Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are useful for lifting reservoir fluid in a gas-producing wellbore through the application of a differential between pressure of the gas in the wellbore's gas-production conduit a lower end of which is disposed in reservoir fluid accumulated at a bottom of the wellbore and pressure of the wellbore annulus. The apparatus comprises a collection module disposed in the gas-producing wellbore for collecting by condensation reservoir fluid being lifted as vapor with produced gas in a gas-production conduit disposed in the wellbore, and one or more lift modules for applying the pressure differential to lift the reservoir fluid collected by condensation, and optionally reservoir fluid accumulated at the bottom of the wellbore, within the wellbore.

Abstract: A deployable crafting machine may include a vehicle and a gantry system. The gantry system may be configured to be collapsed on the vehicle during which the gantry system is inoperable and to be expanded during which the gantry system is operable and supported at least in part by the vehicle. A deployable crafting process may include moving a vehicle to a first location while a gantry system is stored on the vehicle in a collapsed and inoperable state and expanding the gantry system into an operable state after the vehicle arrives at the first location during which the gantry system is supported at least in part by the vehicle.

Abstract: An automated extrusion construction system may include an extrusion nozzle configured to extrude construction material in a substantially horizontal direction against an elongated and substantially vertical surface. An extrusion nozzle may have a height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the height of an outlet in response to level deviations in the surface on which the construction material is extruded by the extrusion nozzle. An automated extrusion construction system may include a slicing mechanism configured to controllably slice through the extruded layer.

Abstract: A process for making construction material may include mixing predetermined portions of two or more components of cementitious materials without ingredients that would allow the mixture to cure, and separating the un-curable mixture of the two or more components into a plurality of pellets, each having substantially the predetermined portions of the two or more components. An extrusion system may include a transport line configured to transport the dry pellets in a gaseous transport stream.

Abstract: A fluid metering device may meter the flow of fluid. The device may have a main chamber and a piston configured and oriented to reciprocate within the main chamber. The piston may be configured and oriented to define a first and a second sub-chamber whose volumes vary inversely as a function of the position of the piston during its reciprocation. The fluid metering device may have a first inlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid into the first sub-chamber, a first outlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid out of the first sub-chamber, a second inlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid into the second sub-chamber, and a second outlet valve configured to controllably regulate the flow of fluid out of the second sub-chamber.

Abstract: A nozzle for extruding cementitious material may include an outlet sized and configured to extrude the cementitious material, a material flow pathway configured to channel the cementitious material to the outlet, and a vibration-actuated valve interposed in the material flow pathway. The valve may include a plurality of spaced-apart plates configured to form a plurality of flow channels, and a vibration-generating device coupled to the plates and configured to controllable cause the plates to controllably vibrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed that are useful for robotic gantry systems that are lightweight while at the same time offering rigidity or stiffness for implementation in Contour Crafting construction and material delivery techniques. The present disclosure is directed to robotic gantry system and material transport apparatus that use of very light structural members that have sufficient compressive strength, but which may otherwise be weak in the presence of bending forces, in conjunction with cables that provide stiffness against bending. Use of such cables provides needed tension while at the same time allowing the robotic gantry system to be very light compared to solid structures, e.g., those with I-beams, etc. Material delivery systems including passive articulated arms are also disclosed.

Abstract: A robotic system may include a movable gantry robot, and a nozzle assembly movably coupled to the overhead beam of the gantry robot. The gantry robot may include an overhead beam extending between, and supported by, at least two side members slidably mounted on a pair of rails. The nozzle assembly may be coupled to the overhead beam of the gantry robot, and may be configured to extrude material through an outlet. The robotic system may further include a position controller configured to control position and movement of the gantry robot and the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents several embodiments for metering devices some of which also have pumping capability. The devices utilize one or more pistons located within a cylindrical rotor. As the cylindrical rotor is turned by a suitable torque/power source, a first face of each piston is exposed to an inlet supplying a fluid to be metered. The piston is then moved within the associated channel or bore within the rotor, allowing the volume of the channel to be filled with fluid. The continuing rotation of the rotor then removes the piston from the fluid supply and moves the channel through an angular displacement. The piston is then moved—either through applied power for active pistons or the force of the fluid supply for passive pistons—in the opposite direction, forcing the fluid out of the channel. In this way, a precise amount of fluid can be metered from each channel.

Abstract: A system for a gas-producing wellbore comprises a collection module disposed about a gas-production conduit in the wellbore, the collection module comprising a collection chamber disposed about the gas-production conduit. The system further comprises one or more lift modules for applying a differential between pressure of gas in the gas-production conduit and pressure of the wellbore.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are useful for lifting water in a gas-producing wellbore through the application of a differential between pressure of the gas in the wellbore's gas-production conduit and pressure of the wellbore annulus. The apparatus comprises a module disposed in the gas-producing wellbore for collecting by condensation water that has been lifted as water vapor with produced gas in a gas-production conduit disposed in the wellbore, and one or more lift modules for applying the pressure differential to lift the collected water within the wellbore.

