Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: Processes and systems for pyrolysing a hydrocarbon. In some examples, the process can include mixing a cooled hydrocarbon effluent and a cooled de-coking effluent to produce a combined effluent. The combined effluent can be introduced into an inlet conduit of a separator under conditions that provide >80 wt. % of the plurality of coke particles with a Stokes number of >10. From a first exit conduit of the separator >55 wt. % of the plurality of coke particles in the combined effluent can be removed, and from a second exit conduit of the separator a coke-lean hydrocarbon effluent that includes <45 wt. % of the plurality of coke particles in the combined effluent can be removed. The first exit conduit and the second exit conduit can be coupled to the inlet conduit.

Abstract: A gap measurement tool assembly for measuring a gap at a through hole between mating parts of a structure is provided. The assembly includes a gap measurement tool with a first end, a second end, and a body having a hollow inner channel, an exterior annular crevice, a first exterior annular groove having a cross-hole intersected by the hollow inner channel, and a second exterior annular groove. The assembly includes a first seal element, a second seal element, and a third seal element. The assembly is configured for insertion and sealing into the through hole, and the cross-hole is configured to align with the gap. When compressed air is passed into the gap, an air gage system takes a measurement of one of, a back pressure, an air flow, or a differential pressure, and correlates the measurement to a predetermined gap measurement, to determine a gap size of the gap.

Abstract: A robotic surgical system includes a robotic manipulator that includes a mounting fixture defining a longitudinal channel, and a surgical tool removably coupleable to the mounting fixture. The surgical tool including a tool housing matable with the mounting fixture, an elongate shaft extending from the tool housing and receivable within the channel, and a latching mechanism provided on the elongate shaft and comprising one or more retention tabs biased radially outward with one or more biasing members. The one or more retention tabs are movable between a deployed state, where the one or more retention tabs protrude radially outward through a corresponding one or more slots to engage the mounting fixture, and a retracted state, where the one or more retention tabs are urged radially inward through the one or more slots to disengage the mounting fixture.

Abstract: A system for growing vegetation that includes a plurality of zones, each zone having environmental conditions that vary from environmental conditions in other zones, at least one zone sensor measuring environmental conditions in each zone, a local database operative to store sensor measurements from the zone sensors, a remote database operative to receive and to store a subset of the sensor measurements stored in the local database, and a remote computing device operatively connected to the remote database. The remote computing device operative to receive information regarding movements of batches of vegetation through the plurality of zones and, using the received information, associate sensor measurements of the environmental conditions the batch of vegetation is subjected to as it move through the zones. A timeline for a batch of vegetation can be created that indicates the environmental conditions the vegetation is subjected to moving through the zones.

Abstract: A method of sending a flow of a plurality of data packets across a data network from a source node to a destination node is provided, the data network including a plurality of links between nodes. The method includes: (a) determining a set of weights, the weights corresponding to respective links of the plurality of links, such that obeying the set of weights during data transmission tends to minimize side channel leakage for the flow; and (b) routing packets of the flow along the plurality of links of the data network according to their respective weights. A corresponding apparatus, system, and computer program product are also provided.

Abstract: A gas reactor may include a reactor chamber having a first end, a second end, and a lateral surface that extends between the first end and the second end. The gas reactor may include a torch inlet positioned at the first end of the reactor chamber, and the torch inlet may be configured for input flow of a fuel in a first flow direction. The gas reactor may include a reactant inlet positioned at the second end of the reactor chamber and configured to cause a reactant to flow into the reactor chamber in a second flow direction. The fuel or the reactant may move through the reactor chamber in a vortex flow pattern. The gas reactor may include an outlet port positioned at the second end of the reactor chamber in which the outlet port is configured for output flow of a product from the reactor chamber.

Abstract: A gap measurement tool assembly for measuring a gap at a through hole between mating parts of a structure is provided. The assembly includes a gap measurement tool with a first end, a second end, and a body having a hollow inner channel, an exterior annular crevice, a first exterior annular groove having a cross-hole intersected by the hollow inner channel, and a second exterior annular groove. The assembly includes a first seal element, a second seal element, and a third seal element. The assembly is configured for insertion and sealing into the through hole, and the cross-hole is configured to align with the gap. When compressed air is passed into the gap, an air gage system takes a measurement of one of, a back pressure, an air flow, or a differential pressure, and correlates the measurement to a predetermined gap measurement, to determine a gap size of the gap.

Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.

Abstract: It is disclosed an optical fibre unit for air-blown installations comprising: a first group of optical fibres embedded in a resin layer; a sheath arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the resin layer so that an annular space is formed between resin layer and sheath; and a second group of optical fibres arranged in the annular space. Also disclosed are an apparatus and a method for manufacturing such optical fibre unit.

Abstract: A plasma reaction system may include a plasma chamber and an ancillary reaction chamber. The plasma chamber may include a plasma chamber inlet for introducing reactant gases into the plasma chamber, plasma chamber walls that form an interior space in which chemical reactions between the reactant gases may occur, a plasma generated within the plasma chamber, a waveguide for directing energy towards the plasma generated within the plasma chamber, and a plasma chamber outlet for carrying first outlet gases from the plasma chamber. The ancillary reaction chamber may include an ancillary reaction chamber inlet configured to obtain the first outlet gases from the plasma chamber, ancillary reaction chamber walls that form an interior space of the ancillary reaction chamber in which second chemical reactions between the outlet gases may occur, and an ancillary reaction chamber outlet for carrying second outlet gases from the ancillary reaction chamber.

