Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for sensing state of a heat exchanger, comprising the steps of: providing the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising a set of heat exchange pipes at least partially inserted into a housing of the heat exchanger; providing a heat exchange state model; detecting first signals passing through a first portion of the heat exchanger with a first ultrasonic sensor; detecting second signals passing through a second portion of the heat exchanger with a second ultrasonic sensor; and at least one of the steps of: (1) training the heat exchange state model with the first signals and the second signals; and (2) receiving output from the heat exchange state model, the heat exchanger state model previously trained with the first signals and the second signals.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for cleaning a heat exchanger, comprising the steps of: providing the first heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger comprising a set of heat exchange pipes at least partially inserted into the first heat exchanger; inserting a blasting lance in a first pipe of the set of heat exchange pipes, the blasting lance comprising: a front end and a set of ultrasonic sensors; spraying a cleaning fluid forward into the first pipe from a front end of the blasting lance; and emitting a force wave from a first ultrasonic sensor physically directly connected to the blasting lance and optionally sensing an imperfection in a second pipe of the set of heat exchange pipes with the first ultrasonic sensor while the blasting lance is at least partially inserted into the first pipe of the heat exchange pipes.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method of use thereof for measuring state of a pipeline grid using sets of sensor arrays mounted to sections of the pipeline. Data from the sensors is collected and used to determine state of the pipeline grid as a function of time and/or location.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for separating ions, comprising the steps of: providing an ion cyclotron resonance separator with a longitudinal axis; applying a magnetic field gradient along a length of the longitudinal axis; passing a single fixed radio frequency radially across the longitudinal axis; and spatially separating the ions at mass-to-charge ratio resonance locations along a length of the longitudinal axis, where the magnetic field gradient is within a range of 0 to 0.65 Tesla, where the single fixed radio frequency is maintained in a range of 40 kHz to 20 MHZ, and where the step of spatially separating further comprises the step of spiraling radially outward at a first resonance location a first set of ions, of the ions, the first set of ions comprising a first range of mass-to-charge ratios, the first resonance location comprising a first mass-to-charge ratio resonant with the applied radio frequency.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for treating a tumor of a patient, in a beam treatment center comprising a floor, with positively charged particles, comprising: (1) a synchrotron mounted to an elevated floor section above the floor of the beam treatment center; (2) a beam transport system, comprising: at least three fixed-position beam transport lines, where none of the synchrotron and the beam transport system penetrate through the floor of the beam treatment center; (3) the positively charged particles transported from the synchrotron, through the beam transport system, to a position above a patient positioning system during use; and (4) an optional repositionable nozzle system connected to a first, second, and third fixed-position beam transport line at a first, second, and third time, respectively, where the nozzle track forms an arc of a circle and the repositionable nozzle system moves along the nozzle track.

Abstract: A display system comprising a backlight device having a light emitting array, a liquid crystal panel, and a color filter having one or more absorbing dyes and, optionally, one or more dye enhancement compounds, wherein the one or more absorbing dyes and the one or more dye enhancement compounds are located in at least one color set of subpixels in the color filter. The one or more absorbing dyes may be a soluble, blue light, green light, or red light absorbing dye included in blue, green, or red subpixels of the color filter. A blue light absorbing dye may reduce transmission in a wavelength range of 410-430 nm, a green light absorbing dye may reduce transmission in a wavelength range of 490-570 nm, and a red light absorbing dye may reduce transmission of wavelengths less than 620 nm.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency of a vehicle moving through air, comprising the steps of: carrying, by the vehicle, a tail cone in an undeployed state; deploying the tail cone on a back of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, the tail cone comprising a flexible material; and pressurizing, with the air, an interior space at least partially enclosed by the tail cone, the tail cone forming an aerodynamic feature extending at least fifteen inches behind the vehicle, where pressurizing transforms the tail cone from a flexible material to a static and compliant aerodynamic feature, which increases miles per gallon of the vehicle by at least ten percent at speeds in excess of fifty miles an hour through a reduction in drag force on the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus, comprising: a baby stroller, comprising: a set of handles; a set of wheels; a foldable frame, the foldable frame comprising at least three hollow tubes and an elastic cord running through the at least three hollow tubes, the foldable frame attaching the set of handles to the set of wheels; and a baby seat attached to the foldable frame. Optionally, the three hollow tubes are members of a set of at least eight hollow tubes with the elastic cord passing through the at least eight hollow tubes with a tension of two to five pounds within at least one tube.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus, comprising: a baby stroller, comprising: a set of handles; a set of wheels; a foldable frame, the foldable frame comprising at least three hollow tubes and an elastic cord running through the at least three hollow tubes, the foldable frame attaching the set of handles to the set of wheels; and a baby seat attached to the foldable frame. Optionally, the three hollow tubes are members of a set of at least eight hollow tubes with the elastic cord passing through the at least eight hollow tubes with a tension of two to five pounds within at least one tube.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for packaging a dispensable substance, such as a food product, whipped cream, a hydrocarbon, or an air freshener, the method comprising the steps of: placing a first product component into a container, the container comprising a valve dispensing port; adding a second product component into the container, the second product component comprising at least one of: (1) a solid form of the second product component and (2) a liquid form of the second product component; sealing the container; and warming, after the step of sealing, the second product component in the container at least ten degrees Celsius, where the step of warming results in a phase change of all of the second product component into a gas phase, at least a portion of the gas phase of the second product component dissolving into the first product component to form the dispensable substance.

