Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an electric or hybrid vehicle. Aspects of the vehicle may be used to provide a variety of functionality, including power exporting and aggregation, power take off functionality, thermal signature reduction, and improved vehicle longevity, vehicle turning, and vehicle control techniques.

Abstract: A dispenser assembly for liquid products is disclosed. Such a dispenser assembly may include an elongated barrel, and an elongated plunger positioned therein with the elongated plunger having a flexible sealing lip disposed at an end thereof. The sealing lip may have a beaded portion providing for easier movement of the plunger within the barrel while creating an effective seal between the plunger and the barrel. In an embodiment, the cross-section of the beaded portion is oval and the thickness of the flexible sealing lip tapers inwardly towards it distal end. The flexible sealing lip may be curved in the shape of an arc of a circle.

Abstract: A moisture-tight safety closure and a container wherein a depending, circumferentially extending sealing lip on the closure engages a flexible wall portion on the neck of the container. A plurality of circumferentially extending lugs on the closure cooperate with a plurality of circumferentially spaced hooks on the container neck for releasably securing the closure to the container.

Abstract: A launch vehicle upper-stage escape system is described that allows a crew capsule or a payload capsule to be safely and rapidly separated from a launch vehicle in the event of an emergency using the upper stage main engine for propulsion. During the initial portion of the flight the majority of the propellant mass for the upper stage is stored in the lower stage. This minimizes the mass of the upper stage allowing the upper stage main engine to provide sufficient acceleration to lift the capsule off of the launch vehicle and to move the capsule away from the launch vehicle to a safe distance with sufficient speed in the event of an emergency. It can also be used to lift the crew or payload capsule to a sufficient height for recovery systems to be employed successfully in the event of an on-pad or low-altitude launch emergency.

Abstract: This patent describes a reusable upper-stage, that utilizes a position-adjustable propulsion module and payload compartment, an aeroshell, a guidance and control system, and a deployable landing apparatus. The position-adjustable upper-stage propulsion module is shifted forward in the aeroshell prior to reentry into the atmosphere to allow the stage to reenter in a stable, nose-first orientation. It is shifted back to allow the stage to fall tail first and use its engine to do a final deceleration and a powered soft landing, supported by deployable landing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention disclosed here is a pressurization system for pressure-fed launch vehicles. The system employs a hot pressurant gas to minimize the mass of pressurant gas required. It also employs a set of baffles within the propellant tank to reduce heat transfer between the propellant and the hot pressurant gas. The baffles keep the pressurant gas flowing uniformly in one direction as the propellant is expelled, and inhibit mixing of the cold gas near the propellant with the hot gas being blown into the tank. The baffles also prevent large-scale sloshing of the propellant. The metal baffles are rigidly attached to one end of the tank and attached with a mount which allows travel in the longitudinal direction but not in the two lateral directions which minimizes stess on the pressure vessel from differences in thermal expansion.

Abstract: A reusable system for reliably protecting a spacecraft from atmospheric entry heating is described. It includes a transpiration medium reservoir, apparatus for injecting transpiration medium through portions of the heat shield of the spacecraft, and a control system configured to inject a cleaning medium during the early portion of the launch and a transpiration cooling medium during reentry. Injecting a cleaning medium through the heat shield during ascent minimizes the likelihood of an insect or other debris clogging any of the transpiration pores.

Abstract: The invention is a payload fairing separation system that is resettable and operates in two stages. The system includes releasable, resettable seam connectors that hold the fairing together in combination with releasable point connectors. At the time of separation, the seam connectors release first, and then the point connectors release. This allows the fairing to separate cleanly at a precise time, without using pyrotechnic charges, and with low shock to the payload.

Abstract: An automated food preparation system is described. It allows precise, automated control of the food preparation process, and has the ability to perform an automated cleanup. It comprises at least one manipulator to process and move ingredients, a control system, an autonomously accessible ingredient storage system, and at least one cooking receptacle.

Abstract: Graphical memory access requests are routed to a plurality of bucket buffers. Filled bucket write buffers and empty bucket read buffers are efficiently emptied and filled respectively via a wide memory bus. The bucket sorting apparatus and method is used to increase the locality of memory references and pixel operations within a graphical rendering system. The increased locality increases graphical rendering performance and facilitates the usage of smaller z-buffers, larger tiles, and low-cost dynamic RAM within a graphics pipeline.

Abstract: A heat sink with integrated electronics having a cavity with one or more facing sides. Hybrid circuits are housed in the cavities. A bottom portion seals the housing and has a row of pins is provided for interconnecting the circuits housed in the separate cavities to an external device, thereby allowing the integration of different types of circuits in a single, fully enclosed, yet partitioned, housing.

Abstract: A system for protecting a rocket engine, comprising, a storage reservoir of first protectant material, a control system configured to release it after the engine has finished firing, a conduit to deliver first protectant material to the engine injector, a valve to isolate first protectant material storage reservoir, an apparatus configured to drive the first protectant material from the reservoir to the engine injector.

Abstract: A remote wireless load control system wherein the power supplied to a load can be varied from a remote location using a remote control device not electrically wired to the load. The load control system includes a transmitter and a receiver, each having a control actuator for adjusting the power supplied to the load. Control can be conferred upon either the transmitter or the receiver immediately upon manipulation of the control switch, with the adjustment in power level occurring substantially instantaneously upon manipulation of the control actuator. Transmission of load level information between transmitter and receiver is by digitally pulse-coded infrared signal.