilizes a supercritical fluid in a closed cycle.

Abstract: A method of modifying a rotor blade is provided for a rotor blade including a spar having an inboard portion with a substantially constant overall height, the inboard portion further including a top layer having a substantially constant first thickness and a bottom layer having a substantially constant second thickness. The method includes removing a root portion of the inboard portion to thereby modify the rotor blade and installing a cuff configured to couple to the rotor blade to an aircraft.

Abstract: A solution mined cavity system and method are disclosed. The system comprises an underground cavity created by solution mining in salt deposits, an upper water reservoir, tubing structure adapted to lead water from the upper water reservoir into the underground cavity and out of the underground cavity, and a pumping device adapted to contribute to pumping water from the upper water reservoir via the tubing structure out of the cavity.

Abstract: A turbocharger system for diesel trucks includes a compressor in gaseous communication with an engine; a turbine in gaseous communication with the engine via an exhaust manifold; the compressor intakes and compresses air to be pushed to the engine; an air compressor with one or more air tanks, the air compressor to pressurize and store air; one or more pipes connecting the air compressor to the exhaust manifold; a solenoid valve to open and close the one or more pipes between the air compressor and the exhaust manifold; and a control system to operate the solenoid valve; a command from the control system to the solenoid valve opens the solenoid valve to push air from the air compressor to the exhaust manifold to expand and speed up a turbo of the engine.

Abstract: A system includes an aftertreatment system heater of an exhaust aftertreatment system coupled to an engine A controller coupled to the aftertreatment system heater is configured to determine a condition of an exhaust gas from an engine and compare the condition to a predefined threshold. If the condition of the exhaust gas does not meet the predefined threshold, the controller is configured to determine whether an engine operating condition is met for activating a cylinder deactivation operating mode for the engine. If the engine operating condition is met, the controller is configured to operate the engine in the cylinder deactivation operating mode by deactivating a cylinder of a plurality of cylinders. If the engine operating condition is not met, the controller is configured to activate the aftertreatment system heater to heat the exhaust gas.

Abstract: Provided with a power generator and a power generation method capable of generating electricity using water of river or the like with a simple facility without using large facilities required in a conventional hydroelectric power plant. A buoyancy power generator includes: a storage tank which is capable of storing water; an inlet port from which the water is introduced into the storage tank; an outlet port from which the water is discharged from the storage tank to an outside; an opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the outlet port; a floating body arranged in the storage tank so as to be vertically movable; and a power generator configured to convert a vertical motion of the floating body into electricity. A buoyancy power generation method using the above described power generator.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has arcuate inlet and outlet manifolds and a plurality of tube banks, each tube bank coupling one of the inlet manifold outlets to an associated one of the outlet manifold inlets. Each tube bank partially nests with one or more others of the tube banks and has: a first header coupled to the associated inlet manifold outlet and the associated the outlet manifold inlet; a second header; and a plurality of tube bundles each having a first end coupled to the associated first header and a second end coupled to the associated second header. A flowpath from the each inlet manifold outlet passes sequentially through flowpath legs formed by each of the tube bundles in the associated tube bank to exit the tube bank to the associated outlet manifold inlet.

Abstract: To eliminate accumulation of air while preventing a decrease in pump efficiency, a pump is provided. The pump includes a rotary shaft, an impeller that is attached to the rotary shaft and that rotates with rotation of the rotary shaft, a casing that surrounds the rotary shaft, a shaft sealing device that seals a gap between the casing and the rotary shaft, and a baffle plate part that is located between the impeller and the shaft sealing device and attached to a rotating body. The baffle plate part extends in a direction that is inclined or orthogonal with respect to a surface orthogonal to an axial direction of the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A sliding component has an annular shape with a fluid facing inside and outside of the sliding component and has a sliding surface relatively sliding with eccentric rotation, in which the sliding surface includes a land and a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms arranged in a circumferential direction, the dynamic pressure generation mechanism includes a shallow groove portion and a deep groove portion, the shallow groove portion communicates with the deep groove portion, and a communication passage providing a communication between the deep groove portion and either an inside space or an outside space of the sliding component is formed in the sliding component.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a position indicator sensor wheel for a camshaft is disclosed. The position indicator includes an axially extending passage for connecting to the camshaft and at least one radially projecting tooth. The method includes providing a sheet from a sheet material; introducing the passage into the sheet; and roughening a radial inner surface of the passage in at least one rough portion.

Abstract: A groove is applied to one or more contact surfaces of a journal bearing of a pump to increase a force applied to the contact surface(s). Each groove has an end exposed to discharge pressure of the pump so that the groove communicates the discharge pressure across the contact surface. The groove reduces an area of the contact surface over which fluid leakage results in a pressure differential, thereby increasing a net force applied to the contact surface. Applying the groove to the axial end face of the journal bearing enhances an axial force applied to the journal bearing whereas applying the groove to a radially facing land reduces friction between the journal bearing and the outer housing.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the teachings herein include a method for heating a catalytic converter arranged in an exhaust-gas tract of an internal combustion engine and comprising an electric heating device. An example method may include: activating the electric heating device with a specified heating power at a time before the internal combustion engine is started; monitoring the catalyst temperature in a region of the catalytic converter adjacent the heating device; before the catalyst temperature has reached a predetermined first threshold value, supplying a secondary air mass flow with a first flow rate is supplied into the exhaust-gas tract upstream of the catalytic converter; and after the catalyst temperature has reached the predetermined first threshold value, increasing the secondary air mass flow to a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing and a mixed-flow rotor mounted within the housing. The mixed-flow rotor includes a blade and a rotor hub with an interior flow passage. The blade includes an internal channel between a pressure surface and a suction surface of the blade. The internal channel extends radially within the blade and is in fluidic communication with the interior flow passage. The blade also includes a plurality of air outlets formed on the blade proximate a leading edge of the blade. The plurality of air outlets extends into the blade to fluidically connect with the internal channel.

Abstract: An engine device includes an exhaust gas purification device above a cylinder head through a support pedestal. The support pedestal has a flat portion on which the exhaust gas purification device is mounted, and a plurality of legs which protrude downward form the flat portion and are fixed to the cylinder head. The flat portion and the leg portion are formed integrally. Portions between the legs are each formed in an arch-shape.