Abstract: A display system comprising a backlight device having a light emitting array, a liquid crystal panel, and a color filter having one or more absorbing dyes, wherein the one or more absorbing dyes are located in at least one color set of subpixels in the color filter. The one or more absorbing dyes may be a soluble, blue light, green light, or red light absorbing dye included in blue, green, or red subpixels of the color filter. A blue light absorbing dye may reduce transmission in a wavelength range of 415-435 nm, a green light absorbing dye may reduce transmission in a wavelength range of 490-570 nm, and a red light absorbing dye may reduce transmission of wavelengths less than 620 nm.

Abstract: A drift tube may include a middle portion, arranged as a hollow cylinder, and coupled to receive an RF voltage signal. The drift tube may include a first end portion, adjacent to and electrically connected to the middle portion. The middle portion and the first end portion may define a central opening to conduct an ion beam therethrough, along a direction of beam propagation. The first end portion may include a first focus assembly, and a second focus assembly, where the first focus assembly and the second focus assembly are movable with respect to one another along the direction of beam propagation, from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and/or a method of use thereof for dispensing whipped cream, comprising: a profi including a pressure containment housing, a first receiving port integrated into the pressure containment housing, a dispensing port integrated into the pressure containment housing, and at least a first pressure cartridge containing at least a liquid form of nitrous oxide, where the pressure cartridge includes a pressure gas delivery port and where a connection between the receiving port and the pressure gas delivery port form: (1) a section of a pressure containment unit encompassing contents of the pressure containment housing and the pressure cartridge and (2) an open path between the pressure containment housing and the pressure cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a drift tube assembly, the drift tube assembly defining a triple gap configuration, and arranged to accelerate and transmit an ion beam along abeam path. The apparatus may include a resonator, to output an RF signal to the drift tube assembly, and an RF quadrupole triplet, connected to the drift tube assembly, and arranged circumferentially around the beam path.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for generating a rare earth from a rare earth oxide, comprising the sequential steps of: (1) reducing temperature about the rare earth oxide to less than zero degrees Celsius; (2) reducing pressure to boil off contaminant water in a powder sample of the rare earth oxide at a molecular escape velocity not disturbing the powdered rare earth oxide; and (3) heating the rare earth oxide to greater than 1000° C. in the presence hydrogen gas while optionally: (1) collecting and determining mass of a water product to determine a consumption mass of the starting hydrogen gas in a main reaction process using the equation RE2O3+3H2?2RE+3H2O, wherein “RE” comprises at a rare earth and (2) injecting replacement hydrogen gas into the main reaction chamber up to the consumption mass.

Abstract: A drift tube may include a middle portion, arranged as a hollow cylinder, and coupled to receive an RF voltage signal. The drift tube may include a first end portion, adjacent to and electrically connected to the middle portion. The middle portion and the first end portion may define a central opening to conduct an ion beam therethrough, along a direction of beam propagation. The first end portion may include a first focus assembly, and a second focus assembly, where the first focus assembly and the second focus assembly are movable with respect to one another along the direction of beam propagation, from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency of a vehicle moving through air, comprising the steps of: carrying, by the vehicle, a tail cone in an undeployed state; deploying the tail cone on a back of the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion, the tail cone comprising a flexible material; and pressurizing, with the air, an interior space at least partially enclosed by the tail cone, the tail cone forming an aerodynamic feature extending at least fifteen inches behind the vehicle, where pressurizing transforms the tail cone from a flexible material to a static and compliant aerodynamic feature, which increases miles per gallon of the vehicle by at least ten percent at speeds in excess of fifty miles an hour through a reduction in drag force on the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention comprises an apparatus and method of manufacture thereof for forming a frothing agent, including the steps of: forming a frozen pellet by at least partially immersing a first material in a liquid, the first material including at least one of: (1) a solid particle comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass and (2) a liquid drop comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass; sealing the frozen pellet in a container comprising an initial pressure exceeding one hundred pounds per square inch; and heating contents of the container, the step of heating resultant in: (1) a phase change of the nitrous oxide; and (2) formation of the frothing agent.

Abstract: The invention comprises a container apparatus and/or a method of manufacture thereof, comprising: a pressure containment housing containing both a first chemical and a second chemical; an interface configured to control dispersal of the first and second chemical out of the container; and a pressure within the container at time of manufacture exceeding ten bar. Generally, the mixture includes: (1) nitrous oxide as a gas, a liquid, a supercritical fluid, or a solid and (2) at least one of molecular hydrogen, helium, molecular nitrogen, carbon dioxide, neon, argon, krypton, and xenon in the form of a gas, liquid, supercritical fluid, or solid.

Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for in-situ plasma cleaning of ion beam optics. In one approach, a system includes a component (e.g., a beam-line component) of an ion implanter processing chamber. The system further includes a power supply for supplying a first voltage and first current to the component during a processing mode and a second voltage and second current to the component during a cleaning mode. The second voltage and current are applied to one or more conductive beam optics of the component, individually, to selectively generate plasma around one or more of the one or more conductive beam optics. The system may further include a flow controller for adjusting an injection rate of an etchant gas supplied to the beam-line component, and a vacuum pump for adjusting pressure of an environment of the beam-line component.