Abstract: A stop collar is assembled using a method including the steps of receiving a bore of a base having a set of fingers extending along an exterior of a tubular, receiving a bore of a sleeve onto the tubular adjacent the set of fingers, and receiving the sleeve onto the set of fingers in an interference-fit. In alternate embodiments, the base comprises a plurality of angularly distributed fingers and/or the base comprises a gap to permit conformance of the base to the tubular. A fingerless base may cooperate with one or more separate fingers to form a base. In an embodiment of the method, the sleeve may be thermally expanded prior to the step of receiving the sleeve onto the set of fingers. The sleeve may be heated to expand the bore prior to being received onto the set of fingers.

Abstract: The present invention is an article of manufacture comprised of advanced composites having structural, electrical, and thermal characteristics. More specifically, it is an interconnection system that comprises at least one advanced composite material with controlled mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties.

Abstract: A cavity enhanced absorption spectrometer (CEAS) and method for controlling the same. The CEAS includes a coherent electro-magnetic radiation source, an electro-magnetic modulator that creates a sideband with an adjustable frequency that is offset from the radiation source frequency by imparting an adjustable frequency modulation to the radiation. The CEAS also includes a RF source that drives the electro-magnetic modulator and a cavity enhanced absorption resonator (CEAR) that receives the sideband. A detector measures the proximity of the frequency of the sideband relative to the resonant frequency of the CEAR and generates a proximity detector signal, which is converted by a controller to a control signal that controls at least one of the RF source and the resonant frequency of the CEAR such that the frequency of the sideband and the resonant frequency of the CEAR are adjusted to maintain a predetermined proximity therebetween.

Abstract: Insertion of an advertisement within a television program or other media/content is contemplated. The advertisement insertion may be achieved when the media/content is originally transported with advertisement avails or other portions designated for advertisement insertion and those portions are difficult to discover, unknown, removed, obfuscated and/or generally inaccessible to a client facilitating play of the media/content.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods of removing heat from internal areas of a turbomachine. Embodiments of the present invention may incorporate a suction device and a control system. Operatively, these elements may collectively discharge remnants of a heated fluid and/or gas from those internal areas.

Abstract: Insertion of an advertisement within a television program or other media/content is contemplated. The advertisement insertion may be achieved when the media/content is originally transported with advertisement avails or other portions designated for advertisement insertion and those portions are difficult to discover, unknown, removed, obfuscated and/or generally inaccessible to a client facilitating play of the media/content.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus having management of electrical power capacity regions and management of thermal capacity regions including a substrate member region having a length, a width, a thickness, and a surface area. The substrate member region may include a host binder material consisting of a polymer, a thermal plastic polymer, a thermo setting polymer, an intrinsically conductive polymer, an elastomer, a ceramic, a glass, a cement, a metal, a synthetic metal, combinations and mixtures of the above and the like, at least one conductive region for management of electrical power capacity and at least one conductive region for management of thermal capacity and at least one non-conductive regions. At least one of the regions for management of electrical power capacity and, optionally, at least one of the regions for management of thermal capacity as well as non-conductive regions may include an exposed surface for contact with another surface of a functional device.

Abstract: An optical system comprising a non-specular ceramic reflector surrounding one or more electrode-less bulbs containing a fill that forms a light-emitting plasma when excited with radio frequency, to be used in a fixture for illuminating subjects, for the purpose of high output lighting, such as lighting for image capture, horticulture, stadium, port, roadway, construction and area lighting. This ceramic reflector generates a uniform lambertian reflection specifically evening out the light emission from the electrode-less bulb producing a uniform beam of light with a spread between about 1 to about 300 degrees. This ceramic reflector greatly increases the amount of light falling on a given subject in comparison to the fixture without said reflector system.

Abstract: A turbine bucket tip clearance control system includes a rotor assembly having a rotor supporting a plurality of axially spaced wheels, each wheel mounting an annular row of buckets, the annular row of buckets on at least one of the plurality of axially-spaced wheels having a radially outer tip shroud provided with at least one seal tooth. A stator assembly includes a radially inwardly facing, axially-stepped surface, formed with radially inner and outer seal surfaces connected by a shoulder. The stator assembly and rotor assembly are moveable axially relative to each other, enabling selective positioning of the at least one seal tooth radially opposite one of the radially inner and outer seal surfaces to thereby selectively alter a clearance gap between the at least one seal tooth and the radially inward facing axially-stepped surface.

Abstract: A centralizer, method, and centralizer assembly. For example, the centralizer assembly includes a first stop collar fixed in place on a tubular, and a first end collar that is sized to slide axially over the first stop collar. The centralizer assembly also includes a first retainer coupled with the first end collar. The first retainer prevents the first stop collar from sliding past the first stop collar in at least one axial direction. The assembly also includes a plurality of ribs coupled with the first end collar and configured to engage a surrounding tubular in which the tubular is disposed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wear band comprises a rotating element having a bore receivable on a tubular, the bore comprising first and second bore portions slidably receiving first and second sleeve bearings. Outer surfaces of the sleeve bearings slidably engage the bore portions and the bores of the sleeve bearings slidably engage the tubular. A first stop collar and a second stop collar may be received on the tubular to together straddle the rotating element and sleeve bearings to longitudinally secure the rotating element in a position on the tubular. The tubular may be included within a tubular string run into a borehole or into the bore of an installed casing, such as in casing while drilling. The rotating element provides stand-off between a tubular and the wall of a bore, reduces frictional resistance to longitudinal sliding and also to rotation of the tubular string within the bore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an exercise device that can function as a rolling exercise device. It comprises an elongate member that has a first handle assembly secured to its first end and a second handle assembly secured to its second end. The handle assemblies include a base that is rotatably secured to a handle support structure. The handle assemblies also include a handle for gripping. The handle assemblies further function as wheels on either side of the elongate member that allows the exercise device to roll. In addition, the handle assemblies can be removed from the ends of the elongate member and the assemblies can be mutually joined in a second configuration that does not include the elongate member. The second configuration can also be rolled along a surface by a user gripping the handles and applying a force that causes the base of each handle assembly to rotate.

