Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for characterizing and quantifying composite laminate structures. The embodiments take a composite laminate of unknown ply stack composition and sequence and determine various information about the individual plies, such as ply stack, orientation, microstructure, and type. The embodiments can distinguish between weave types that may exhibit similar planar stiffness behaviors, but would produce different failure mechanisms. Individual ply information may then be used to derive the laminate bulk properties from externally provided constitutive properties of the fiber and matrix, including extensional stiffness, bending-extension coupling stiffness, bending stiffness, and the like. The laminate bulk properties may then be used to generate a probabilistic failure envelope for the composite laminate. In some embodiments, ply stack type and sequence may also be determined for a curved composite laminate using the disclosed embodiments by adding a rotational stage.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for characterizing and quantifying composite laminate structures. The method and system take a composite laminate of unknown ply stack composition and sequence and determine various information about the individual plies, such as ply stack, orientation, microstructure, and type. The method and system can distinguish between weave types that may exhibit similar planar stiffness behaviors, but would produce different failure mechanisms. Individual ply information may then be used to derive the laminate bulk properties from externally provided constitutive properties of the fiber and matrix, including extensional stiffness, bending-extension coupling stiffness, bending stiffness, and the like. The laminate bulk properties may then be used to generate a probabilistic failure envelope for the composite laminate.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is a portable medical station comprising a main body, which is disposed at least partially inside of a bag. Coupled to the main body is at least one tray and a plurality of handles. There are also a plurality of screens coupled to the main body and at least one computer coupled to the main body, wherein the portable medical station is foldable inside of the bag so that the portable medical station is movable while being substantially folded inside of the bag.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for characterizing and quantifying composite laminate structures, including structures with surfaces that are curved in two and three dimensions. The embodiments take a composite laminate of unknown ply stack composition and sequence and determine various information about the individual plies, such as ply stack, orientation, microstructure, and type. The embodiments can distinguish between weave types that may exhibit similar planar stiffness behaviors, but would produce different failure mechanisms. Individual ply information may then be used to derive the laminate bulk properties from externally provided constitutive properties of the fiber and matrix, including extensional stiffness, bending-extension coupling stiffness, bending stiffness, and the like. The laminate bulk properties may then be used to generate a probabilistic failure envelope for the composite laminate.

Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for characterizing and quantifying composite laminate structures. The method and system take a composite laminate of unknown ply stack composition and sequence and determine various information about the individual plies, such as ply stack, orientation, microstructure, and type. The method and system can distinguish between weave types that may exhibit similar planar stiffness behaviors, but would produce different failure mechanisms. Individual ply information may then be used to derive the laminate bulk properties from externally provided constitutive properties of the fiber and matrix, including extensional stiffness, bending-extension coupling stiffness, bending stiffness, and the like. The laminate bulk properties may then be used to generate a probabilistic failure envelope for the composite laminate.

Abstract: A feeder is disclosed for dissolving a chemical and mixing it with a liquid. The feeder includes a hopper adapted to hold the chemical, a nozzle located in the hopper, and a supply of the liquid to the nozzle to dissolve the chemical on contact with the liquid from the nozzle to form a solution. A solution basin is disposed under the hopper and a drain is provided from the hopper into the solution basin. An outlet from the solution basin has an outlet valve which opens when a solution level in the solution basin rises.

Abstract: Methods for making ceramic articles, and methods for reducing extrusion pressure during processes of making ceramic articles, are disclosed. The methods include mixing a ceramic batch composition comprising amylose and amylopectin in an amylose:amylopectin ratio ranging from about 30:70 to about 95:5, and extruding the ceramic batch composition through an extrusion die to form an extruded green ceramic article.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is a portable medical station comprising a main body, which is disposed at least partially inside of a bag. Coupled to the main body is at least one tray and a plurality of handles. There are also a plurality of screens coupled to the main body and at least one computer coupled to the main body, wherein the portable medical station is foldable inside of the bag so that the portable medical station is movable while being substantially folded inside of the bag.

Abstract: A user interface for sharing media items with others. From a sender's perspective, embodiments of the invention allow for an easy-to-use drag-and-drop technique that is more user-friendly than conventional techniques. From the recipient's perspective, embodiments of the invention allow media items from multiple sources to be aggregated into a single viewport, providing a cohesive and unified approach to media items received from others.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of a threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.

