Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for identifying and tracking products in a material handling system and/or for identifying and handling product defects in a material handling system are provided. An example method may include receiving one or more articles in the material handling system; capturing one or more images of the one or more articles; identifying at least one visual defect indicator on at least one article of the one or more articles; and determining an indication corresponding to at least one of a defect of the at least one article or a portion of the material handling system causing the defect.

Abstract: A method and system includes acquiring a seismic dataset while fluids are injected into the subsurface with seismic data recorded at multiple sensor locations. Seismic travel times are computed between sensors and subsurface locations using a velocity model. Travel times and travel time delays between pairs of sensors may be used as input to determine a similarity coefficient associated with subsurface positions. The similarity coefficients are determined using cross correlation, semblance calculations or eigenstructure decomposition. The coefficient values are related to the acoustic response at each subsurface position and may be summed together for each position for comparison with other subsurface positions to determine the position of a fluid front moving through the subsurface. The values may be displayed to illustrate the position of fluids in the subsurface and displayed to show the time variance of the fluid position.

Abstract: A hybrid solar reactor and a heat storage system are disclosed. The hybrid solar reactor includes one or more heaters and a solar light guide assembly coupled to a shell of the reactor. The solar light guide assembly includes a solar light guide to direct solar energy to, for example, one or more reactor tubes within the shell.

Abstract: A method and system includes determining a subsurface fluid seismic attribute comprising recording a signal at a wellhead related to pumping fracture stimulation fluid to obtain a pressure pulse pump signal. A deconvolution operator is determined from the obtained pressure pulse pump signal. Seismic data are acquired from a plurality of sensors. Travel time differences are computed for the seismic data between the plurality of sensor locations and the subsurface position. Seismic data are deconvolved with the deconvolution operator to obtain a plurality of deconvolution coefficients associated with the subsurface position. The computed travel time differences are used to sum the plurality of deconvolution coefficients associated with the subsurface position to obtain a subsurface fluid seismic attribute at the subsurface position.

Abstract: A method and system includes acquiring a seismic dataset while fluids are injected into the subsurface with seismic data recorded at multiple sensor locations. Seismic travel times are computed between sensors and subsurface locations using a velocity model. Travel times and travel time delays between pairs of sensors may be used as input to determine a similarity coefficient associated with subsurface positions. The similarity coefficients are determined using cross correlation, semblance calculations or eigenstructure decomposition. The coefficient values are related to the acoustic response at each subsurface position and may be summed together for each position for comparison with other subsurface positions to determine the position of a fluid front moving through the subsurface. The values may be displayed to illustrate the position of fluids in the subsurface and displayed to show the time variance of the fluid position.

Abstract: A method and system includes determining a subsurface fluid seismic attribute comprising recording a signal at a wellhead related to pumping fracture stimulation fluid to obtain a pressure pulse pump signal. A deconvolution operator is determined from the obtained pressure pulse pump signal. Seismic data are acquired from a plurality of sensors. Travel time differences are computed for the seismic data between the plurality of sensor locations and the subsurface position. Seismic data are deconvolved with the deconvolution operator to obtain a plurality of deconvolution coefficients associated with the subsurface position. The computed travel time differences are used to sum the plurality of deconvolution coefficients associated with the subsurface position to obtain a subsurface fluid seismic attribute at the subsurface position.

Abstract: An optical image creation mechanism and method is disclosed, which may comprise a screen defining a coordinate system oriented to the screen and having an origin on the screen; a light input signal detection unit, moving with respect to the screen, and which may comprise a light input signal position identifier identifying a light input signal position within the coordinate system; and a light generation unit, moving with respect to the screen, and which may comprise a light initiation mechanism initiating the display of light responsive to the light input signal position within the coordinate system. The light input signal detection unit may comprise a light input signal detector rotating about the origin of the coordinate system of the screen. The light generation unit may comprise a light emitter rotating about the origin of the coordinate system of the screen.