Abstract: Furnace systems and methods for steam cracking hydrocarbons to produce ethylene and other light olefins are provided herein. A furnace system for cracking hydrocarbons includes a radiant firebox containing a plurality of burners and an injection nozzle, a primary transfer line exchanger fluidly coupled to and downstream of the radiant firebox, and a flow restrictor fluidly coupled to and downstream of the primary transfer line exchanger. The furnace system also includes a decoke vessel containing an effluent inlet, a fluid outlet, and a coke outlet, where the effluent inlet is fluidly coupled to and downstream of the flow restrictor and the fluid outlet is fluidly coupled to and upstream of the injection nozzle of the radiant firebox, and a coke collection bin is coupled to the coke outlet of the decoke vessel.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for filling a central open space in a jar. The apparatus includes a base, an indexing station including a magazine, a blade, and a first actuator, a filling station including cartridges, and a second actuator. The magazine is rotatably mounted to the base. The platform of the cutting station is configured to receive a whole cucumber at a loading area and is incrementally indexed to reposition the whole cucumber from the loading area to a cutting area above the blade. The first actuator is configured to urge the whole cucumber through the blade and cut the whole cucumber into spears. The spears drop into and are held by one of the cartridges. The second actuator is configure to push at least one of the spears out from the cartridge into the central open space of the jar.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for performing ethane steam cracking at elevated coil inlet pressures and/or elevated coil outlet pressures in small diameter furnace coils. Instead of performing steam cracking of ethane at a coil outlet pressure of ˜22 psig or less (˜150 kPa-g or less), the steam cracking of ethane can be performed in small diameter furnace coils at a coil outlet pressure of 30 psig to 75 psig (˜200 kPa-g to ˜520 kPa-g), or 40 psig to 75 psig (˜270 kPa-g to ˜520 kPa-g). In order to achieve such higher coil outlet pressures, a correspondingly higher coil inlet pressure can also be used, such as a pressure of 45 psig (˜310 kPa-g) or more, or 50 psig (˜340 kPa-g) or more.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical cable, which is a flat drop cable, includes a cavity shaped in the form of a stadium in a sectional view of the optical cable. The cable further includes an outer sheath enclosing the cavity, a first strength member, and a first optical fiber element disposed in the cavity. The first optical fiber element includes an optical fiber and has an oscillating pattern within the cavity on an oscillation plane parallel to a longitudinal plane of the cable. The height of the cavity in the sectional view substantially corresponds to a height of the first optical fiber element.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a support attachment to couple a ground rod grabber to a top support; an upper line coupled to the support attachment; a hoist unit coupled to the upper line; a rod attachment to couple the ground rod grabber to a ground rod; and a lower line coupled to the rod attachment and threaded through the hoist unit. A method includes coupling a ground rod grabber to a ground rod; coupling the grabber to a top support while retaining at least two dimensions of freedom; and operating the hoist unit to exert pulling force on the lower line. A device includes a tube having a length-wise window; a threaded shaft disposed within the tube; a nut threaded on the threaded shaft within the tube; and a lifting lug coupled to the nut, extending through the window, and having a hole sized to fit a ground rod.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an anvil and an elongate channel. The elongate channel includes a plurality of first electrical contacts and a plurality of electrical connectors comprising a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein the electrical connectors are spring-biased such that a gap is maintained between the first electrical contacts and the second electrical contacts. The surgical instrument further includes a staple cartridge releasably attachable to the elongate channel, wherein the staple cartridge has a cartridge body comprising a plurality of staple cavities, a plurality of staples deployable from the staple cavities into the tissue, and a plurality of third electrical contacts, wherein the attachment of the staple cartridge to the elongate channel moves the electrical connectors causing the second electrical contacts to bridge the gap and become electrically coupled to the first electrical contacts.

Abstract: A burner sub-system, a furnace comprising the same, a fuel combustion process and steam cracking process carried out in the furnace. The burner sub-system comprises a barrier wall segment between the burner tip and the flue-gas recirculation (“FGR”) duct, effectively blocking direct gas flow between the burner tip and the FGR duct opening, but without encircling the whole burner tip. The presence of the partial barrier wall has the advantage of preventing the temperature inside the FGR duct from becoming too high, while achieving low NOx emissions from the combustion process without overheating the burner tip because of reduced amount of heat reflection to the burner tip compared to an annular barrier wall. The invention is particularly useful in furnaces where hydrogen-rich fuel gas is combusted.

Abstract: This present invention utilizes a shape memory alloy (SMA) to improve on prior art in the design of clamps used for shut off, squeeze off, of plastic pipe which transmits gas or fluid under pressure. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention incorporates SMAs as actuators to simplify and improve clamp design for squeeze off of plastic pipe that is used in the transmission of pressurized gas and fluid. This invention may be deployed and operated remotely by the user. This present invention relates specifically to the application of trained SMA tubes, rods, bars, and beams as actuators for clamping and squeeze off of plastic pipe and tubing used to transmit gas or fluid.

Abstract: Methods and structures are disclosed. An example method includes: rotating a tubular mandrel about a longitudinal axis of the tubular mandrel; depositing a composite material on an inner surface of the tubular mandrel to form a composite tubular member on the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; inserting and expanding an inner expandable mandrel within the composite tubular member to cause the inner expandable mandrel to press the composite tubular member against the inner surface of the tubular mandrel; curing the composite tubular member; removing the inner expandable mandrel; placing a frame within the composite tubular member; and removing the tubular mandrel so as to obtain the composite tubular member with the frame placed therein.