Abstract: A material preparation device is provided. The material preparation device includes a bias-ply assembly, a feedstock assembly and an application head. The bias-ply assembly is configured to pass a bias-ply backing material along a first path. The feedstock assembly is configured to pass a feedstock along a second path that crosses the first path at a select angle. The feedstock includes resin pre-impregnated fiber reinforced material (pre-preg) having the fibers at a first orientation relative to an edge of the feedstock. The application head is configured to transfer the pre-preg from the feedstock to the bias-ply backing material at a location where the first path crosses the second path to form a bias-ply with the fibers of the pre-preg having a second different orientation relative to an edge of the formed bias-ply.

Abstract: Crop-harvesting plans automatically generated based on crop-harvesting information received from a variety of sources, such as a user, remote sensor, database, data feed and/or a social network. The crop-harvesting plans may dynamically aid farmers and other production agriculture professionals when determining a crop-harvesting plan and then implementing that crop-harvesting plan. Crop-harvesting plans may include a variety of recommended crop-harvesting practices, logistics, sequences and projected outcomes for the implementation of the recommended crop-harvesting plan.

Abstract: A water treatment system is a portable in-line pass thru system can be directly attached to the suction or discharge side of a water pump. The water treatment system provides multiple treatment modalities to eradicate biological contaminants from a water source for use in industrial or municipal applications. The water treatment system is reconfigurable to treat a variety of water supplies containing different kinds of contaminants. The water treatment system uses multiple modalities to ensure a wide spectrum biocidal effect. The water treatment system accomplishes this through the use of a irradiation unit, an electrolysis unit, and at least one chemical injection unit. The combination of treatments used by the water treatment system can be specifically determined based on known contaminant constituents within the body of water to more effectively eliminate the unwanted contaminants.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism for severing elongate fibre reinforcement material in composite material lay-up equipment, the cutting mechanism comprising a cutting element and a counteracting element which cooperate to sever fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip between them, the cutting element being mounted on an elongate arm which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element relatively to the counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism further comprising guide means arranged to guide the fibre reinforcement material through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device for driving the elongate arm in a cutting stroke, the actuation device acting on the elongate arm at a position away from the cutting element. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment comprising the cutting mechanism.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment 10 for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material 14 to an article 12, the equipment 10 comprising: a support head 20; a cutting mechanism 22 carried by the support head 20 for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fiber reinforcement material 14. The cutting mechanism 22 comprises a plurality of cutting elements 60 coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head 20 and a cassette 65 removably attached to the support head 20 and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements 76 statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element 60 is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element 76 to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements 60, 76 cooperate to sever a length of elongate fiber reinforcement 14 material extending through the nip formed between them.

Abstract: A crop's status may be determined from analysis of information regarding the crop received from, for example, a user, an in-season data gathering source, a database, a data feed, an aerial sensor, a UAV, and/or a remote sensor via a communication network. The received data may be compared to, for example, a benchmark, a parameter, a previously determined crop status, and/or a baseline associated with the crop and the comparison may be scored. When the score exceeds a predetermined threshold, an alert may be generated and provided to a user via the communication network.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cutting mechanism 22 for severing elongate fiber reinforcement material 14 in composite material lay-up equipment 10, the cutting mechanism 22 comprising a cutting element 60 and a counteracting element 76 which cooperate to sever fiber reinforcement material 14 extending through the nip between them, the cutting element 60 being mounted on an elongate arm 44 which is pivotable about a pivot axis A spaced from the nip, to displace the cutting element 60 relatively to the counteracting element 76 to perform a cutting stroke, the mechanism 22 further comprising guide means 52 arranged to guide the fiber reinforcement material 14 through the nip in a feed direction transverse to the pivot axis A, and an actuation device 84 for driving the elongate arm 44 in a cutting stroke, the actuation device 84 acting on the elongate arm 44 at a position away from the cutting element 60. There is also provided composite material lay-up equipment 10 comprising the cutting mechanism 22.

Abstract: There is disclosed composite material lay-up equipment for applying a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fibre reinforcement material to an article, the equipment comprising: a support head; a cutting mechanism carried by the support head for severing a plurality of individual lengths of elongate fibre reinforcement material. The cutting mechanism comprises a plurality of cutting elements coupled to and moveable with respect to the support head and a cassette removably attached to the support head and having a plurality of corresponding counteracting elements statically mounted thereto. Each cutting element is displaceable relative to the corresponding counteracting element to perform a cutting stroke in which the respective cutting and counteracting elements cooperate to sever a length of elongate fibre reinforcement material extending through the nip formed between them.

