Abstract: A vehicle includes a system operating a method of controlling a temperature at a battery cell of the vehicle. The system includes the battery cell, a temperature sensor and a processor. The battery cell has a tab for flow of current to and from the battery cell. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a cell temperature of the battery cell at a location away from the tab. The processor is configured to predict a tab temperature from the cell temperature, and control a power supplied to a load from the battery cell based on the tab temperature.

Abstract: A nickel-based superalloy includes, in atomic percentages, 13% to 21% chromium, 15% to 26% cobalt, 4% to 8% aluminum, 4.5% to 8% titanium, 8% to 18% iron, boron in an atomic percentage less than or equal to 0.5% or no boron, carbon in an atomic percentage less than or equal to 1% or no carbon, at least one additional element selected from molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and niobium, a total atomic content of the at least one additional element being less than or equal to 1.5% or no such at least one additional element, the remainder being nickel and unavoidable impurities, with a sum of the atomic percentages of aluminum and titanium being comprised between 8.5% and 15%. The novel superalloy composition has a limited density and exhibiting, when hot, good mechanical properties as well as good resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a system operating a method of controlling a temperature at a battery cell of the vehicle. The system includes the battery cell, a temperature sensor and a processor. The battery cell has a tab for flow of current to and from the battery cell. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a cell temperature of the battery cell at a location away from the tab. The processor is configured to predict a tab temperature from the cell temperature, and control a power supplied to a load from the battery cell based on the tab temperature.

Abstract: A nickel-based superalloy includes, in atomic percentages, 13% to 21% chromium, 15% to 26% cobalt, 4% to 8% aluminum, 4.5% to 8% titanium, 8% to 18% iron, boron in an atomic percentage less than or equal to 0.5% or no boron, carbon in an atomic percentage less than or equal to 1% or no carbon, at least one additional element selected from molybdenum, tungsten, tantalum and niobium, a total atomic content of the at least one additional element being less than or equal to 1.5% or no such at least one additional element, the remainder being nickel and unavoidable impurities, with a sum of the atomic percentages of aluminum and titanium being comprised between 8.5% and 15%. The novel superalloy composition has a limited density and exhibiting, when hot, good mechanical properties as well as good resistance to oxidation and corrosion.

Abstract: An automated method for reconditioning a plurality of digital discs within a reconditioning apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises holding the digital discs in a load area, and then transferring each of the digital discs from the load area to at least one workstation with a disc transfer mechanism. The method also comprises reconditioning each of the digital discs transferred to the workstation with at least one worktool operable to remove a portion of the protective coating of each of the digital discs without removal of the data underlying the protective coating. The method further comprises transferring each of the digital discs from the workstation to an unload area with the disc transfer mechanism, and then holding the digital discs in the unload area for manual retrieval. Advantageously, the digital discs may be automatically reconditioned within the reconditioning apparatus without manual manipulation of the digital discs during the reconditioning process.

Abstract: Provided herein is a device and system for measuring an object geometry. The device comprises a probe with contacting and tracking ends and a tracking means and actuation control unit positioned on the probe. The system further comprises a measurement and post processing unit in electronic communication with the tracking means and/or the actuation control unit. Also provided is a method for measuring a geometry of an anatomic object, for example, a hernia. One or more locations of interest on the object are touched directly with the contacting probe end and the location or motion data of the probe end and of the tracking means are tracked and transmitted to the measurement and post processing unit as the point(s) of interest are touched. The data is processed into the geometric measurement and a representative image may be displayed.

Abstract: An automated method for reconditioning a plurality of digital discs within a reconditioning apparatus is disclosed. The method comprises holding the digital discs in a load area, and then transferring each of the digital discs from the load area to at least one workstation with a disc transfer mechanism. The method also comprises reconditioning each of the digital discs transferred to the workstation with at least one worktool operable to remove a portion of the protective coating of each of the digital discs without removal of the data underlying the protective coating. The method further comprises transferring each of the digital discs from the workstation to an unload area with the disc transfer mechanism, and then holding the digital discs in the unload area for manual retrieval. Advantageously, the digital discs may be automatically reconditioned within the reconditioning apparatus without manual manipulation of the digital discs during the reconditioning process.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reconditioning the protective coating of a digital disc. The damaged digital disc is automatically moved between workstations by a suction member which grasps the disc at the first workstation and releases the disc at the second workstation. Each of the workstations is defined by worktools which operate on the digital disc. A feed cartridge member stores the damaged discs prior to movement of the discs into the first workstation and a receiving cartridge member stores the reconditioned discs following the final reconditioning operations at the last workstation.

Abstract: A surgical retractor includes a rake plate, and plural rakes for applying retractor force to a body. The rakes are pivotably mounted to the rake plate, and the length of the rakes may be adjusted relative to the rake plate. Various connections are provided for connecting the rakes to the rake plate. Also, the rake plate is concave to facilitate placement relative to a surgery cavity of a patient. A method of holding open a surgery cavity includes the placing of the rakes relative to the cavity and adjusting the length of the respective rakes.