Abstract: Techniques for depositing a functionally integrated coating structure on a substrate are provided. An example method according to the disclosure includes receiving the substrate into a process chamber of a multi-process ion beam assisted deposition system, disposing the substrate in a first zone including a first evaporator species and a first ion beam, wherein the first evaporator species is Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), disposing the substrate in a second zone including a second evaporator species and a second ion beam, wherein the second evaporator species is Yttrium Oxide (Y2O3), and disposing the substrate in a third zone including a third evaporator species and a third ion beam, wherein the third evaporator species is Yttrium Fluoride (YF3).

Abstract: A system and method for identifying available cargo space and allocating that available cargo space while in transit includes a plurality of sensors for measuring space from reference surface of a cargo container to pallets in the cargo container. Such distances are aggregated to identify unused space in real time. The unused space is used by a freight management system to identify cargo along the same route that can use the unused space.

Abstract: The adsorber vessel is configured for radial flow between a center column and a perimeter manifold. Space between the center column and the perimeter manifold contains adsorption media. End caps close off ends of the vessel. An inlet and an outlet are configured within one of the end caps to feed starting gas into the center column or perimeter manifold, and to draw off product gas from the perimeter manifold or center column. An end cap can be removed to provide access for media loading between the center column and the perimeter manifold. Media is preferably provided within cartridges which can slide into this media space. Cartridges can be concentric with one cartridge inboard of the other, or can be stacked vertically. A spring plate can be provided on an open end to hold the media in position, while sealing the open end of the adsorber vessel.

Abstract: The method of locating hole features so that old components can be replaced with new components and still match fit with the airframe includes the steps of adhering a bushing assembly into a fixture plate, rigidly attaching the fixture plate with the bushing assembly to the old component, heating the liquid metal above the liquid metal melting temperature such that the cylindrical drill bushing can move within the assembly, inserting an alignment pin within the cylindrical drill bushing such that the alignment pin is also inserted into an existing hole in the old component and the airframe, allowing the liquid metal to re-solidify; removing the alignment pin from the old component, replacing the old component with the new component, and using the re-solidified assembly as a drill guide for replacing holes in the new component.

Abstract: Techniques for depositing a functionally integrated coating structure on a substrate are provided. An example method according to the disclosure includes receiving the substrate into a process chamber of a multi-process ion beam assisted deposition system, disposing the substrate in a first zone including a first evaporator species and a first ion beam, wherein the first evaporator species is Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), disposing the substrate in a second zone including a second evaporator species and a second ion beam, wherein the second evaporator species is Yttrium Oxide (Y2O3), and disposing the substrate in a third zone including a third evaporator species and a third ion beam, wherein the third evaporator species is Yttrium Fluoride (YF3).

Abstract: A driving system for a reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit is configured to not only drive the reversing blower cyclically in a forward and in a reverse direction, but also to allow the reversing blower to coast during a portion of its operating cycle. While coasting, a pressure differential across the blower acts alone to switch the reversing blower between a forward and a reverse direction of operation. Less power is thus required. When coasting, the blower can also be configured to output power such as the drive motor functioning as an electric generator or by having a mechanical power input be driven by the blower for power generation and/or energy storage. Such a system beneficially utilizes the energy associated with the pressure differential across the blower for energy harvesting and to further accelerate cycle times for the reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit.

Abstract: The adsorption based air separation unit includes an adsorber vessel containing media which selectively adsorbs water vapor and nitrogen preferentially over oxygen. The vessel includes an air entry spaced from an oxygen discharge. At least one dry air tap from the adsorber vessel is located between the entry and the discharge. When the adsorption media is fresh, air entering the adsorber vessel passes through enough of the adsorber vessel to have much of its water vapor removed and only some of its nitrogen removed. The vessel can include multiple taps sequentially further from the entry which can be selectively opened as the adsorption media becomes saturated with water vapor and nitrogen, so that dry air with much of its nitrogen still present can be further tapped from the adsorber vessel. The adsorber vessel thus facilitates production of both oxygen and dry air, such as for use as medical grade air.

