Abstract: A workpiece and associated method includes fabricating, employing an additive manufacturing process, a raw workpiece from aluminum alloy that includes silicon; heat-treating the raw workpiece to produce an intermediate workpiece, including subjecting the raw workpiece to a first temperature environment, wherein the first temperature environment agglomerates silicon particles disposed on a surface of the raw workpiece; cleaning the intermediate workpiece without removing the silicon particles agglomerated on the surface thereof; and applying a conversion coating onto the surface of the intermediate workpiece.

Abstract: A method for processing a raw workpiece into a final workpiece is described, wherein the raw workpiece includes a metallic structure including silicon particles dispersed therein. The raw workpiece is fabricated employing an additive manufacturing process, in one embodiment. The method includes heat-treating the raw workpiece to produce an intermediate workpiece, wherein the heat-treating includes subjecting the raw workpiece to a first temperature environment for a time period to produce an intermediate workpiece to form agglomerated silicon particles, wherein the agglomerated silicon particles are disposed on a surface of the raw workpiece. The method further includes removing the agglomerated silicon particles that are disposed on the surface of the intermediate workpiece.

Abstract: A method for plating a metallic material onto a titanium substrate, wherein the titanium substrate includes an outer surface and an oxide layer on the outer surface. The method includes chemically etching the outer surface of the titanium substrate to remove at least a portion of the oxide layer, thereby yielding an etched titanium substrate. The method also includes establishing a cathodic protection current through the etched titanium substrate while the etched titanium substrate is immersed in a cathodic electrolyte solution. The method further includes strike plating a bond promoter layer onto the outer surface of the etched titanium substrate after the establishing of the cathodic protection current. The method lastly includes plating the metallic material onto the bond promoter layer.

Abstract: A blind fastener system including a sleeve and, optionally, a core bolt insertable into the sleeve, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the core bolt includes a lubricious metallic coating containing at least one of tin, bismuth, indium and aluminum.

Abstract: A blind fastener system including a sleeve and, optionally, a core bolt insertable into the sleeve, wherein at least one of the sleeve and the core bolt includes a lubricious metallic coating containing at least one of tin, bismuth, indium and aluminum.

Abstract: Methods and systems for duct protection of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems provided include an apparatus for containing a flow of fluid discharged from a fracture in a duct. The apparatus includes a ballistic containment layer and an insulation sheath coupled to the ballistic containment layer. The insulation sheath includes a first air containment layer, an insulation layer, and a second air containment layer.

Abstract: A skateboard with a removable hub that can be attached and detached from a wheel of a skateboard, comprising a skateboard deck rollably supported by one or more wheels and attached to the wheels via one or more trucks, with each hub removably attached to the wheel with a key.

Abstract: Methods and systems for duct protection of a vehicle are provided. The methods and systems provided include an apparatus for containing a flow of fluid discharged from a fracture in a duct. The apparatus includes a ballistic containment layer and an insulation sheath coupled to the ballistic containment layer. The insulation sheath includes a first air containment layer, an insulation layer, and a second air containment layer.

Abstract: A skateboard with a removable hub that can be attached and detached from a wheel of a skateboard, comprising a skateboard deck rollably supported by one or more wheels and attached to the wheels via one or more trucks, with each hub removably attached to the wheel with a key.

Abstract: Wear parts having run-out and methods of producing the same, systems and control structures used to produce wear parts having run-out, and associated methods and software are disclosed. Some methods utilize a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process to produce a coating with a desired coating profile on a wear part.

Abstract: Wear parts having run-out and methods of producing the same, systems and control structures used to produce wear parts having run-out, and associated methods and software are disclosed. Some methods utilize a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process to produce a coating with a desired coating profile on a wear part.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a lost mobile communication device. A lost mobile communication device message can be received at the receiver of the mobile communication device. Operation of specified functions of the mobile communication device can be suspended based on information in the lost mobile communication device message. Lost mobile communication device status information can then be displayed on the display of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operating a lost mobile communication device. A lost mobile communication device message can be received at the receiver of the mobile communication device. Operation of specified functions of the mobile communication device can be suspended based on information in the lost mobile communication device message. Lost mobile communication device status information can then be displayed on the display of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: This invention provides methods, apparatus, system, and article of manufacture which solve the problem of mismatch between the keywords employed by a user in making a query and those assigned by the manual or automatic classification system stored in the system's keyword index. The system records the initial keyword(s) input by the user and holds them until the user is either satisfied or gives up. If in a query session the user is satisfied with the object(s) retrieved from the repository, the system associates the initial keywords(s) with the retrieved object(s). This facilitates the object's retrieval by the same user or subsequent users who input the same keywords. The keyword index is modified directly when, for example, a single service or application controls the interaction between user and repository, end to end.

Abstract: An air transfer device for transferring compressed air from a source volume to a recipient volume. The air transfer device is an assembly that includes a hose with couplings at each end to releasably connect to the source and recipient volumes, and has a variable volume flow control valve between the couplings. An air transfer device is also provided with an ergonomic flow control valve having a variety of interchangeable attachments for connecting to inflatable objects. The air transfer device has many applications, including transferring air between vehicle tires by use of air chucks as the couplings on the ends of the hose.

Abstract: A method (and apparatus) for guaranteeing authenticity of an object, includes providing a sample of material obtainable only by at least one of chemical and physical processes such that the sample is random and not reproducible, associating a number reproducibly to the sample by using a specific reader, and forming at least one coded version of the number. The at least one coded version is obtained by a public key encryption, and the version is recorded into an area of the object.

Abstract: A method of generating electrochemical activity in positive plates of Plante cells is disclosed. An agent corrosive to the unformed pure lead positive plate is incorporated in the electrolyte and the cell charged, the corrosive agent being selected to be destroyed by the anodic conditions at the negative plate at the end of the charging cycle. Nitrate ions are preferred.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the continuous molding of compressed bodies of thermoplastic material of uniform shape comprising feeding a thermally-softened stream of material to a rotary compression molding zone to form a sheet of interconnected compressed bodies, and disintegrating said sheet to form a plurality of compressed bodies of uniform shape.