Abstract: A method for installing an elevator drive machine in a machine room-less elevator system is provided. A drive machine assembly is fastened to a counterweight. The counterweight is then lifted vertically along a set of counterweight guide rails to the top of the hoistway. There, the drive machine assembly is mounted to the ends of the counterweight guide rails. Once in place, the drive machine assembly is then disconnected from the counterweight.

Abstract: A system for generating renewal messages for transmitting to remote customers is disclosed. The system comprises at least one memory, storing: for each of a plurality of products, a renewal profile indicating at least a renewal period for the product; and customer data, including SMS contact data and one or more product(s) associated with the customer including an associated reference date. A processor is configured automatically to: generate based on the current date, the renewal profile for each product and the reference date(s) a list of one or more customers for whom a renewal message is required; and generate a single message for the or each customer, which message references multiple product renewals and is formatted to be appropriate to sending as a single SMS message.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for disconnecting portions of a downhole tubular string, such as a drill stem or drill string, and removing an upper portion of the tubular string from the lower stuck portion in a well. The disconnect assembly includes a connection between joints of two portions of the tubular string. The assembly includes two tubular members and an inner sleeve having two splines each with different angular pitches or teeth counts. The assembly may include a rotary shouldered threaded connection, wherein the two tubular portions are disconnectable at the rotary shouldered threaded connection in the assembly. The assembly may include a sleeve lock, a selective no-go for landing in a profile, and a selectively deployable unlocking and unblocking tool for activating the assembly. The assembly may include connectable cylindrical members other than downhole tubulars.

Abstract: A water exchange device for a birdbath comprises a stanchion and a head. A first passageway extends entirely through the length of the stanchion body from an upper end to a lower end. Also, at least one stanchion duct extends from the first passageway exiting the stanchion body at a stanchion duct aperture. The head is fixedly secured to the stanchion body so as to be positioned spaced from, and not covering the stanchion duct aperture(s). A second passageway extends from a base of the head into the head body forming a through connection with the first passageway. The head also includes at least one head duct extending from the second passageway in an angled direction toward the base of the head body, exiting the head body at a head duct aperture.

Abstract: A valve for use in a wellbore includes a housing including a housing port, a slidable closure member disposed in a bore of the housing and including a closure member port, and a seal disposed in the housing, wherein the closure member includes a first position in the housing where fluid communication is provided between the closure member port and the housing port, and a second position axially spaced from the first position where fluid communication between the closure member port and the housing port is restricted, wherein, in response to sealing of the bore of the housing by an obturating member sealingly engaging the seal, the closure member is configured to actuate from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An assembly for disconnecting portions of a downhole tubular string, such as a drill stem or drill string, and removing an upper portion of the tubular string from the lower stuck portion in a well, includes a connection between joints of two portions of the tubular string. The assembly includes two tubular members and an inner sleeve having two splines each with different angular pitches or teeth counts. The assembly may include a rotary shouldered threaded connection, wherein the two tubular portions are disconnectable at the rotary shouldered threaded connection in the assembly. The assembly may include a sleeve lock, a selective no-go for landing in a profile, and a selectively deployable unlocking and unblocking tool for activating the assembly. The assembly may include connectable cylindrical members other than downhole tubulars.

Abstract: A method of determining, with a processing device, an instantaneous speed of an arrow shot from a bow having a bow string is provided, the arrow shot at a target having a target-face. The method includes recording a signal that includes a first peak occurring substantially at a start of a free flight of the arrow and a second peak occurring substantially at a moment of impact of the arrow with the target, the start of the free-flight occurring when a proximate end of the arrow reaches substantially a neutral position of the bow string; processing the signal to determine a duration of the free flight of the arrow; determining a distance between a location from which the arrow is loosed and a location of the target-face; and determining the instantaneous speed of the arrow, at least in part, by employing each of the duration of the free flight and the distance.

Abstract: A water exchange device for cleaning a birdbath with a basin comprises a turret, a stationary mount, a first channel, a second channel, and an inlet channel. The turret is coupled to a center point such that the turret may rotate around the center point, and the mount mounts the turret of the water exchange device to the birdbath basin to be cleaned. Both the first and second channels include an aperture, and the inlet channel is coupled to the first and second channels such that when water flows into the inlet channel, the water flows out the apertures of the first and second channels into the basin. When the water does flow at a certain pressure, the turret rotates around the center point.

Abstract: A method for bleeding at least one part of a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle, wherein the brake system includes a brake circuit whose pressure can be selectively increased by a pump. The increased pressure is applied by the pump to the part of the brake system to be bled for a specified period of time without opening bleed valves.

Abstract: A method for installing an elevator drive machine in a machine room-less elevator system is provided. A drive machine assembly is fastened to a counterweight. The counterweight is then lifted vertically along a set of counterweight guide rails to the top of the hoistway. There, the drive machine assembly is mounted to the ends of the counterweight guide rails. Once in place, the drive machine assembly is then disconnected from the counterweight.

