Abstract: The present application relates to a method of splitting a fault condition including receiving evidence observations of a monitored system from monitors connected in a many-to-many relationship to the failure modes, generating a fault condition, computing a relative probability of failure for each failure mode in the fault condition. When there is more than one failure mode in the fault condition, the method includes computing a relative probability of each pair of failure modes in the fault condition, ranking the computed relative probabilities of the individual failure modes and the computed relative probabilities of the pairs of failure modes. If the highest ranked failure mode is a pair of failure modes, the fault condition is split based on the failure modes in the highest ranked pair of failure modes are split. If the highest ranked failure mode is an individual failure mode, a failure is isolated based on the ranking.

Abstract: A method for determining a probabilistic loss of function of a system includes the steps of determining a plurality of failure mode probabilities, ranking a plurality of functions pertaining to the failure mode probabilities, and identifying a likely function at least substantially lost by the system based at least in part on the plurality of failure mode probabilities and the ranking.

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: 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: In one aspect, a performance of a group of athletes is analyzed by locating at least one acceleration sensor on at least one member of the group, collecting acceleration-sensor output data during performance of an athletic event with the electronic apparatus, and comparing information provided by the acceleration-sensor output data to at least one predetermined threshold. In one embodiment, a plurality of acceleration sensors can be included on each member of the group of athletes, respectively, and the performance of the team in aggregate can be analyzed with the information provided by the acceleration-sensor output data from the plurality of acceleration sensors.

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 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: Provided are methods and systems distributing a data message to an unknown destination device across at least one spatial boundary and at least one administrative domain boundary from an originating device. The system includes at least one distributor module that exists within each administrative domain of a network through which the data message may originate, may terminate or may traverses in route from the originating device to the unknown destination device. Each administrative domain within each of a plurality of equipment platforms has at least one distributor module. The system also includes a domain bridge spanning the at least one administrative domain boundary within an equipment platform of the plurality through which the data message traverses in route to the unknown destination device. The system operates using a network discovery service whereby an advertisement is published for a specific type of data by the unknown destination device. The advertisement is promulgated throughout the network.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the health of a component includes a memory configured to store a health management system for evaluating the health of the component. The health management system includes a first prognostic module, a first diagnostic module, a first failure mode module, and a first functional module. A processor is coupled to the memory and configured to retrieve the health management system from the memory; receive a first prognostic indicator associated with the health of the component; determine a first predicted diagnostic indicator based on the prognostic indicator with the prognostic module; determine a first failure mode probability based on the first predicted diagnostic indicator with the diagnostic module; determine a first failure mode vector based on the first failure mode probability with the failure mode module; and generate a first functional output based on the first failure mode vector with the first functional mode module.

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.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method of splitting a fault condition including receiving evidence observations of a monitored system from monitors connected in a many-to-many relationship to the failure modes, generating a fault condition, computing a relative probability of failure for each failure mode in the fault condition. When there is more than one failure mode in the fault condition, the method includes computing a relative probability of each pair of failure modes in the fault condition, ranking the computed relative probabilities of the individual failure modes and the computed relative probabilities of the pairs of failure modes. If the highest ranked failure mode is a pair of failure modes, the fault condition is split based on the failure modes in the highest ranked pair of failure modes are split. If the highest ranked failure mode is an individual failure mode, a failure is isolated based on the ranking.

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: An apparatus for controlling a wellbore energy train may include a firing head, a detonator cord associated with the firing head, and a plurality of serially aligned modules. Each module may include an enclosure, a first portion of a high order detonation material positioned at one end of the enclosure, a second portion of the high order detonation material positioned at the other end of the enclosure, and a low order detonation material interposed between the first portion and the second portion. A method for controlling an energy train generated in a wellbore may include serially aligning a plurality of the modules along the path of the energy train, and detonating at least one of the plurality of modules by detonating a detonator cord.

Abstract: A method for determining a probabilistic loss of function of a system includes the steps of determining a plurality of failure mode probabilities, ranking a plurality of functions pertaining to the failure mode probabilities, and identifying a likely function at least substantially lost by the system based at least in part on the plurality of failure mode probabilities and the ranking.

Abstract: A method for diagnostic reasoning of faults appearing in a vehicle health monitoring system (VHM) is provided. One of alternatively a signal mode or a failure mode state is identified based on an input. If a signal is identified, the signal is queried to determine if the signal indicts a failure mode. If the signal indicts the failure mode, an intermittent watch flag is set for the failure mode. A count representing a number of occurrences of the signal as an intermittent fault is incremented. It is determined if the count exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the count exceeds the predetermined threshold, the intermittent fault is determined to be a permanent fault.

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: An oil well completion tool having a tubular assembly defining an elongated main passage is adapted to be connected to a multiple-section tubing string within an oil well casing. A severable plug is mounted in the tubular assembly in normal blocking relationship to the passage. A movable shear cylinder unit has a plug-severing edge operable to sever an entire central segment of the plug from a remaining peripheral portion thereof. Separate hinge structure has an elongated U-shaped leg portion connected to the central segment of the plug. The leg portion of the hinge structure, which undergoes elongation, is operable to retain the severed central segment of the plug in the main passage while allowing the central segment of the plug to bodily shift independent of and in a direction away from the peripheral portion of the plug.

Abstract: An oil well completion tool having a tubular assembly defining an elongated main passage is adapted to be connected to a multiple-section tubing string within an oil well casing. A severable plug is mounted in the tubular assembly in normal blocking relationship to the passage. A movable shear cylinder unit has a plug-severing edge operable to sever an entire central segment of the plug from a remaining peripheral portion thereof. Separate hinge structure has an elongated U-shaped leg portion connected to the central segment of the plug. The leg portion of the hinge structure, which undergoes elongation, is operable to retain the severed central segment of the plug in the main passage while allowing the central segment of the plug to bodily shift independent of and in a direction away from the peripheral portion of the plug.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a wellbore energy train may include a firing head, a detonator cord associated with the firing head, and a plurality of serially aligned modules. Each module may include an enclosure, a first portion of a high order detonation material positioned at one end of the enclosure, a second portion of the high order detonation material positioned at the other end of the enclosure, and a low order detonation material interposed between the first portion and the second portion. A method for controlling an energy train generated in a wellbore may include serially aligning a plurality of the modules along the path of the energy train, and detonating at least one of the plurality of modules by detonating a detonator cord.

Abstract: A system and method for a packaging system for the shipment of high explosive components is described. One or more explosive devices are positioned in a tubing assembly having opposed ends and a thick wall of relatively low-density fibrous material, e.g. rolled paper tube. An impact absorbing element is positioned at each end of the tube. The impact absorbing element may include an end cap positioned within each end of the tube, and a cushion formed of partial tubes and an end cap. The complete assembly is sized to fit and be held in position by a standard shipping container. Multiple perforating charges in a tubing assembly may face opposite sides of a charge divider. Shaped charges may have their concave openings filled with a jet interrupter, e.g. sand. Circular charges may include heat releasable fasteners, e.g. nylon screws, which allow the charges to separate in case of fire.