Abstract: Techniques for creating a mesoporous surface for enhanced bone integration are provided. An example of a method for generating a mesoporous surface on a substrate includes depositing a layer of titanium on an area of the substrate to generate a nano-textured surface, and anodizing the layer of titanium on the area of the substrate to generate the mesoporous surface. The method may also include incorporating pharmaceutical, biological, or molecular additives into the mesoporous surface intended to further enhance performance of the substrate via enhanced osseoconduction, osseoinduction, or antimicrobial/anti-infective properties.

Abstract: An exemplary single bed reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit is configured to follow the O2 load placed thereon by adjusting flow rates therethrough and power consumption. At least one and preferably multiple pressure sensors sense O2 pressure within an O2 storage region downstream of an adsorber vessel. These sensed pressures are utilized to generate control signals controlling flow rates at locations upstream of the compressor, such as at a reversible blower and an output compressor. Control loops for the blower and the compressor are independent of each other and have different time constants. Effective following of the O2 load is thus achieved without driving the air separation unit into operational conditions outside of design and also maintaining optimal power consumption for the O2 produced, such that efficiency is maintained over a large turndown ratio.

Abstract: Smart defaults are provided for data visualization by creating a default layout of rows, columns, filters, and comparable elements that improve a user's experience in finding relevant answers within the data. Usage history of the ways that users look at data in various data sources, user specific information, and inferred relationships between a current user and similar users are used to determine elements relevant to visualization of data for a particular user such that the visualization process may be automatically started, and a relevance model is formed/adjusted based on these factors. Queries may also be executed in a preemptive fashion based on the relevance model and results provided to a requesting user more rapidly enhancing user experience with networked data visualization.

Abstract: The reusable liquid metal castable drill bushing assembly for use in a fixture plate includes a cylindrical sleeve having an inner diameter, a cylindrical drill bushing having an outer diameter, a liquid metal disposed between the outer diameter of the cylindrical drill hushing and the inner diameter of the cylindrical sleeve, a seal disposed on the cylindrical sleeve, the cylindrical drill bushing, and the liquid metal such that the seal retains the liquid metal between the outer diameter of the cylindrical drill bushing and the inner diameter of the cylindrical sleeve.

Abstract: The adsorber vessel is configured for radial flow between a center column and a perimeter manifold. Space between the center column and the perimeter manifold contains adsorption media. End caps close off ends of the vessel. An inlet and an outlet are configured within one of the end caps to feed starting gas into the center column or perimeter manifold, and to draw off product gas from the perimeter manifold or center column. An end cap can be removed to provide access for media loading between the center column and the perimeter manifold. Media is preferably provided within cartridges which can slide into this media space. Cartridges can be concentric with one cartridge inboard of the other, or can be stacked vertically. A spring plate can be provided on an open end to hold the media in position, while sealing the open end of the adsorber vessel.

Abstract: Techniques for creating a mesoporous surface for enhanced bone integration are provided. An example of a method for generating a mesoporous surface on a substrate includes depositing a layer of titanium on an area of the substrate to generate a nano-textured surface, and anodizing the layer of titanium on the area of the substrate to generate the mesoporous surface.

Abstract: A driving system for a reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit is configured to not only drive the reversing blower cyclically in a forward and in a reverse direction, but also to allow the reversing blower to coast during a portion of its operating cycle. While coasting, a pressure differential across the blower acts alone to switch the reversing blower between a forward and a reverse direction of operation. Less power is thus required. When coasting, the blower can also be configured to output power such as the drive motor functioning as an electric generator or by having a mechanical power input be driven by the blower for power generation and/or energy storage. Such a system beneficially utilizes the energy associated with the pressure differential across the blower for energy harvesting and to further accelerate cycle times for the reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit.