Abstract: A cavity enhanced absorption spectrometer (CEAS) and method for controlling the same. The CEAS includes a coherent electro-magnetic radiation source, an electro-magnetic modulator that creates a sideband with an adjustable frequency that is offset from the radiation source frequency by imparting an adjustable frequency modulation to the radiation. The CEAS also includes a RF source that drives the electro-magnetic modulator and a cavity enhanced absorption resonator (CEAR) that receives the sideband. A detector measures the proximity of the frequency of the sideband relative to the resonant frequency of the CEAR and generates a proximity detector signal, which is converted by a controller to a control signal that controls at least one of the RF source and the resonant frequency of the CEAR such that the frequency of the sideband and the resonant frequency of the CEAR are adjusted to maintain a predetermined proximity therebetween.

Abstract: A bow-spring centralizer (6) includes bow springs (5), moving collars (11) secured to each end of each bow spring, and interlocked stop collars (10). Extendable collars (8) may each be formed of a moving collar (11) movably interlocked with a stop collar (10). The centralizer (6) may optionally be formed from a tube cut using a laser to create two extendable collars coupled by bow springs. Each extendable collar may include heads integrally formed on extensions protruding from a collar (stop collar or moving collar). The heads may be generally rectangular, arrow, or teardrop-shaped head or some other shape. Each head may be slidably captured within a chamber on the interlocked collar (moving collar or stop collar). The extensions of each interlocked tubular member define the outer walls of the chamber in which a head of the interlocked tubular member is slidably captured.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wear band comprises a rotating element having a bore receivable on a tubular, the bore comprising first and second bore portions slidably receiving first and second sleeve bearings. Outer surfaces of the sleeve bearings slidably engage the bore portions and the bores of the sleeve bearings slidably engage the tubular. A first stop collar and a second stop collar may be received on the tubular to together straddle the rotating element and sleeve bearings to longitudinally secure the rotating element in a position on the tubular. The tubular may be included within a tubular string run into a borehole or into the bore of an installed casing, such as in casing while drilling. The rotating element provides stand-off between a tubular and the wall of a bore, reduces frictional resistance to longitudinal sliding and also to rotation of the tubular string within the bore.

Abstract: A flooring system for use in thermal and/or acoustic floor systems is provided where the flooring system mitigates external forces from a shock/blast wave. The flooring system includes a foam layer and filler material that includes micro and/or nano structures strategically dispersed in the foam layer. The micro and/or nano structures mitigate a magnitude of the external forces propagating through the foam layer.

Abstract: A stop collar is assembled using a method including the steps of receiving a bore of a base having a set of fingers extending along an exterior of a tubular, receiving a bore of a sleeve onto the tubular adjacent the set of fingers, and receiving the sleeve onto the set of fingers in an interference-fit. In alternate embodiments, the base comprises a plurality of angularly distributed fingers and/or the base comprises a gap to permit conformance of the base to the tubular. A fingerless base may cooperate with one or more separate fingers to form a base. In an embodiment of the method, the sleeve may be thermally expanded prior to the step of receiving the sleeve onto the set of fingers. The sleeve may be heated to expand the bore prior to being received onto the set of fingers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an exercise device that can function as a rolling exercise device. It comprises an elongate member that has a first handle assembly secured to its first end and a second handle assembly secured to its second end. The handle assemblies include a base that is rotatably secured to a handle support structure. The handle assemblies also include a handle for gripping. The handle assemblies further function as wheels on either side of the elongate member that allows the exercise device to roll. In addition, the handle assemblies can be removed from the ends of the elongate member and the assemblies can be mutually joined in a second configuration that does not include the elongate member. The second configuration can also be rolled along a surface by a user gripping the handles and applying a force that causes the base of each handle assembly to rotate.

Abstract: A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer 8 having a first expandable collar 10A coupled to and spaced apart from a second expandable collar 10B through a plurality of bow springs 30 wherein expandable collars 10A, 10B comprise a plurality of slidably coupled links 16 that separate to expand the diameter of the collars 10A, 10B, e.g., upon expansion of an expandable pipe string 80 on which the centralizer 8 is received. Expandable bow spring centralizer 8 may grip the expandable pipe string 80 when in the collapsed configuration to eliminate the need for a stop collar. Additionally or alternatively, a fin 32 may be connected to each bow spring 30, and then connected to one or more adjacent fins 32 upon collapse of the bow springs 30 to form a restraining band 39 that may be ruptured, e.g., upon expansion of the expandable pipe string 80.

Abstract: A stop collar and a centralizer assembly including the stop collar are provided. The collar includes a first portion, and a second portion coupled with the first portion such that the first and second portions are slidable one relative to the other along a longitudinal axis of the collar. The collar is axially expandable by sliding the first portion relative to the second portion. The collar also includes an anchor coupled with the second portion. The anchor defines one or more anchor windows extending therethrough and configured to expose a portion of a tubular when the tubular is received through the collar. The anchor is configured to bear on an anchoring material received radially inwards through the one or more anchor windows. The anchor does not force the anchoring material into engagement with the tubular when the tubular is received through the collar, the anchoring material being coupled with the tubular.