Abstract: A clutch engagement booster system is an apparatus used to support and improve clutch engagement on motor vehicles, both as a modification to existing clutch assemblies or as a standalone installation in various embodiments. The clutch engagement booster system utilizes a casing and pressure housing supporting a diaphragm, an expansion chamber, an engagement member, and at least one clutch element. The expansion chamber is formed between the diaphragm and the pressure housing in fluid communication with at least one pressure source through the at least one regulator device. The at least one clutch element is positioned within the casing, opposite the diaphragm across the engagement member. As the expansion chamber is pressurized the diaphragm deforms towards the engagement member, thereby forcing the at least one clutch element into engagement to transfer power through a host transmission.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus comprising: a substrate; communication circuitry deposited on said substrate; and ballot circuitry deposited on said substrate. The ballot circuitry comprises: a plurality of voting circuitry elements, each voting circuitry element being responsive to a voting operation to change a conductive state of that voting circuitry element; and logic circuitry communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of voting circuitry elements and with the communication circuitry. The logic circuitry is configured to: detect the conductive state of each of the plurality of voting circuitry elements; and transmit, via the communication circuitry and based on the conductive state of each of the plurality of voting circuitry elements, a voting result.

Abstract: Apparatus comprises at least one visual indicator element; at least one detector to detect access to the apparatus consistent with a cleaning operation being applied to a surface of the apparatus; and processing circuitry to control a visual indication state of the at least one visual indicator element in response to a detection by the detector of access to the surface of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of fabricating and using a zinc negative electrode and systems thereof are described. A zinc electroplated electrode including a layer of zinc metal bonded to a surface of an electrically conductive current collector is fabricated by an electroplating process using a zinc electroplating system. The zinc electroplating system includes: a zinc metal anode, a cathode including the current collector for plating zinc thereon, and an electrolyte bath comprising zinc ions. The electroplating process bonds the zinc metal to the surface of the current collector to create the electroplated zinc electrode. The electroplated zinc electrode is used as a negative electrode in a zinc metal cell. The zinc metal cell may be a primary cell or a secondary cell.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus comprising: a substrate; communication circuitry deposited on said substrate; and ballot circuitry deposited on said substrate. The ballot circuitry comprises: a plurality of voting circuitry elements, each voting circuitry element being responsive to a voting operation to change a conductive state of that voting circuitry element; and logic circuitry communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of voting circuitry elements and with the communication circuitry. The logic circuitry is configured to: detect the conductive state of each of the plurality of voting circuitry elements; and transmit, via the communication circuitry and based on the conductive state of each of the plurality of voting circuitry elements, a voting result.

Abstract: Fluid characteristics of a well fluid can be monitored. For example, a computing device can receive sensor signals from an acoustic sensor positioned on a well tool. The sensor signals can indicate characteristics of acoustic emissions generated by a well fluid impacting the well tool. The computing device can determine an acoustic signature for the well fluid using the characteristics of the acoustic emissions. The computing device can determine a difference between the acoustic signature a baseline acoustic-signature for the well fluid. The computing device can determine one or more fluid characteristics of the well fluid using the difference between the acoustic signature and the baseline acoustic-signature. The computing device can transmit a notification indicating the one or more fluid characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for wound treatment. In certain embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a spacer layer with an upper portion and a lower portion. The spacer layer can be configured to be wrapped around at least one edge of the absorbent layer with the upper portion of the spacer layer being above the absorbent layer and the lower portion of the spacer layer being below the absorbent layer. In some embodiments, a negative pressure wound therapy apparatus can include a first and second spacer layer and an absorbent layer. The first spacer layer can be positioned below the absorbent layer and the first spacer layer can have a perimeter larger than a perimeter of the absorbent layer. The second spacer layer can be positioned above the absorbent layer. The second spacer layer can have a perimeter larger than the perimeter of the absorbent layer.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to proximity routing policy enforcement for trans-border Internet of Things (“IoT”) data governance compliance. A network gateway can receive, from a data source device, a device registration message comprising a device registration header. The network gateway can determine, based upon the device registration header and a data governance policy, whether the data source device is permitted to access a data governance zone. In response to determining that the data source device is permitted to access the data governance zone, the network gateway can determine, based upon a further data governance policy, at least one gateway of a plurality of gateways operating in the data governance zone to which the device registration message is to be forwarded. The network gateway can forward the registration message to the at least one gateway so that the at least one gateway is enabled for device operation.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic comprising, in weight percent on an oxide basis, of 50 to 70% SiO2, 0 to 20% Al2O3, 12 to 23% MgO, 0 to 4% Li2O, 0 to 10% Na2O, 0 to 10% K2O, 0 to 5% ZrO2, and 2 to 12% F, wherein the predominant crystalline phase of said glass-ceramic is a trisilicic mica, a tetrasilicic mica, or a mica solid solution between trisilicic and tetrasilicic, and wherein the total of Na2O+Li2O is at least 2 wt. %; wherein the glass-ceramic can be ion-exchanged.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of responding to a conversational event is presented. The method comprises receiving a conversational event at a conversational computing interface. Based on the received conversational event, an applicable generation rule of a plurality of candidate generation rules is selected. The applicable generation rule is configured with one or more parameters. A computer-executable plan is then selected based on the selected generation rule. The one or more parameters are passed from the selected generation rule to one or more additional generation rules. The one or more additional generation rules configured with the one or more parameters are recursively applied to extend the selected computer-executable plan. One or more candidate responses to the conversational event are output via the conversational computing interface based on the recursive application of the one or more additional generation rules configured with the one or more parameters.