Abstract: The adsorption based air separation unit includes an adsorber vessel containing media which selectively adsorbs water vapor and nitrogen preferentially over oxygen. The vessel includes an air entry spaced from an oxygen discharge. At least one dry air tap from the adsorber vessel is located between the entry and the discharge. When the adsorption media is fresh, air entering the adsorber vessel passes through enough of the adsorber vessel to have much of its water vapor removed and only some of its nitrogen removed. The vessel can include multiple taps sequentially further from the entry which can be selectively opened as the adsorption media becomes saturated with water vapor and nitrogen, so that dry air with much of its nitrogen still present can be further tapped from the adsorber vessel. The adsorber vessel thus facilitates production of both oxygen and dry air, such as for use as medical grade air.

Abstract: An exemplary single bed reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit is configured to follow the O2 load placed thereon by adjusting flow rates therethrough and power consumption. At least one and preferably multiple pressure sensors sense O2 pressure within an O2 storage region downstream of an adsorber vessel. These sensed pressures are utilized to generate control signals controlling flow rates at locations upstream of the compressor, such as at a reversible blower and an output compressor. Control loops for the blower and the compressor are independent of each other and have different time constants. Effective following of the O2 load is thus achieved without driving the air separation unit into operational conditions outside of design and also maintaining optimal power consumption for the O2 produced, such that efficiency is maintained over a large turndown ratio.

Abstract: The adsorption based air separation unit includes an adsorber vessel containing media which selectively adsorbs water vapor and nitrogen preferentially over oxygen. The vessel includes an air entry spaced from an oxygen discharge. At least one dry air tap from the adsorber vessel is located between the entry and the discharge. When the adsorption media is fresh, air entering the adsorber vessel passes through enough of the adsorber vessel to have much of its water vapor removed and only some of its nitrogen removed. The vessel can include multiple taps sequentially further from the entry which can be selectively opened as the adsorption media becomes saturated with water vapor and nitrogen, so that dry air with much of its nitrogen still present can be further tapped from the adsorber vessel. The adsorber vessel thus facilitates production of both oxygen and dry air, such as for use as medical grade air.

Abstract: A driving system for a reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit is configured to not only drive the reversing blower cyclically in a forward and in a reverse direction, but also to allow the reversing blower to coast during a portion of its operating cycle. While coasting, a pressure differential across the blower acts alone to switch the reversing blower between a forward and a reverse direction of operation. Less power is thus required. When coasting, the blower can also be configured to output power such as the drive motor functioning as an electric generator or by having a mechanical power input be driven by the blower for power generation and/or energy storage. Such a system beneficially utilizes the energy associated with the pressure differential across the blower for energy harvesting and to further accelerate cycle times for the reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit.

Abstract: An exemplary single bed reversing blower adsorption based air separation unit is configured to follow the O2 load placed thereon by adjusting flow rates therethrough and power consumption. At least one and preferably multiple pressure sensors sense O2 pressure within an O2 storage region downstream of an adsorber vessel. These sensed pressures are utilized to generate control signals controlling flow rates at locations upstream of the compressor, such as at a reversible blower and an output compressor. Control loops for the blower and the compressor are independent of each other and have different time constants. Effective following of the O2 load is thus achieved without driving the air separation unit into operational conditions outside of design and also maintaining optimal power consumption for the O2 produced, such that efficiency is maintained over a large turndown ratio.

Abstract: The air separation unit includes a single adsorption bed downstream of a reversing blower and configured to operate on the principle of vacuum swing adsorption. An optimal ambient air pressure to vacuum pressure ratio within an adsorber vessel downstream of the reversible blower is identified. When the air separation unit is operated at ambient conditions where ambient air pressure is different, such as at higher altitude (or lower altitude) a pressure ratio across the blower when drawing a vacuum on the adsorption bed is maintained for optimal blower power to oxygen production performance. Time for recovery of the adsorption bed can also be modified due to the lower absolute pressure achieved within the adsorption bed when the pressure ratio across the blower is maintained. An ASU is thus provided which is optimized for performance at various different altitudes without requiring modification of equipment within the ASU.