Abstract: A latching apparatus for mounting and dismounting a housing, such as a modular split flap housing for display, that releasably secures a plug-in modular unit against a corresponding back plate including latches for fastening and securing to a stationary panel and a sliding member that is slidable from a first unlocked offset position to a second locked offset position provided to stabilize the plug-in modular unit against a surface of the back plate.

Abstract: The systems and devices disclosed herein can permit a sterile adapter or manipulator interface to detect at least one attribute, parameter, and/or position of a tool attached to the instrument device manipulator. A sterile adapter can be coupled to the manipulator interface and include a magnet that is movable relative to the manipulator interface for permitting detection of the tool. Additionally, the present disclosure also relates to methods of preparing and using a medical robotic system.

Abstract: A latching apparatus for mounting and dismounting a housing, such as a modular split flap housing for display, that releasably secures a plug-in modular unit against a corresponding back plate including latches for fastening and securing to a stationary panel and a sliding member that is slidable from a first unlocked offset position to a second locked offset position provided to stabilize the plug-in modular unit against a surface of the back plate.

Abstract: A battery pack dehumidifier system for controlling the relative humidity within a battery pack enclosure is provided, the dehumidifier system including a desiccant that absorbs/adsorbs water vapor from the battery pack enclosure. The system heats and reactivates the desiccant at predetermined time intervals or when the humidity within the system reaches a preset level, thereby allowing the desiccant to regain its potential for absorbing/adsorbing water vapor.

Abstract: A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is attached to the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling tube and are interposed between the cooling tube and the first row of cells, and interposed between the cooling tube and the second row of cells, where the pliable fingers are deflected by, and in thermal contact with, the cells of the first and second rows of cells.

Abstract: A battery coolant jacket for use with a plurality of cells is provided, the jacket comprised of a hollow enclosure configured to permit a liquid coolant to flow through the enclosure, entering via a coolant inlet and exiting via a coolant outlet; a plurality of cell apertures that extend completely through the hollow enclosure, where each cell aperture is sized to fit a cell; and a plurality of coolant segregation walls that are integrated into the hollow enclosure and separate the cells into groups of cells, and where each coolant segregation wall forms a barrier between the cell group contained within that coolant segregation wall and the liquid coolant flowing through the hollow enclosure. The coolant jacket may include at least one flow control wall integrated within the hollow enclosure that controls the coolant flow pathway between the enclosure's coolant inlet and outlet, for example causing the coolant flow pathway to alternate directions between adjacent cell groups.

Abstract: A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system is comprised of a sealed battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries, where the battery pack enclosure is divided into a plurality of sealed battery pack compartments. The system also includes a plurality of battery venting assemblies, where at least one battery venting assembly is integrated into each of the sealed battery pack compartments, and where each of the battery venting assemblies includes an exhaust port integrated into an outer wall of the battery pack compartment and a valve, the valve being configured to seal the exhaust port under normal operating conditions and to unseal the exhaust port when at least one of the batteries within the battery pack compartment enters into thermal runaway.

Abstract: A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack, the system using an integrated battery venting assembly comprised of an integrated exhaust port, a valve retention plate that covers the exhaust port and includes a plurality of retention plate ports, and a plurality of valves that are configured to seal the retention plate ports under normal conditions and unseal the retention plate ports during thermal runaway. As hot gas passes through the retention plate ports, the plate is configured to melt and be ejected, thereby allowing subsequent hot gas to pass through the larger exhaust port. A perforated cover plate may be used to protect the external surfaces of the retention plate and valves. An internally mounted exhaust guide may be used to direct the flow of hot gas expelled during the thermal runaway event.

Abstract: A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is overmolded onto the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling tube and are interposed between the cooling tube and the first row of cells, and interposed between the cooling tube and the second row of cells, where the pliable fingers are deflected by, and in thermal contact with, the cells of the first and second rows of cells.

Abstract: A battery coolant jacket for use with a plurality of cells is provided, the jacket comprised of a hollow enclosure configured to permit a liquid coolant to flow through the enclosure, entering via a coolant inlet and exiting via a coolant outlet; a plurality of cell apertures that extend completely through the hollow enclosure, where each cell aperture is sized to fit a cell; and a plurality of coolant segregation walls that are integrated into the hollow enclosure and separate the cells into groups of cells, and where each coolant segregation wall forms a barrier between the cell group contained within that coolant segregation wall and the liquid coolant flowing through the hollow enclosure. The coolant jacket may include at least one flow control wall integrated within the hollow enclosure that controls the coolant flow pathway between the enclosure's coolant inlet and outlet, for example causing the coolant flow pathway to alternate directions between adjacent cell groups.

