Abstract: The present invention exhibits a set of improvements that increases the serviceability of the known internal gear pump employing a key and matching keyway engagement between the drive shaft and a star gear. A primary benefit is that all wetted components can be accessed by only removing the front cover assembly and do not require the internal gear pump be disconnected from its drive motor or piping. Furthermore, the mechanical seals are designed to be serviced from the front of the pump such that all wetted surfaces can be accessed, cleaned, serviced by removing the front cover assembly, with the pump installed in place. Additionally, a bearing unit supporting the drive shaft is similarly removable from the front of the pump.

Abstract: A sliding vane rotary pump apparatus embodiment of the invention has a stator having a bore with a wall, a rotor having a central axis about which the rotor rotates within the bore, and a vane comprising a single piece that includes two opposed tip regions that each have a contact point where the vane contacts the wall of the bore of the stator. The vane has a centroid that follows an eccentric circular path as the vane slidably moves within the rotor as the rotor rotates and induces the vane to slidably move within the rotor from contacting the wall of the bore at the contact point of the two opposed tip regions. The vane can have a constant thickness along its length until the two opposed tip regions at each end and the two opposed tip regions can be circular each having a common constant vane tip radius.

Abstract: One variation of a method includes, at a system configured to brew a cup of coffee: reading an identifier from a packet; accessing a brew recipe based on the identifier; triggering a door actuator to open an inlet door on the system; initiating a brew cycle according to the brew recipe; during the brew cycle, activating a grinder for a grind duration to grind whole beans dispensed from the packet through the inlet door in response to manual closure of the inlet door, dispensing coffee grounds from the grinder into a brew chamber, heating a volume of water to a target temperature specified in the brew recipe, dispensing the volume of water into the brew chamber, and agitating the volume of water and coffee grounds in the brew chamber; and transferring fluid out of the brew chamber in response to conclusion of the brew cycle.

Abstract: A system includes a data acquisition device that includes one or more sensors. The data acquisition device collects sensor data from the one or more sensors that measure one or more of the following: irrigation flow rate, irrigation water quality, intensity of solar radiation, ambient temperature, and ambient humidity. The system further includes a user interface module that collects condition data from a user. The system further includes a collection and analysis application that receives the sensor data from the data acquisition device, receives the condition data from the user interface module, analyzes the sensor data and the condition data, and generates analyzed data from the sensor data and the condition data. The user interface module generates a user interface that includes the analyzed data from the collection and analysis application.

Abstract: A system for providing a personal and portable ranging system that is configured to make a user more aware of the objects surrounding them. The ranging system comprising a sensor unit comprising at least one ranging sensor, a processing unit configured to receive information obtained from the at least one ranging sensor and configured to provide at least one output notification signal, and a notification device configured to provide at least one alert signal in response to the at least one output notification signal. The notification device can provide information regarding objects detected by the ranging system.

Abstract: A tire inflation system including a drive mechanism having a rotational axis, a pump cavity positioned a radial distance away from the axis of rotation, and a force translator coupling the rotational axis to the pump cavity. The drive mechanism includes a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a non-uniform curvature, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis, and an eccentric mass couple to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis. The pump cavity is rotatably coupled to the cam, wherein the pump cavity includes an actuating element and a chamber. The force translator couples the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element, wherein the force translator includes an axis having an arcuate position fixed to an arcuate position of the pump cavity.

Abstract: A tire inflation system including a drive mechanism having a rotational axis, a pump cavity positioned a radial distance away from the axis of rotation, and a force translator coupling the rotational axis to the pump cavity. The drive mechanism includes a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a non-uniform curvature, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis, and an eccentric mass couple to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis. The pump cavity is rotatably coupled to the cam, wherein the pump cavity includes an actuating element and a chamber. The force translator couples the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element, wherein the force translator includes an axis having an arcuate position fixed to an arcuate position of the pump cavity.

Abstract: A tire inflation system including a drive mechanism having a rotational axis, a pump cavity positioned a radial distance away from the axis of rotation, and a force translator coupling the rotational axis to the pump cavity. The drive mechanism includes a cam comprising an arcuate bearing surface having a non-uniform curvature, the cam rotatable about the rotational axis, and an eccentric mass couple to the cam that offsets a center of mass of the drive mechanism from the rotational axis. The pump cavity is rotatably coupled to the cam, wherein the pump cavity includes an actuating element and a chamber. The force translator couples the arcuate bearing surface to the actuating element, wherein the force translator includes an axis having an arcuate position fixed to an arcuate position of the pump cavity.