Abstract: A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to generating and modifying a file for an entity, wherein the file includes a file record, and further wherein the file record includes binary data and a schema that is usable to hydrate a record based upon the binary data. The file is modified by appending file records to one another, where file records optionally correspond to different record creation systems. Described herein are also various technologies pertaining to locating a record in the file.

Abstract: Solar receivers including a plurality of multi-scale solar absorbing surfaces arranged such that light or heat reflected from or emitted from one or more of the plurality of solar absorbing surfaces impinges one or more other solar absorbing surfaces of the solar receiver. The disclosed receivers increase the amount of absorbed energy from a concentrated light source, such as a heliostat field, and reduce radiative and convective heat losses.

Abstract: A testing device for a backflow preventer assembly has a plurality of automated valves. Each automated valve is coupled to a corresponding test valve of the backflow preventer assembly. A high side diverter array is coupled to at least one of the plurality of automated valves. A low side diverter array is coupled to at least one of the plurality of automated valves. A vent side diverter array is coupled to at least one of the plurality of automated valves. A pressure differential transmitter is coupled to the high side diverter array and the low side diverter array. A high side bleed solenoid is coupled to a high side of the pressure differential transmitter. A low side bleed solenoid is coupled to a low side of the pressure differential transmitter. A vent side bleed solenoid coupled to a vent side diverter array. A plurality of bypass solenoids is coupled to the high side bleed solenoid, the low side bleed solenoid and the vent side bleed solenoid.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a seat assembly, and corresponding method, for seat retraction in a vehicle during an autonomous driving mode. Seat refraction is provided by detecting a user initiated input for the retraction. Thereafter, a front seat is refracted such that an occupant of the front seat is out of reach of at least one driving control input device, for example, a steering wheel, pedals or a gear shift, during an autonomous driving mode. Such seat retraction prevents the occupant from providing inadvertent driving inputs to the driving control input devices during the autonomous driving mode.

Abstract: Embodiments include an antenna assembly comprising a non-conductive housing having an open end; an antenna element positioned inside the non-conductive housing; an electrical cable having a first end electrically coupled to the antenna element and a second end extending out from the open end; one or more dielectric materials positioned inside the non-conductive housing; and a conductive gasket coupled to a portion of the electrical cable positioned adjacent to the open end and outside the non-conductive housing. One embodiment includes a portable wireless bodypack device comprising a frame having a first external sidewall opposite a second external sidewall; a first antenna housing forming a portion of the first sidewall and including a first diversity antenna; and a second antenna housing forming a portion of the second sidewall and including a second diversity antenna.

Abstract: Embodiments include an antenna assembly comprising a non-conductive housing having an open end; an antenna element positioned inside the non-conductive housing; an electrical cable having a first end electrically coupled to the antenna element and a second end extending out from the open end; one or more dielectric materials positioned inside the non-conductive housing; and a conductive gasket coupled to a portion of the electrical cable positioned adjacent to the open end and outside the non-conductive housing. One embodiment includes a portable wireless bodypack device comprising a frame having a first external sidewall opposite a second external sidewall; a first antenna housing forming a portion of the first sidewall and including a first diversity antenna; and a second antenna housing forming a portion of the second sidewall and including a second diversity antenna. Embodiments also include a method of manufacturing an antenna assembly for a portable wireless bodypack device.

Abstract: A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Abstract: A bladed solar thermal receiver for absorbing concentrated sunlight is disclosed. The receiver includes a plurality of panels arranged in a bladed configuration for absorbing sunlight. The bladed configurations can be radial or planar. The receiver design increases the effective solar absorptance and efficiency by providing a light trap for the incident solar radiation while reducing heat losses from radiation and convection.

Abstract: Embodiments include an antenna assembly comprising a non-conductive housing having an open end; an antenna element positioned inside the non-conductive housing; an electrical cable having a first end electrically coupled to the antenna element and a second end extending out from the open end; one or more dielectric materials positioned inside the non-conductive housing; and a conductive gasket coupled to a portion of the electrical cable positioned adjacent to the open end and outside the non-conductive housing. One embodiment includes a portable wireless bodypack device comprising a frame having a first external sidewall opposite a second external sidewall; a first antenna housing forming a portion of the first sidewall and including a first diversity antenna; and a second antenna housing forming a portion of the second sidewall and including a second diversity antenna. Embodiments also include a method of manufacturing an antenna assembly for a portable wireless bodypack device.