Abstract: A method for firing a green honeycomb ceramic body in a kiln may include heating the green honeycomb ceramic body in four stages. The first stage may include heating the green honeycomb ceramic body from room temperature to a first temperature that at a first heating rate that is greater than or equal to about 75° C./hr. The second stage may include heating the green honeycomb ceramic body from the first temperature to a second temperature at a second heating rate that is less than or equal to the first heating rate. The third stage may include heating the green honeycomb ceramic body from the second temperature to a hold temperature at a third heating rate that is less than or equal to the first heating rate. The fourth stage may include holding the green honeycomb ceramic body at the hold temperature to remove residual carbon.

Abstract: Improvements to filtration and vessels such as for filtration and coalescing of gas streams are shown. A filter element with a partial treated region and untreated region such as providing different surface energies or other filtration characteristics are provided. Various keying arrangements for compatibility and /or rotational locking are shown between the filtration vessel, a tubular coalescing baffle, and/or filter element. The tubular coalescing baffle also may include non-louvered pore structure, which provides for more even flow in a two stage type filtration vessel to prevent premature exiting and reduction of flow velocities along the second stage, and/or may additionally or alternatively include drainage apertures such as drain slot formed along a gravitational bottom or otherwise to facilitate additional drainage of coalesced liquid as opposed to letting such liquid be forced through fluid velocity toward the open end of the tubular baffle.

Abstract: Improvements to filtration and vessels such as for filtration and coalescing of gas streams are shown. A filter element with a partial treated region and untreated region such as providing different surface energies or other filtration characteristics are provided. Various keying arrangements for compatibility and/or rotational locking are shown between the filtration vessel, a tubular coalescing baffle, and/or filter element. The tubular coalescing baffle also may include non-louvered pore structure, which provides for more even flow in a two stage type filtration vessel to prevent premature exiting and reduction of flow velocities along the second stage, and/or may additionally or alternatively include drainage apertures such as drain slot formed along a gravitational bottom or otherwise to facilitate additional drainage of coalesced liquid as opposed to letting such liquid be forced through fluid velocity toward the open end of the tubular baffle.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid filter system that includes a liquid filter apparatus configured to self-clean without removal of the filter apparatus from the filter system. The filter apparatus uses both a filter media for filtering solids as well as a spin motion imparted to fluid being filtered so that centrifugal force can remove solids from the liquid being filtered. The liquid filter system also includes a gas pulse nozzle in fluid communication with the liquid filter apparatus and is configured to flow gas into the filter media to expel water and debris trapped in the filter media without removing the filter media from the filter system.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of a threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.

Abstract: A filter formed essentially from a staple fiber is provided. A nonwoven staple fiber is compressed in to a mat or sheet of selected porosity. The mat or sheet does not include a binder or bicomponent fibers. The staple fibers may be heat treated. The sheet is formed into a selected geometric shape and the staple fibers are thermally fused to bind the staple fibers into a porous filter element. The preferred shape is a helically wound tube or plural sheets, each sheet being self-overlapped and compressed to overlap another sheet. Each sheet is preferably heated and compressed individually and the sheets may be selected to have different porosities and densities.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to measure at least one physical characteristic of a threaded surface (e.g., an internally threaded surface) of an object is provided. The apparatus uses optical triangulation to perform non-contact characterization of the threaded surface. The apparatus can be used to characterize various aspects of the threaded surface, including generating the measurements required to produce a longitudinal cross-sectional profile of the threaded surface.

Abstract: A single support core for a filter media assembly. The single support core includes a single longitudinal tube extending between a first end and a second end. A plurality of orifices are defined in the tube, the orifices align circumferentially along the longitudinal length of the tube. A first plurality of portions defined between the first end and an intermediate annular ring joint and a second plurality of portions defined between the intermediate annular ring joint and the second end. The orifices in each of the first portions and second portions are equidistance circumferentially from each other defining rings. The rings are equidistant longitudinally from each other in each of the portions and the rings are longitudinally spaced differentially in the adjacent portions. The plurality of orifices direct fluid flow through the tube to yield a high flow velocity in predetermined areas along the length of the filter assembly.

Abstract: A method for firing a green honeycomb ceramic body including heating the green honeycomb ceramic body from room temperature to a first temperature of less than or equal to about 350° C. with at least one heating rate of greater than or equal to about 80° C./hr. The green honeycomb ceramic body may be heated from the first temperature to a second temperature of greater than or equal to about 800° C. at a heating rate of greater than or equal to about 90° C./hr. The green honeycomb ceramic body may be heated from the second temperature to a third temperature of greater than or equal to about 1000° C. The green honeycomb ceramic body may include aluminum raw materials for forming an aluminum titanate ceramic body.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, including detecting an event associated with an image displayed on a display device within a software application, loading a media player into the software application behind the image, where the media player is configured to play a media file associated with the image, and causing a representation of a frame of the media file to be displayed within the media player instead of the image.