Abstract: A multicolor writing and painting instrument may include a plurality of hard, wear-resistant nibs at an end of the tubular housing. Each nib may have a tip. The nibs may be bundled together such that the tips of the nibs lie in substantially the same plane and approximately on the circumference of a common circle. The instrument may include an ink reservoir for each of the nibs within the tubular housing. Each ink reservoir may be configured to hold a colored ink. The instrument may include a single, hard, wear-resistant nib at an end of the tubular housing. The nib may have a writing surface. A plurality of tubes may each lead to the writing surface of the nib. The tubes may form a plurality of openings on the writing surface. The openings may be arranged in clusters of one or more openings. Each cluster of openings may lie approximately along a circumference of a common circle. There may be a separate ink reservoir within the tubular housing for each cluster of openings.

Abstract: A multicolor writing and painting instrument for writing and painting on a writing surface may include an ink-receiving surface which may be configured to receive a flow of one of a plurality of different colored inks. The instrument may include a nib configured to deliver the flow of ink received by the ink-receiving surface to the writing surface. The instrument may include a separate ink reservoir configured to hold each of the different colored inks. The instrument may include a fluid delivery system configured to controllably channel ink from any one of the ink reservoirs to the ink-receiving surface. The instrument may include a color selection control configured to enable a user to select one of the colored inks and to cause the fluid delivery system to deliver the selected colored ink from the reservoir which is holding this ink to the ink-receiving surface.

Abstract: An extrusion construction system may include an extrusion nozzle, a channeling element coupled to the extrusion nozzle and to a source of construction material, the channeling element configured to transport the material to the extrusion nozzle for extruding the material onto a surface, wherein a surface of the channeling element comprises a transparent substrate such that a flow of the material is viewable through the substrate, an imaging device configured to capture a plurality of images through the substrate of the material flow, and a controller configured to estimate a flow rate based on the plurality of images.

Abstract: An extrusion construction system may include an extrusion nozzle configured to extrude construction material through an outlet onto an external surface, the extrusion nozzle including an excess flow port disposed substantially adjacent an edge of the outlet, an imaging device coupled to the extrusion nozzle, and a controller configured to adjust the rate of material flow through the extrusion nozzle in response to receiving one or more images captured by the imaging device showing excess material being extruded through the excess flow port.

Abstract: A haptic apparatus may include a plate element positionable to extend over an anatomical segment of a user, and an elongate member coupled to the plate element and configured to be movably mounted onto the anatomical segment so as to remain substantially vertical and substantially perpendicular to the anatomical segment while the anatomical segment undergoes a motion. The haptic apparatus may further include a motion restrictor responsive to a control signal to impede the motion of the anatomical segment by generating an opposing force along the elongate member in a direction normal to the anatomical segment, thereby providing tactile feedback to the user.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a nozzle assembly configured to extrude material through an outlet; and a controllable robotic arm coupled to the nozzle assembly, the robotic arm having at one end a gripper configured to pick up an element and deposit the element at a desired position relative to the extruded material. The element may be one of: a reinforcement member for a structure being constructed; a segment of a plumbing pipe; an electric network component; and a tile.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method are useful for lifting reservoir fluid in a gas-producing wellbore through the application of a differential between pressure of the gas in the wellbore's gas-production conduit a lower end of which is disposed in reservoir fluid accumulated at a bottom of the wellbore and pressure of the wellbore annulus. The apparatus comprises a collection module disposed in the gas-producing wellbore for collecting by condensation reservoir fluid being lifted as vapor with produced gas in a gas-production conduit disposed in the wellbore, and one or more lift modules for applying the pressure differential to lift the reservoir fluid collected by condensation, and optionally reservoir fluid accumulated at the bottom of the wellbore, within the wellbore.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a nozzle assembly configured to extrude material through an outlet; and a controllable robotic arm coupled to the nozzle assembly, the robotic arm having at one end a gripper configured to pick up an element and deposit the element at a desired position relative to the extruded material. The element may be one of: a reinforcement member for a structure being constructed; a segment of a plumbing pipe; an electric network component; and a tile.

Abstract: The present disclosure presents several embodiments for metering devices some of which also have pumping capability. The devices utilize one or more pistons located within a cylindrical rotor. As the cylindrical rotor is turned by a suitable torque/power source, a first face of each piston is exposed to an inlet supplying a fluid to be metered. The piston is then moved within the associated channel or bore within the rotor, allowing the volume of the channel to be filled with fluid. The continuing rotation of the rotor then removes the piston from the fluid supply and moves the channel through an angular displacement. The piston is then moved—either through applied power for active pistons or the force of the fluid supply for passive pistons—in the opposite direction, forcing the fluid out of the channel. In this way, a precise amount of fluid can be metered from each channel.