Abstract: Downhole electronics assemblies including a modular carrier including a top rail and a bottom rail, the top and bottom rails each including a pair of longitudinally extending sides and the top rail providing one or more ribs that extend between the longitudinally extending sides of the top rail. A circuit board is positionable between the top and bottom rails and has a top side and a bottom side and one or more electronic components mounted on at least one of the top and bottom sides. One or more damping pads interpose the circuit board and a host downhole tool such that contact between the circuit board and the host downhole tool is prevented.

Abstract: Downhole electronics assemblies including a modular carrier including a top rail and a bottom rail, the top and bottom rails each including a pair of longitudinally extending sides and the top rail providing one or more ribs that extend between the longitudinally extending sides of the top rail. A circuit board is positionable between the top and bottom rails and has a top side and a bottom side and one or more electronic components mounted on at least one of the top and bottom sides. One or more damping pads interpose the circuit board and a host downhole tool such that contact between the circuit board and the host downhole tool is prevented.

Abstract: Described is a keypad and its method of manufacture. In one embodiment, a keypad is provided that includes a substrate having a plurality of donut-shaped recesses located at each site of a button for inputting user information, a plurality of cushions each filled with an incompressible fluid (e.g., water), a flex circuit layer, a plurality of metal membranes and an over-molded thermoplastic elastomer layer. During the over-molding of the thermoplastic elastomer layer, the plurality of cushions filled with an incompressible fluid prevents collapse of the space between the flex circuit layer and the plurality of metal membranes. After the layers of the keypad are assembled, the incompressible fluid is removed which leaves a space between the flex circuit layer and the plurality of metal membranes.

Abstract: A keeper and a latch secures a first member such as a door panel against a second member such as a corresponding frame. The keeper is adapted for attachment to the second member and engages the latch in a fastened position.

Abstract: A latch secures a first member such as a door panel against a second member such as a corresponding frame. The latch comprises a housing for mounting in the first member, a pawl adapted for engaging a keeper in a latched position on the second member and latch actuating means for selectively moving the pawl into a position away from the keeper in order to allow the first member to be opened.

Abstract: A fastener connects panel members in a flush position. The fastener includes a pair of connecting members which are snap-fit within apertures provided within each of the panel members for securing the panel members together. The fastener also disconnects the panel members when secured together. For this purpose, at least one of the connecting members is removable from the panel member aperture to disconnect the panel members. The fastener allows the panels to be assembled together and disassembled quickly and with little or no tooling.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting high temperature catalytic conversion treatment of exhaust gases flowing in a large volume exhaust path comprising a plurality of separate catalyst panel assemblies, and a panel support assembly arranged to be mounted within the exhaust path and to separately removably support each of the plurality of catalyst panel assemblies so that high temperature exhaust gases within the exhaust path will flow therethrough in operation and each panel assembly can be conveniently serviced by simple removal. The panel support assembly includes an outer ambient temperature peripheral frame structure, an inner high temperature peripheral frame structure mounted within the outer peripheral frame structure for temperature responsive expansion and contraction with respect thereto, and an expansible and contractible high temperature resistant peripheral seal assembly between the inner and outer peripheral frame structures for maintaining a flow preventing seal therebetween.

Abstract: A generally mushroom-shaped, open cycle OTEC system and distilled water producer which has a skirt-conduit structure extending from the enlarged portion of the mushroom to the ocean. The enlarged part of the mushroom houses a toroidal casing flash evaporator which produces steam which expands through a vertical rotor turbine, partially situated in the center of the blossom portion and partially situated in the mushroom's stem portion. Upon expansion through the turbine, the motive steam enters a shell and tube condenser annularly disposed about the rotor axis and axially situated beneath the turbine in the stem portion. Relatively warm ocean water is circulated up through the radially outer skirt-conduit structure entering the evaporator through a radially outer portion thereof, flashing a portion thereof into motive steam, and draining the unflashed portion from the evaporator through a radially inner skirt-conduit structure.

Abstract: Two sets of hinged control doors for regulating motive steam flow from an evaporator to a condenser alternatively through a set of turbine blades in a steam bypass around the turbine blades. The evaporator has a toroidal shaped casing situated about the turbine's vertical axis of rotation and an outlet opening therein for discharging motive steam into an annular steam flow path defined between the turbine's radially inner and outer casing structures. The turbine blades extend across the steam flow path intermediate the evaporator and condenser. The first set of control doors is arranged to prevent steam access to the upstream side of the turbine blades and the second set of control doors acts as a bypass around the blades so as to maintain equilibrium between the evaporator and condenser during non-rotation of the turbine. The first set of control doors preferably extend, when closed, between the evaporator casing and the turbine's outer casing and, when open, extend away from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An improved open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion system including a flash evaporator for vaporizing relatively warm ocean surface water and an axial flow, elastic fluid turbine having a vertical shaft and axis of rotation. The warm ocean water is transmitted to the evaporator through a first prestressed concrete skirt-conduit structure circumferentially situated about the axis of rotation. The unflashed warm ocean water exits the evaporator through a second prestressed concrete skirt-conduit structure located circumferentially about and radially within the first skirt-conduit structure. The radially inner surface of the second skirt conduit structure constitutes a cylinder which functions as the turbine's outer casing and obviates the need for a conventional outer housing. The turbine includes a radially enlarged disc element attached to the shaft for supporting at least one axial row of radially directed blades through which the steam is expanded.