Abstract: The present invention relates generally to stable percarboxylic acid compositions comprising, inter alia, at least two stabilizing agents, and various uses for water treatments, including water treatments in connection with oil- and gas-field operations. The present invention also relates to slick water compositions and gel based compositions that comprise stable percarboxylic acid compositions and the use thereof in oil- and gas-field operations.

Abstract: A time-delay latch for securing a structure in a specified position includes a housing, a fluid chamber contained within the housing for holding fluid, a pin that extends through the fluid chamber and is axially movable within and through the fluid chamber, and a release frame movably secured within the housing. When the pin is in a latched position, the release frame engages with the pin to prevent axial movement of the pin. When the pin is in an unlatched position, the release frame disengages from the pin to allow axial movement of the pin. The axial movement of the pin between the latched position and the unlatched position requires a prescribed duration of time to elapse. During operation, the axial movement of the pin between the unlatched position and the latched position can occur faster than the prescribed duration of time.

Abstract: A rapidly disassembled hinge suitable for use in an aircraft includes a first attachment plate attached to a supported structure, a second attachment plate attached to a supporting structure, and a pin with a notch in an outer surface thereof, which is insertable into portions of the first and second attachment plates for pivotably connecting the first and second attachment plates together. The pin is inserted so that the notch is positioned within the second attachment structure when the hinge is in an assembled state. A key includes a main body and a distal end extending from the main body, the distal end being insertable within the notch of the pin. The key is movable such that the distal end of the key can be inserted into and removed from engagement with the notch of the pin to provide for toolless disassembly of the hinge.

Abstract: A printed circuit board having an electrically insulative layer and a conductive solder pad. The conductive solder pad is disposed at least partially over the electrically insulative layer, and defines a solder contact area. The solder contact area is configured for making an electrical connection to an electrical component via laser soldering. The printed circuit board further includes a solder mask coating the conductive solder pad and defining an exposed area of the conductive solder pad. The conductive solder pad protects the electrically insulative layer from incident heat during the laser soldering by extending a length underneath the solder mask along a periphery of the exposed area.

Abstract: A rapidly disassembled hinge suitable for use in an aircraft includes a first attachment plate attached to a supported structure, a second attachment plate attached to a supporting structure, and a pin with a notch in an outer surface thereof, which is insertable into portions of the first and second attachment plates for pivotably connecting the first and second attachment plates together. The pin is inserted so that the notch is positioned within the second attachment structure when the hinge is in an assembled state. A key includes a main body and a distal end extending from the main body, the distal end being insertable within the notch of the pin. The key is movable such that the distal end of the key can be inserted into and removed from engagement with the notch of the pin to provide for toolless disassembly of the hinge.

Abstract: A time-delay latch for securing a structure in a specified position includes a housing, a fluid chamber contained within the housing for holding fluid, a pin that extends through the fluid chamber and is axially movable within and through the fluid chamber, and a release frame movably secured within the housing. When the pin is in a latched position, the release frame engages with the pin to prevent axial movement of the pin. When the pin is in an unlatched position, the release frame disengages from the pin to allow axial movement of the pin. The axial movement of the pin between the latched position and the unlatched position requires a prescribed duration of time to elapse. During operation, the axial movement of the pin between the unlatched position and the latched position can occur faster than the prescribed duration of time.

Abstract: An aircraft is equipped with an auxiliary access control barrier (AACB) to prevent access to an area of the aircraft. The AACB includes laterally extendable door panels that are slidably attached to each other to vary a width of the AACB, a hinge by which the door panels are pivotably attached to the aircraft, such that the door panels are pivotable between a deployed position, in which the door panels are positioned across the opening to prevent passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a first width, and a stowed position, in which the door panels are positioned to allow passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a second width, and one or more locks to prevent relative motion between the door panels to fix the width of the AACB and/or to secure the AACB within the opening in the bulkhead.

Abstract: An aircraft is equipped with an auxiliary access control barrier (AACB) to prevent access to an area of the aircraft. The AACB includes laterally extendable door panels that are slidably attached to each other to vary a width of the AACB, a hinge by which the door panels are pivotably attached to the aircraft, such that the door panels are pivotable between a deployed position, in which the door panels are positioned across the opening to prevent passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a first width, and a stowed position, in which the door panels are positioned to allow passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a second width, and one or more locks to prevent relative motion between the door panels to fix the width of the AACB and/or to secure the AACB within the opening in the bulkhead.

Abstract: An aircraft barrier system separating, within an aircraft, a secure area from a passenger cabin of the aircraft, comprises a barrier installed inside the passenger cabin and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a latch mounted to the barrier, and a locking device comprising a latching clamp configured to lock the latch when the barrier is in the closed position. The aircraft barrier system further comprises a release mechanism configured to move the latching clamp from a locking state locking the latch to an unlocking state releasing the latch, wherein the release mechanism is further configured to delay the moving of the latching clamp from the locking state to the unlocking state. Also, an aircraft area and an aircraft having such aircraft barrier system.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for use in animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising obtaining joint data for joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world; accessing data for a target curve defining target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object; computing a length along the target curve equal to the length defined for a first joint from the first joint defined on the target curve to an initial target location on the target curve; computing an initial location for a second joint at the length defined for the first joint along a line through the initial target location; computing a difference between the initial location for the second joint and the initial target location; and computing a target location for the second joint on the target curve based on the computed difference and the initia

