Abstract: A batten-charger for a battery system is provided. The battery system may be adapted to provide power to a vehicle. The battery charger may comprise; a housing; a charger connector adapted to be connected with a mating connector of the battery system; memory storing executable instructions; and a processor in communication with the memory. The processor when executing the executable instructions may: determine that identification information from the battery system is received by the processor via the charger connector. After the identification information from the battery system is received, the processor may generate first information indicating that the battery charger is connecting with the battery system.

Abstract: A shaped cutter is disclosed for use on a drill bit. In one or more example, the shaped cutter includes a substrate including a proximal end and a distal end and defining a cutter axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. A cutting table secured to the proximal end of the substrate includes a cutting face with a central boss axially extending from the cutting face and a plurality of ribs radially extending across the cutting face from the boss to a periphery of the cutting table. The cutting face may recede axially from the periphery towards the central boss, such as by defining a planar section, a plurality of intersecting planar sections, and/or a concave (e.g., frustoconical) shape between adjacent ribs.

Abstract: A cutting element includes a substrate configured to couple to a pocket formed in a blade of a downhole drill bit and a polycrystalline diamond portion secured to the substrate. The polycrystalline diamond portion includes a cutting face, a radial sidewall, and a cutting edge formed at a transition from the radial sidewall to the axial the cutting face. The cutting face includes a plow feature disposed at a center of the cutting face. The plow feature has a face portion and a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion extends radially outward from the face portion and axially downward toward the substrate. Additionally, the cutting face includes a recessed portion extending between the cutting edge and a radially outer edge of the shoulder portion.

Abstract: A shaped cutter is disclosed for use on a drill bit. In one or more example, the shaped cutter includes a substrate including a proximal end and a distal end and defining a cutter axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. A cutting table secured to the proximal end of the substrate includes a cutting face with a central boss axially extending from the cutting face and a plurality of ribs radially extending across the cutting face from the boss to a periphery of the cutting table. The cutting face may recede axially from the periphery towards the central boss, such as by defining a planar section, a plurality of intersecting planar sections, and/or a concave (e.g., frustoconical) shape between adjacent ribs.

Abstract: A cutting element includes a substrate configured to couple to a pocket formed in a blade of a downhole drill bit and a polycrystalline diamond portion secured to the substrate. The polycrystalline diamond portion includes a cutting face, a radial sidewall, and a cutting edge formed at a transition from the radial sidewall to the axial the cutting face. The cutting face includes a plow feature disposed at a center of the cutting face. The plow feature has a face portion and a shoulder portion. The shoulder portion extends radially outward from the face portion and axially downward toward the substrate. Additionally, the cutting face includes a recessed portion extending between the cutting edge and a radially outer edge of the shoulder portion.

Abstract: A direct high voltage flow-through water heater system transmits high voltage power to a remote ice penetrating robot, converts the power to heat in a very small space, and then uses the heat to melt the ice, providing a path ahead of the robot allowing penetration deeper into a remote ice-covered location, such ice of substantial (e.g., kilometers) thickness, such as, for example, glacial ice caps. High voltage, low current, AC power is passed through a moving conducting fluid, inducing resistive heating in the fluid with 100% efficiency. The exiting fluid is stripped of common mode voltage before exiting. Energy transfer from the electrical source to the fluid is instantaneous and occurs at 100% efficiency. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid heater system operates at standard residential/industrial mains voltages and runs from 220 VAC as other applications of the present invention include the traditional water heater industry as well.

Abstract: A direct high voltage flow-through water heater system transmits high voltage power to a remote ice penetrating robot, converts the power to heat in a very small space, and then uses the heat to melt the ice, providing a path ahead of the robot allowing penetration deeper into a remote ice-covered location, such ice of substantial (e.g., kilometers) thickness, such as, for example, glacial ice caps. High voltage, low current, AC power is passed through a moving conducting fluid, inducing resistive heating in the fluid with 100% efficiency. The exiting fluid is stripped of common mode voltage before exiting. Energy transfer from the electrical source to the fluid is instantaneous and occurs at 100% efficiency. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid heater system operates at standard residential/industrial mains voltages and runs from 220 VAC as other applications of the present invention include the traditional water heater industry as well.

