Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is free of added oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.

Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a tiltrotor aircraft comprises one or more engines that provide thrust whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a first forward flight mode, one or more electrical or hydraulic power sources, and two or more pylon assemblies. Each pylon assembly houses one or more electric or hydraulic motors connected to the one or more electrical or hydraulic power sources and a proprotor. All or part of each pylon assembly is rotatable. The proprotors provide lift whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a vertical takeoff and landing mode and a hover mode, and provide thrust whenever the tiltrotor aircraft is in a second forward flight mode.

Abstract: A gas sensor has a light detector, a gas-tight support structure enclosing the light detector, a window positioned in said support structure, and a light source mounted to the support structure. A sample area is positioned in the support structure to receive a gas to be tested. The light source is aligned with the window, sample area, and the light detector to pass light from the light source through the gas in the sample area to the light detector. The sensor can be provided in a breadth sampling apparatus that has deflects gas to a bypass route so that only a portion of gas reaches the sensor.

Abstract: A display system comprising a steerable display having a monocular field of view of at least 1 degree, positioned within a scannable field of view of at least 20 degrees, the steerable display positioned for a user. In one embodiment, the steerable display is positioned for the user's fovea.

Abstract: Isolation plugs may be installed in a wellbore flow control device to temporarily close a flow path therethrough. The isolation plugs may be installed in threaded openings often provided to for access to nozzles or other flow restrictors in the flow control devices. The isolation plugs may initially be locked in a closed configuration while being run in hole and may be unlocked in response to the application of a predetermined activation pressure. Once unlocked, the isolation plug may not immediately move to an open configuration but may continue holding pressure to permit circulation and washdown operations to be conducted. The activation pressure may be reduced to a second predetermined threshold to lock the isolation plug in the open configuration wherein flow is permitted through the flow control device.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is free of added oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.

Abstract: Certain embodiments provide multi-medicament infusion systems for preventing the cross-channeling of medicaments. The system may include one or more of an infusion pump, medicament cartridges, cartridge connectors, a multi-channel fluid conduit, and an infusion set. The infusion pump can have an inductively chargeable battery assembly that can be charged by an inductive charging pad.

Abstract: Isolation plugs may be installed in a wellbore flow control device to temporarily close a flow path therethrough. The isolation plugs may be installed in threaded openings often provided to for access to nozzles or other flow restrictors in the flow control devices. The isolation plugs may initially be locked in a closed configuration while being run in hole and may be unlocked in response to the application of a predetermined activation pressure. Once unlocked, the isolation plug may not immediately move to an open configuration but may continue holding pressure to permit circulation and washdown operations to be conducted. The activation pressure may be reduced to a second predetermined threshold to lock the isolation plug in the open configuration wherein flow is permitted through the flow control device.

Abstract: A semi-resonant actuator assembly includes a resonating body comprising a piezoelectric plate having a first length, a first width, and a first thickness, and an inactive plate having a second length substantially equal the first length, a second width substantially equal to the first width, and second thickness. A thickness of the resonating body is provided by a sum of the first thickness of the active piezoelectric plate and the second thickness of the inactive plate.

Abstract: A method for playing out a media program including primary programming. The method includes forming a first set of content for play-out during a break in the primary programming; storing multiple content items; in advance of the break occurring, signaling duration of the break to a first server and performing, using the first server, a search for a second set of content, which includes a set of stored content items that meet predetermined criteria, which indicates that the combined duration of the set matches the duration of the break, determining whether the search was successful, and; if so, transmitting, by a first mechanism, a base program including the primary programming and subsequently, during the break, the first set of content; and transmitting, by a second mechanism, the primary programming and subsequently, during the break, the second set of content, and otherwise, transmitting during the break by the second mechanism the base program.

Abstract: A method and apparatus according to which a flow control device includes a housing and a flapper valve. The housing defines an internal passage in which the flapper valve extends. The flapper valve includes a seat and a flapper pivotably coupled to the seat. The seat includes an internal passage and an external surface. The internal passage of the seat extends along a longitudinal central axis that is offset from a longitudinal central axis along which the external surface of the seat extends and a longitudinal central axis along which the internal passage of the housing extends. This offset allows an internal annular recess of the housing to accommodate the flapper pivoting away from the longitudinal central axis of the internal passage of the seat by a distance of equal to or greater than a radius of the internal passage of the seat.