Abstract: An air curtain control system for a solar thermal receiver comprising: at least one air jet (505) arranged to produce a continuous planar air curtain (507) over at least a portion of a receiver aperture 509 of a solar thermal receiver, an air flow control device (517) for controlling a speed of air flow out of the air jet (505), at least one angular control device (503) for controlling an angle of the air curtain (507) relative to the receiver aperture 509, and a system controller (501) arranged to control the air flow control device (517) and angular control device (503) to isolate the receiver aperture (509) from ambient elements external to the receiver aperture (509).

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid or mud is described wherein the drilling fluid contains cesium phosphate. The hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid or mud can have, for example, an external phase that contains hydrocarbon fluid and an internal phase that contains cesium phosphate. The hydrocarbon-based drilling fluid or mud can further contain at least one emulsifier or surfactant, and optionally other ingredients. The present invention can permit hydrocarbon-based drilling fluids to be essentially solids-free and may be used without corrosion and/or formation damage problems, for example, due to the use of the cesium phosphate in an internal phase of the hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid. The present invention also relates to hydrocarbon-based or ester-based fluids for completion, workover, suspension and packer operations which contain cesium phosphate.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a steering wheel assembly, and corresponding method, for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle. In the steering wheel retraction, a steering column is configured to first pivot upwards about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle's width via a pivoting member. Thereafter, the steering wheel column is configured to slide, via an actuating member, in a forward direction towards the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, before moving the steering column in a forward direction, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver's legs by the pivoting action. This helps reduce the likelihood of the steering wheel hitting the driver's legs during the retraction.

Abstract: Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a steering wheel assembly, and corresponding method, for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle. In the steering wheel retraction, a steering column is configured to first pivot upwards about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle's width via a pivoting member. Thereafter, the steering wheel column is configured to slide, via an actuating member, in a forward direction towards the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, before moving the steering column in a forward direction, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver's legs by the pivoting action. This helps reduce the likelihood of the steering wheel hitting the driver's legs during the retraction.

Abstract: A dish structure (10) has a virtual front surface, the front surface having a periphery, and a plurality of spaced apart non overlapping elongate front beams (16), each of which extends between two points on the periphery. Each front beam (16) has at least one mounting area (20) for receiving a reflective panel (150), the at least one mounting area (20) conforming substantially to the virtual front surface in the longitudinal direction of the front beam (16).

Abstract: A lifting block and a method of using it for supporting a load from a first lifting device or sharing the load between the first lifting device and a second lifting device, particularly for use on a vessel and deep water applications, are disclosed. The lifting block, with at least one sheave, has first and second connection elements associated with it. In one arrangement (single fall) a lifting wire or rope is fed around the sheave and terminated in an end stop which also provides the first connection element. When the first lifting device is operated alone, the end stop rests on the block. When the second connection element, secured to the lifting wire or rope of a second lifting device, is joined to the first connection element the load is snared between the two lifting devices which can then be operated in unison to position the load at a required, deeper position.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid or mud is described wherein the drilling fluid contains cesium phosphate. The hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid or mud can have, for example, an external phase that contains hydrocarbon fluid and an internal phase that contains cesium phosphate. The hydrocarbon-based drilling fluid or mud can further contain at least one emulsifier or surfactant, and optionally other ingredients. The present invention can permit hydrocarbon-based drilling fluids to be essentially solids-free and may be used without corrosion and/or formation damage problems, for example, due to the use of the cesium phosphate in an internal phase of the hydrocarbon-based or ester-based drilling fluid. The present invention also relates to hydrocarbon-based or ester-based fluids for completion, workover, suspension and packer operations which contain cesium phosphate.

Abstract: A detector (101) for detecting smoke from a fire and generating an alarm has a detection chamber (105) in which a light source (111) and a light detector (113) are arranged. In normal use, the light detector (113) only receives light from the light source that has been scattered by the presence of smoke in the chamber (105). When testing the detector (101), the light detector (113) receives light from the light source (111) by presenting a reflecting surface (129a) of a rotor member (129) to reflect light from the light source (111) towards the light detector (113). In normal use, the rotor member (129) is positioned so that the reflecting surface (129a) no longer reflects light from the light source (111) towards the light detector (113).