Abstract: A battery pack dehumidifier system for controlling the relative humidity within a battery pack enclosure is provided, the dehumidifier system including a desiccant that absorbs/adsorbs water vapor from the battery pack enclosure. The system heats and reactivates the desiccant at predetermined time intervals or when the humidity within the system reaches a preset level, thereby allowing the desiccant to regain its potential for absorbing/adsorbing water vapor.

Abstract: A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack, the system using an integrated battery venting assembly comprised of an integrated exhaust port, a valve retention plate that covers the exhaust port and includes a plurality of retention plate ports, and a plurality of valves that are configured to seal the retention plate ports under normal conditions and unseal the retention plate ports during thermal runaway. As hot gas passes through the retention plate ports, the plate is configured to melt and be ejected, thereby allowing subsequent hot gas to pass through the larger exhaust port. A perforated cover plate may be used to protect the external surfaces of the retention plate and valves. An internally mounted exhaust guide may be used to direct the flow of hot gas expelled during the thermal runaway event.

Abstract: A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system is comprised of a sealed battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries, where the battery pack enclosure is divided into a plurality of sealed battery pack compartments. The system also includes a plurality of battery venting assemblies, where at least one battery venting assembly is integrated into each of the sealed battery pack compartments, and where each of the battery venting assemblies includes an exhaust port integrated into an outer wall of the battery pack compartment and a valve, the valve being configured to seal the exhaust port under normal operating conditions and to unseal the exhaust port when at least one of the batteries within the battery pack compartment enters into thermal runaway.

Abstract: A method for controlling the relative humidity within a battery pack enclosure is provided in which the volume of air within the battery pack is exposed to a volume of desiccant contained within a desiccant enclosure. The system is configured to heat and reactivate the desiccant at predetermined time intervals or when the humidity within the system reaches a preset level, thereby allowing the desiccant to regain its potential for absorbing/adsorbing water vapor.

Abstract: A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is attached to the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling tube and are interposed between the cooling tube and the first row of cells, and interposed between the cooling tube and the second row of cells, where the pliable fingers are deflected by, and in thermal contact with, the cells of the first and second rows of cells.

Abstract: A cooling manifold assembly for use in a battery pack thermal management system is provided. The cooling manifold assembly includes a coolant tube that is interposed between at least a first row of cells and a second row of cells, where the first and second rows of cells are adjacent and preferably offset from one another. A thermal interface layer is overmolded onto the cooling tube, the thermal interface layer including a plurality of pliable fingers that extend away from the cooling tube and are interposed between the cooling tube and the first row of cells, and interposed between the cooling tube and the second row of cells, where the pliable fingers are deflected by, and in thermal contact with, the cells of the first and second rows of cells.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a turbine for use in a wind-based power generation system includes a plurality of separate blade parts that contain locating and coupling structures to permit the separate parts to be coupled to one another in a stacked manner to form a shaped blade of the turbine.

Abstract: An indirect calorimeter for measuring the metabolic rate of a subject includes a respiratory connector configured to be supported in contact with the subject so as to pass inhaled and exhaled gases as the subject breathes, a flow pathway, and a hygiene barrier positioned to block a predetermined pathogen from the exhaled gases. The indirect calorimeter also includes a flow pathway having a first end in fluid communication with the respiratory connector and a second end in fluid communication with a source and sink for respiratory gases. The flow pathway includes a flow tube through which the inhaled and exhaled gases pass, an outer housing surrounding the flow tube, and a chamber disposed between the flow tube and the first end.

Abstract: A method of determining a respiratory parameter for a subject using an indirect calorimeter is provided. The indirect calorimeter includes a respiratory connector for passing inhaled and exhaled gases, a flow pathway operable to receive and pass inhaled and exhaled gases having a flow tube within the flow pathway through which the inhaled and exhaled gases pass, a flow meter for determining an instantaneous flow volume of the inhaled and exhaled gases, a component gas concentration sensor for determining an instantaneous fraction of a predetermined component gas and a computation unit having a processor and a memory. The method includes the steps of initializing the indirect calorimeter and the subject breathing into the respiratory connector if the indirect calorimeter is initialized, sensing the flow volume of the inhaled and exhaled gases passing through the flow pathway using the flow meter and transmitting a signal representing the sensed flow volume to the computation unit.