Abstract: Isolation plugs may be installed in a wellbore flow control device to temporarily close a flow path therethrough. The isolation plugs may he installed in threaded openings often provided to for access to nozzles or other flow restrictors in the flow control devices. The isolation plugs may initially be locked in a closed configuration while being run in hole and may be unlocked in response to the application of a predetermined activation pressure. Once unlocked, the isolation plug may not immediately move to an open configuration but may continue holding pressure to permit circulation and washdown operations to be conducted. The activation pressure may be reduced to a second predetermined threshold to lock the isolation plug in the open configuration wherein flow is permitted through the flow control device.

Abstract: An actuator assembly includes one or more conductive coils each positioned in a movable supporting frame configured to be coupled to a load. A pair of permanent magnets are located on each side of each of the coils to provide opposite polarity magnetic fields to each of the coils. A drive circuit is coupled to the each of coils and configured to supply a drive current to each of the conductive coils. A controller is coupled to each of the coils through the drive circuit and is configured to independently control the drive current supplied to each of the coils to provide movement of the supporting frame to provide a force to the load, based on the opposite polarity fields and the drive current, wherein the movement of the supporting frame is in proportion to an amplitude and polarity of the drive current.

Abstract: A fuel cell system has a gas delivery-means that circulates the anode exhaust gas back to the anode compartment of the fuel cell for further reaction.

Abstract: A method for playing out a media program including a primary programming. The method includes storing the primary programming; forming first and second sets of content for play-out during a break in the primary programming, where the second set's duration differs by less than a predetermined amount from the duration of the first set of content transmitting, by a first mechanism, a base program including the primary programming and subsequently, during the break, the first set of content, and after the break, the primary programming; and transmitting, by a second mechanism, the primary programming at a first time offset to the transmitting by the first mechanism before the break and subsequently, during the break, the second set of content and after the break, the primary programming at a second time offset to the transmitting by the first mechanism, after the break, the first and second time offsets being different.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a polyaryletherketone copolymer (e.g. a random or block copolymer), said method comprising: polymerizing (i) a monomer system suitable for forming aryletherketone units and (ii) a comonomer in a reaction medium comprising: (a) a Lewis acid and (b) a controlling agent comprising an aromatic carboxylic acid, an aromatic sulphonic acid, or a derivative thereof; and polymers produced therefrom.

Abstract: A lead screw actuator device includes a base configured to support a plurality of actuators. A first bridge is supported by one of the plurality of actuators and a second bridge is supported by another one of the plurality of actuators. A nut is supported by the first bridge and the second bridge and is rotatably coupled to a screw with a sliding contact friction between the screw and the nut. The plurality of actuators generate small movements of the first bridge, the second bridge, and the nut that produce relative rotation between the nut and the screw. A method of making a lead screw actuator device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas sensor has a light detector, a gas-tight support structure enclosing the light detector, a window positioned in said support structure, and a light source mounted to the support structure. A sample area is positioned in the support structure to receive a gas to be tested. The light source is aligned with the window, sample area, and the light detector to pass light from the light source through the gas in the sample area to the light detector. The sensor can be provided in a breadth sampling apparatus that has deflects gas to a bypass route so that only a portion of gas reaches the sensor.

Abstract: A reclosable multi-zone isolation tool including a piston assembly with a lock out feature. The tool has an outer and inner tubular having an annular flow path defined there between, and a central flow path defined by the inner tubular. The annular flow path is in fluid communication with the first zone, while the central flow path is in fluid communication with the second zone. A sleeve is positioned in the annular flow path and axially moveable between an open and closed position. A mandrel is positioned within the inner tubular and coupled to the sleeve to actuate the sleeve between the open and closed position. A pressure responsive piston assembly is coupled to the mandrel in order to actuate the sleeve to the open position. Once in the open position, the piston assembly is “locked out,” thereby allowing the mandrel and sleeve to move relative to the piston between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal powder includes maintaining molten reducing metal in a sealed reaction vessel that is free of added oxygen and water, establishing a vortex in the molten reducing metal, introducing a metal halide into the vortex so that the molten reducing metal is in a stoichiometric excess to the metal halide, thereby producing metal particles and salt, removing unreacted reducing metal, removing the salt, and recovering the metal powder. The molten reducing metal can be a Group I metal, a Group II metal, or aluminum.