Abstract: A computer implemented method and a computer system for animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, accesses joint data for each joint of a chain of joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length for a vector from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world; accesses data for a target curve for use in defining possible target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object, and retrieves or estimates a length of the curve; and processes the joint data to determine a total length of the vectors for the joints of the chain using the length data for the vectors; to determine scaled vectors by determining a scaled length for the vector for each joint of the chain based on the length of the curve and the total length of the vectors for the joints of the chain; to fit the scaled vectors for the joints of the chain to the curve by rotating the scaled vectors, with a first joint

Abstract: A sensor hub for use in machine condition monitoring comprising a rotation sensor and a wireless communication module each operatively connected to a processing device. The rotation sensor and processing device are configured to receive power from a controller of the monitored machine. One or more additional sensors, which may be associated with the monitored machine or another machine, may also be operatively connected to the processing device. In an embodiment, the additional sensors may comprise any one or more of, or any combination of, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, an acoustic sensor, an high frequency sensor, an humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a current sensor or a proximity sensor. The wireless communication module may support an ad hoc wireless communication protocol. Further, the wireless communication module may receive additional sensor data from one or more wireless sensor nodes associated with the monitored machine or another machine.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for use in animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising obtaining joint data for each joint of a chain of joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length for a vector from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world, the joint data for at least one joint including vector constraint data defining a rotational constraint for the vector; accessing data for a target curve defining target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object; and processing the joint data to rotate the vector for a joint towards a target location on the curve for a next joint in the chain; and if constraint data for the joint prevents the rotated vector from reaching the target location: set the vector angle for the joint at an angle dependent on the rotational constraint; and rotate an immediately preceding joint in the chain to move the vector for

Abstract: A computer implemented method for use in animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising accessing joint data for each joint of a chain of joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length for a vector from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world; accessing data for a target curve for use in defining possible target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object; and processing the joint data to set a location of a first joint at a first end of the chain to location of a first end of the target curve; define an end target location on the curve for an end joint at a second end of the chain; define intermediate locations on the curve for joints intermediate the ends of the chain based on the lengths of the vectors along the chain; and for a number of iterations, repeatedly identify a joint at a location having a largest location error relative to an int

Abstract: A computer implemented method and a computer system for animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, accesses joint data for each joint of a chain of joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length for a vector from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world; accesses data for a target curve for use in defining possible target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object, and retrieves or estimates a length of the curve; and processes the joint data to determine a total length of the vectors for the joints of the chain using the length data for the vectors; to determine scaled vectors by determining a scaled length for the vector for each joint of the chain based on the length of the curve and the total length of the vectors for the joints of the chain; to fit the scaled vectors for the joints of the chain to the curve by rotating the scaled vectors, with a first joint

Abstract: A computer implemented method for use in animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising accessing joint data for each joint of a chain of joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length for a vector from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world; accessing data for a target curve for use in defining possible target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object; and processing the joint data to set a location of a first joint at a first end of the chain to location of a first end of the target curve; define an end target location on the curve for an end joint at a second end of the chain; define intermediate locations on the curve for joints intermediate the ends of the chain based on the lengths of the vectors along the chain; and for a number of iterations, repeatedly identify a joint at a location having a largest location error relative to an int

Abstract: A computer implemented method for use in animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising obtaining joint data for joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world; accessing data for a target curve defining target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object; computing a length along the target curve equal to the length defined for a first joint from the first joint defined on the target curve to an initial target location on the target curve; computing an initial location for a second joint at the length defined for the first joint along a line through the initial target location; computing a difference between the initial location for the second joint and the initial target location; and computing a target location for the second joint on the target curve based on the computed difference and the initia

Abstract: A computer implemented method for use in animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising accessing joint data for each joint of a chain of joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length for a vector from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world; accessing data for a target curve for use in defining possible target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object; and processing the joint data to set a location of a first joint at a first end of the chain to location of a first end of the target curve; define an end target location on the curve for an end joint at a second end of the chain; define intermediate locations on the curve for joints intermediate the ends of the chain based on the lengths of the vectors along the chain; and for a number of iterations, repeatedly identify a joint at a location having a largest location error relative to an int

Abstract: A computer implemented method of animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising determining curve data for use in the animation of the at least a part of the virtual object, the curve data comprising at least three curve control points, the control points comprising curve parameters defining a curve shape for the curve; and processing joint data associated with each part using the curve data to update a configuration of the parts of the virtual object.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for use in animating parts of a virtual object in a virtual world, the method comprising obtaining joint data for each joint of a chain of joints associated with parts of a virtual object, joint data including length data defining a vector length for a vector from the joint to a next joint, the length data corresponding to a length of a part in the virtual world, the joint data for at least one joint including vector constraint data defining a rotational constraint for the vector; accessing data for a target curve defining target locations for the joints of the parts of the virtual object; and processing the joint data to rotate the vector for a joint towards a target location on the curve for a next joint in the chain; and if constraint data for the joint prevents the rotated vector from reaching the target location: set the vector angle for the joint at an angle dependent on the rotational constraint; and rotate an immediately preceding joint in the chain to move the vector for