Abstract: An iron-air battery including an iron electrode in contact with an anode current collector, wherein the iron electrode includes a plurality of channels; an oxygen reduction reaction electrode having a first surface facing the plurality of channels and an opposing second surface in contact with air; an oxygen evolution reaction electrode interdigitated with the plurality of channels of the iron electrode, wherein at least a portion of the oxygen evolution reaction electrode is disposed within the plurality of channels in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the oxygen reduction reaction electrode; and an electrolyte in contact with the iron electrode, the first surface of the oxygen reduction reaction electrode, the plurality of channels, and the oxygen evolution reaction electrode.

Abstract: A spool valve for controlling the flow of a fluid into a reciprocating piston cylinder. A spool is slideably inserted into an outer casing, the spool valve having a first and a second non-waisted end portions and having a waisted middle portion. The casing has an intake port and output port for fluids entering and exiting the casing. A first non-waisted end portion covers the intake port during a first valve-closed event as the spool slides in one direction within the casing. The waisted middle portion is sufficiently wide to uncover both the intake port and the output port during a valve-open event as the spool slides in one direction within the casing. A second non-waisted end portion covers the output port during a second valve-closed event as the spool slides in the same one direction within the casing.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for producing seamless woven materials that are variable in each of their 3 dimensions. The systems and methods generally operate by altering heddle positions independently to impart three dimensional structure to a woven fabric. Weft yarn is woven into a set of warp yarns that have been individually raised or lowered along a particular cross section, essentially locking the weave into an intended 3 dimensional form.

Abstract: A valve system that includes a housing defining an intake port, a cylinder port and a valve bore; wherein the intake port defining a valve seat portion at an interface between the intake port and the cylinder port. The valve system also includes a valve to control fluid communication between the intake port and the cylinder port. The valve includes a valve stem disposed within the valve bore and extending into the cylinder port and extending out of the housing, the valve stem having an open face exposed to atmospheric pressure and a valve head coupled to the valve stem comprising a first face and an opposing second face. A diameter of the valve stem is selected to control a closing force on the first face of the valve head.

Abstract: A spool valve for controlling the flow of a fluid into a reciprocating piston cylinder. A spool is slideably inserted into an outer casing, the spool valve having a first and a second non-waisted end portions and having a waisted middle portion. The casing has an intake port and output port for fluids entering and exiting the casing. A first non-waisted end portion covers the intake port during a first valve-closed event as the spool slides in one direction within the casing. The waisted middle portion is sufficiently wide to uncover both the intake port and the output port during a valve-open event as the spool slides in one direction within the casing. A second non-waisted end portion covers the output port during a second valve-closed event as the spool slides in the same one direction within the casing.

Abstract: A hydraulic lash assembly (HLA) for use in a valvetrain. The HLA preferably includes a first arm configured to transition a valve between a closed orientation and an open orientation. The first arm can include an engagement surface to receive a driving force from a timing member and to cause the valve to transition to the open orientation for a predetermined period. The HLA further preferably includes a second arm to receive a holding force from an actuator and a pivot section to couple to the first arm and displace the first arm based on the holding force from the actuator. Preferably, the first arm and the second arm form a lever arrangement whereby the pivot section of the second arm underlies and supports the first arm and allows for rotational movement of the first arm that is independent from the second arm.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston engine, comprising an engine block having a piston cylinder; a piston disposed in the piston cylinder; an intake port to the piston cylinder, an intake valve to open and close the intake port to the piston cylinder; a rotatable crankshaft; a flywheel connected to the crankshaft which is rotatable with the crankshaft, the flywheel having a circumferential profile; and a cam lobe forming a portion of the circumferential profile of the flywheel wherein, during rotation of the crankshaft, the cam lobe acts on the intake valve to open the intake valve.

Abstract: An injector nozzle having a first part having a stem and a flange, the flange having a flange surface, a body including a wall defining a hole, an annular nozzle ring having a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface and/or the flange surface include a plurality of grooves, the stem being received in the hole, the first part being secured to the body to secure the nozzle ring in place such that the first surface engages the flange surface, the second surface engages the body, and the plurality of grooves define a plurality of injector holes.

Abstract: An injector nozzle having a first part having a stem and a flange, the flange having a flange surface, a body including a wall defining a hole, an annular nozzle ring having a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface and/or the flange surface include a plurality of grooves, the stem being received in the hole, the first part being secured to the body to secure the nozzle ring in place such that the first surface engages the flange surface, the second surface engages the body, and the plurality of grooves define a plurality of injector holes.