Abstract: A laser-powered ice-penetrating communications payload delivery vehicle for sub-ice submarine missions enables under-ice operations to exchange information with terrestrial facilities or satellite networks with communications methods otherwise blocked by an ice cap. The vehicle comprises an electronics bay, a payload bay, optics bay, and a melt optic with laser. The system and method of establishing communication where the vehicle, tethered to a sub-ice vessel, is released. The vehicle ascends to the bottom of an ice sheet and uses a laser to melt the ice, forming a borehole through which the vehicle continues to ascend. When buoyancy no longer advances the vehicle beyond sea level, the vehicle continues to melt a conical opening through the ice until unobstructed atmosphere is reached and bi-directional communication is established.

Abstract: A laser-powered ice-penetrating communications payload delivery vehicle for sub-ice submarine missions enables under-ice operations to exchange information with terrestrial facilities or satellite networks with communications methods otherwise blocked by an ice cap. The vehicle comprises an electronics bay, a payload bay, optics bay, and a melt optic with laser. The system and method of establishing communication where the vehicle, tethered to a sub-ice vessel, is released. The vehicle ascends to the bottom of an ice sheet and uses a laser to melt the ice, forming a borehole through which the vehicle continues to ascend. When buoyancy no longer advances the vehicle beyond sea level, the vehicle continues to melt a conical opening through the ice until unobstructed atmosphere is reached and bi-directional communication is established.

Abstract: A laser-powered ice-penetrating communications payload delivery vehicle for sub-ice submarine missions enables under-ice operations to exchange information with terrestrial facilities or satellite networks with communications methods otherwise blocked by an ice cap. The vehicle comprises an electronics bay, a payload bay, optics bay, and a melt optic with laser. The system and method of establishing communication where the vehicle, tethered to a sub-ice vessel, is released. The vehicle ascends to the bottom of an ice sheet and uses a laser to melt the ice, forming a borehole through which the vehicle continues to ascend. When buoyancy no longer advances the vehicle beyond sea level, the vehicle continues to melt a conical opening through the ice until unobstructed atmosphere is reached and bi-directional communication is established.

Abstract: A laser-powered ice-penetrating communications payload delivery vehicle for sub-ice submarine missions enables under-ice operations to exchange information with terrestrial facilities or satellite networks with communications methods otherwise blocked by an ice cap. The vehicle comprises an electronics bay, a payload bay, optics bay, and a melt optic with laser. The system and method of establishing communication where the vehicle, tethered to a sub-ice vessel, is released. The vehicle ascends to the bottom of an ice sheet and uses a laser to melt the ice, forming a borehole through which the vehicle continues to ascend. When buoyancy no longer advances the vehicle beyond sea level, the vehicle continues to melt a conical opening through the ice until unobstructed atmosphere is reached and bi-directional communication is established.

Abstract: A direct high voltage flow-through water heater system transmits high voltage power to a remote ice penetrating robot, converts the power to heat in a very small space, and then uses the heat to melt the ice, providing a path ahead of the robot allowing penetration deeper into a remote ice-covered location, such ice of substantial (e.g., kilometers) thickness, such as, for example, glacial ice caps. High voltage, low current, AC power is passed through a moving conducting fluid, inducing resistive heating in the fluid with 100% efficiency. The exiting fluid is stripped of common mode voltage before exiting. Energy transfer from the electrical source to the fluid is instantaneous and occurs at 100% efficiency. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid heater system operates at standard residential/industrial mains voltages and runs from 220 VAC as other applications of the present invention include the traditional water heater industry as well.

Abstract: An explosive formulation used in blasting operations such as, but not limited to, mining operations and the like. The formulation is composed of a modified form of Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) explosives which have been modified by the incorporation of a solid fuel material. The formulation comprising a dry granular solid component, a liquid high-boiling point component of about 4% by weight, and a solid fuel material. The solid fuel material comprising vitrinite macerals, liptinite macerals, and inert macerals fusinite and semifusinite, and is characterized as (1) having a concentrate of liptinite that is higher than normal coals, and (2) having a concentrate of pseudovitrinite that is significantly lower than normal coals.

Abstract: An ion selective electrode assembly (10) comprises an ion selective electrode (12) provided as a solid pellet of polycrystalline electrolyte material with inert conductive and polymeric binding agent additives. The ion selective electrode (12) includes a first face (40), a second face (50), and at least one sidewall (60). An integral sealing surface (30) is electrolytically formed on the sidewall of the ion selective electrode (12). The integral sealing surface (30) may also be formed on a portion of the second face (50) of the ion selective electrode (12). The assembly (10) further comprises a housing (20) for receiving the ion selective electrode. An adhesive (14) is positioned between the integral sealing surface (30) and the housing (20). The adhesive (14) bonds the ion selective electrode to the housing.