Abstract: An autonomous loading/unloading system and method for transferring material includes: a buoy for releasing onto water; a messenger line coupled to the buoy for being pulled; a carrier line loop coupled to the messenger line for being pulled, where a payload is coupled to the carrier loop for transferring the material to or from an unmanned ship; a fetch/release platform to fetch or release the payload from or onto the water; a loading/unloading dock for the payload; a plurality of line guides for guiding the carrier loop; and a platform-to-payload interconnect for autonomous loading or unloading of the material from/to the payload.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a central body having a longitudinal axis and a first extended member attached to the central body, wherein the first extended member extends away from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes a first mechanically sensitive sensor mechanically coupled to the first extended member.

Abstract: A tool and method are provided for forming a plurality of aligned full-sized holes from a plurality of preformed holes that are near full-size in respective stacked components of a stack-up overlapped in relation to each other. The tool includes a hole cutter having a hole cutter outer diameter, a countersink cutter with a hole widening section, and a pilot member having a pilot diameter smaller than the hole cutter outer diameter and substantially equal to the preformed hole diameter minus the maximum allowable offset distance, so that the hole cutter outer diameter is greater than or equal to the preformed hole diameter plus the maximum allowable offset distance. Other tools and methods for forming countersinks are also provided.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to time-aware blockchain staged regulatory control of Internet of Things (“IoT”) data. A federation platform can receive a registration request from an enterprise edge platform to register a blockchain identifier for publication of public data on a public blockchain. The federation platform can determine if the registration request contains any restricted data parameters. In response to determining that the registration request does not contain any restricted data parameters, the federation platform can query a security module to obtain an encryption key. The federation platform can receive the encryption key from the security module. The federation platform can store the encryption key in association with the blockchain identifier and an enterprise edge platform ID that uniquely identifies the enterprise edge platform.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems for determining acoustic velocity behind casing or tubing in a subterranean wellbore. A method may include obtaining a plurality of waveform data sets corresponding to a plurality of propagation path regimes and obtaining a total wavefield across the receiver array. The method may also include determining a Green's function representing each of the plurality of propagation path regimes and determining a noise wavefield by convolving the Green's functions and a known transmitted pressure signal corresponding to the plurality of waveform data sets. The method may also include generating a reduced-noise wavefield by subtracting the noise wavefield from the total wavefield and estimating the acoustic velocity of a formation behind the casing or tubing from the reduce-noise wavefield.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to policy-based programmable Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices. An apparatus, for example, can include a device that includes an interface through which the device is to be connected to an asset. The asset can include one or more asset sensors. The device can include one or more device sensors, a network module, and a controller that executes instructions that cause the device to perform operations. In particular, the controller can execute instructions to cause the device to receive a device policy that instructs the device to collect device data from the device sensor(s) in accordance with a device ruleset. The device also can receive an asset policy that instructs the device to collect asset data from the asset sensor(s) in accordance with an asset ruleset. The device can collect the device data and the asset data in accordance with the device/asset policies.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a deployment profile of a fiber optic cable. The method may comprise disposing a fiber optic cable into a tubular structure, opening and closing a valve to form a pressure pulse, wherein the pressure pulse travels within the tubular structure, sensing the pressure pulse within the tubular structure with the fiber optic cable and at least one pressure transducer, recording data from the pressure pulse with the fiber optic cable and the at least one pressure transducer, and sending the data to an information handling system from the fiber optic cable. A well measurement system may comprise a tubular structure, a fiber optic cable, a valve, and an information handling system, wherein the information handling system is configured to open and close the valve to form a pressure pulse and record data from the pressure pulse.

Abstract: The concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to proximity routing policy enforcement for trans-border Internet of Things (“IoT”) data governance compliance. A network gateway can receive, from a data source device, a device registration message comprising a device registration header. The network gateway can determine, based upon the device registration header and a data governance policy, whether the data source device is permitted to access a data governance zone. In response to determining that the data source device is permitted to access the data governance zone, the network gateway can determine, based upon a further data governance policy, at least one gateway of a plurality of gateways operating in the data governance zone to which the device registration message is to be forwarded. The network gateway can forward the registration message to the at least one gateway so that the at least one gateway is enabled for device operation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of responding to a conversational event. The method comprises enacting, by a conversational computing interface, an initial computer-executable plan based on a conversational event received by the conversational computing interface, wherein the initial computer-executable plan is configured to output an initial value based on the conversational event. The method further comprises selecting, by the conversational computing interface, an extended computer-executable plan based on determining that the initial value is insufficient for generating an extended description responsive to the conversational event. The method further comprises enacting, by the conversational computing interface, the extended computer-executable plan to output additional information beyond what the initial computer-executable plan is configured to output, the additional information sufficient for generating the extended description responsive to the conversational event.

Abstract: A data source device (“device”) can generate a plurality of data segments, each of which can include data that is owned by a specific entity. The device can calculate and store a hash for each data segment of the plurality of data segments as part of a message footer of a data message. The device can calculate and store a further hash that includes a combination of the plurality of data segments and the hashes for the plurality of data segments as part of the message footer. The device can encrypt each data segment to create a plurality of encrypted data segments. The device can assemble the data message to include the plurality of encrypted data segments and the message footer. The device can send the data message to a gateway for further processing.