Abstract: A testing rig and method of testing a bearing with the rig, wherein the rig includes a bearing housing, wherein said bearing housing includes an opening and a drive shaft extending into said opening, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable around a bearing axis. The testing rig also includes a vertical actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a vertical load to the bearing housing and a horizontal actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a horizontal load to the bearing housing. In addition, the testing rig includes a first misalignment actuator coupled to the first actuator for applying a first misalignment load to the bearing housing and a second misalignment actuator coupled to the bearing housing for applying a second misalignment load to the bearing housing.

Abstract: A testing rig and method of testing a bearing with the rig, wherein the rig includes a bearing housing, wherein said bearing housing includes an opening and a drive shaft extending into said opening, wherein the drive shaft is rotatable around a bearing axis. The testing rig also includes a vertical actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a vertical load to the bearing housing and a horizontal actuator mounted on the bearing housing for applying a horizontal load to the bearing housing. In addition, the testing rig includes a first misalignment actuator coupled to the first actuator for applying a first misalignment load to the bearing housing and a second misalignment actuator coupled to the bearing housing for applying a second misalignment load to the bearing housing.

Abstract: A mobile platform has a separate and independent linear actuator pivotally connected near each opposite end of the platform where there is a contact limit switch that when triggered by contact with the side of a flatbed, stops movement of the actuator, and thus stops movement of the platform, toward the side of the flatbed. Because each of the two actuators is pivotally connected to its respective end of the platform and moves independently of the other, each end of the platform can stop moving toward the flatbed before or after, depending on how the flatbed is misaligned, the other end of the platform stops moving toward the flatbed. In this way the platform self-aligns to the alignment of the flatbed and avoids the need to reposition a flatbed that is not precisely aligned parallel to the central axis of the loading bay.

Abstract: An apparatus may include an elongated support member that when attached to a vehicle is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A mounting bracket is fixedly attached to the elongated support member and configured for being fixedly attached to a vehicle. The elongated support member is fixedly attached to a stepping surface that provides a back surface to restrict motion of the foot of a user past the elongated support member, a first side surface to restrict motion of the foot of the user in a first direction, and a second side surface to restrict motion of the foot of the user in a second direction that opposes the first direction. The distance between the first side surface and the second side surface is substantially less than a length of the elongated support member.

Abstract: A mobile platform has a separate and independent linear actuator pivotally connected near each opposite end of the platform where there is a contact limit switch that when triggered by contact with the side of a flatbed, stops movement of the actuator, and thus stops movement of the platform, toward the side of the flatbed. Because each of the two actuators is pivotally connected to its respective end of the platform and moves independently of the other, each end of the platform can stop moving toward the flatbed before or after, depending on how the flatbed is misaligned, the other end of the platform stops moving toward the flatbed. In this way the platform self-aligns to the alignment of the flatbed and avoids the need to reposition a flatbed that is not precisely aligned parallel to the central axis of the loading bay.

Abstract: A double-sided step ladder is provided comprising a first frame having a plurality of spaced apart steps and a second frame having a plurality of spaced apart steps. The plurality of steps on the first frame includes a bottom step located at a first height relative to the base of the ladder with each successive step being spaced apart along the frame at various heights relative to the bottom step of the first frame. The plurality of steps on the second frame also includes a bottom step, the bottom step of the second frame being located at a second height relative to the base of the ladder with each successive step being spaced apart along the frame at various heights relative to the bottom step of the second ladder. The plurality of steps on the first frame and the second frame are located such that the heights of the plurality of steps on the first frame are staggered relative to the heights of the plurality of steps on the second frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve actuation system comprising a valve train for actuating a valve, the valve train including actuating elements and a valve lash, and a valve lash adjustment system for adjusting the valve lash, wherein the valve train and the valve lash adjustment system do not share any common actuating elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve actuation system comprising a valve train for actuating a valve, the valve train including actuating elements and a valve lash, and a valve lash adjustment system for adjusting the valve lash, wherein the valve train and the valve lash adjustment system do not share any common actuating elements.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment request a program or programs to tune themselves to run faster or slower if a service class is not meeting its performance goal. In an embodiment, the program is repeatedly requested to incrementally tune itself until the performance goal is met or until no further improvement occurs. In various embodiments, the programs to be requested to tune themselves are selected based on whether the programs are bottlenecks for the service class, whether the programs do the majority of work for the service class, whether the programs easily meet their own performance goals, or whether the programs are low priority. In this way, the programs may be performance tuned in a way that is more effective and less intrusive than by adjusting global, system-level resource allocations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve actuation system comprising a valve train for actuating a valve, the valve train including actuating elements and a valve lash, and a valve lash adjustment system for adjusting the valve lash, wherein the valve train and the valve lash adjustment system do not share any common actuating elements.