Abstract: A system having a sealing assembly for a gravel port in a gravel pack apparatus. The sealing assembly includes a sealing element around an outer circumference of the gravel pack assembly above the gravel pack and below the gravel port. The sealing element is on the outside housing of the gravel pack apparatus or on a separate piece of equipment located above the gravel pack and below the gravel port, permitting a larger flow bore through the gravel pack apparatus. The sealing element may be selectively actuated after the gravel pack operation has concluded, thus maintaining the gravel pack in the desired location. The removal of a gravel pack tool may permit the sealing element to be actuated.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of determining an instantaneous speed of an arrow, includes determining a time-of-flight of the arrow; determining a distance between a location from which the arrow is loosed and a location of a target-face; providing, with an apparatus included in the arrow, data from at least a portion of a free flight of the arrow; and determining the instantaneous speed of the arrow for at least one point of the free-flight by employing each of: a) the time-of-flight; b) the distance; and c) at least some of the data provided by the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computing devices are provided for using a completed corrective action as evidence of a fault. The methods, systems and computing devices receive equipment status evidence and determine an equipment fault based on the equipment status evidence. The methods, systems and computing devices also create and rank a list of potential failure modes based at least in part on the determined equipment fault, recommend a corrective action to correct the equipment fault based at least in part on the ranking of the potential failure modes and receiving additional equipment status evidence indicating that the recommended corrective action failed to correct the equipment fault. The methods, systems and computing devices then associate a detection probability and a false negative rate with the failed corrective action to create additional status evidence, and re-rank the list of potential failure modes for subsequent performance based on the additional status evidence.

Abstract: A water exchange device for cleaning a birdbath with a basin comprises a turret, a stationary mount, a first channel, a second channel, and an inlet channel. The turret is coupled to a center point such that the turret may rotate around the center point, and the mount mounts the turret of the water exchange device to the birdbath basin to be cleaned. Both the first and second channels include an aperture, and the inlet channel is coupled to the first and second channels such that when water flows into the inlet channel, the water flows out the apertures of the first and second channels into the basin. When the water does flow at a certain pressure, the turret rotates around the center point.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computing devices are provided for using a completed corrective action as evidence of a fault. The methods, systems and computing devices receive equipment status evidence and determine an equipment fault based on the equipment status evidence. The methods, systems and computing devices also create and rank a list of potential failure modes based at least in part on the determined equipment fault, recommend a corrective action to correct the equipment fault based at least in part on the ranking of the potential failure modes and receiving additional equipment status evidence indicating that the recommended corrective action failed to correct the equipment fault. The methods, systems and computing devices then associate a detection probability and a false negative rate with the failed corrective action to create additional status evidence, and re-rank the list of potential failure modes for subsequent performance based on the additional status evidence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of Sleep Apnea events and Hypopnea episodes wherein one embodiment comprises a wearable, belt like apparatus containing a microphone and a plethysmograph. The microphone and plethysmograph generate signals that are representative of physiological aspects of respiration, and the signals are transferred to an imbedded computer. The embedded computer extracts the sound of breathing and the sound of the heart beat by Digital Signal Processing techniques. The embedded computer has elements for determining when respiration parameters falls out of defined boundaries for said respiration parameters. This exemplary method provides real-time detection of the onset of a Sleep Apnea event or Hypopnea episode and supplies stimulation signals upon the determination of a Sleep Apnea event or Hypopnea episode to initiate an inhalation. In one embodiment, the stimulus is applied to the patient by a cutaneous rumble effects actuator and/or audio effects broadcasting.

Abstract: A method of detecting and diagnosing system faults, includes detecting the noisy status of a monitor during operations and incorporating a quantified monitor uncertainty level to support fault isolation reasoning. A sequential probability ratio test is used to statistically test the noisy status of a monitor and Shannon's entropy theory is used to quantify the uncertainty levels of the monitor to support the use of the monitor values in fault isolation.

Abstract: A perforating gun train for perforating two or more zones of interest includes two or more gun sets made up of guns, one or more activators, and other associated equipment. An illustrative apparatus may include a first perforating gun; an activator responsive to the firing of the first perforating gun and a fuse element detonated by the activator; and a second perforating gun that is fired by the fuse element. An illustrative method for perforating a subterranean formation may include forming a perforating gun train using at least a first perforating gun and a second perforating gun; and energetically coupling the first perforating gun and the second perforating gun with an activator.

Abstract: A method for automatically maintaining a birdbath, a kit for automating maintenance of a birdbath, and a birdbath with integrated automated maintenance are provided. Maintenance of a birdbath includes placing a barrier in a birdbath bowl. Further, maintenance comprises performing a cleaning phase that streams water from a nozzle located remotely from the barrier such that water is sprayed into the bowl with sufficient force to cause water to swirl around the barrier, which cleans the bowl and discharges debris and contaminated water in the bowl when such debris and contaminated water crosses in line with the water stream. Still further, the maintenance comprises performing a filling phase after the cleaning phase, which streams water through the nozzle such that water is sprayed from the nozzle to fill the birdbath bowl with water.

Abstract: A method for determining relative likelihood of a failure mode is provided. The method comprises receiving evidence observations of a monitored system from monitors connected in a many-to-many relationship to the failure modes, generating a fault condition including states of all failure modes that are connected to the monitors, and computing a relative probability of failure for each failure mode. The fault condition is generated for a reference model of the monitored system and is based on the received evidence observations. The relative probability of failure for each failure mode is based on a false alarm probability, a detection probability, and a ratio of prior probabilities of a candidate hypothesis to a null hypothesis of no active failure mode.