Abstract: A blowout preventer and seal assembly for sealing a wellbore penetrating a subsurface formation is provided. The blowout preventer includes a housing having a flow path therethrough in fluid communication with the wellbore and a sealing assembly positionable in the housing about the flow path. The sealing assembly includes a piston slidably positionable in the housing and a packer element. The packer element includes a plurality of fingers and a packer seal. The fingers include a housing portion and a piston portion. The housing portion is slidably movable along the housing and the piston portion is slidingly movable along the piston. The fingers are engageable by the piston and movable to a sealed position about the flow path whereby the packer seal is energized to form a seal about the blowout preventer.

Abstract: Invasive species control plans may be automatically generated using vegetation control information received from a variety of sources. Such invasive species control plans may aid vegetation control personnel and professionals when determining an invasive species control strategy, including treatment and restoration, and then guide the implementation of that strategy. Invasive species control plans may include a variety of recommended vegetation control practices and projected outcomes for the implementation of recommended vegetation control management practices.

Abstract: A crop's status may be determined from analysis of information regarding the crop received from, for example, a user, an in-season data gathering source, a database, a data feed, an aerial sensor, a UAV, and/or a remote sensor via a communication network. The received data may be compared to, for example, a benchmark, a parameter, a previously determined crop status, and/or a baseline associated with the crop and the comparison may be scored. When the score exceeds a predetermined threshold, an alert may be generated and provided to a user via the communication network.

Abstract: The techniques herein relate to a blowout preventer a wellhead of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The blowout preventer includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a segment carrier positionable in the housing, and a piston. The segment carrier includes a carrier ring for receiving the mandrel and a plurality of segments pivotally movable radially thereabout. The piston is operatively connectable to the plurality of segments and actuatable for moving the plurality of segments between a disengaged and an engaged position about the mandrel.

Abstract: Invasive species control plans may be automatically generated using vegetation control information received from a variety of sources. Such invasive species control plans may aid vegetation control personnel and professionals when determining an invasive species control strategy, including treatment and restoration, and then guide the implementation of that strategy. Invasive species control plans may include a variety of recommended vegetation control practices and projected outcomes for the implementation of recommended vegetation control management practices.

Abstract: A blowout preventer for sealing a tubular of a wellbore is provided. The blowout preventer has a housing having a bore therethrough for receiving the tubular, at least one ram slidably positionable in the housing (each of the rams having a ram block for sealing engagement about the tubular), an actuator for selectively driving the ram block (the actuator comprising a piston slidably positionable in a cylinder), and a monitor for detecting the piston therein. The monitor has a visual indicator on an exterior of the cylinder. The visual indicator is operatively coupled to the piston for displaying a position of the piston as the piston travels within the cylinder whereby a position of the ram may be determined.

Abstract: Techniques for shearing a tubular of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a blowout preventer are provided. The blowout preventer has a housing with a hole therethrough for receiving the tubular. The techniques relate to a blade assembly including a ram block movable between a non-engagement position and an engagement position about the tubular, a blade carried by the ram block for cuttingly engaging the tubular, and a retractable guide carried by the ram block and slidably movable therealong. The restractable guide has a guide surface for urging the tubular into a desired location in the blowout preventer as the ram block moves to the engagement position.

Abstract: A blowout preventer for sealing a tubular of a wellbore is provided. The blowout preventer has a housing having a bore therethrough for receiving the tubular, at least one ram slidably positionable in the housing (each of the rams having a ram block for sealing engagement about the tubular), an actuator for selectively driving the ram block (the actuator comprising a piston slidably positionable in a cylinder), and a monitor for detecting the piston therein. The monitor has a visual indicator on an exterior of the cylinder. The visual indicator is operatively coupled to the piston for displaying a position of the piston as the piston travels within the cylinder whereby a position of the ram may be determined.

Abstract: In one example, a method includes receiving, by a parcel value analyzer and score generator (PVASG) executing on a computing device, data for a region of interest that includes a parcel of land. The data for the region of interest includes at least one of parcel data and logistics data. The method further includes determining, by the PVASG and based on the received data for the region of interest, a land value for the parcel of land included in the region of interest. The method further includes outputting, by the PVASG and in response to determining the land value for the parcel of land included in the region of interest, at least one report that includes an indication of the determined land value for the parcel of land.