Abstract: A brake assembly is provided that includes a wear-resistant surface, or a surface prone to corrosion, wherein the surface is coated with a coating that optimizes wear-resistance, corrosion-resistance, adhesiveness, and friction factors of the coating. The coating includes a sacrificial corrosion constituent and a second constituent that is relatively harder than the sacrificial corrosion constituent wherein typical metals often employed as sacrificial anodes for example are contemplated. These include aluminum, zinc, and alloys thereof. The second constituent is potentially formed from a carbide, nitride, oxide, transitional metals and alloys thereof, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method for deposition of a metal layer onto plastic materials is disclosed. The method allows for formation of long length strain gauges and deposition of high melting temperature metals onto plastic materials. The method comprises initially depositing a pattern of powder particles onto the plastic material using a kinetic spray process. Then the high melting temperature metal layer is deposited using a thermal spray process. The metal layer only adheres to the pattern of the powder particles and not to the plastic substrate. To form a stain gauge the powder particles are deposited in a discontinuous non-electrically conductive density on the plastic material. Then a metal layer is deposited using a thermal spray process and a metal having a variable resistance. The metal forms a continuous and electrically conductive pathway having a resistance that changes as stress is applied to the substrate.

Abstract: Seismic data recorded by subsurface seismic sensors placed in a borehole, such as an oil or gas well, are transformed via a process of upward wavefield propagation to pseudo-receivers at the surface of the earth. The seismic data thus transformed can be processed as though the data had been recorded by the pseudo-receivers at the surface rather than in the borehole where the data were actually recorded. This method accurately accounts for seismic source statics, anisotropy, and all velocity effects between the real receivers in the borehole and the pseudo-receivers at the surface of the earth.

Abstract: The subject invention provides an assembly for measuring movement of and a torque applied to a shaft extending between first and second ends and being hollow, specifically for measuring rotation and twisting of the shaft. A permanent magnet is disposed within the shaft for producing a parallel magnetic field emanating radially from the shaft. A sensor mechanism is positioned adjacent the shaft to detect the magnetic flux produced in response to the shaft being moved. The sensor mechanism includes a magnetostrictive (MR) material disposed annularly about the shaft and extends between first and second edges. A flux collector extends beyond the first and second edges of the magnetostrictive material to direct the magnetic flux through a Hall sensor to detect an axial component of the magnetic flux in response to twisting.

Abstract: A torque sensing apparatus for picking up a magnetic field of a magnetostrictive material disposed on a shaft, comprising: a first integrating ring; a second integrating ring; a first fluxgate return strip and a second fluxgate return strip each being connected to the first integrating ring at one end and the second integrating ring at the other end; an excitation coil; and a feedback coil; wherein the first integrating ring and the second integrating ring are configured to be positioned to pick up flux signals along the entire periphery of the ends of the magnetostrictive material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a heat sink laminate and a heat sink laminate formed by the method. In the method a particle mixture is formed from a metal, an alloy or mixtures thereof with a ceramic or mixture of ceramics. The mixture is kinetically sprayed onto a first side of a dielectric material to form a metal matrix composite layer. The second side of the dielectric material is thermally coupled to a heat sink baseplate, thereby forming the heat sink laminate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for repairing defects in kinetically sprayed surfaces. The typical defects comprise isolated or connected conical shaped holes in the kinetic spray coating. The repair involves thermally spraying a molten material into the defective area to fill in the cone followed by continued kinetic spraying to complete the coating.

Abstract: A new gas collimator for use in a kinetic spray system is disclosed. The collimator reduces turbulence of the main gas and results in significant increases in the amount of particles deposited on a substrate using the system. Kinetic spray nozzles incorporating the new collimator also have significantly higher deposition efficiencies. The new collimator enables the main gas temperature to be reduced while permitting much higher depositions and deposition efficiencies compared to the prior art collimator. Also disclosed is a low pressure injection method for a kinetic spray system. The coaxial, low pressure injection method enables the use of low pressure powder feeders, which are low cost, technologically mature, and widely available commercially. The coaxial injection method overcomes several undesirable effects associated with prior art high pressure injection methods.